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Why wash hands ?
Is there a mention in ancient Vedic Literature ?
Dr KK Aggarwal
New Delhi, October 13, 2019 :
Vedic prayer :
कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मिः करमध्ये सरस्वति ।
करमूले तु गोविन्दः प्रभाते करदर्शनम् ॥
Karaagre Vasate Lakssmih Karamadhye Sarasvati |
Karamuule Tu Govindah Prabhaate Karadarshanam ||
Vishnu Purana version
कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मी: करमध्ये सरस्वती।
करमूले स्थितो ब्रह्मा प्रभाते करदर्शनम्।।
3rd Version
कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः, करमध्ये सरस्वती ।
करमूले स्थिता गौरी, मंगलं करदर्शनम् ॥
- Kara: Hand
- KaraAgre: Beginning of the hand; Agra=beginning
- Vasate: Resides
- Lakshmi: Goddess Lakshmi; deity of wealth, beauty
- Kara-Madhye: In the middle of Hand(Palm); Madhya=middle
- Saraswati: Goddess Saraswati; deity of Knowledge, wisdom
- Kara-Moole: In the base of the hand(wrist); Moola=base
- Sthitaa: Sit/Exist
- Gowri: Goddess Gowri/ Parvati; deity of Power, strength
- Mangalam: Auspecious
- Darshanam: Seeing
All versions indicates that the hands should be treated as GODS and kept clean from all sides from top to bottom. The first thing in the mornings should be to clean your hands.