PART II – PRAYERS FOR PROTECTION
Blessing the visage
The following mantras bless the overall outer appearance.
Touch eyes or place relevant tika/tilak on forehead/eyes.1
ओं वृत्रस्यासि कनीनकश्चक्षुर्दा असि चक्षुर्मे देहि ॥
Om vritrasyaasi kaneenakashcha-chakshurdaa asi chakshurme dehi.2
May my eyes and my eyesight always be strong to discern good from bad and to be victorious over any evil.
वृत्रस्यासि be victorious over darkness of ignorance कनीनक pupil of the eye, little finger चक्षुर्दा giving sight असि it चक्षुर्मे with eyes देहि give, grant
Physical Reflection
With this mantra, the graduate looks at his/her reflection in a mirror or reflective item. This is the view he or she presents to the world.
ओं रोचिष्णुरसि ॥
Om rochiṣhṇurasi.3
May my reflection always be elegant and good
रोचिष्णु brilliant, bright, elegant असि it, this
Protection of intellect
In this mantra, the graduate may symbolically hold an umbrella.
ओं बृहस्पतेश्छदिरसि पाप्मनो मामन्तर्धेहि तेजसो यशसो मान्तर्धेहि ॥
Om brihaspate-ashchhadirasi paapmano maamantar-dhehi tejasaa yashaso maantardhehi.4
Just like an umbrella that protects its holder from the weather, so may my mind be protected from any evil. May my intellect and knowledge shine forth from within.
बृहस्पति protector छड roof, cover असि it, this पाप्मन sin, wickedness, evil माम् me अन्तर्ध internal, within, invisible तेजस power, vigor, light, brilliance यशस fame मा not अन्तर्धेहि within
Protection of feet
With this mantra, the shoes are worn.
ओं प्रतिष्ठे स्थो विश्वतो मा पातम् ॥
Om pratiṣhṭhe stho vishvato maa paatam.5
Like these shoes that provide stability and protection in walking anywhere, so may I always be upright in my undertakings and never fall from fame.
प्रतिष्ठा stability, base, superiority, comfort स्थो a token, praise विश्वतः in all directions, everywhere, at all times मा not पातम् fall, degrade
Physical protection
With this mantra, the graduate holds a type of stick that is usually used for protection, like a walking stick.
ओं विश्वाभ्यो मा नाष्ट्राभ्यस्परिपाहि सर्वतः ॥
Om vishvaabhyo maa naaṣhṭraabhyas-paripaahi sarvatah.6
May I always be protected in all directions. May no evil or harm come to me from any direction
विश्वाभ्यो with everything मा not नाष्ट्रा evil, destruction भ्यस् fear परिपा guard, protect, defend from all sides सर्वतः around
Purification of senses
After bath, the graduate now touches nostrils, eyes and ears with the following:
ओं प्राणापानौ मे तर्पय चक्षुर्मे तर्पय श्रोत्रं मे तर्पय ॥
Om praaṇaa-paanau me tarpaya
chakshurme tarpaya
shrotram me tarpaya.7
May my breathing be effective and efficient. May my sight and hearing be perfect.
प्राण inward flowing energy, inbreath अपान outward flowing energies, out-breath मे me, my तर्पय satisfy, refresh, invigorate चक्षु eye श्रोत्र ears, organ of hearing
Facing east, sprinkle some water on the left side
ओं पितरः शुन्धध्वम् ॥
Om pitarah shundhadvam.8
O Lord, please bless me as I go on my journey ahead
पितरः God, father शुन् is, to go, to move धध् give, grant ददाति (दा) give, put अध्वन् journey, undertaking
Facing east, sprinkle some water on the right side.
ओं सुचक्षा अहमक्षीभ्यां भूयासः सुवर्चा मुखेन ।
सुश्रुत् कर्णाभ्यां भूयासम् ॥
Om suchakshaa aham-aksheebhyaam
bhooyaasah suvarchaa mukhena.
Sushrut karṇabhyaam bhooyaasam.9
May my sight be healthy and strong; May my speech be excellent and eloquent; may my hearing be perfect.
सुचक्षा having great eyes, good vision अहम् I, my अक्षीभ्यां with eyes, eyesight, eyes भूयासः exceed, excellent सुवर्चा superior speech, enunciation, splendid, glorious, brilliant मुखेन visage, mouth सुश्रुत् superior hearing कर्णाभ्यां with ears भूयासम् exceed, excellent
- The customary practice is to use soot from a lamp to create a tika/tilak on the forehead or near the eyes
- Yajur Veda 4.3 Paaraskaara Grihyasutra 2.6.27
- Paaraskaara Grihyasutra2.26.28
- Paaraskaara Grihyasutra 2.6.29
- Paaraskaara Grihyasutra 2.6.30
- Paaraskaara Grihyasutra 2.6.31
- Paaraskaara Grihyasutra 2.6.18
- Paaraskaara Grihyasutra 2.6.19
- Paaraskaara Grihyasutra 2.6.19
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