Sipping Water for Purification (vaiṣṇava-ācamana)

Always perform ācamana before entering the altar room to worship the Lord. Sit barefoot on a proper
āsana (if sitting is not possible, then stand on the āsana). If there is no āsana, kneel with your right
knee touching the floor and your left foot flat on the floor.

If time and circumstances permit, please always perform the complete ācamana (viśeṣa-ācamana).
The basic, simple ācamana (sadhārana-ācamana) consists of the first three steps below.

Use a water-filled ācamana-pātra (preferably with samānya-arghya) and first clean both hands by
sprinkling them with water. Then, holding the ācamana spoon in your left hand, pour a few drops into
the base of the right thumb (brāhma-tīrtha). While looking at the water chant the appropriate mantra
and then silently sip the water (if possible without touching your hand with your lips):

sadhārana-ācamana
1) oṁ keśavāya namaḥ ........................................... sip water from the brāhma-tīrtha of right hand
2) oṁ nārāyaṇāya namaḥ ................................... sip water from the brāhma-tīrtha of right hand
3) oṁ mādhavāya namaḥ ................................... sip water from the brāhma-tīrtha of right hand

4) oṁ govindāya namaḥ ....................................... sprinkle water on right hand

5) oṁ viṣṇave namaḥ ................................................ sprinkle water on left hand
6) oṁ madhusūdanāya namaḥ ..................... touch right cheek with the fingers of right hand
7) oṁ trivikramāya namaḥ ................................ touch left cheek with the fingers of right hand
8) oṁ vāmanāya namaḥ ....................................... wipe above upper lip with the base of right thumb
9) oṁ śrīdharāya namaḥ ....................................... wipe below lower lip with the base of right thumb

viśeṣa-ācamana
10) oṁ hṛṣīkeśāya namaḥ ....................................... sprinkle water on both hands
11) oṁ padmanābhāya namaḥ ....................... sprinkle water on both feet
12) oṁ dāmodarāya namaḥ ................................ sprinkle water on the top of the head
13) oṁ vāsudevāya namaḥ ................................... touch upper + lower lips with the finger tips of right hand
14) oṁ saṅkarṣaṇāya namaḥ ............................. touch right nostril with right thumb and forefinger
15) oṁ pradyumnāya namaḥ ............................. touch left nostril with right thumb and forefinger
16) oṁ aniruddhāya namaḥ ................................. touch right eye with right thumb and ring finger
17) oṁ puruṣottamāya namaḥ ......................... touch left eye with right thumb and ring finger
18) oṁ adhokṣajāya namaḥ ................................. touch right ear with right thumb and forefinger
19) oṁ nṛsiṁhāya namaḥ ....................................... touch left ear with right thumb and forefinger
20) oṁ acyutāya namaḥ ........................................... touch navel with right thumb and little finger
21) oṁ janārdanāya namaḥ ................................ touch heart with the palm of right hand
22) oṁ upendrāya namaḥ ...................................... touch head with all finger tips of right hand
23) oṁ haraye namaḥ .................................................. touch right upper arm with the fingertips of left hand
24) oṁ kṛṣṇāya namaḥ ............................................... touch left upper arm with the fingertips of right hand

conclude by chanting this mantra, while showing the praṇāma-mudrā (palms together in front of your heart):

(oṁ) tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padaṁ sadā

paśyanti sūrayaḥ divīva cakṣur-ātatam
tad viprāso vipanyavo jāgṛvaṁ saḥ
samindhate viṣṇor yat paramaṁ padam

Just as those with ordinary vision see the sun’s rays in the sky, so the wise and learned devotees always see the
supreme abode of Lord Visnu. Because those highly praiseworthy and spiritually awake brahmanas can see that
abode, they can also reveal it to others. (Ṛg Veda Samhita 1.22.20-21)