With your left hand, using the spoon again, put some water in your right hand and say the following mantra:
Om Keshvaya Namah
Drink the water.
Put one more spoon and say the following mantra.
Om Madhavaya Namah
Drink the water.
One more spoon and say the following mantra:
Om Narayanaya Namaha
Drink the holy water.
5b. Prakshalana
Once you have done the achamana three times, take some more water in your right hand (a spoonful is usually enough) and symbolically wash both your hands while saying the following mantra:
Om Pundarikakshaya Namah
6. Light the lamp
You can simply use your guru mantra while lighting the lamp or chant the following mantra:
Om agni jyotir jyotir agnih svaha
Suryo jyoti jyotir suryah svaha
Agnir varcho jyotir varchah svaha
Suryo varcho jyotir varchah svaha
Jyoti suryah suryo jyotih svaha
(May the divine energy bring the power of Agni in this lamp. The light of this lamp is Agni, and Agni is this lamp…Svaha , let all afflictions burn.)
7. Invoke Ganesha (Ganesh Dhyana )
You can pray to Lord Ganesha either by any mantra you may already know or by folding your hands and reciting any or both the mantras given below: Sanskrit (Devanagari) Sanskrit (IAST) वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ । Vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakoṭi samaprabha । निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥ Nirvighnaṃ kuru me deva sarvakāryeṣu sarvadā ॥ Translation O Lord Ganesha of curved trunk, magnificent body exuding the radiance of countless suns, please be by my side and help me complete my task. Sanskrit (Devanagari) Sanskrit (IAST) सुमुखश्च-एकदंतश्च कपिलो गज कर्णक: Sumukhaśca-ekadaṃtaśca kapilo gaja karṇaka: लम्बोदरश्व विकटो विघ्ननाशो विनायक: Lambodaraśva vikaṭo vighnanāśo vināyaka: धूम्रकेतुर्गणाध्यक्षो भालचन्द्रो गजानन: Dhūmraketurgaṇādhyakṣo bhālacandro gajānana: Sanskrit (Devanagari) Sanskrit (IAST) द्वादशैतानि नामानि य: पठेच्छर्णुयादपि Dvādaśaitāni nāmāni ya: paṭheccharṇuyādapi विद्यारम्भे्भे विवाहे च प्रवेशे निर्गमे तथा Vidyārambhe vivāhe capraveśe nirgame tathā संग्रामें संकटे चैव विघ्नस्तस्य न जयते। Saṃgrāmeṃ saṃkaṭe caiva vighnastasya na jayate। Translation O Ganesha of beautiful face, one tusk, crimson red and elephant ears. O beautiful pot-bellied Ganesha who is hard on enemies, slayer of obstacles and a great spiritual preceptor. O Ganesha who is sometimes the color of smoke, the chief of ganas, who sports a moon on his forehead and walks like an elephant, whoever chants these twelve names of yours before studying, marrying, entering a new home, in battlefield, in distress (or embarking on any important journey of their lives) is sure to receive your help.
8. Handlocks for Ganesha (Ganesh Mudra)
Show the three mudras of Ganesha.
First mudra of Ganesha:
Bring your left hand closer to your chest with the back of your hand facing your chest.
Curl your left hand a little and grab it with your right hand to form the mudra below.
Second mudra of Ganesha:
Tuck the index and ring fingers of your left hand in your right fist.
Let the middle finger of your left hand remain outside to form the trunk of Ganesha.
Slightly protrude the thumb and little finger of your left hand to form the ears of Ganesha.
Third mudra of Ganesha:
It’s exactly the same as the second mudra, just that Ganesha is made with the right hand.
Tuck the index and ring fingers of your right hand in your left fist.
Let the middle finger of your right hand remain outside to form the trunk of Ganesha.
Slightly protrude the thumb and little finger of your right hand to form the ears of Ganesh as per the image below.
9. Chant the hymn of auspiciousness (Svastivachana )
A chant to invite and invoke the Vedic energies around you is done at this stage. It is usually done by chanting a specific hymn called Svastivachana . You can either chant the Svastivachana or just the following verses taken from the Rigveda (1.89.8): Sanskrit (Devanagari) Sanskrit (IAST) ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः । Oṃ bhadraṃ karṇebhiḥ śṛṇuyāma devāḥ । भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः Bhadraṃ paśyemākṣabhirya jatrāḥ स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तु्ष्टुवागँसस्तनूभिः Sthirairaṅgaistuṣṭuvāgam sastanūbhiḥ व्यशेम देवहितं यदायूः Vyaśema devahitaṃ yadāyūḥ स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृदद्धश्रवाः Svasti na indro vṛddhaśravāḥ स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः Svasti naḥ pūṣā viśvavedāḥ स्वस्ति नस्ताक्षर्यो अरिष्टनेमिः Svasti nastākṣaryo ariṣṭanemiḥ स्वस्ति नो ब्रुहस्पतिर्दधातु । Svasti no bruhaspatirdadhātu । ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ Translation May we only hear auspicious sounds with our ears and may only see divine things with our eyes. May we lead a stable life of health and prosperity with gratitude throughout the lifespan granted to us. May Indra of great renown protect us. May the omniscient Poosha protect us. May Lord Garuda destroy all harm and negativity. May Brihaspati protect us.
10. Meditate on your guru (Guru dhyana )
Now that you have purified yourself and the environment around you by invoking various energies, it is time to meditate on your guru. Call upon your guru by offering a flower if you have your guru’s picture or you can simply visualize your guru’s form and chant the following mantra with reverence: Sanskrit (Devanagari) Sanskrit (IAST) गुरुर्ब्रहमा गुरुर्विष्णुगुरुर्देवो महेश्व रः । Gururbrahmā gururviṣṇurgururdevo maheśvaraḥ । गुरुरेव परं ब्रहम तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥ Gurureva paraṃ brahma tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ ॥ Translation Guru is Brahma, guru is Vishnu, guru is Shiva himself. Guru is verily Para-Brahma (Supreme Soul). Humble obeisance and salutations to my guru.