{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/db/bk11ch03.htm","path":"hin/db/bk11ch03.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk11ch03.htm","text":"THE ELEVENTH BOOK\nChapter III\nOn the glories of the Rudr\u00e2ksa beads\n1-21. S\u2019r\u00ee N\u00e2r\u00e2yana said :-- O N\u00e2rada! There are the six kinds of \u00c2chamana :-- (1) S\u2019uddha, (2) Sm\u00e2rta, (3) Paur\u00e2nik, (4) Vaidik, (5) T\u00e2ntrik and(6) S\u2019rauta. The act of cleaning after evacuating oneself of urine and faeces is known as S\u2019uddha S\u2019aucha. After cleaning, the \u00c2chaman, that is\nperformed according to rules, is named as Sm\u00e2rta and Paur\u00e2nik. In places where the Brahm\u00e2 Yaj\u00f1a is performed, the Vaidik and S\u2019rauta \u00c2chamanas are done. And where acts, e.g., the knowledge of warfare are being executed, the T\u00e2ntrik \u00c2chaman is done. Then he is to remember the G\u00e2yatr\u00ee Mantra with Pranava (Om) and fasten the lock of hair on the crown of his head, thus controlling all the hindrances (Bighna Bandhanam). Sipping again, he is to touch his heart, two arms, and his two shoulders. After sneezing, spitting, touching the lower lip with teeth, accidentally telling a lie, and talking with a very sinful man, he is to touch his right ear (where the several Devas reside). On the right ear of the Br\u00e2hmanas reside Fire, Water, the Vedas, the Moon, the Sun, and the V\u00e2yu (wind). Then one is to go to a river or any other reservoir of water, and there to perform one's morning ablutions and to cleanse his body thoroughly. For the body is always unclean and dirty and various diets are being excreted out of the nine holes (doors) in the body. The morning bath removes all these impurities. Therefore the morning bath is essentially necessary. The sins that arise from going to those who are not fit for such purposes, from accepting gifts from impure persons or from the practice of any other secret vices all are removed by the morning ablutions. Without this bath, no acts bear any fruit. Therefore everyday, this morning bath is very necessary. Taking the Kus'a grass in hand, one is to perform one's bath and Sandhy\u00e2. If for seven days, the morning ablutions are not taken, and if for three days, the Sandhy\u00e2s are not performed, if for twelve days, the daily Homas be not performed, the Br\u00e2hmanas become S\u2019\u00fbdras. The time for making the Homa in the morning is very little; therefore lest ablutions be done fully which would take a long time and hence the time for the Homa might elapse, the morning bath should be performed quickly. After the bath the Pr\u00e2n\u00e2y\u00e2ma is to be done. Then the full effects of bath are attained. There is nothing holier in this world or in the next than reciting the G\u00e2yatr\u00ee. It saves the singer who sings the G\u00e2yatr\u00ee; hence it is called G\u00e2yatr\u00ee. During the time of Pr\u00e2n\u00e2y\u00e2ma, one must control one's Pr\u00e2na and Ap\u00e2na V\u00e2yus, i.e., make them equal. The Br\u00e2hmin, knowing the Vedas and devoted to his Dharma, must practise Pr\u00e2n\u00e2y\u00e2ma three times with the repetition of G\u00e2yatr\u00ee and Pranava and the three Vy\u00e2rhitis (Om Bhu, Om Bhuvar, Om Svah).\nWhile practising, the muttering of G\u00e2yatr\u00ee is to be done three times. In Pr\u00e2n\u00e2y\u00e2ma, the Vaidik mantra is to be repeated, never a Laukika Mantra is to be uttered. At the time of Pr\u00e2n\u00e2y\u00e2ma, if anybody's mind be not fixed, even for a short while, like a mustard seed on the apex of a cow-horn, he cannot save even one hundred-and one persons in his father's\nor in his mother's line. Pr\u00e2n\u00e2y\u00e2ma is called Sagarbha when performed with the repetition of some mantra; it is called Agarbha when it is done simply with mere meditation, without repeating any mantra. After the bathing, the Tarpanam with its accompaniments, is to he done; i.e., the peace offerings are made with reference to the Devas, the Risis, and the Pitris (whereby we invoke the blessings from the subtle planes where the highsouled persons dwell). After this, a clean pair of clothes is to be worn and then he should get up and come out of the water. The next things preparatory to practise Japam are to wear the Tilaka marks of ashes and to put on the Rudr\u00e2ksa beads. He who holds thirty-two Rudr\u00e2ksa beads on his neck, forty on his head, six on each ear (12 on two ears), twenty four beads on two hands (twelve on each hand) thirty-two beads on two arms (sixteen on each), one bead on each eye and one bead on the hair on the crown, and one hundred and eight beads on the breast, (251 in all) becomes himself Mah\u00e2 Deva. One is expected to use them as such. O Muni! You can use the Rudr\u00e2ksas after tieing, stringing together with gold or silver always on your S\u2019ikh\u00e2, the tuft of hair on the head or on your ears. On the holy thread, on the hands, on the neck, or on the belly (abdomen) one can keep the Rudr\u00e2ksa after one has repeated sincerely and with devotion the five lettered mantra of S\u2019iva, or one has repeated the Pr\u00e2n\u00e2va (Om). Holding the Rudr\u00e2ksa implies that the man has realised the knowledge of S\u2019iva Tattva. O Brahm\u00e2n! The Rudr\u00e2ksa bead that is placed on the tuft or on the crown hair represents the T\u00e2ra tattva, i.e., Om K\u00e2ra; the Rudr\u00e2ksa beads that are held on the two ears are to be thought of as Deva and Dev\u00ee, (S\u2019iva and S\u2019iv\u00e2).\n22-37. The one hundred and eight Rudr\u00e2ksa beads on the sacrificial thread are considered as the one hundred and eight Vedas (signifying the Full Knowledge, as sixteen digits of the Moon completed; on the arms, are considered as the Dik (quarters); on the neck, are considered as the Dev\u00ee Sarasvat\u00ee and Agni (fire). The Rudr\u00e2ksa beads ought to be taken by men of all colours and castes. The Br\u00e2hmanas, Ksattriyas and Vais'yas should hold them after purifying them with Mantras, i.e., knowingly; whereas the S\u2019\u00fbdras can take them without any such purification by the Mantras, i.e., unknowingly. By holding or putting on the Rudr\u00e2ksa beads, persons become the Rudras incarnate in flesh and body. There is no doubt in this. By this all the sins arising from seeing, hearing, remembering, smelling, eating prohibited things, talking incoherently, doing prohibited things, etc., are entirely removed with the Rudr\u00e2ksa beads on the body; whatever acts, eating, drinking, smelling, etc., are done, are, as it were, done by Rudra Deva Himself. O Great Muni! He who feels\nshame in holding and putting on the Rudr\u00e2ksa beads, can never be freed from this Sams\u00e2ra even after the Koti births. He who blames another person holding Rudr\u00e2ksa beads has defects in his birth (is a bastard). There is no doubt in this. It is by holding on Rudr\u00e2ksa that Brahm\u00e2 has remained steady in His Brahm\u00e2hood untainted and the Munis have been true to their resolves. So there is no act better and higher than holding the Rudr\u00e2ksa beads. He who gives clothing and food to a person holding Rudr\u00e2ksa beads with devotion is freed of all sins and goes to the S\u2019iva Loka. He who feasts gladly any holder of such beads at the time of S\u2019r\u00e2dh, goes undoubtedly to the Pitri Loka. He who washes the feet of a holder of Rudr\u00e2ksa and drinks that water, is freed of all sins and resides with honour in the S\u2019iva Loka. If a Br\u00e2hmana holds with devotion the Rudr\u00e2ksa beads with a necklace and gold, he attains the Rudrahood. O Intelligent One! Wherever whoever holds with or without faith and devotion the Rudr\u00e2ksa beads with or without any mantra, is freed of all sins and is entitled to the Tattvaj\u00f1\u00e2na. I am unable to describe fully the greatness of the Rudr\u00e2ksa beads. In fact, all should by all means hold the Rudr\u00e2ksa beads on their bodies.\nNote :-- The number one hundred and eight (108) signifies the One Hundred and Eight Vedas, the Brahm\u00e2n, the Source of all Wisdom and Joy.\nHere ends the Third Chapter of the Eleventh Book on the glories of the Rudr\u00e2ksa beads in the Mah\u00e2 Puranam S\u2019r\u00ee Mad Dev\u00ee Bh\u00e2gavatam of 18,000 verses by Mah\u00e2rsi Veda Vy\u00e2sa.","title":"The Devi Bhagavatam: The Eleventh Book: Chapter 3","type":"page"}