Same rosary/other Sadhana articles should not be shared among various persons.

You should have received a piece of cloth containing Guru Mantra written all over it (in Hindi) when you took Guru Diksha. This is Guru Chadar/Pitambar. Guru Chadar/Pitambar is a Mantra energised cloth which is gifted to you when you take Guru Diksha. It is fortified with Guru Mantra and it has Guru Mantra inscribed on it. It is a very important Sadhana article. It contains the energy of Revered Gurudev and acts as a protective barrier while doing Sadhana. It should ALWAYS be worn while performing Sadhana. It should be wrapped on the upper body(upper back and chest).

Guru Chadar/Pitambar is a Mantra energised shawl which is gifted to you when you take Guru Diksha. It is fortified with Guru Mantra and it has Guru Mantra inscribed on it. It is a very important Sadhana article. It contains the energy of Revered Gurudev and acts as a protective barrier while doing Sadhana. It should ALWAYS be worn while performing Sadhana. It should be wrapped on the upper body (upper back and chest).

Dhoti is a traditional Indian garment worn by men. It is a big robe several yards long. There is a specific procedure to tie the dhoti which is detailed elsewhere in this faq.

We only supply Yellow colored dhoti. If you require dhoti of some other color, then you need to get it dyed into that color. If you live outside India, then you should be able to purchase it from any good Indian/South Asian shop in the Indian area.

It depends on the Sadhana. For some Sadhanas, you should not wear anything under dhoti. For others, you may wear underwear brief. This should preferably be of same color as dhoti, but this is not important.

The dhoti is tied around the waist in the middle of its length. The whole process needs to be performed standing up. It is a complex operation, and some steps for a simple tying up of dhoti are elucidated below-

 

a. Take the dhoti in the middle of its length. Wrap the dhoti around the waist in the middle of its length such that each of your hand holds one side of the dhoti. You can let rest of the cloth fall to the ground and need to catch only the upper end of piece of cloth near you.

b. At this stage, your backside (hips) are covered by the dhoti. The two sides of the cloth are in your front . Make a knot using the upper end of both sides of cloth near your stomach. You will need to make two knots to ensure that knot does not get untied. At this stage both of your hands should be free, the middle portion of the dhoti should be wrapped around your legs, and upper end of both sides should be tied together in two knots on your stomach. The remaining portion of each side is free and should be falling on the ground.

c. Take the extreme end of “right side end” in your hand. Bring this end between your legs and tuck it into your waist at the back.

d. Take the extreme end of the “left side end” in your hand. Bring this end between your legs and tuck it into your waist at the back.

It is a bit complicated process. If you are not able to understand it and tie it properly, please send us another email, and we will try to explain it further.

A saree is a traditional Indian garment worn by women. It is a big robe several yards long. It needs to be tied on the body. Details on wearing the saree are detailed on the website – www.kerala.com/fashion/sari

You should wash dhoti and Guru Chadar/Pitambar daily. You should perform Sadhana wearing only clean clothes.

Asana is the prayer mat on which one sits while performing the Sadhana. If one performs Sadhana by sitting on bare floor, then all the energy gained by Sadhana will get “earthed” and vanish into the ground. So, one uses asana as a seat to perform Sadhana. Each Sadhana has its own rule about a specific asana for it. Please do not confuse this Asana with the Yogic Asana.Yogic Asana is a specific seating stance/pose.

Deepak is a traditional light lamp. It can be filled with either oil or ghee (clarified Indian butter). Normally the type of oil is specified in a Sadhana procedure, but if it is not, then you may use Mustard oil. A cotton wick is inserted in the deepak and lighted with a matchbox. If you live overseas, then you should be able to purchase deepak,oil, ghee etc. from any good Indian/South Asian shop in the Indian area.

Kumkum is the Indian name of “vermilion”. It is mixed with water into a paste which is then used to make a mark on either the forehead of the deity or other Sadhana articles (Yantra, Gutika etc.). If you live overseas, then you should be able to purchase it from any good Indian/South Asian shop in the Indian area.

Chandan is the Indian name of “Sandalwood”. It is mixed with water into a paste which is then used to make a mark on either the forehead of the deity or other Sadhana articles (Yantra, Gutika etc.). If you live overseas, then you should be able to purchase it from any good Indian/South Asian shop in the Indian area.

The Shivlinga should be placed with its “Yoni” end in left direction.

Sankha should be placed with its pointed end facing the Sadhak. The mouth of the Sankha should be at the base. The sankha should be covered in red colored (preferably silk) colored cloth and then placed.

Oil Lamp should be placed in front (in left side direction of the Deity). One should not mix ghee and oil. Various types of oils should not be mixed together. Vegetable oils also should not be used. Specific Oils are specified in Sadhanas.

Ghee Lamp should be placed in front (in right side direction of the Deity). One should use pure ghee (clarified butter).

Incense should be placed either in front or in left direction of the Deity.

Mouli is a small piece of red thread. It is used as an offering of cloth to the deity. Normally it is tied around the Sadhana article eg. Yantra. If you live overseas, then you should be able to purchase it from any good Indian/South Asian shop in the Indian area.

This red string is the holy mouli thread. It was tied on the Sadhana material as part of consecration and Mantra energising process. You should keep the mouli thread tied on the Sadhana material and not remove it.

Each Sadhana has a specific incense to use. The “Lobaan” and “Googul” incense are the best incense to use. You may also use “sandalwood” or “rose” incense for most of the Sadhanas.

No. One cannot use Sadhana articles of one Sadhana in any different Sadhana. The reason is that each article is particularly consecrated and mantra energised for particular Sadhana only.

Yes, you may wear more than one Sadhana article on your body. This is not harmful in any way.

No. You cannot use the Tantrokt Nariyal for doing Kalash Poojan (worship). Kalash poojan should be done using the normal nariyal. Tantrokt Nariyal is used to perform specific Sadhanas.

‘Yagyopaveet’ is a symbol of the righteous path and divine protection. At birth, a human being is as good or as bad as an animal. It is only through the rites of initiation (Diksha sanskars), that he truly becomes a human being. Yagyopaveet is granted to the initiates during personal Diksha sessions. Diksha is the second birth of the person after destruction of his past sins.

 

Yagyopaveet also signifies one bound in duty (vrat bandhan). After performing this rite a man is bound by certain rules. This sacred thread infuses longevity and strength into a person’s life.

The three strands of the thread are symbolical. They represent the three Gunas (qualities) namely Sattva , Rajas and Tamas. The three strands remind the wearer that he has to pay off his debt to the ancient seers, his ancestors and the gods. He is to honour his parents and elders and has started on the path of spiritual and material upliftment.

You may purchase it locally from the Indian shops or from Jodhpur Gurudham. You can wear it during any auspicious moment on the auspicious days.

The Yagyopaveet is ritualistically maintained :

1. A man should wear the sacred thread hanging from his right shoulder.

2. It should be lifted and the upper part should be put behind ears when a person goes for his daily ablutions or doing impure tasks. It should be put back properly on shoulder only after one has purified himself by washing etc..

3.. Both males and females can wear it. However, the woman should wear it on the neck like a rosary after folding/doubling it. Otherwise, she may wrap it on a naariyal (brown coconut), and place the naariyal in worship place.

4. After a birth or death in the family/relations/friend circle , it should be taken out. A new thread should be worn 15 days after the event.

5. Old, or broken thread should be replaced, and it can be put on a tree or dropped in a running stream of water.

6. Yagyopaveet should be changed on Shravan Poornima.

7. There are some specific rituals like Daan/Tarpan to Ancestors, offering Ardhya (water) to Sun God etc., in which Yagyopavit is wound around the Second (largest) finger and Third (ring) finger of right hand.

You should chant the following Mantra while wearing the Yagyopaveet (Janeo):

Om Yagyopavitam Param Pavitram Prajaapateryatsahajam Purastaat |
Aayushyamagrayam Pratimunch Shubhram Yagyopavitam Balamastu Tejah ||

If taking off, the Yagyopaveet should be taken off through the neck only whilest chanting this mantra-

Om Aetaavad Dinparyant Bhrahmatav Dhaaritam Mayaa
Jeerntvaattey parityaago gacch sutra yathaasukham |