Performing Gayathri japam

Things to be Avoided during Japam:
Please wear the Anga Vasthram (Uttareeyam) like a Poonal, close your
hands with it and do the Gayathri Japam. One should not cover the head
and body and do the Gayathri Japam.
While doing Japam one should not talk with others; see things around
you; laugh about something; support your back on Pillars etc; rest one
leg on top of the other, lose interest; think of something else; yawn,
keep spitting. Such Japams will become fruitless. If one happens to
yawn, sneeze in between the Japam, then one should touch your nose then
touch the ear while chanting 'Om'. This is called as the 'Shrothra
Aachamanam'. Or even if one sees the Sun or the Moon that is enough.
One should not see dog, pig, donkey, underprivileged person, woman on
menstruation, eagle, and monkey while doing the Japam. If one happens to
see the above, follow the above suggestion. The reason that people often
have their Japa Mantapam in the river or in the banks is to avoid seeing
all those mentioned above.
One should compulsorily not speak with others during the Japam. If there
is any immediate necessity, one should at least finish the japam and
then speak. Otherwise, one should to start again from the beginning and
then continue.
Japam, Homam, Pooja, Bath, Teeth Brush, Sandhyavandanam, Dressing-up,
Elder's presence, Temple, during passing of Urine or Motion are the
times when one should not speak as per Dharma Sasthras. In case of
necessities (except at the time of passing motion), one should do
Shrothra Aachamanam and chant Bhagavan-Naama and continue further.

One should not control passing of Motion and do any Vaidika Karma. One
should never touch places below the hip while doing Japam. If it
happens, one should immediately wash your hands and do the Shrothra
Aachamanm as stated earlier.
I would like to clarify one point here. When vaadhyars ask any of us to
wash our hands with the Pancha Paathram in front of us, I have seen
people dipping their hands inside the Pancha Paathram and then wash the
hands. The idea here, is not to Wet your hands, It is to cleanse your
hands for some reason. Instead of dipping your hands you might as well
not do anything at all. At least the water in the Pancha Paathram will
remain clean.
Next time you hear someone asking to wash your hands with a Pancha
Paathram in front, take the water in Udharani in your right hand, and
raise the end of Udharani which has water, so that, the water happens to
flow through the Udharani to your right hand and with that water in your
right hands, you can wash your other hand. This same principle holds
good in the above case. In fact, everytime..................
One should not do he Japam while: wearing a shirt; tying a Turban in
your head; without Anga Vasthram; with slippers; if a married man
without Pancha Kacham; without tying your tuft (shikhai) or keeping it
loose and tying it at the end so that it falls on your back; lying down
(sleeping posture); walking; chanting it loudly, so that others can hear
it; eating something; stuffing something in your mouth; sitting in a
chair and leaving your legs dangling down; shaking your legs in previous
stated position; holding your Poonal in your hands; counting with the
help of Poonal; while driving. Such Japams will not yield any results.
Chanting so that your lips part/move and others can hear is 'Adhamam'.
One should not chant that way. Chanting so that, only lips part/move,
but the sound does not carry outwards beyond you is called 'Madhyamam'.
Chanting so that neither lips part/move nor does the sound carry outward
is 'Uthamam'.
Manthram means 'protecting the one who chants' and 'protecting the
mind'. So, one has to think about Gayathri's Swaroopam in mind and do
the Japam. If possible, do the Kumbhaka Praanayamam (i.e., holding your
breath) and do the Japam. It will give special results. But it is not
compulsory.
Just out of too much interest, some people are known to chant it while
walking, sleeping etc. But, this is totally against the Sasthras. One
can, however, meditate on Gayathri's Swaroopam. But should not do Japam:
without count; Akaalam (un-time); with theendal; while walking etc.
Thinking that counting disturbs Meditation and Doing Japam without
counting is incorrect. One has to count, chant and meditate at the same
time.

knr

--
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.

  Every moment, thank God