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Swami Vivekananda and all great
teachers have said that purification of mind is more important
than that of body. Purification of the mind is achieved with good
thoughts with benevolence to all. Only the energies from the
Divine termed as Divine waters or āpaĥ have the capacity of
purifying us. Obviously āpaĥ in the Veda is not physical
water. Ritualists sprinkle themselves with water while reciting
these mantrās.
Worship begins with a brief prayer
achutāya namaĥ.
anantāya namaĥ.
govindāya namaĥ.
Salutation to the Indestructible,
Salutation to the Infinite, Salutation of the manifestor of
knowledge in all. [go means knowledge]
There are four verses in this
step.
Three mantras from the Rig Veda
Samhita (10.9.1) through (10.9.3) are used, addressed to the
Divine Energies or Waters.
The fourth one is from the Shukla
Yajur Veda (23.32), also in Krishna Yajur Veda. It is addressed to
the Divine Horse, symbol of the divine Pranic Energy.
Purification mantrās
Verse 1: 
āpo hi şhţhā mayo bhuvaĥ tā na
uurje dadhātana mahe raņāya chakşhase.
RV (10.9.1)
O Waters, you are the source of all
happiness; Bestow on us the great strength, So that we may have
the vision of the supreme.
Explanation:
It is not possible for us to have
the vision of the Supreme till all of our bodies, physical and
subtle are ready. RV (9.83.1) tells us that a body which is not
prepared by the practice of tapas will break down at the onset of
certain spiritual experience. Hence the rishi prays to the
currents of power, āpaĥ, to strengthen all our bodies so
that these subtle bodies can sustain the forces which enter the
body. Then we could have the vision of the Supreme Divine.
Verse 2: 
yo vaĥ
shivatamo rasaĥ, tasya bhājayateha naĥ ushatīriva mātaraĥ.
RV (10.9.2)
In that auspicious joy of yours,
Make us participate in this very life, Like fond mothers
(nourishing their children).
Verse 3
tasmā aram gamāma vaĥ yasya kş hayāya
jinvatha āpo janayathā cha naĥ.
RV (10.9.3)
May we attain to that satisfactory
state of consciousness, Which you are pleased to grant us. Endow
on us the divine energies.
Additional Verse for
purification: 
dadhikrāvņņo akārişham
jishņorashvasya vājinaĥ,
surabhi no mukhākarat praņa
āyūmşhi tārişhat.
I make obeisance to the Supreme
Person who supports, rules and sustains all the worlds, who is
ever victorious and who symbolises the Divine Pranic energy in the
form of a horse (hayagrīva). May He make us fragrant with
knowledge. May He protect our lives continuously.
ref: RV (4.39.6)
and Shukla Yajur Veda (23.32), Krishna Yajurveda (1.5.11) &
(7.4.19). |
