Making Sacred Water

To sanctify ordinary water (turning it into samanya-arghya or "Ganges water") for worship and the abhiseka, follow this procedure from Arcana-Paddhati and Pancaratra Pradipa:

1. The Hand Gesture (Ankusa-Mudra)

You must use the Ankusa-mudra (representing a goad*) to invoke the rivers: Curl your right ring finger and little finger into your palm. Lock them down with your thumb. Keep the middle finger straight up. Bend the index finger slightly like a hook.

2. The Invocation (Tirtha-Avahana)

Touch the surface of the water with your middle finger (ensure your fingernail does not touch the water) and chant the following mantra to call the holy rivers:

gange ca yamune caiva

godavari sarasvati

narmade sindho kaveri

jale 'smin sannidhim kuru

"O Ganges, O Yamuna, O Godavari, O Sarasvati, O Narmada, O Sindhu, O Kaveri, please be present in this water."

3. Energizing the Water

Wrap your sacred thread (brahmana thread) around your right thumb if you are second initiated. Cover the cup with your left hand (to protect and conceal the chanting). Silently chant the Mula Mantra of the main Deity (if you don't have second initiation chant the hare krishna-mantra) eight times over the water. This process spiritualizes the water, making it fit for proksana (sprinkling on heads/paraphernalia) and for use in the worship.

* A goad to drive elephants: https://collection.nam.ac.uk/images/960/115000-115999/115918.jpg