What if a patient is unclean while chanting because of inability?
A woman devotee who requested anonymity asked like this:
“Jai shri krishna prabhuji… prabhuji Is the basic of chanting: cleanliness of body necessary for the diseased body?? Is it necessary to take bath daily if it is not possible for the diseased person…. Is it the faith of heart n mind matters or cleanliness of body matters..”
REPLY:
For normal people, Chanting Gayathri Manthra needs cleanliness of body and character! One should be very clean in his body, words and actions if he chants Gayathri Manthra.
However, even that Gayathri manthra can be chanted as per our convenience “within mind” when we are sick being unable to clean ourselves properly.
(Why should we chant Hare Krishna Maha Manthra instead of Gayathri Manthra? READ HERE!)
Manthras are related to the mind and heart! Body should be clean to keep our consciousness also clean. That’s all. If we are unable to be clean in unavoidable situations, it is not an offense. So, if a patient is unclean while chanting because of inability, it will be forgiven and will be appreciated and rewarded.
Krishna lives even in the heart of even a Pig and Dog that are mostly unclean. Will he leave just because you are sick?
Particularly, while chanting Hare Krishna, you should be very careful in discipline! That is enough. If a patient is unclean while chanting in unavoidable situations will be forgiven.
(Know the rules of chanting during siksha period of 1, 4, 8, 16 rounds from THIS POST)
Whenever possible for the patients, it is better to clean the body.
My father was performing annual rituals (shrardha) for our ancestors till he died. He was sick and could not even sit during his last days. However, a few days before his death, when he was bedridden, the shrardha (annual ritual) for our grand father (his father) came.
He did not skip those rituals. He called all the three required vedic brahmanas including purohit. Then homa yagna was arranged as usual. My father could not sit, but, he repeated the manthras recited by the purohit by being in the flat position on the floor.
Before that, he asked us to offer him a bath on bed itself. We kept him on the floor and he recited the vedic manthras being on the floor with serious difficulties.
(Are we required to perform annual rituals for ancestors? READ HERE!)
The brahmanas praised him much and offered their blessings to him. Similarly, he performed the rituals and prayers to the lord till he died. Every day we would clean his body and he would start reciting some manthras and Vishnu Sahasranama by being on the bed itself.
What happened? Lord gave him relief from his existing body on the morning of an Ekadasi. He had predicted through his horoscope that he will naturally die on ekadasi. As predicted by him, he got the fortune of Ekadasi death and dvadasi cremation.
Only because we, the children took birth for such a sincere brahmana, we are leading our life in such a way that our father’s image is not affected.
In my life so far, I have got many opportunities to commit sinful acts, but, it was the good image of our father and mother that prevented me from committing major sins. Such pious life style of the parents is protecting us in our life. That is why, it is said by scriptures that the activities of parents have more impact on the lives of their children.
So, if we have the dedication and determination, we can chant in any position even while lying down. Yes, the Lord sees only our heart and purity. However, if possible, the diseased/sick person may atleast clean his body with a wet cloth daily with the help of the family members. This will keep his health and feeling good.
Particularly, if you use tulasi mala for chanting, better clean the body atleast with wet cloth before chanting.
Such sick persons may chant using a handy counter machine that will be very useful. Or, even without counting in serious cases.
In the most serious condition, he can even just hear the names and songs of Krishna through an audio device.
He should be in the thoughts of Krishna. That’s all. That is the real purpose of chanting.
Hope this has cleared your doubt about a patient who is unclean while chanting because of inability.
(Know A-Z Details about chanting Lord’s Names HERE!)