Since ancient times Acamana or sipping of -water before, in and after certain acts, occasions etc. was regarded essential from the purificatory point of view. Elaborate rules for Acamana rite are prescribed in Dharma Sutras e.g. Apastamba 1.5.15.2-11; 16.1-16) and Smrtis like Manu II. 58-62, Yaj. I. 18-21. The occasions for draTnana detailed here, were already pres¬ cribed in Apastamba Dh. S. 1.5.16.15-16, Manu V. 138 & 145 & Yajna- valkya 1.196. 396 Kurma Purana after conversing with women, Sudra and a person defiled by Ucchi^ta (stale leaving), after touching a person who is defiled by Ucchi^ta as well as food-stuff of that sort. When one sheds tears or spills blood, after taking food, performance of the sandhya prayer at dawn and dusk, after taking a bath, after discharging urine and faeces and shall perform Acamana twice; after sleeping, he should perform the rite only once; after touching fire, or cows. After touching women or after binding the knot of the waist-cloth, he should perform Acamana. He should touch the grass, water or the earth, when he touches his hair or touches a cloth that is not washed; for the purpose of Acamana the water should not be hot nor shall it contain foam. It should be pure. He should be silent at that time. A person seeking purity shall sit facing the east or the north at the time of Acamana. If one performs Acamana covering his head or neck with dhoti (waist- cloth) worn loosely without knot or tucking and the knot of the tuft of the hair united and without washing feet, one remains im¬ pure despite Acamana. A wise person should not perform Acamana with shoes on, standing in water, wearing a turban. 11 -15a. No sensible man should perform Acamana when the hand is defiled by Ucchifta (leavings of food) nor should he per¬ form the Acamana with the water by means of the shower, nor should he perform Acamana with water supplied by a single hand. It should not be without the sacred thread. He should not be seated with shoes on (?) or on the knees. The hand shall not reach outside the knees. The water shall not be poured out by Vaisya Sudra etc. by means of their hands. Nor should they be defiled by Ucchi^ta. Acamana should not be performed by touching water with fingers. One should not produce sounds (at the time of Aca¬ mana) . His mind should not be dwelling on other topics. The water should not be defective in colour or taste. The water should not be in short supply. The water should not be agitated with the hands. It should not be performed outside the room (?). A Brahmana is sanctified when the water (of the Acamana rite) reaches his heart. A Ksatriya is sanctified when the water reaches the throat. A Vaisya is purified as soon as the water is drunk. A woman and a Sudra are purified by merely touching the water. II.13.15b-24 397 15b-18. The (holy place) on the line at the root of the thumb is called Brahmya (Brahma Tirtha) (i.e. Brahma Tirtha is presumed to exist there). The root of the index finger is the excellent Pitrtirtha. The space after (beyond) the root of small finger is called Prajapatya (Tirtha). At the tip of the fingers is remembered Daiva Tirtha. It is glorified for the sake of the Deva (?). Or it is enjoined at the root (of the fingers) that per¬ taining to Agni is remembered in the middle finger. The same itself is the Saumika (pertaining to Soma) Tirtha. Realising thus one is not deluded. A Brahmana should always perform the Acamana rite through the Brahma Tirtha.