Baptism

Saraswathi, Narmada, Sindhu and Cauvery), look north or east and dip the whole
body under water once, rub the entire body clean with the palms and dip again twice.
Stand upright at the same spot and do Aachamanam twice.
4. Thalichukuli (Sprinkle-bath): After Aachamanam, take water in the right hand,
chant "Aapohishta..." manthra (three stanzas from Rigveda) and sprinkle on the head,
repeating this for each of the three stanzas. Say "Gange mam puneehi" thrice and
immerse fully in water once more. Stricter procedure requires the Aachamanam and
Thalichukuli on the banks of the pond.
Thereafter, wring the towel, wipe the body dry meanwhile chanting various
manthras. Tie (or twist) the tuft of hair (if it exists), do `Kaalkazhukal'and give
"Arghiam".
5. Arghiavidhi: Sit with knees up, do `kaal kazhukal twice and `Aachamanam'.
Chant "Aapohishta..." and spray water on the face, repeating after each of the three
stanzas. Take water with both palms joined, stand up, chant Gayathri manthra (Om
Bhoorbhuva swa:, Tatsavithur varenyam, Bhargo devasya dhee mahi, dhiyo yo na:
prachodayat) and throw the water up and away, do this thrice - this is called
`Arghiam'offer. Take water in the right hand, pour it on the left palm, turn around to
the right once, sit down and do "Tharpanam".
`Tharpanam'consists of offering water from the palm thrice each of `deva',
`devaganam', `rshi, `rshiganam, `pitru'and `pitruganam, holding the yagjnasoothram
(poonool, sacred cross-thread) first in the normal position, then straight around the
neck only and then around the left arm.
This is called `Kuli-upasthanam'and is to be done after every bath. Thereafter put the
poonool in the normal position, wring the towel, do `Kaalkazhukal' and
`Aachamanam', hang the towel on the left forearm and perform `Sandhyaavandanam'.
If we notice the ceremonial washing of Brahmins in the river, they follow a very
similar procedure as part of ritual ablution, but it involves a self immersion
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