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Manthra /Maanasa/ Mukhya/GowNa SnAnams

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V. Sadagopan • December 21, 1997 


Iswara Samvathsaram , Maargazhi 6
KrishNa paksham , Sapthami
Poora Nakshthram 
PuLLum Silambina KaaNN Thiruppavai day
December 21 , 1997 

Dear BhakthAs of Sriman NaarAyaNA  : 

I will translate the manthrams of Maanasa  SnAnam 
as per the request of Sri Gopalaswamy in this posting .

As a part of sadAchAram and anushtAnam , Sri VaishNavAs 
have prescribed rules for performing their daily abolutions
( snAnams ) to prepare  themselves properly  for 
the daily AarAdhanams for their Lord , Sriman NaarAyaNA . 

Vangipuram Nampi , who was a direct disciple
of AchArya RaamAnujA received instructions  from his guru 
on Sri ViashNava DiancharyA and elaborated on his AchAryA's 
Nithya Grantham in his kArikai . Swami Desikan covered many of 
these topics related to SnAnam mainly in his PaancharAthra 
RakshA , Saccharithra RakshA and briefly in Srimadh 
Rahasya Traya Saaram ( SaadhyOpAya SodhanAdhikAram
and PrabhAva vyavasthAthikAram chapters ) .

In Sri Sannidhi ( AhObila Matam sampradhAyam ) , 
the 26th Jeeyar ( SrivaNN SatakOpa Sri RanganAtha
SatakOPa Yatheendhra MahA Desikan ) blessed us
with a grantham revered as " VaishNava SadAchAra 
NirNayam " to enhance Jn~Anam , AnushtAnam and
Athma GuNams . The 42nd Jeeeyar ( Injimettu Azhagiya
Singar ) edited the original text and corrected the mistakes
that had crept in and rereleased this grantham of Sri Sannidhi .

The current Jeeyar ( SrivaNN SatakOpa Sri NaaRAyaNa 
Yatheendhra MahA Desikan ) released a magnificiently
rich edition of the Ahnika Grantham of the 26 th and 42nd 
Jeeyar for our benefit in 1990 . Those who wish to obtain 
additional information are referred to these mula granthams.
I will summarize briefly the different types of SnAnams and 
the meaning of the manthrams of Maanasa SnAnam here .
The Major categories of SnAnams are of two kinds ;
Mukhya SanAnam and GowNa SnAnam . There are 
subcategories under them , which we will not cover here . 

Manthra SnAnam precedes Maanasa SnAnam . 
The Manthra SnAnam starts with " Om ApOhishTA
mayO bhuva: an dends with " Om ApO janayathA cha na: " 
There are 9 manthrams here and appropriate 
sprinkling of water ( PrOkshaNams ) here on
the head , heart and foot regions . The Maanasa SnAnam 
starts thereafter . Manasa SnAnam is the most sacred of
all snAnams according to our AchAryAs . Swami Desikan
states with authority, " Maanasam VishNu chinthanam " .
For those , who is unable to perform VaaruNa SnAnam
( Taking a bath by immersion in water ) due to illness
or other inconveniences , Manasa SnAnam is vital . It 
is also performed before wearing Urdhva Pundrams and 
PrAtha: SandhyA Vandhanam .  

One should meditate upon AkAsa GangA that flowed from
the scred feet of Trivikraman falling on our head  and entering
our body through Brahma Randhram ( a sacred cavity in our
head ) and permeate all through our inside and then flow 
outside and cleanse us of all dirts and blemishes . At that time ,
we should meditate on the glorious subhAsrayam ( ThirumEni )
of Sriman NaarAyaNA  from His lotus feet to the sacred Thirumudi .
Then the  Maanasa SnAna Slokams are recited . 

First SlOkam : khasthitham -----

Khasthitham = One who resides in Sri Vaikuntam
PundareekAksham = One who has the eyes similar to the Red 
                                        lotus in its beauty and softness (
SenthAmaraik
                                        - KaNNan 
ManthramUrthim = One who is the embodiment of PanchOpanishad
                                    manthrams 
Harim SmarEth= One should reflect on Hari of these attributes .

AnanthAdhithya SankAsam VaasudEvam Chathur Bhujam =
( We should meditate on Him ) , who has the lustre of limitless
AdhithyAs ( Suns ) and who is the VaasudEva Murthy with four
arms . 

SlOkam 2 : 
Sankha Chakra gadhA dhAriNam vanamAlinam I
syAmalam Saantha Hrudhayam divya PeethambharAvrutham II

He is the One fit for meditation with Paanchajanyam , Sudarsanam ,
divine mace and a beautiful red lotus in His four hands. He is wearing
a fragrant garland known as VanamAlai ( Garland made of wild
flowers of the forest ) . He has the hue of a dark green mountain 
( Pacchai maamalai pOl mEni ) . He has the most compassionate
and tranquil disposition ( Hrudhayam ) . He wears the divine
golden yellow garment in His waist ( PeethAmbharam ) . 
( That is how we should meditate on Him )

SlOkam 3 : 
divya Chandhana lipthAngam ChaaruhAsam subhEkshaNam I
anEka rathna samchannam spuran makara Kundalam II

He has divine sandal paste smeared on His limbs ; 
He has the most captivating smile ; He has the benovolent
glances that banish all inauspiciousness ; His body is hidden 
under the many pieces of divine jewelery adorning Him ; His 
ears are resplendent with shining Makara kundalams .

SlOkam 4 :
NaaradhAdhibhirAsEvyam bhAsvadhvimala kankaNam I
SakinkiNaeeka kEyUradhAiNam makuTojvalam II

He is surrounded by Sages like NaaradhA who are 
eulogizing Him .He is wearing the resplendent 
bracelets ( KankaNams ) on His wrists. He is further 
adorned by KinkiNee ( silampu with bells as ankle 
ornaments ) and upeer arm jewelery ( KEyUrams) and 
looks beautiful . On His  head rests the splendidly
radiant crown . 

SlOkam 5 :
Dhvaja vajrAnkusa lakshya Paadha padmam sunirmalam I
tath paadhapadmajAm GangAm nipathantheem svamUrdhani II

As the supreme Lord , the soles of His lotus feet carry the insignia 
of Flag , Vajram ( Ayudham , the back bone of sage Marichee) ,
and Goad ; those sacred feet are pristinely pure and destroy
every kind of inauspiciousness . From those lotus feet flows
the sacred GangA and that pravAham falls on my head .

SlOkam 6 :

cinthayEdh brahmarandhrENa pravisantheem svikAm thanum I
tayA samkshAlitham dhyAyEdh bhAyamAbhayantharam malam II

That sacred Ganga should be meditated upon as entering
one's body through the brahma randhram ( cavity in the head ) ,
flowing  through out the inside and outside of the body and 
removing  all malams ( sins and blemishes) . 

Ithyuktham Maanasam SnAnam sarva snAnAdhikam param I
Ithi Maanasa SnAnam KuryAth II

This is the Maanasa SnAnaanam prescribed 
by the sacred ones ( Sages ) as the best among all
kinds of abolutions to prepare oneself for Bhagavdh 
ArAdhanam and Kaimkaryam  .

Subhamasthu , Saanthirasthu 
Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan