Pushkarmuni Abhinandan Granth

Author(s): Devendramuni, A D Batra, Shreechand Surana
Publisher: Rajasthankesari Adhyatmayogi Upadhyay Shree Pushkar Muni Abhinandan Granth Prakashan Samiti

Page 1163

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थी पुष्करमुनि अभिनन्दन ग्रन्थ : नवम खण्ड
life-span of all the individuals with a religio-spiritual curriculum defining his conduct, routine and occasional, for every day and round the year and providing for the programme of domestic as well as temple rituals with daily rites and seasonal and occasional festivals (nitya and naimittika utsavas). The entire scheme though rotating round the idol-worship incorporates various actions where the devotee has to shut his eyes. The religio-spiritual diary (Pancakālaprakriyā) prescribed by the Pāñcarātra scriptures has a hoary past and has been praised even by its critics like Adi Sankaräcārya as 'Ideal diary'. The Pancakalaprakriyā divides a day (i. e., day and night) into five parts and assigns some duty to be performed by the devotee in that period. This topic, though a short one, is found in many samhitäs in almost identical manner. It would be useful to proceed on the lines of this diary item by item lingering wherever the introvert would like as to and skipping over elsewhere.
The five divisions viz. (1) Abhigamana, (2) Upādāna, (3) liya, (4) Svādhyāya and (5) Yoga, are assigned for five tasks. The first covers the period before sunrise, beginning from Brāhma-muhurta i. e., early dawn; the fifth take the earlier portion of the night after the sunset. The second and third accommodate themselves upto noon and the fourth ranges from noon to sunset.
The first i.e., abhigamana or 'approach to the Almighty'with ardent surrender coupled with japa i.e., muttering of the divine name, dhyana or meditation and stotra or laudations. Immediately after breaking sleep while about half of the night is yet to pass, the devotee should meditate upon the Supreme Power and offer prayers to purify one's actions throughout the day." The action of dhyāna may fall directly under introverts' region; but the japa and Stotra are at least on border. Surrender unto the Lord (Vişnu) with various names is more important. This period exclusively aims at a direct contact between the God and the devotee; it is a pretty long time when one finds seclusion and solitude coupled with quietude of time and atmosphere. During this period, almost everyone is required to be an introvert at least for a while.
The secod portion called Upådāna is reserved for purely a mechanical activity of equipment of the idol worship. Having done this, the devotee is to embark on the ritual of worship technically called lijyäkāla, covering late hours of the forenoon. The Puja especially that in the temple and that took at the time of festivals in renowned shrines is a meticulous process of very many mechanical activities. However, it includes some processes wherein the performer has to shut his eyes so as to yoke his inner faculties. Two such topics which rather form independent units, and which have received a fair treatment in the Samhitās are the 'Bhūtasuddhi' or 'Elemental purification' and 'Manasayaga' or 'worship-within'. The first comes under ljjyā no doubt but actually may be treated as the finishing touch to the Upādāna activity which has a double mission--collection of materials and their purification even the body purification of the devotee. Bhūtasuddhi aims at purification of the elements which go to form the body. The Manasayåga is the first part of the lijyā wherein the entire function is performed with closed eyes with all abstract aid. Having done this, he is eligible to go on with the Sodasopacārapūjā.
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Bhūtasuddhi-Elemental Purification
External bath and cleansing alone does not render the human body completely pure so as to make fit for worship. Evil thought, speech and actions too go on besmearing the body particles with impurities. Agamas provide with a highly scientific and technical process for overhauling the entire body constitution and rejuvinating it every time before the performance of the Pūjā, since it is a must in accomplishing an atmosphere of purity, piety, sanctity, and serenity in the sanctum sanctorium, where the Lord is to be invoked to come and