Pavitra Aropana

By : Smt. Meera Tadipatri






Pavitra Aropana is a vaidika puje mentioned in the Pancharatra Agama as "kartavyam". In the work called Smruti Muktavali authored by Pujya Sri Krishnacharya, this puje is explained under Kalanirnaya Prakaranam as Pavitra Dvadashi.

[It is also mentioned the Dharma Sindhu, dvitiya parichcheda, under shravana maasa vratas.
Dharma Sindhu is  a compilation of all vaidika karmas from Agamas. The vaidika karmas along with mantras are common to all the followers of Vedas. However, the day of observation of certain vratas and the "fasting" kramas vary in our sampradaaya in case of Ekadashi, Shivaratri etc. As for the compilation, it was done by an Advaiti, so we take the puja vidhana alone from it and understand it in line with Shastra as told by our Acharya].

On Pavitra Aropana day, Bimbarupi [in dweller] Bhagavan called Pavitra is specially worshipped in the pratima/vigraha that is kept in the puja. It is one of the Bruhati Sahasra Pratipadya Rupa of Vishnu, and thus chanted as one of the namas in Vishnu Sahasra Nama. This bimbarupi is also present in our NaDi in a special way that those who think about Him also become "pavitra" as per yogyata. Though every nama is "pavitra", and capable of giving "paavitre" to us, it is vishesha when done on a particular day mentioned in Agamas. Hence this puje.

The Vishesha, here is that by doing this puje and wearing [aropanam] this "pavitra" around the neck [ "atha vaxye Nrusimhasya pavitra-aropam" ] removes all kinds of past defects -- kaayika, maanasika, vaachika doshas that would have occurred while doing all prior pujas done so far in this samvastsara, and makes us "pavitra". The prayer is with gratitude [for making us do and remember this puje] and seek His anugraha to prevent such things happening in future by showering His anugraha with this rupa present in us. The same rupa is invoked in this bAhya puje that we do on this day.

Not thinking of this Pavitra Namaka Bhagavan, makes all prior puja phala as nishphala!

1. When to do this Puja?
Shravana Shukla dvadashi is Uttama. Failing which Bhadrapada shukla dvadashi is next best.

Silk thread is best and the next best is cotton thread.

2. What is the basic procedure
Adhikari-s  [first by praying to Guru as a way of anujna which is nothing but "OM" -- Let Lord Keshava be with us in a blessing manner] should first do the usual Devara puje. Along with other vastus for puje, in a plate preferably that of biDuru [veNu pAtra], silk threads are placed to the right of "Bhagavan". The threads are prepared on the prior day itself.

The thread should be minimum 3 yellow strands/eLe [ and in multiples of 3 like 9, or 108 where 108 is uttama and symbolic of Bhagavat rupas]. Make sure it is devoid of dirt or hair particles. The elders should color it with mangala vastu like haldi thinking of Vishnu.

Using these 3 strands, knots are made, as with any vrata threads, symbolizing the sannidhana of Bhagavat Rupas in the count of 12 or 24 or 36 knots [ 36 uttama; 24 madhyama and 12 minimum]. The 12 rupas are: Vishva, Taijasa, Prajna, Turya, Atma, Antaratma, Paramatma, Jnanaatma, Vasudeva Sankarshana, Pradhyumna Aniruddha. To this if you add dashavatara + Ananta and Vishvarupa [like in avarana puje] it is 24 and for 36, add the three vyahruti pratipadya Aniruddha, Pradyumna, Vasudeva plus Prajapati Vasudeva for the rest. The shodasha upachara puje should be done.

The length of the thread should be enough to cover from the vigraha's [or any pratika like picture ] neck to nabhi, knees, upto pADa like vanamaala.

There is a procedure mantra associated with the puja it and it can be learnt from adhikaris.

Samarpane to God with prarthana:
deva deva namastubhyam gruhANedaM pavitrakam
pavitri karaNArthAya varshha pujA phala pradaM

देव देव नमस्तुभ्यम् गृहाणेदं पवित्रकम्पवित्रि करणार्थाय वर्ष पुजा फल प्रदं

3. Who should wear it?
The 3 strand of  tora should be worn by both braahmana men and women. ["yoshhitAm api" ]

Dharana Method:
After placing it to Laxmi Narayana, it should be offered to Mukhyaprana. Then, with smarane of the presence of all devatas inside our dehas along with our in-dweller Laxmi Narasimha, offer it to others, and wear it by chanting the dharana mantra:

pavitram vaishnavam tejaH sarva vighNa nivAraNam
pujA shhADgunya siddyarthaM mama ange dhArayAmyahaM

पवित्रम् वैश्नवम् तेजः सर्व विघ्न निवारणम्
पुजा षाड्ग़ुण्य सिध्यर्थं मम अंगे धारयाम्यहं

The short procedure:

Instead of getting fatigued by all these and skipping it alogether, the least one can do is,keep these threads, and do the usual devara puje thinking Bhagavat Rupas of Narayana, Vasudeva and Vishnu followed by 24 Keshavadi namas in the strands as avahane with axate/water and pray them as the dharaka and raxaka of us all and make us pavitra by staying in keeping His sannidhana in this tora Do samarpane [mentioned abvove] to the Lord by placing it on the pratima/picture and then wearing it [with the dharane mantra].

Even if this "kaayika karma" is too much in this fast paced world due to time and availability of resources, one can easily do what our Dasaru has highlighted as "anusandana" thinking on the nama-rupa-gunas of the vishesha rupa of the Bimbarupi Bhagavan that is worshipped on this special day.

As mentioned in Narayana Varma [# 28 and 30], Bhagavan's all naama-rUpa will become as a weapon and protect us from our internal and external enemies.

Bhagavat nama kirtane : Chanting or listening of Bhagavat nAma [with basic understanding of its gunas] will protect us by removing all doshas that come thr' ears and mouth [thr' shabdas] and will make us hear and utter ONLY as Bhagavat-nAmas [ as a niyaamaka in everything].

Bhagavat Rupa chintane: This will protect us as astra in removing all doshas that come thr' the eyes [our eyes and from others eyes aka druhTi dosha] and make us SEE Bhagavan inside everything
[hosa kANNu]

Bhagavat Ayudha: They remove all doshas coming from touch thr' hands [ours and others] and protects us and our life.

Bhagavat Vahana: They protect all the doshas coming from movement thr' legs and protects us.

Not only that but also all other doshas -- coming from various means [sarva-apadbhaya] through our indriyas into the mind causing fear and thus affecting our buddhi from functioning so much so it reduces our very "existence/praana" itself as if it is "dead". Such condition is totally  REMOVED by thinking of Bimbarupi's nama-rupa-vahana-ayudha.

Thus let us pray our Bimbarupi as Pavitra. He is "Pavitra" and gives Pavitra to us when we think about Him in this manner. He is our raxaka.

Pavi means diamond implying very precious. Sajjanas or those who think about Him [in-dweller] are precious to Him as diamonds. He always protects sajjanas just like how we keep our precious things like "diamond" safe.

Pavi also means diamond like prescious shabda meaning vedas and He protects those who make effort to know Him thr' vedas and the texts in line with vedas.

He is present not only in Devendra [who is the niyamaka for this month] but also in Indra's ayudha called Vajra-ayudha and protects the sajjanas.

He is Pavitra:
pa = meaning He always "drinks" His own svarupa-ananada.
Vi = veti sarvam meaning knower of everything
tra = gives birth and protects everyone.

Note:
Shraavana Dvadashi is a very auspicious day. We, vaishnavas/Vaidhikas have several vrata puje and over the passage of time, it has been almost lost with just a handful remaining now. So, out of kaarunya, God has given this special Ekadashi day to make these "pavitra" -- silk or cotton thread in multiples of 3. It being so thin as "hair", usually one thread in market itself is made of several layers. Thus, back home they have 60x3 threads and in each you make knots of 12/24/36 thinking as you gather the threads and knot with bhagavat rupa. When you knot, each knot invariably runs through 60-180 threads! Thus the whole of ekadashi you think of "Hari Nama Smarana" -- this is not only a prAyashchitta for missing all vaidhika vratas but also enhances "dharma" in us for upliftment. On Dvadashi, we offer it to Laxmi Narayana and accept it as His prasaada from the one who does this offering. This complets not only year long puja from prior Shravana maasa [paurnami which is hayagriva jayanthi] to this Shraavana. This is what is hinted in Sri Narayana Varma that prayer to Hayagriva removes insult to God "hayashIrshho mAM pathi devaheLanAt.h |"

There was a question how to observe this important puje if one missed it today. Here is the response:
Yes, indeed. The whole year puja, Japa, yajna, daana, tapas, upavaasa -- every satkarma samarpane is today and mukhyapraanantargata Sri Hayagriva rupa bhavagantha removes all lopa dosha and does svikaara of this by giving purna phala.
From today to Poornima which is Hayaghriva Jayanthi, we do this puje.
As assured in Gita, # 2.40, Vishnu puje is very simple and easy when you do the puje without  material desire in mind/vaak! 
Even the thought of this puje, one gets God's raxane!
Even the sankalpa He gets pleased!
There are 28 names of Sri Hari -- this covers every mantra as these rupas  are the Raxakas of all mantras. After washing feet, hands, mouth --called "panchanga snaana" -- this is equivalent to doing snaana, just chant these names. Avoid going to parties/fun activities today. 
1. Vishva, Laxmi sahita [for all the following]
2. Taijasa
3. Prajya
4. Turiya
5. Atma
6. Antaratma
7. Paramaatma
8. Jnanaatma
9. Vasudeva
10.Sankarshana
11. Pradyumna
12. Aniruddha
13 Matsya
14.Kurma
15.Varaha
16. Narasimha
17. Vamana
18. Parashuraama
19. Rama
20. Krishna
21. Buddha
22. Kalki
23. Anantha
24. Vishvarupa
25. Agni antargata Aniruddha
26. Vayu antargata Pradyumna
27. Surya antargata Sankarshhana
28. Prajapati antargata Vasudeva


Reference:
Smruti Muktavali, Kalanirnaya Prakarana
VSN Shabdartha by Pujya Sri Bannanje Acharya
Dharma Sindhu
Yugadi to yugadi by Sri Srimushnam Nagarajacharya

Shri KrishNArpaNamastu.

Other Puje / Vratas Link

Comments

  1. Thanks for your detailed info, was really useful, appreciate it.

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