Ācamana and prāṇāyāma — purifying and settling

Ācamana is sipping a little water from the right palm, usually three times, while saying names of Viṣṇu such as “oṃ keśavāya namaḥ, oṃ nārāyaṇāya namaḥ, oṃ mādhavāya namaḥ”. It is a symbolic inner cleansing before beginning.

Prāṇāyāma follows: a few slow, controlled breaths, often with the Gāyatrī or a short mantra in mind. Its purpose is simple — to calm the body and gather the mind before you speak to God.

Karmakāṇḍa — the ritual way · Ask a Jyotishi your own question