Apavishya Tataha Shudha Asane Suchibhutale - Thus a pure and cleansed ‘Asana’, which is placed in a clean environment, which does not come into contact with impure things, is to be used. The Asana is then sat on for purposes of perfoming Pooja.
Asankirna Ashprushyam Prahmukham Votaramukham - ‘Sankirna’ Asana is explained in Vishnu Dharmotara, ‘An Asana that is in contact with another Asana, too long, too big, one common Asana for both God’s Murtis and oneself and a king’s Asana.’ Therefore the Lord commands that an ‘Asankirna’ Asana should be used which is opposite to that above. Also, an Asana that does not touch anything impure should be used.
Padma Purana explains what the Asana should be made from: ‘An Asana of wool will attain and fulfil all desires; an Asana of dear skin will derive salvation; an Asana of tiger skin will derive fruits of penance and wealth; an Asana made of grass or leaves will derive good health’. Therefore only such materials should be used for an Asana.
Ananata Bhatt explains which Asanas should never be used ‘An Asana of stone will bring suffering, one of wood (not used for Yagnas) will bring illness, one of cloth (which is not washed daily) will bring poverty and not using an Asana at all will never derive any of the fruits of such penance.’
Vyaas further explains, ‘One should sit on an Asana made of either silk, wool, dear skin, washed cloth, wood, leaf or grass; face north or east, and then perform Achaman (sipping of water).’ Karnav Muni explains the Vidhi for Achaman: ‘One should extend their arms towards the east with their hand shaped in a form of a cow’s ear. With the thumb and smallest finger touching, they should perform Achaman as they separate these fingers.’ ‘Dwijas should perform Achaman three times’, explains Yagnavalkya. Enough water should be used so that an ‘Aradha Daal’ will sink. Achaman should always be performed using the right hand such that the left hand does not ever touch the right hand (This is the case for all acts of eating and drinking - the left hand should never be used). Achaman should be performed using Brahmtirtha - the thumb is called Brahmtirtha as the smallest finger, the index finger, the root of the thumb and the front of the hand are Prajapati, Pitru, Brahman and Deva Tirthas respectfully. Shudras should perform Achaman only once.
Three ‘Shuddis’ - purifications are to be performed daily. The first is Snaan - bathing for purpose of exterior or bodily purification - ‘Shararik Shuddhi’. The second is Achman, which is for the inner body purification - ‘Antara Shuddhi’, and the third is Pooja, which is for purification of the mind - ‘Manas Shuddhi’. All devotees of God must perform these three purifications daily, those who do not, can never be considered as pure and clean and hence worthy of being called a devotee of God.
Achaman is performed to purify the three bodies - Sthul, Shukshma and Karana - gross or physical body, subtle (which the soul resides within) and the causal body. Achaman is to be performed whilst chanting the Mantras:
Ohm Shree Narayanaya Namah
Ohm Shree Vasudevaya Namah
Ohm Shree Vishnavaya Namah
Shreeji Maharaj now further details Pooja Vidhi: