Why is there a rule of Pratah samarana?
Why is there a rule of Pratah samarana?
The scriptures have prescribed Pratahsamarana so that the day begins with mental stability and auspicious activities. Just as a character is hidden behind a picture, similarly, along with the name, the entire story of the form and the virtues related to it appears in front of us like a film. In the morning, the mind remains calm and healthy, therefore, remembering ideal names arouses and awakens the dormant auspicious sanskars. The impression of auspicious characters on the mind and brain knowingly or unknowingly gives such a direction to the future activities whose aim is auspiciousness, happiness and peace. At the time of Pratahsamarana, the following shlokas are recited-
पुण्यश्लोको नलो राजा पुण्यश्लोको युधिष्ठरः । पुण्यश्लोकी च वैदेही पुण्यश्लोको जनार्दनः ।॥
I remember the virtuous King Nala, the virtuous Yudhishthira, the virtuous Sita and the virtuous Janardana.
अहिल्या द्रोपदी सीता तारा मन्दोदरी तथा । पञ्चकं ना स्मरेन्नित्यं महापातक नाशनम् ॥
Ahilya, Draupadi, Sita, Tara and Mandodari - remembering the names of these five destroys great sins.
प्रह्लादनारद पराशरपुण्डरीक व्यासाम्बरीषशुक शौनक भीष्मदाल्यान् । रुक्मांगदार्जुनवसिष्ठ विभीषणादीन्पुण्यानिमान परमभाग्यवतान्नमामि ।।
Prahlada, Narada, Parashar, Pundarika, Vyasa, Ambarish, Shuka, Shaunaka, Bhishma, Dalya, Rukmangada, Arjuna, Vasishta and Vibhishana- I offer my hundreds of obeisances to these faithful devotees.
धर्मो विवर्धयति युधिष्ठर कीर्तनेन पापं प्रणश्यति वृकोदर कीर्तनेन । शत्रुर्विनश्यति धनञ्जय कीर्तनेन माद्री सुतो कथयतां न भवन्ति रोगाः ।।
The chanting of Yudhisthira's name increases righteousness. The chanting of Bhim's name destroys sins. The chanting of Arjuna's name destroys the enemy. The chanting of the names of Sahadeva and Nakula does not spread diseases.
अयोध्या मथुरामाया काशी काञ्ची अवन्तिका। पुरीद्वारावती चैव सप्तेता मोक्ष दायिकाः ॥
Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya (Haridwar), Kashi, Kanchi, Avantika and Dwaraka are the seven places of pilgrimage that provide salvation.
मनुं स्मराम्यादि गुरुं प्रजानां भगीरथ धीरमुदग्रयत्नम् । भूपं हरिश्चन्द्रमाभवाङवाचं श्रीरामचंद्र रघुवंशसूर्यम् ।।
Manu, the first guru of all human beings, Bhagiratha who constantly strived, the one-spoken king Harishchandra and Shri Ramchandra, the sun of the Raghuvansh - I remember them.
