Vedic prayer

कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मिः करमध्ये सरस्वति ।

करमूले तु गोविन्दः प्रभाते करदर्शनम् ॥

Karaagre Vasate Lakssmih Karamadhye Sarasvati |

Karamuule Tu Govindah Prabhaate Karadarshanam ||

The Vishnu Purana version

कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मी: करमध्ये सरस्वती।

करमूले स्थ‍ितो ब्रह्मा प्रभाते करदर्शनम्।।

3rd version

कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः, करमध्ये सरस्वती ।

करमूले स्थिता गौरी, मंगलं करदर्शनम् ॥

• Kara: Hand
• Karagre: Beginning of the hand; Agra=beginning
• Vasate: Resides
• Lakshmi: Goddess Lakshmi; deity of wealth and beauty
• Kara-Madhye: In the middle of hand (Palm); Madhya=middle
• Saraswati: Goddess Saraswati; deity of Knowledge, wisdom
• Kara-Moole: In the base of the hand (wrist); Moola=base
• Sthitaa: Sit/Exist
• Gowri: Goddess Gowri/ Parvati; deity of power and strength
• Mangalam: Auspicious
• Darshanam: Seeing

All versions indicate that hands should be treated as GODS and kept clean from all sides from top to bottom. You should clean your hands the first thing in the morning.

Dr KK Aggarwal

Padma Shri Awardee

President Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania (CMAAO)

Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications

President Heart Care Foundation of India

Past National President IMA