Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 298

THE NOONDAY SANDHYA
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The Noonday Sandhya
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The Brahmin, having performed his ablutions and tied
up the little lock of hair on the top of his head, traces one
of the usual marks on his forehead, and turning towards
the east, says
Vishnu the gods delight to look on the beauties of
your dwelling-place the sight charms them, they are never
tired of beholding it, they open wide their eyes, the better
to be able to contemplate it
Then, addressing the sun, he says
God of light God
of the day
You are the god of the planets and of all
that has life
you are the god who purifies men and blots
out all their transgressions, accept the worship that I offer
to you
He then says
Glory to the lesser worlds
Glory to Swarga
Glory
to the earth
Glory to Maha-loka
Glory to Tapo-loka
Glory to Yama-loka
Glory to Sattya-loka
It is by the
almighty power of the sun, the Supreme Being, that water,
light, amrita, Brahma with the four faces, and everything
that exists, have been created.'
Putting his left thumb on his right hand, he says
May everything in me, be it good or bad, commendable
or blameworthy, be purified bv the sun, the Supreme
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By
virtue of this prayer his sins are dried up.
Then,
closing up both his nostrils, he carries his thoughts back
to Krishna, the son of Nanda.
This thought causes sin
to tremble.
He must picture sin to himself under the form
of a black man with a horrible face.
Then, putting his
thumb to his left nostril, he recalls Siva, and says
Siva, who are the chief of evil spirits, save me from
punishment and put my sins to flight with your trident
Breathing strongly through his left nostril, he performs
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the achamania, and says
The water purifies the earth may the earth which
has been purified by the water take away all the sins
which I may have committed by eating after another
person, by partaking of forbidden food, by receiving gifts
This is really called Madhya-Vandana.
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