What is Achamanam
Achamanam, or achamana, is a mantra or mudra that represents purification. There is the superficial external purification of taking water in your hand as you say the mantra. But the mantra itself removes the internal impurity of ignorance of our non-duality with the divine.
When to do Achamanam
Achamanam is performed in the beginning of all vedic pujas and rituals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Satyanarayan Puja etc).
How to do Achamanam
The achamanam mantra (or achamana mudra) has two parts. Before you begin, keep a tumbler of water and a spoon on a plate.
First, do the Shruti Achamanam. Pour water into your cupped palm and sip it thrice, while saying these mantras: Om Achyutaaya Namaha; Om Anantaaya namaha: Om Govindaaya namaha.
Second, do the Purana Achamanam. This has 25 steps, where you touch various parts of your body with the fingers and palm of your right hand, while chanting the holy names of Vishnu. Recite the mantras listed in italics while performing the actions associated with each:
- Om Aarchamyaa: Pour a spoon of water on your right hand palm and let it pass through your fingers on to the plate
- Om Keshavaya Svaaha: Sip water from right hand
- Om Narayanaya Svaaha: Sip water from right hand
- Om Madhavaya Svaaha: Sip water from right hand
- Om Govindaya Namaha: Pour a spoon of water on your right hand palm and let it pass through your fingers on to the plate
- Om Vishnave Namaha: Pass right hand fingers over mouth from right hand side
- Om Madhusoodhanaya Namaha: Rub palms with right palm on top
- Om Trivikramaaya namaha: Rub palms with left palm on top
- Om Vaamanaaya Namaha: Pour a spoon of water on your right hand palm and let it pass through your fingers on to the plate
- Om Shridharaya namaha: Clasp hands (like in prayer)
- Om Hrishikeshaaya Namaha: Touch right knee with right hand
- Om Padmanabhaya Namaha: Touch left knee with right hand
- Om Daamodharaya Namaha: Touch chin with right hand
- Om Sankarshanaaya Namaha: Touch under nose with right hand
- Om Vaasudevaaya Namaha: Touch right side nostril with right hand
- Om Pradyumnaaya Namaha: Touch left side nostril with right hand
- Om Anirudhaaya Namaha: Touch right eye with right hand
- Om Purushotamaaya Namaha: Touch left eye with right hand
- Om Adhokshajaaya Namaha: Touch right ear with right hand
- Om Naarasimhaaya Namaha: Touch left ear with right hand
- Om Achutaaya Namaha: Touch stomach and navel with right hand
- Om Janaardhanaya Namaha: Touch chest and heart with right hand
- Om Upendraya Namaha: Touch the head with the right hand
- Om Haraye Namaha: Touch right shoulder with right hand
- Om Shri Krishnaaya Namaha:Touch left shoulder with right hand
Thank you for this! It is always so confusing to me.. very clearly explained.