According to Hinduism, the soul is incarnated in a human body after going through 84,00,000 cycles of births and deaths. The human birth is considered as a very precious opportunity to raise our vibrations to the point that we are able to unite with the Supreme Being.
As a medium to carry us towards God, the human body therefore, must be put to the best use and life should be made as meaningful as possible. Caring for this precious gift should be both mental and physical while moving towards our goal.
In order to start the day in the right manner, religious texts state that we must begin the day by rubbing our palms together, holding them up in front of us and reciting the following mantra:
कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मी, करमध्ये सरस्वती
करमूले तु गोविन्दः, प्रभाते कर दर्शनम् |
On the tip of my hands resides Lakshmi (the Goddess of Prosperity) (fingers are our working tools)
In my palms resides Saraswati (the Goddess of Knowledge) (knowledge controls your destiny)
At the base of my hands resides Govinda (Vishnu: the God of Sustenance) (for good health and vibrant energy)
In the morning I take blessings of all three with reverence in my palms.
And or :
समुद्रवसने देवि पर्वतस्तन मण्डिते ।
विष्णुपत्नी नमस्तुभ्यं पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्व मे ।।
Vedavyas has described hands as a vital instrument of success as all important tasks are performed through our hands. Looking for God in our own hands creates a confidence to face any challenge and to find immediate relief to any problem. Realizing God as a part of us also encourages us to work ethically in our vocations, do good deeds in our lives that will be of benefit to all. Knowing that our hands are a witness to God also refrains us from any wrongdoing or harm to others.
Waking up every day in this manner is not only spiritually uplifting but also has a positive effect on our health. During sleep, our body’s metabolism, blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and all other activities slows down. Taking time to open our eyes and lying in bed helps the body adjust and stabilize its function to a normal rhythm.
