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Two of the important segments featuring in the procedure of Deva pooja are...
"Kalasha pooja" and "Shankha pooja".
To perform abhisheka, naivedya and for other activities
we store water into either the Kalasha or the Shankha and
invoke the Lord. Then we use it for the rest of the deva pooja activities.
For the water to be used for such purposes to achieve purity,
hygiene and defense from evil entities,
we employ the practice of 'Shanmudra Pradarshana' for the Kalashodaka and Shankhodaka.
'Shanumdra' or equivalently when split in Samskrita as 'Shat' 'Mudra'
refers to the display of six gestures.
Today, let us learn the specialties,
the techniques of displaying these Mudras which are used for the purposes of achieving purity.
The first one - "NirvisheekaraNartham tarkshya mudram pradarshayami"
with this statement we display what is known as the 'Tarkshya' mudra.
Tarkshya refers to the symbol of Garuda (the vehicle of Sri Hari).
With this symbol we pray that any toxic (harmful) substances in the water
to be used for Kalasha pooja or shankha pooja be removed.
This Tarkshya mudra is a gesture that appears to be in the form of Garuda.
I'll show the technique of displaying it step-by-step...
For this, both palms are outstretched...
first, the baby fingers are intertwined...
then the palms are swung inward...
and then the index fingers are also intertwined
next, the thumbs are held touching each other
and finally, the two remaining fingers are stretched out
in opposite directions to resemble the wings of Garuda (eagle)
and this is what is known as the Tarkshya mudra.
Let me show that again...
in the outstretched palms, the baby fingers are intertwined
and both the palms are swung inward
and then the index fingers are also intertwined
with the thumbs held touching each other downwards
and when the two remaining fingers are stretched out
in opposite directions, it is what is the Tarkshya Mudra
in the form of an eagle.
"I display Tarskshya Mudra for it's de-toxicating effects".
After this, the second gesture is the 'Dhenu Mudra'.
"AmruteekaraNartham dhenu mudram pradarshayami"
That is, 'let this water achieve immortality (non-destructible)'
let this water achieve purity similar to cow's milk...
And for that reason, the Dhenu mudra.
The word 'Dhenu' means cow. With the gesture resembling
the udders of a cow we pray for the 'Amrutatva' or
indestructibility of the water taken.
Dhenu mudra is a gesture that appears to take the form of
the udders of a cow. From the top view, this is how it appears.
Let us learn the technique of displaying the Dhenu mudra.
For displaying the Dhenu mudra, we enjoin two sets of
our fingers as shown. The first two fingers in one set and
the other two in the other set.. and then,
the two fingers are connected by a 'cross-over'.
The index finger joining the middle finger - like this
and the middle finger joins the other index finger.
In the same way, the last two fingers as well -
the ring finger joins the baby finger
and the other ring finger joins the other baby finger
and the thumbs are held touching each other,
that is Dhenu mudra.
Let's watch again -
first, the two sets of fingers are separated...
then, the index fingers are joined with the middle fingers
in a cross-over... and then
the baby fingers and ring-fingers are held in a cross-over
and the thumbs are held touching each other
that is the display of the Dhenu mudra.
"AmruteekaraNartham dhenu mudram pradarshayami"
After this, as the third one,
"PavitreekaraNartham shankha mudram pradarshayami"
may this shankhodaka or kalashodaka,
obtain the purity of the actual Shankha itself...
for this reason, we invoke the same Shankha mudra to purify the water.
Shankha mudra - is in the form of a conch.
The technique of displaying this form of Shankha is -
this is a rather easy technique...
stretch both palms outward, facing upward...
then place the thumb of the right hand inside the left palm
and enclose by curling with the other fingers
and finally, when the fingers of the right hand
are held touching the thumb of the left hand
this takes the shape of a conch.
This is Shankha Mudra.. used for the purpose of purification.
Let's watch again -
place the thumb of the right hand inside the left palm
in the centre of the left palm...
and enclose by curling with the other fingers
and the remaining fingers of the right hand
are held touching the thumb of the left hand
then this takes the form of a conch...
this is what is known as the Shankha mudra.
"I display the Shankha mudra for the purposes of purification".
After this, the fourth gesture is the Chakra Mudra.
"SamrakshaNartham chakra mudram pradarshayami"
The way Shri Hari's Sudarshana Chakra protects all noble people, in the same way
we pray to obtain protection [from evil forces] for our water.
Chakra mudra is a gesture that looks like a disk.
To display the Chakra mudra... even this is a simple technique...
the palms are arranged in this fashion -
one on top of the other and facing opposite directions
they are aligned and conjoined this way
and the left thumb is connected to the right baby finger
and the right thumb is connected to the left baby finger
this way - when the extreme fingers are joined, and then
the remaining fingers on each hand overlapping the other
palm completely, then that becomes the Chakra mudra.
The two palms are held stretched in opposite directions
and the extreme fingers - one thumb touching the other
baby finger and vice-versa,and the remaining fingers
of one hand completely overlap the other palm...
then it becomes the Chakra mudra.
"I display the Chakra mudra for the purposes of defense and protection".
After this, the fifth gesture is the Gada mudra used
for restriction [to evil entities] from all directions.
With the intent of providing 'digbandhana' to the
Kalashodaka or Shankhodaka let us display the Gada mudra.
Gada mudra takes the form of a mace.
To display the Gada mudra, the two palms are joined,
all the other fingers except the index fingers are folded
and the index fingers are held touching each other,
this is what is the Gada mudra.
It is a very simple gesture -
the two palms are joined, and all the other
fingers except the index fingers are folded
this is what becomes the Gada mudra.
By doing this, we pray for digbandhana to the holy water saying
"Digbandhanartham gada mudram pradarshayamaha"
And finally,
"Jala shodheekaraNartham padma mudram pradarshayami"
When we observe the objects in the four hands of Shri hari,
we should invoke the form of 'Shankha-chakra-gada-padma' dhara Shri Hari.
Among them, the sixth gesture is the Padma mudra...
with this, may the water be purified.
And with that prayer, Padma mudra is as shown:
It resembles a blossoming lotus flower.
The technique of displaying this gesture is also fairly simple -
when the palms are joined, and only the thumbs are
brought in, this is the Padma mudra.
"Jala shodheekaraNartham padma mudram pradarshayami"
Let us re-cap all the mudras -
"NirvisheekaraNartham tarkshya mudram pradarshayami"
"AmruteekaraNartham dhenu mudram pradarshayami"
"PavitreekaraNartham shankha mudram pradarshayami"
"SamrakshaNartham chakra mudram pradarshayami"
"Digbandhanartham gada mudram pradarshayami"
"Jala shodheekaraNartham padma mudram pradarshayami"
In this way, with the display of the Shanmudras,
we purify the water used as Kalashodaka or Shankhodaka.
After that, this can be used for the rest of the Deva pooja activities to follow.