Post by ramya475 on Nov 4, 2013 20:44:29 GMT 5.5
XII . Sankramam
(Starting time of the months)
The Sun travels from Mesha to Meena Rasi. The time , it enters a particular Rasi is called Sankramam(Most of us follow solar months). For us this is the month beginning also. The bath, charity and other holy deeds during that time gives good blessings from the Sun God for the next seven years.
1.Devala:-
The actual time of Sankramam is minute and cannot be easily known by us. So understand that thirty Nazhigas (12 hours) preceding and succeeding Sankramana are also holy periods.
Understand that there are two Ayanas, four shdaseethi, four Vishnupathi and two Vishus, among Sankramanas.
Makara (Utharayana) , Kumbha (Vishnu pathi), Meena (Shadaseethi), Mesha (Vishu), Rishabha (Vishnu pathi), Mithuna (Shadasethi ) , Karkidaga (Dakshinayana), Simha (Vishnu pathi) Kanya (Shadaseethi) Thula (Vishu) , Vruschiga (Vishnupathi ) and Dhanus (Shadaseethi)
2.Brahaspathi:-
The first Twenty Nazhigai (Eight hours) in Dakshinayana is a holy period. And the succeeding twenty Nazhigai in Utharanayana is the holy period. For the Sankramanas The Ten Nazhigai (4 hours) before and Ten Nazhigai after are holy periods.. If Sankramanas (as well as Utharayana) like Vishu happen 45 Nazhigai after Sun rise then Tharpana should be done on that day. If it happens afterwards, the Tharpana should be done on the next day. But this is not true for Karkidaga Sankramana. The holy period in on the same day whenever Sankramana happens.
It is told that Ayanas are billion times effective , Vishu thousand times effective and Vishnupathi and Shadaseethi are also one thousand times effective.
XIII . Rajaswala Snanam
( Purificatory bath of the girl after periods)
1.Kathyayana:-
A woman undergoing periods becomes pure only after taking rest for three days and after taking bath on the fourth day.
2.Samgraha:-
A woman in periods is an outcaste woman on the first day, on the second day she is equivalent to a woman who has given birth to a child and on the third day just a woman in periods. On the fourth day during Sangava time (after 8.30 AM) if she takes bath she becomes pure. When taking bath she has to wash her body with mud 21 times and pour water over herself one hundred times. After taking bath, she should see the Sun God and pray for a birth of a son. This is the proper method according to Sastras.
3.Aathri:-
A woman in periods becomes pure after a purificatory bath on the fourth day. If she bleeds again after 18 days , she becomes impure only for one day, but if it happens after 20 days , she has to take rest for three days and take bath on the fourth day. When she is undergoing periods, she should not apply collyrium to the eye , should not comb her hair and should not spin yarn. She should take food without anybody seeing her. If some body sees her she should do redemption. If a woman in periods happen to touch another girl in periods or a girl who is impure, she has to take rest for three days and take purificatory bath. When in periods impurity due to birth or death happens, then she should take bath before taking food. If Yekadasi comes in between, she should not take any food during that time.
If she gets sick during the periods and is not able to take the purificatory bath , then on the fourth day , another woman should touch her and then take bath. She should then wear cloths, touch her gain and again take bath. Like this she has to do ten times and then the sick girl in periods should give some thing in charity and also sprinkle herself with holy water Then she becomes pure.
XIV. Kamya Snanas
( Optional bathing)
On the occasion of god’s festivals , marriages and fire sacrifices , the impurity of touch does not cause impurity., There is no need to take bath then.
1.Pulasthya:-
The one who takes bath in the river in the Pushya (poosam) star, his own birth star, Vyathipatha, vydrithi and Amavasya helps seven of his earlier generations to get rids of their sin.
People who take bath in the river on Sundays, Wednesdays and Saturdays get rid of sickness like a deer cannot catch hold of lions.
He who takes bath in the Krishna Chathurdasi of the chaithra month in the ponds in Shiva Temples or in river Ganges, does not attain the status of corpse after he dies.
2.Shathaathapa:-
He who takes bath in the Ganges on the Amavasya day which falls on a Tuesday , gets the benefit of giving 1000 cows in charity.
He who takes only the Havis (food offered to God) daily during the Krithiga month chants mantras and daily takes bath in rivers , would get rid of all sins.
Daily taking early morning bath in Thula , Makara and Mesha month helps you to get rid of all sins.
Taking bath using the powder of gooseberry fruit on ekadasi day gives great happiness to Lord Vishnu. But you should not take bath in the parva period , sapthami and Navami.
XVMalakarsana snanam
(Oil bath)
1.Bharadwajaja:-
The good days for taking oil bath(bathing after applying oil all over the body) are given here. If we take oil bath in those days then we will gain health, increase in strength etc.
Taking oil bath on Monday , Wednesday and Saturday , the concerned planets would bless you and grant peace , wealth and pleasures in life.
Four thidhis starting with Dwitheeya , Sapthami, Navami , Dasami and Thryodhasi are very suitable for taking oil bath.
Sunday, Tuesday , Thursday and Friday are not suitable for il bath. Oil bath should not be taken on the day of your birth star , Sankramana and Vyatheepatha
During Ekadasi , Chaturdasi , Ashtami, Prathama and Parva days, oil bath should never be taken. Oil bath should not be taken by those who desire a pleasant life on Uthram, Kettai , Thiruonam , Thiruvadirai and at night
In case of children , elders and those who are sick oil bath and bathing in hot watrer can be taken according to the circumstances.
XVI. Naraka Chathurdasi Snanam.
(Deepavali bath)
Oil bath in hot water has to be taken along with sun rise on Aswayuja Chathurdasi in the Krishna Paksha (Waning moon days)
1.Sara Samgraha:-
Those who desire to be wealthy should take oil bath with scented oil and using hot water on Aswayuja Krishna Chathurdasi along with Sunday and Swathi Nakshatra .Because it is Deepavali on that day, Mahalakshmi resides in the oil and Ganges in hot water .So if we want to remove poverty, oil bath on that day is essential. Then we have to wear new cloths and ornaments.(Please note that Swathi and Sunday will occur on Deepavali day only in rare cases)
That later part of night when Narakasura was killed by Lord Vishnu , we have to take oil bath so that we avoid going to Naraka (hell)
2.Yama:-
Ghee, mustard oil , scented oil with flowers and oil which has been boiled can be used for oil bath always. You should not take oil bath after shaving or hair cutting. After adding Ajya (Ghee) in oil, oil bath can be taken in days when it is barred also. If we put a leaf of Thulasi in the oil . the bad effects of Thidhi, Vara(day) and Nakshatra will not happen. But Oil bath should never be taken on a Dwadasi day.
3.Naaradeeya:-
Oh king, that man who provides help to 100 Brahmins to take oil bath , is considered as having taken bath in the Ganges for one hundred years. Understand that it is considered as great , if ladies can take oil bath on Fridays and Tuesdays
XVII. Nadheenaam Rajaswala Dosha
(The tainting of rivers by period)
Rivers in India are considered as women . It is believed that they too are tainted for three days in a year.
1.Brahmanda Purana:-
Godhavari, Bheema, Thunga Bhadra , Venika , Thapi, Payoshnike in the south of Vindhya mountains and Ganges , Narmada, Yamuna , Saraswathi, Vishoka , And Vidhastha to the north of the Vindhyas are the great rivers of India.
2.Naarasimha:-
Ganges, Yamuna , Godavari, Thunga Bhadra and Kaveri are considered as great rivers.
The rivers have periods on the first three days of Karkidaka month(July-August) and people are requested not to take bath in rivers during that period. From fourth day , they become as pure as the Ganges. Ganges does not have the tainted nature due to periods.
The rules for taking bath in the rivers are as follows. The man who carries Umbrella to the river looses quarter of the punya (result of good deeds) , he who wears slipper looses half the punya , he who travels in a palanquin to the river looses the entire punya. So even if you are rich, you should go to the sacred rivers as a common man. But if you are sick instead of a bullock cart, one can go in a cart drawn by a horse.
XVIII. Vasthra pareedhanam:
(Rules for dressing)
1.Haaritha:-
After reaching the shores from the water you have to wear two white cloths, one as a shoulder cloth (Uthareeya) These cloths should be clean, Then you have to wash your feet with water mixed with mud. You should not dry your hair by shaking.
While taking bath in the river, we should wear the dried cloth first and then remove the wet cloth underneath. When you are taking bath in a well (private places) , remove the wet cloth first (in the sky direction) , tie the dry upper cloth over your head like a turban , wear the sacred thread like a garland and then change cloths
2,Bhrugu:-
Dark red coloured cloths , blue cloths , black cloths, cloths without border and wet cloths should never be worn. Even cloths with blue or black border should not be worn.
People wearing cloth without tucking, One who does not tuck one side of the tail end of the cloth., people who tuck the portion in between instead of the tail end, , People who tuck cloth upwards , people who tuck cloths on the waist thread are considered as people who are not dressed.
Man without Katee Suthra (Waist thread) who does all dharmic rituals does not get any benefit from such rituals. He is also equivalent to a man without dress.
Man who does not wear a tucked cloth but wears it like Dhothi (lungi) and a man without upper cloth is considered as nude. ,. These people are not eligible to do rituals. If they do , it would be dear to the asuras.
A wet cloth shaken seven times is equivalent to a dry cloth. This is a Apath Dharma or a dharma where there is no other go.
You should sprinkle cloth with Shcheevo mantra , take it chanting Devasthava mantra , shake it chanting Avadhootha mantra , show it to Sun chanting either Dharani or Udhithya Manthra and wear it chanting Aavahanthi mantra.
3.Yoga Yagnavalkya:-
Bathing, giving charity, chanting of mantra, homa , chanting of Vedas , Tharpana , Sradha and taking meals should not be done with one cloth.
IXX.Pundra dharana Vidhi:-
(Rules of wearing sacred religious marks)
1,. Pangme:-
In this Kali Yuga, house of any one who has Gopi Chandana mud in his house, is considered as equivalent to Dwaraka.
Any one who is seen by a man wearing Gopi Chandana becomes pure. We have to wear Urdhva Pundra(Long mark) using Gopi Chandana.
2.Atharvana:-
You have to apply the long mark with Gopi Chandana, which indicates the feet of Lord Vishnu , for our benefit in the forehead and other places. By doing so one would become dear to that great Purusha called Narayana and he would become suitable for getting the reward of salvation.
3,Vasu deva Upanishad:-
The detailed method of applying Gopi Chandana is given here:-
First we have to salute Gopi Chandana and take it. And pray as follows:-
This Gopichandana which destroys all sin,
Has been born out of the body of Lord Vishnu,
Salutations to him who holds the holy wheel,
Please grant me salvation because of wearing this.
You have take water with the chant starting with “Imam may Varuna..” and because it came from the body of Vishnu you have to add water , kept in the left hand and make it a paste keeping it on the right hand . Then we have to chant thrice with the Rik starting with “ Devaa avanthu na..”and then pray the lord using,
Oh Achyutha who lives in Dwaraka,
Who holds the conch , wheel and the mace,
Oh Govinda who has as eyes like Lotus,
I surrender before you, please take care of me.
The householder should then chant the Vishnu Gayathri and , should take the Gopichandana using his ring finger and apply it , chanting the twelve names of Lord Vishnu starting with Kesava, on his own forehead, belly, chest, neck , right arm, right upper arm , left arm, left upper arm , left side of the neck , behind portion of the belly, and behind the neck. And then chanting the name ,“Vasudeva” he has to apply it on his head.
Vanaprastha and Brahmachari should apply chanting either Vishnu Gayathri or five names of Lord Krishna in forehead, neck, chest and upper arms.
The sanyasis called Kuteethaka, Bahoodhaka and Hamsa should apply it with the second finger on forehead, head and chest chanting “Om”.
The paramahamsa Sanyasi should apply it only on his forehead.
4.Vishnu Smrithi:-
Performing Yagna , Giving charity, doing meditation, doing Homa , Chanting of Vedas and doing Tharpanam for the manes without applying Urdhwa pundram is useless.
(please note that in many families such marks cannot be worn while doing Tharpana.)
Now the rules of Tripundra (Three lines using sacred ash)
Using the ash generated by fire , chanting the five mantras called Sathyojatha and also chanting the Manthra starting with “Agneerithi..”
Take the ash chanting “Manasthoke, “ mix it with water and put three lines each in forehead, chest and shoulders in the lateral fashion , and chant mantras starting with “triyayusham..” , “triyampadam..” etc. Wearing sacred ash like this is called Sambhavee vrutha and is very dear to Lord Shiva,
So any one desiring salvation, should definitely wear the sacred ash.
Those Brahmachari, learned man , householder, Vanaprastha and Sanyasi who wear tripundra would get rid of all their sins. They would have prayed all Gods by doing this. They would have been deemed to have taken bath in all sacred waters.
He who applies the sacred ash, will get all types of wealth. He would enjoy all types of pleasures. He would be considered equal to the one who has chanted all mantras of the Vedas. After death , he would not take birth in this world again. He would attain salvation. This is told by Kalagni Rudra.
5.Smrithi:-
Chanting the triyayusha mantra , you have to apply sacred ash in the forehead, two arms, belly , head and chest as well on both sides of the body. For applying this Sacred ash should be made in to a paste with water. This should definitely be done by all Brahmins knowing Vedas.
6.Kathyayana:-
We should wear sacred ash in Sradha, Yagna, meditation, Homa , Vaiswadeva and worship of Gods. Any ritual done without applying sacred ash is useless.
(In many families wearing sacred ash is forbidden while doing Sradha.)
7.Mahabharatha:-
All people desirous of long life, wealth and salvation should definitely wear sacred ash. This should be worn regardless of the Varna we belong to. Whether to wear Tripundra or Urdhwa pundra depends on the practices of our clan. We should not change it.
8.Smrithi Sangraha:-
Tripundra should be worn laterally using sacred ash. Urdhwa pundra should be worn using Gopichandana in a vertical fashion. You should not change this. But sandal paste can be worn vertically or laterally. We should never wear it in a circular fashion.
We should not wear ordinary ash or charcoal . We can wear Kumkum , if it is given as Prasada.
9.Vyasa:-
We should do all rituals wearing either Urdhwa Pundra or Tripundra. We should never do them with an empty forehead.
(Starting time of the months)
The Sun travels from Mesha to Meena Rasi. The time , it enters a particular Rasi is called Sankramam(Most of us follow solar months). For us this is the month beginning also. The bath, charity and other holy deeds during that time gives good blessings from the Sun God for the next seven years.
1.Devala:-
The actual time of Sankramam is minute and cannot be easily known by us. So understand that thirty Nazhigas (12 hours) preceding and succeeding Sankramana are also holy periods.
Understand that there are two Ayanas, four shdaseethi, four Vishnupathi and two Vishus, among Sankramanas.
Makara (Utharayana) , Kumbha (Vishnu pathi), Meena (Shadaseethi), Mesha (Vishu), Rishabha (Vishnu pathi), Mithuna (Shadasethi ) , Karkidaga (Dakshinayana), Simha (Vishnu pathi) Kanya (Shadaseethi) Thula (Vishu) , Vruschiga (Vishnupathi ) and Dhanus (Shadaseethi)
2.Brahaspathi:-
The first Twenty Nazhigai (Eight hours) in Dakshinayana is a holy period. And the succeeding twenty Nazhigai in Utharanayana is the holy period. For the Sankramanas The Ten Nazhigai (4 hours) before and Ten Nazhigai after are holy periods.. If Sankramanas (as well as Utharayana) like Vishu happen 45 Nazhigai after Sun rise then Tharpana should be done on that day. If it happens afterwards, the Tharpana should be done on the next day. But this is not true for Karkidaga Sankramana. The holy period in on the same day whenever Sankramana happens.
It is told that Ayanas are billion times effective , Vishu thousand times effective and Vishnupathi and Shadaseethi are also one thousand times effective.
XIII . Rajaswala Snanam
( Purificatory bath of the girl after periods)
1.Kathyayana:-
A woman undergoing periods becomes pure only after taking rest for three days and after taking bath on the fourth day.
2.Samgraha:-
A woman in periods is an outcaste woman on the first day, on the second day she is equivalent to a woman who has given birth to a child and on the third day just a woman in periods. On the fourth day during Sangava time (after 8.30 AM) if she takes bath she becomes pure. When taking bath she has to wash her body with mud 21 times and pour water over herself one hundred times. After taking bath, she should see the Sun God and pray for a birth of a son. This is the proper method according to Sastras.
3.Aathri:-
A woman in periods becomes pure after a purificatory bath on the fourth day. If she bleeds again after 18 days , she becomes impure only for one day, but if it happens after 20 days , she has to take rest for three days and take bath on the fourth day. When she is undergoing periods, she should not apply collyrium to the eye , should not comb her hair and should not spin yarn. She should take food without anybody seeing her. If some body sees her she should do redemption. If a woman in periods happen to touch another girl in periods or a girl who is impure, she has to take rest for three days and take purificatory bath. When in periods impurity due to birth or death happens, then she should take bath before taking food. If Yekadasi comes in between, she should not take any food during that time.
If she gets sick during the periods and is not able to take the purificatory bath , then on the fourth day , another woman should touch her and then take bath. She should then wear cloths, touch her gain and again take bath. Like this she has to do ten times and then the sick girl in periods should give some thing in charity and also sprinkle herself with holy water Then she becomes pure.
XIV. Kamya Snanas
( Optional bathing)
On the occasion of god’s festivals , marriages and fire sacrifices , the impurity of touch does not cause impurity., There is no need to take bath then.
1.Pulasthya:-
The one who takes bath in the river in the Pushya (poosam) star, his own birth star, Vyathipatha, vydrithi and Amavasya helps seven of his earlier generations to get rids of their sin.
People who take bath in the river on Sundays, Wednesdays and Saturdays get rid of sickness like a deer cannot catch hold of lions.
He who takes bath in the Krishna Chathurdasi of the chaithra month in the ponds in Shiva Temples or in river Ganges, does not attain the status of corpse after he dies.
2.Shathaathapa:-
He who takes bath in the Ganges on the Amavasya day which falls on a Tuesday , gets the benefit of giving 1000 cows in charity.
He who takes only the Havis (food offered to God) daily during the Krithiga month chants mantras and daily takes bath in rivers , would get rid of all sins.
Daily taking early morning bath in Thula , Makara and Mesha month helps you to get rid of all sins.
Taking bath using the powder of gooseberry fruit on ekadasi day gives great happiness to Lord Vishnu. But you should not take bath in the parva period , sapthami and Navami.
XVMalakarsana snanam
(Oil bath)
1.Bharadwajaja:-
The good days for taking oil bath(bathing after applying oil all over the body) are given here. If we take oil bath in those days then we will gain health, increase in strength etc.
Taking oil bath on Monday , Wednesday and Saturday , the concerned planets would bless you and grant peace , wealth and pleasures in life.
Four thidhis starting with Dwitheeya , Sapthami, Navami , Dasami and Thryodhasi are very suitable for taking oil bath.
Sunday, Tuesday , Thursday and Friday are not suitable for il bath. Oil bath should not be taken on the day of your birth star , Sankramana and Vyatheepatha
During Ekadasi , Chaturdasi , Ashtami, Prathama and Parva days, oil bath should never be taken. Oil bath should not be taken by those who desire a pleasant life on Uthram, Kettai , Thiruonam , Thiruvadirai and at night
In case of children , elders and those who are sick oil bath and bathing in hot watrer can be taken according to the circumstances.
XVI. Naraka Chathurdasi Snanam.
(Deepavali bath)
Oil bath in hot water has to be taken along with sun rise on Aswayuja Chathurdasi in the Krishna Paksha (Waning moon days)
1.Sara Samgraha:-
Those who desire to be wealthy should take oil bath with scented oil and using hot water on Aswayuja Krishna Chathurdasi along with Sunday and Swathi Nakshatra .Because it is Deepavali on that day, Mahalakshmi resides in the oil and Ganges in hot water .So if we want to remove poverty, oil bath on that day is essential. Then we have to wear new cloths and ornaments.(Please note that Swathi and Sunday will occur on Deepavali day only in rare cases)
That later part of night when Narakasura was killed by Lord Vishnu , we have to take oil bath so that we avoid going to Naraka (hell)
2.Yama:-
Ghee, mustard oil , scented oil with flowers and oil which has been boiled can be used for oil bath always. You should not take oil bath after shaving or hair cutting. After adding Ajya (Ghee) in oil, oil bath can be taken in days when it is barred also. If we put a leaf of Thulasi in the oil . the bad effects of Thidhi, Vara(day) and Nakshatra will not happen. But Oil bath should never be taken on a Dwadasi day.
3.Naaradeeya:-
Oh king, that man who provides help to 100 Brahmins to take oil bath , is considered as having taken bath in the Ganges for one hundred years. Understand that it is considered as great , if ladies can take oil bath on Fridays and Tuesdays
XVII. Nadheenaam Rajaswala Dosha
(The tainting of rivers by period)
Rivers in India are considered as women . It is believed that they too are tainted for three days in a year.
1.Brahmanda Purana:-
Godhavari, Bheema, Thunga Bhadra , Venika , Thapi, Payoshnike in the south of Vindhya mountains and Ganges , Narmada, Yamuna , Saraswathi, Vishoka , And Vidhastha to the north of the Vindhyas are the great rivers of India.
2.Naarasimha:-
Ganges, Yamuna , Godavari, Thunga Bhadra and Kaveri are considered as great rivers.
The rivers have periods on the first three days of Karkidaka month(July-August) and people are requested not to take bath in rivers during that period. From fourth day , they become as pure as the Ganges. Ganges does not have the tainted nature due to periods.
The rules for taking bath in the rivers are as follows. The man who carries Umbrella to the river looses quarter of the punya (result of good deeds) , he who wears slipper looses half the punya , he who travels in a palanquin to the river looses the entire punya. So even if you are rich, you should go to the sacred rivers as a common man. But if you are sick instead of a bullock cart, one can go in a cart drawn by a horse.
XVIII. Vasthra pareedhanam:
(Rules for dressing)
1.Haaritha:-
After reaching the shores from the water you have to wear two white cloths, one as a shoulder cloth (Uthareeya) These cloths should be clean, Then you have to wash your feet with water mixed with mud. You should not dry your hair by shaking.
While taking bath in the river, we should wear the dried cloth first and then remove the wet cloth underneath. When you are taking bath in a well (private places) , remove the wet cloth first (in the sky direction) , tie the dry upper cloth over your head like a turban , wear the sacred thread like a garland and then change cloths
2,Bhrugu:-
Dark red coloured cloths , blue cloths , black cloths, cloths without border and wet cloths should never be worn. Even cloths with blue or black border should not be worn.
People wearing cloth without tucking, One who does not tuck one side of the tail end of the cloth., people who tuck the portion in between instead of the tail end, , People who tuck cloth upwards , people who tuck cloths on the waist thread are considered as people who are not dressed.
Man without Katee Suthra (Waist thread) who does all dharmic rituals does not get any benefit from such rituals. He is also equivalent to a man without dress.
Man who does not wear a tucked cloth but wears it like Dhothi (lungi) and a man without upper cloth is considered as nude. ,. These people are not eligible to do rituals. If they do , it would be dear to the asuras.
A wet cloth shaken seven times is equivalent to a dry cloth. This is a Apath Dharma or a dharma where there is no other go.
You should sprinkle cloth with Shcheevo mantra , take it chanting Devasthava mantra , shake it chanting Avadhootha mantra , show it to Sun chanting either Dharani or Udhithya Manthra and wear it chanting Aavahanthi mantra.
3.Yoga Yagnavalkya:-
Bathing, giving charity, chanting of mantra, homa , chanting of Vedas , Tharpana , Sradha and taking meals should not be done with one cloth.
IXX.Pundra dharana Vidhi:-
(Rules of wearing sacred religious marks)
1,. Pangme:-
In this Kali Yuga, house of any one who has Gopi Chandana mud in his house, is considered as equivalent to Dwaraka.
Any one who is seen by a man wearing Gopi Chandana becomes pure. We have to wear Urdhva Pundra(Long mark) using Gopi Chandana.
2.Atharvana:-
You have to apply the long mark with Gopi Chandana, which indicates the feet of Lord Vishnu , for our benefit in the forehead and other places. By doing so one would become dear to that great Purusha called Narayana and he would become suitable for getting the reward of salvation.
3,Vasu deva Upanishad:-
The detailed method of applying Gopi Chandana is given here:-
First we have to salute Gopi Chandana and take it. And pray as follows:-
This Gopichandana which destroys all sin,
Has been born out of the body of Lord Vishnu,
Salutations to him who holds the holy wheel,
Please grant me salvation because of wearing this.
You have take water with the chant starting with “Imam may Varuna..” and because it came from the body of Vishnu you have to add water , kept in the left hand and make it a paste keeping it on the right hand . Then we have to chant thrice with the Rik starting with “ Devaa avanthu na..”and then pray the lord using,
Oh Achyutha who lives in Dwaraka,
Who holds the conch , wheel and the mace,
Oh Govinda who has as eyes like Lotus,
I surrender before you, please take care of me.
The householder should then chant the Vishnu Gayathri and , should take the Gopichandana using his ring finger and apply it , chanting the twelve names of Lord Vishnu starting with Kesava, on his own forehead, belly, chest, neck , right arm, right upper arm , left arm, left upper arm , left side of the neck , behind portion of the belly, and behind the neck. And then chanting the name ,“Vasudeva” he has to apply it on his head.
Vanaprastha and Brahmachari should apply chanting either Vishnu Gayathri or five names of Lord Krishna in forehead, neck, chest and upper arms.
The sanyasis called Kuteethaka, Bahoodhaka and Hamsa should apply it with the second finger on forehead, head and chest chanting “Om”.
The paramahamsa Sanyasi should apply it only on his forehead.
4.Vishnu Smrithi:-
Performing Yagna , Giving charity, doing meditation, doing Homa , Chanting of Vedas and doing Tharpanam for the manes without applying Urdhwa pundram is useless.
(please note that in many families such marks cannot be worn while doing Tharpana.)
Now the rules of Tripundra (Three lines using sacred ash)
Using the ash generated by fire , chanting the five mantras called Sathyojatha and also chanting the Manthra starting with “Agneerithi..”
Take the ash chanting “Manasthoke, “ mix it with water and put three lines each in forehead, chest and shoulders in the lateral fashion , and chant mantras starting with “triyayusham..” , “triyampadam..” etc. Wearing sacred ash like this is called Sambhavee vrutha and is very dear to Lord Shiva,
So any one desiring salvation, should definitely wear the sacred ash.
Those Brahmachari, learned man , householder, Vanaprastha and Sanyasi who wear tripundra would get rid of all their sins. They would have prayed all Gods by doing this. They would have been deemed to have taken bath in all sacred waters.
He who applies the sacred ash, will get all types of wealth. He would enjoy all types of pleasures. He would be considered equal to the one who has chanted all mantras of the Vedas. After death , he would not take birth in this world again. He would attain salvation. This is told by Kalagni Rudra.
5.Smrithi:-
Chanting the triyayusha mantra , you have to apply sacred ash in the forehead, two arms, belly , head and chest as well on both sides of the body. For applying this Sacred ash should be made in to a paste with water. This should definitely be done by all Brahmins knowing Vedas.
6.Kathyayana:-
We should wear sacred ash in Sradha, Yagna, meditation, Homa , Vaiswadeva and worship of Gods. Any ritual done without applying sacred ash is useless.
(In many families wearing sacred ash is forbidden while doing Sradha.)
7.Mahabharatha:-
All people desirous of long life, wealth and salvation should definitely wear sacred ash. This should be worn regardless of the Varna we belong to. Whether to wear Tripundra or Urdhwa pundra depends on the practices of our clan. We should not change it.
8.Smrithi Sangraha:-
Tripundra should be worn laterally using sacred ash. Urdhwa pundra should be worn using Gopichandana in a vertical fashion. You should not change this. But sandal paste can be worn vertically or laterally. We should never wear it in a circular fashion.
We should not wear ordinary ash or charcoal . We can wear Kumkum , if it is given as Prasada.
9.Vyasa:-
We should do all rituals wearing either Urdhwa Pundra or Tripundra. We should never do them with an empty forehead.