How to bow/prostrate with the japa bag?
Sadhana · asked by user [] · 2010-11-11 · 9 answers
Hare Krishna.
How can one bow or fully prostrate oneself while wearing the japa bag around ones neck?
I read somewhere (but I am not sure about the source), that prostrating like that (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XfP_H0bjoc8/SVm6Xb-SBvI/AAAAAAAAA5M/QwT_Az2NMt8/s1600-h/S7305368.JPG) is not appropriate, since one does not touch the ground with ones palms.
But what should one do with the japa bag in the meantime?
Thank you for your replies.
How can one bow or fully prostrate oneself while wearing the japa bag around ones neck?
I read somewhere (but I am not sure about the source), that prostrating like that (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XfP_H0bjoc8/SVm6Xb-SBvI/AAAAAAAAA5M/QwT_Az2NMt8/s1600-h/S7305368.JPG) is not appropriate, since one does not touch the ground with ones palms.
But what should one do with the japa bag in the meantime?
Thank you for your replies.
user [38] · 2010-11-11
Put them in your pocket or bag or hold them in one or both hands (outstretched during dandavat), etc.user [154] · 2010-11-11
Pancanga (five point touch) and astanga pranams (as is the case here) are described in Haribhakti Vilasa, and there is no mention of japa-bag as far as I know. You can do anything with the beadbag even putting it on your head;-) Normally you do not keep beads while doing dandavats (astanga-pranama).user [33] · 2010-11-11
There are some pictures of Srila Prabhupada paying obeisances to the Deities with his beadbag. Perhaps someone can find them and post here.user [149] · 2010-11-11
Dont forget to apply:(6) One should not bow down on one hand. (Nectar of Devotion, CH 8: Offenses To Be Avoided.)
user [154] · 2010-11-12
dorbhyuc0u257 u7745 pu257 dbhyu257 u7745 ca ju257 nubhyu257 m urasu257 u347 irasu257 du7771 u347 u257
manasu257 vacasu257 ceti
prau7751 u257 mo'92u7779 u7789 u257 u7749 ga u299 ritau7717
ju257 nubhyu257 m caiva bu257 hubhyu257 u7745
u347 irasu257 vacasu257 dhiyu257
pa'f1cu257 u7749 gakau7717 prau7751 u257 mau7717 syu257 t
pu363 ju257 su pravaru257 v imau
'93The au7779 u7789 u257 gau7749 ga-prau7751 u257 ma, or prostrated obeisance, is performed with the following eight parts of the body: the arms, legs, knees, chest, and head, as well as the eyes, mind, and speech. One should perform the pa'f1cu257 u7749 ga-prau7751 u257 ma, or the five-part obeisance with the knees, the arms, head, words and intelligence. Thus these are the two kinds of obeisances which are performed in the course of one'92s puja.'94
HBV 8.162-163
user [447] · 2010-11-12
I once saw a picture of a sannyasi/brahmacari (I wasnt sure which) bowing-kneeling, touching the floor with only one palm, while with the other he held his backpack in place that he was carrying on his shoulder.This seemed awkward to me.
user [248] · 2010-11-14
In videos I have seen of Srila Prabhupada, such as during Los Angeles Govinda Prayers Srila Prabhupada lets the bag touch the floor and stretches his arms outuser [447] · 2010-11-18
Found a reference here, pg. 39 - http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/library/Vaishnava_Etiquette_Manual.pdfuser [343] · 2010-11-18
Thats why the Tulasi Beads are in a bag so even if the bead bag touches the floor the Tulasi Beads do not. Not that we make a point of placing our bead bag on the floor but if it happens during obesiances to the dieties the beads are protected from touching the ground due to being contained in a bag. One can also touch the bead bag to the head to nullify any offense.