Early History of the Vaishnava Faith and Movement in Bengal, from Sanskrit and Bengali Sources c10.s1.37

c10.s1.37

As soon as the sun rises, the devotee, singing Kṛṣṇa's name, should go out to a sacred bathing place. After answering the call of nature and cleaning himself with earth and water, about which elaborate directions are given, he should do the Vaiṣṇava Ācamana (sipping of water from the palm of the hand), wash his hand and feet and cleanse his teeth with appropriate Mantras by means of the twig of some sappy tree. The choice of such tooth-brushes and the avoidance of particular kinds on particular days are important. After this, he should do the Ācamana again, arrange and tie up his long tuft of hair (Śikhā) and take his bath which is compulsory, as well as necessary, for purity and health. One may bathe in a river, lake, pond, hill-stream or even with water drawn from a well. Placing fresh clothes, Kuśa-grass and Mṛttikā (earth) on the bank, the devotee should again wash his hand and feet, and having done Ācamana again, he should contemplate the sacred river, Gaṅgā, and make offerings with proper Mantras to the Tīrtha or place of bath. He should then enter the water, facing the current in the case of a river, or facing the sun in other cases. He should then invoke the Gaṅgā from the orb of the sun, and holding Kuśa-grass in hand, he should perform Prāṇāyāma (the three 'breath-exercises,' Pūraka, Recaka and Kumbhaka), meditate upon Kṛṣṇa's name, repeat the Mūla-mantra (oṃ namo nārāyaṇāya) and immerse himself in water twelve times. Gopāla Bhaṭṭa tells us that the mode of bath described above is partly Vedic and partly Tāntric, and then goes on to mention some other special modes in accordance with the Padma-purāṇa and other texts. For instance, the devotee may, after invoking the Gaṅgā in a square Maṇḍala, bathe with the repetition of certain Mantras. He may hold on his head the water with which the feet of his preceptor, his parents and Brahmans have been washed, or water with which the sacred Śālagrāma stone has been washed and which is fragrant with Tulasi leaves. He may take water in a conch-shell, and after drinking it a little, throw a portion of it on his own head; he may then pour water on his head with the Kumbha-Mudrā and with offer of libations of water to the gods.