Worshiping the Çälagräma-çilä
Preparation for Worship (pürväìga-karma)
Required Paraphernalia
Set up the paraphernalia given in Appendix A before beginning.
Offering Obeisances (guru-praëäma)
Offer prostrated obeisances to your spiritual master while chanting his praëäma prayer(s).
Sipping water for purification (vaiñëava-äcamana)
Perform äcamana. See Appendix B, and then chant the Gäyatré mantra.
Establishing Samänya-arghya (samänya-arghya-sthäpana)
Put the small äcamana-pätra in place and fill it with water from the bathing kalash. Put a few drops of water from the äcamana-pätra onto the fingers of your right hand; purify the äcamana-pätra by prokñaëa:
- Chanting oà asträya phaö, sprinkle water on the äcamana-pätra.
- Over the äcamana-pätra show the cakra-mudrä, gäliné-mudrä, then dhenu-mudrä (or surabhi-mudrä).
- Invoke the Gaìgä and other holy rivers by showing the aìkuça-mudrä and chanting:
gaìge ca yamune caiva godävari sarasvati
narmade sindho käveri jale ’smin sannidhià kuru
May water from the holy rivers Gaìgä, Yamunä, Godävaré, Sarasvaté, Narmadä, Sindhu, and Käveré kindly be present.
- Now invoke the béja-syllable oà into the water, chanting it eight times silently while holding the béjäkñara-mudrä over the äcamana-pätra. Then show the matsya-mudrä over the païca-pätra.
- Repeat the same procedure for the water in the go-mukha water pot.
- Repeat the same procedure for the water in the bathing kalash. Chant the gopäla mantra instead of the béja syllable.
Establishing a place for Worship (äsana – sthäpana)
- Chant oà asträya phaö and purify the floor by prokñaëa (sprinkling water from the right hand).
- Place the äsana on the floor where you will sit.
- After visualizing your spiritual master sitting on an äsana to perform the worship, sit on your own äsana.
Arranging the paraphernalia for Worship (pätra – sthäpana)
- Everything should be arranged so that you need not move from your äsana and so that you can easily reach them without touching offered to unoffered items. (See Appendix A)
- Bathing towels should be placed on top of the covers for the bhoga, not on your lap or directly on the floor.
- Pour water from the bathing kalash into the silver äcamana-pätra (containing clove powder) and the two smaller conches.
- Clean the table with water and one of the towels.
- Clean the pictures with damp cotton wool.
Requesting the Spiritual Master’s and Previous Äcäryas’ Blessings (guru-paìkti-namaskära)
- Draw the attention of your spiritual master by placing flowers before him (puñpäïjali) while chanting eña puñpäïjaliù and the guru-müla-mantra. Then, meditating on your spiritual master’s service to the previous äcäryas, show the praëäma-mudrä (joined palms) and chant:
çré-guro paramänanda premänanda phala-prada
vrajänanda-pradänanda-seväyäà mä niyojaya
My dear spiritual master, who gives the fruit of the highest bliss – the bliss of love of Godhead – please engage me in the blissful service of Çré Kåñëa, who bestows bliss upon the land of Vraja.
Optional: Chat the Guru-paramparä praëämai,
- Chant:
jaya çré-kåñëa-caitanya prabhu nityänanda
çré-advaita gadädhara çréväsädi-gaura-bhakta-vånda
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare
Purifying the Hands (kara – çuddhi)
Wash your hands with water from the water pot and / or clean them by smearing them lightly with candana.
Purifying the Flowers (puñpa – çuddhi)
- Chant oà asträya phaö and sprinkle the flowers with samänya-arghya water. Then show the cakra and dhenu mudräs over the flowers.
- While touching the flowers with the fingers of your right hand in the béjäkñara-mudrä, chant:
oà puñpe puñpe mahä-puñpe su-puñpe puñpa-sambhave
puñpe cayaväkérëe ca huà phaö svähä
O flowers, O great and auspicious flowers who have appeared from a budding creeper, may you be purified.
- Then show the matsya-mudrä over the flowers.
Purifying the Lord’s Paraphernalia (dravya – çuddhi)
- Chant oà asträya phaö and sprinkle the paraphernalia with samänya-arghya water. Then show the cakra and dhenu-mudräs over the paraphernalia.
- Now chant silently the käma-béja (kléà) eight times over each article while showing the béjäkñara-mudrä. Then show the matsya-mudrä.
- This should be done for the païcämåta and madhu-parka, the incense and ghee lamp, and candana, gopi-candana and neem twig.
- Put Tulasé and candana in the padya and arghya conches. Do not touch the water with the finger nails.
- Top up the bathing kalash with warm water. Add Tulasé leaves, maïjarés and flowers dipped in candana.
Purifying oneself by sprinkling water (ätma – çuddhi)
- Perform prokñaëa by sprinkling yourself lightly with samänya-arghya water while silently chanting the gopäla-mantra (the sixth guru-given mantra) once.
Purifying the bodily elements by identifying oneself as the eternal servant of the servant of Lord Kåñëa (bhüta – çuddhi)
Recite the following prayers, meditating on their meaning:
I am by nature the eternal servant of Kåñëa. But because of my bad fortune, I have been inimical toward Him from time immemorial, and thus I have identified myself with my body and continuously wandered in the cycle of birth and death in the material world, suffering the burning threefold miseries. Now, as a result of some unimaginable good fortune, my spiritual master’s mercy has enabled me to know that
I am Kåñëa’s eternal servant, an infinitesimal spiritual being completely apart from the gross and subtle body. And so by the order of my spiritual master I have obtained the good fortune of serving his lotus feet and, following in his footsteps, the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Çré Çré Rädhä – Gopinätha.
nähaà vipro na ca nara-patir näpi vaiçyo na çüdro
nähaà varëé na ca gåha-patir no vana-stho yatir vä
kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramänanda-pürëämåtäbdher
gopé-bhartuù pada-kamalayor däsa-däsänudäsaù
I am not a brähmaëa, I am not a kñatriya, I am not a vaiçya or a çüdra. Nor am I a brahmacäré, a householder, a vänaprastha, or a sannyäsé. I identify myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Çré Kåñëa, the maintainer of the gopés. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance. [Padyävalé 74}
(om) apavitraù pavitro vä sarvävasthäà gato ’pi vä
yaù smaret puëòarékäkñaà sa bähyäbhyantarah çuciù
Whether pure or impure, or having passed through all conditions of material life, if one can remember the lotus-eyed Kåñëa, he becomes externally and internally clean. [Hari-bhakti-viläsa 3.47; quoted from the Garuòa Puräëa]
Preliminary Worship
Worshiping the Lord’s bell (ghaëöä – püjä)
- While offering the bell a flower petal dipped in candana, chant:
ete gandha-puñpe oà jaya-dhvani-mantra-matäù svähä - Now affix the flower petal to the body of the bell with the candana. Then ring the bell briefly with your left hand and replace it on the plate, all the while thinking of the bell as a servant of the Lord.
Worshiping the Lord’s bathing Conch (çaìkha – püjä)
- While offering flowers and candana to the Lord’s bathing conch, chant:
ete gandha-puñpe oà huà huà huà namaù mahä-çaìkhäya svähä - Now affix the flower petal to the conch with the candana, all the while thinking of the conch as a servant of the Lord.
- Light one stick of incense and then bring the Lord.
Worship of the Spiritual Master (guru – püjä)
Meditation on the form of the Spiritual Master (dhyäna)
- First meditate on the place where your spiritual master is situated:
At the Yogapéöha in Çré Mayapur, in the spiritual abode of Navadvépa, Lord Gaurasundara sits on a jeweled throne. On His right is Lord Nityänanda, on His left Çré Gadädhara. In front, with joined palms, are Çré Advaita and Çrévasa Öhäkura, who holds an umbrella over Lord Caitanya’s head. On a jeweled platform below Lord Gauräìga’s throne, my sikñä guru, Çrila Prabhupäda and my spiritual master sit.
- Then chant the prema – dhvani for your spiritual master (jaya oà viñëupäda [name of your spiritual master] ké jaya)
Worship of the Spiritual Master with Articles (mänasa – püjä)
While ringing the bell with your left hand, offer sixteen upacäras to your spiritual master, using samänya – arghya water from the äcamana-pätra for each item, and then discard it into the visarjanéya – pätra.
- Chant idam äsanam and the guru-müla-mantra, and with a hand gesture offer an äsana for your spiritual master to sit on.
- Chant svägataà su-svägataà and the guru-müla-mantra, and with joined palms welcome your spiritual master and see to his comfort.
- Chant etat padyam and the guru-müla-mantra, and offer water for washing your spiritual master’s feet.
- Chant idam arghyam and the guru-müla-mantra, and offer arghya to your spiritual master in his hands so he can sprinkle it over his head.
- Chant idam äcamanéyam and the guru-müla-mantra, and offer your spiritual master water for sipping.
- Chant eña madhuparkaù and the guru-müla-mantra, and offer your spiritual master a cup of madhuparka.
- Chant idaà punar-äcamanéyam and the guru-müla-mantra, and again offer water for sipping.
- Chant idaà snänéyam and the guru-müla-mantra, and bathe your spiritual master.
- Chant idaà vastram and the guru-müla-mantra, and offer cloth to your spiritual master and dress him.
- Chant imam äbharaëäni and the guru-mula-mantra, and offer paraphernalia used by your spiritual master, such as eye-glasses or a sannyäsa-daëòa.
- Chant eña gandha and the guru-müla-mantra, and offer gandha to your spiritual master’s lotus feet, using a flower petal.
- Chant etäni puñpäni and the guru-müla-mantra, and offer flowers with candana to your spiritual master’s lotus feet. You may then put tulasé leaves in the right hand of your spiritual master for him to offer to the Lord. At this time you may also offer a flower garland.
- Chant eña dhüpaù and the guru-müla-mantra, and offer incense.
- Chant eña dépaù and the guru-müla-mantra, and offer a lamp.
- Chant idaà naivedyam and the guru-müla-mantra, and offer mahä-prasäda to your spiritual master, followed by äcamana (water for sipping).
- Chant idaà sarvam and the guru-müla-mantra, and offer flowers to the lotus feet of your spiritual master; these flowers represent whatever additional items might be pleasing to him.
- Offer respects, glorification and obeisances (praëäma):
Chant
nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale
çrémate [spiritual master’s name] iti nämine
I offer my respectful obeisances unto [spiritual master’s name], who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.
While ringing the bell with your left hand, offer sixteen upacäras to Çrila Prabhupäda, using samänya – arghya water from the äcamana-pätra for each item, and then discard it into the visarjanéya – pätra.
Chant
nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine
I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.
namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe
Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.
Chant the guru-müla-mantra and guru-gäyatré (the second and third guru-given mantras) silently ten times each.
Guru – stuti
Offer glorification with the following verse:
tvaà gopikä våñaraves tanayäntike ’si
sevädhikäriëi guro nija-päda-padme
däsyaà pradäya kuru mäà vraja-känane çré-
rädhäìghri-sevana-rase sukhinéà sukhäbdhau
O beloved spiritual master, you are always in the presence of the cowherd girl Rädhä, the daughter of King Våñabhänu. Please award me service at your lotus feet, which are the proprietors of devotional service. Please place me in the ocean of joy by bestowing upon me happiness in the mellows of service at the lotus feet of Çré Rädhä in the groves of Vraja-dhäma.
Guru – praëäma
Offer obeisances with the following verses:
oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù
माझा जन्म अज्ञानमय अंधकारात झाला होता, परंतु माझ्या आध्यात्मिक गुरूंनी प्रकाशमय ज्ञानाने मला दृष्टी प्रदान केली आहे. मी त्यांना सादर प्रणाम करतो.
jaya çré-kåñëa-caitanya prabhu-nityänanda
çré-advaita gadädhara çrévasädi-gaura-bhakta-vånda
hare kåñëa hare kåñëa kåñëa kåñëa hare hare
hare räma hare räma räma räma hare hare
(See the Pancaratra Pradipa supplement for more prayers that may be offered in Guru – püjä)
Worshiping Lord Caitanya (gauräìga – püjä)
Meditation on the form of Lord Caitanya (gauräìga – dhyäna)
Chant the following verse and meditate on the transcendental form of Lord Caitanya amidst His eternal associates:
çréman-mauktika-däma-baddha-cikuraà su-smera-candränanaà
çré-khaëòäguru-cäru-citra-väsanaà srag-divya-bhüñäïcitam
nåtyäveça-rasänumoda-madhuraà kandarpa-veçojjvalaà
caitanyaà kanaka-dyutià nija-janaiù saàsevyamänaà bhaje
I worship Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, who is being served by all His devotees and associates, whose hair is bound with strings of pearls, and whose moonlike face bears the nectar of His gentle smile. His beautiful golden body is adorned with lovely garments, anointed with sandalwood and aguru pulp, and bedecked with garlands and various glistening ornaments. He is extremely charming, absorbed as He is in enjoying the sweet mellows of dancing, and His dress is more splendid than even Cupid’s.
Worship of Lord Caitanya with Articles (mänasa – püjä)
While ringing the bell with your left hand, offer the sixteen upacäras to Çrila Prabhupäda, using samänya – arghya water from the äcamana-pätra for each item, and then discard it into the visarjanéya – pätra.
- Chant idam äsanam and the gaura-müla-mantra, and offer an äsana for Lord Caitanya to sit on. (Escort Him to a seat with a gesture of your hands.)
- Chant svägataà su-svägatam and the gaura-müla-mantra, and with joined palms welcome Lord Caitanya and see to His comfort.
- Chant etat padyam and the gaura-müla-mantra, and offer water for washing Lord Caitanya’s lotus feet.
- Chant idaà arghyam and the gaura-müla-mantra, and offer the arghya preparation to Lord Caitanya in His hands so He can sprinkle it over his head.
- Chant idam äcamanéyam and the gaura-müla-mantra, and offer Lord Caitanya water for sipping.
- Chant eña madhuparkaù and the gaura-müla-mantra, and offer Lord Caitanya a cup of madhuparka.
- Chant idaà punar-äcamanéyam and the gaura-müla-mantra, and again offer water for sipping.
- Chant idaà snänéyam and the gaura-müla-mantra, and bathe Lord Caitanya.
- Chant idaà vastram and the gaura-müla-mantra, and offer cloth to Lord Caitanya and dress Him.
- Chant imäni äbharaëäni and the gaura-müla-mantra, and offer ornaments to Lord Caitanya.
- Chant eña gandhaù and the gaura-müla-mantra, and offer gandha to Lord Caitanya’s lotus feet.
- Chant etäni puspäni and the gaura-müla-mantra, and offer flowers with candana to Lord Caitanya’s lotus feet. Then offer tulasé leaves to His lotus feet. At this time you may also offer a flower garland.
- Chant eña dhüpaù and the gaura-müla-mantra, and offer incense to Lord Caitanya.
- Chant eña dépaù and the gaura-müla-mantra, and offer a lamp to Lord Caitanya.
- Chant idaà naivedyam and the gaura-müla-mantra, and offer bhoga to Lord Caitanya, followed by äcamana.
- Chant idaà sarvam and the gaura-müla-mantra, and offer flowers to Lord Caitanya; these represent whatever additional items might be pleasing to Him.
Offer respects, glorification and obeisances (praëäma): - Chant the gaura-müla-mantra and the gaura-gäyatré (the fourth and fifth guru-given mantras) silently ten times each. Then chant the following verses:
- anarpita-caréà cirät karuëayävatérëaù kalau
samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasäà sva-bhakti-çriyam
hariù puraöa-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandépitaù
sadä hådaya-kandare sphuratu vaù çacénandanaù
May that Lord who is known as the son of Çrématé Çacédevé be transcendentally situated in the innermost core of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has descended in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most elevated mellow of devotional service, the mellow of conjugal love. [Caitanya-caritämåta, Ädi 1.4]
jaya çré-kåñëa-caitanya prabhu-nityänanda
çré-advaita gadädhara çrévasädi-gaura-bhakta-vånda
hare kåñëa hare kåñëa kåñëa kåñëa hare hare
hare räma hare räma räma räma hare hare
Apply a flower (or flower petal) dipped in candana to the lotus feet.
(See the Pancaratra Pradipa supplement for more prayers that may be offered in Gauräìga – püjä)
Worshiping Çälagräma – çilä
Worship of the Lord’s Place with His Associates (péöha – püjä)
With candana, using your right fore or middle finger, draw a lotus – shaped maëòala on the péöha, the place where the Lord will stand for bathing. Then write in the center the béja syllable kléà.
- Put bathing äsana in the center of the snäna – vedi with ring on top, then put tulasé leaves and a flower dipped in candana.
- Now ring the bell and offer flower petals with candana as follows:
- Offer petals inside the maëòala and chant:
- ete gandha-puñpe (and the guru-müla-mantra)
- ete gandha-puñpe oà gurubhyo namaù (for previous äcäryas)
- ete gandha-puñpe oà sarva-vaiñëavebhyo namaù
- ete gandha-puñpe om ädhära-çaktaye namaù
- ete gandha-puñpe om anantäya namaù
- ete gandha-puñpe oà goloka-dhämne namaù
Meditation on the Lord’s Form (dhyäna)
Chant the following mantra and meditate on His form:
dévyad-våndäraëya-kalpa-drumädhaù
çrémad-ratnägära-siàhäsana-sthau
çrémad-rädhä-çréla-govinda-devau
preñöhälébhiù sevyamänau smarämi
In a temple of jewels in Våndävana, underneath a desire tree, Çré Çré Rädhä-Govinda, served by Their most confidential associates, sit upon an effulgent throne. I offer my most humble obeisances unto Them.
Worship of the Çälagräma – çilä with Articles (mänasa – püjä)
While ringing the bell with your left hand, offer the sixteen upacäras to Lord Kåñëa, using samänya – arghya water from the äcamana-pätra for each item, and then discard it into the visarjanéya – pätra.
- Chant idam äsanam and the Deity-müla-mantra, and offer an äsana for Lord Kåñëa to sit on. (Escort Him to a seat with a gesture of your hands.)
- Chant svägataà su-svägatam and the Deity-müla-mantra, and with joined palms welcome Lord Kåñëa and see to His comfort.
- Chant etat padyam and the Deity-müla-mantra, and offer water for washing Lord Kåñëa’s lotus feet.
- Chant idaà arghyam and the Deity-müla-mantra, and offer the arghya preparation to Lord Kåñëa in His hands so He can sprinkle it over His head.
- Chant idam äcamanéyam and the Deity-müla-mantra, and offer Lord Kåñëa water for sipping.
- Chant eña madhupärkaù and the Deity-müla-mantra, and offer Lord Kåñëa a cup of madhupärkaù.
- Chant idaà punar-äcamanéyam and the Deity-müla-mantra, and again offer water for sipping.
- Chant idaà snänéyam and the Deity-müla-mantra, and bathe Lord Kåñëa.
- Chant idaà vastram and the Deity-müla-mantra, and offer cloth to Lord Kåñëa and dress Him.
- Chant imäni äbharaëäni and the Deity-müla-mantra, and offer ornaments to Lord Kåñëa.
- Chant eña gandhaù and the Deity-müla-mantra, and offer gandha to Lord Kåñëa’s lotus feet.
- Chant etäni puspäni and the Deity-müla-mantra, and offer flowers with candana to Lord Kåñëa’s lotus feet. Then offer tulasé leaves to His lotus feet. At this time you may also offer a flower garland.
- Chant eña dhüpaù and the Deity-müla-mantra, and offer incense to Lord Kåñëa.
- Chant eña dépaù and the Deity-müla-mantra, and offer a lamp to Lord Kåñëa.
- Chant idaà naivedyam and the Deity-müla-mantra, and offer bhoga to Lord Kåñëa, followed by äcamana.
- Chant idaà sarvam and the Deity-müla-mantra, and offer flowers to Lord Kåñëa; these represent whatever additional items might be pleasing to Him.
- Offer respects, glorification and obeisances (praëäma).
Worship of the Çälagräma – çilä with Articles (bähya – püjä)
Before offering each upacära chant the appropriate puruña-sükta verse.
- Chant eña puñpäïjaliù and the Deity-müla-mantra, and offer flower petals to the Lord’s lotus feet.
- Äsana
- Chant ime päduke and the Deity-müla-mantra, and offer shoes to the Lord.
- Chant
sahasra çérña puruñaù / sahasräkñaù sahasrapät(e) /
sa bhümià viçvato våtvä / atyatiñöhad daçäìgulam // 1//
The Supreme Lord’s universal form has a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, and a thousand feet, for He contains all living entities. Having pervaded the universe completely to give it existence, and being independent, He extended Himself beyond the universe by ten fingers.
- Chant idam äsanam and the Deity müla-mantra while showing the äsana-mudrä; touch the Lord’s shoes.
- Svägata
Chant
puruña evedagm sarvam / yad bhütaà yac-ca bhavyaà /
utämåta-tva-syeçänaù / yad annena tirohati // 2 //
The universes—past, present, and future—are but manifestations of the Supreme Lord’s puruña expansion. Though He is the Lord of immortality, he has manifested Himself as the puruña in the universe so that the jévas may enjoy material fruits.
- Chant svägataà su-svägatam and the Deity müla-mantra, and show the svasti-mudrä, welcoming the Lord and making Him comfortable.
- Padya
- Chant
etävän asya mahimä / ato jyäyägàç ca püruñaù /
pädo ‘sya viñvä bhütäni / tripäd asyämåtam divi // 3 //
The past, present, and future universes are manifestations of the Lord’s powers, but the Lord Himself is much greater. All the living beings of the universe are but one quarter portion, and the eternal nature in the spiritual sky exists in three quarters portion.
- Chant etat padyam and the Deity müla-mantra, then offer padya water to wash the Lord’s lotus feet, discarding it in the snäna-pätra.
- Arghya
- Chant
tripäd-urdhva udait-puruñaù / pädo ‘syehä ‘bhavat punaù /
tato viñvaì-vyakrämat(e) / säçanä naçane abhi // 4 //
The three quarters portion of the Lord transcended the material portion. The Lord in the one quarter portion manifested the universe again, as He had done repeatedly before. The Lord of the one quarter portion began the work of creation, by going all around, taking the form of all animate and inanimate objects.
- Chant idam arghyam and the Deity müla-mantra, then offer arghya to the Lord in His hands so He can sprinkle it over His head. Discard the arghya into the snäna-pätra or visarjanéya-pätra.
- Äcamana
- Chant
tasmäd viräò ajäyata / viräjo adhi püruñaù /
sa jäto ‘tyaricyata / paçcäd bhümim atho puraù // 5 //
From the Lord, the universe was born, and in that universe was born the véräö-puruña, the Supersoul of the universe. Then the véräö-puruña grew and produced the earth and the bodies of the jévas.
- Chant idam äcamanéyam and the Deity müla-mantra, then offer äcamana for the Lord to sip, discarding it in the visarjanéya-pätra.
- Madhupärkaù
- Chant
yat puruñeëa haviñä / devä yajïam atanvata /
vasanto asyäséd äjyam / gréñma idhmaù çarad dhaviù // 6 //
The devatäs, the first beings manifested, performed a mental sacrifice to complete the creation. For this sacrifice they used the viräö-puruña [the raw ingredients of the material world] as the offering. Spring was the ghee, summer the fuel-wood, and autumn the offering.
Chant eña madhuparkaù and the Deity müla-mantra, and then offer madhuparka to the Lord. Put the offered madhuparka in the snäna-pätra.
- Punar-äcamana
- Chant
saptäsyäsan paridhayaù / triù sapta samidhaù kåtäù /
devä yad-yajïaà tanvänäù / abadhnan puruñam paçum // 7 //
In this sacrifice the blades of kuça grass strewn around the fire [for protection from räkñasas] were seven [the seven Vedic poetic meters], and the fuel sticks were twenty-one [twelve months, five seasons, three worlds, and the sun]. The devatäs who performed the mental sacrifice tied the véräö-puruña to offer Him as the sacrificial animal.
- Chant idaà punar-äcamanéyam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer acamana for the Lord to sip, discarding it in the visarjanéya-pätra.
- Snäna
Cleaning the Lord’s Teeth (danta – dhävana)
- Remove the Lord’s crown.
- Chant ime päduke and the Deity-müla-mantra, offer shoes to the Lord and move them next to the snäna-pätra; then with a gesture of the hand escort Him to the stand in the snäna-pätra.
- Put the Lord on the ring in the stand.
- Chant eña danta-käñöhaù and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer a twig for brushing the Lord’s teeth.
- Chant idam äcamanéyam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer water for sipping.
- Clean siàhäsana. Clean the canopy from inside and outside and the rod holding the canopy with swab. Also clean the Lord’s shoes. Remove any dirt from the bed of the Lord.
Cleaning the Deity before His bath (mürti – çuddhi)
- Before taking the Lord from His äsana wet the brush and take two balls of cotton wool damped with samänya-arghya from the go-mukha pot.
- Take the Lord and touch Him to your head then respectfully smell His transcendental form.
- Do not remove the Lord’s eyes.
- While carefully holding the Lord in your left hand with cloth so as not to touch His form, clean Him with one of the balls of cotton wool removing candana, Tulasé leaves and flower petals. Then using the brush remove all the candana etc. that is accumulated in the little holes etc. Be careful not to touch the Lord’s body directly with your left hand.
- Chant idaà sugandha-tailam and the Deity müla-mantra, and massage the Lord with fragrant oil while holding Him in a cloth in your left hand. (Use silk cloth)
- Remove the excess oil with the other ball of cotton wool.
- Chant idam aìga-vastram and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer a flower petal dipped in candana as a gamchä. Discard the flower petal into the visarjanéya-pätra
Bathing and drying
- Chant:
taà yajïaà barhiñi praukñan(e) / puruñaà jätam agrataù /
tena devä ayajanta / sädhyä åñayaç ca ye // 8 //
The devatäs, sädhyas, and åñis placed the vérät-puruña, the first being of the universe, on kuça grass and sprinkled Him with water for purification. In this way they conducted the mental sacrifice using the véräö-puruña.
Chant idaà snänéyam and the Deity müla-mantra, then bathe the Lord by pouring water from the conch while chanting the Brahmä-saàhitä’s Govindam prayers. Fill the conch at least three times.ii
- Next bathe the Lord with païcämåta. As you pour (one after another, in this order) the milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, and sugar water chant the following mantras:
idaà kñéra-snänéyam and the Deity müla-mantra; bathe the Lord with water
idaà dadhi-snänéyam and the Deity müla-mantra; bathe the Lord with water
idaà ghåta-snänéyam and the Deity müla-mantra; bathe the Lord with water
idaà madhu-snänéyam and the Deity müla-mantra; bathe the Lord with water
idaà séta-snänéyam and the Deity müla-mantra.
- After bathing the Lord in païcämåta, bathe Him again in warm water, thus removing remnants of the païcämåta from the Çälagräma-çilä.
- Chant idam aìga-vastram and the Deity müla-mantra. Place the Lord on the towel on the table.
- Remove the Goloka yantra from the table and put it on the floor to the right.
- Dry the Lord with the towel (taking care not to touch Him directly with the left hand)
- Lightly smear the Lord with fragrant oil or ghee to give His body a shine.
- Chant idaà tilakam and the Deity müla-mantra, and decorate the Lord with tilaka and candana. Draw mouth, urdhva puëòra tilaka and other decorations.
- Put Tulasé and candana on the bottom of the Lord’s form. (Best place is on the péöha, the flat spot)
- Place the Lord on the towel on the table.
- Vastra
- Chant
tasmäd-yajïät-sarva-hutaù / saàbhåtaà påñad-äjyam /
paçügàs tägàç cakre väyavyän(e) / äraëyän-grämyäç ca ye // 9 //
From that sacrifice where everything in the universe was sacrificed, yogurt and ghee—and indeed, all nourishing foods—were produced. It created the animals of the air, forest, and village.
- Chant idaà vastram, idam uttaréyam and the Deity müla-mantra, then offer fresh clothing to the Lord. (Place the lower cloth on His throne and put Tulasé leaf on top. Put the chädar on the table next to the siàhäsana. The clothes should be scented with oil from the small bottle.)
- Chant idam äcamanéyam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer water for sipping.
- Chant idam äsanam and the Deity-müla-mantra while showing the äsana-mudrä put Him on the throne.
- Chant idam äcamanéyam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer water for sipping.
- Chant idam upavétam and the Deity müla-mantra while showing the upavéta-mudrä; then offer a sacred thread to the Lord.
- Chant idam äcamanéyam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer water for sipping.
- Offer the chädar at this time.
- Äbharaëa
- Chant:
tasmäd-yajïät sarva hutaù / åcaù sämäni jajïire /
chandägàsi jajïire tasmät(e) / yajus-tasmäd ajäyata // 10 //
From that ultimate sacrifice, or sarva-huta, were born the åk [hymns], säma [music], and yajus [prose] portions of the Vedas, along with the seven Vedic meters.
- Chant imäni äbharaëäni and the Deity müla-mantra, then offer the Lord ornaments. Put the crown and flute on the table in front of Him. This will be given after bhoga offering.
- Gandha
- Chant:
tasmäd-açva ajäyanta / ye ke cobhayä dataù /
gävo ha jajïire tasmät(e) / tasmäj-jätä ajä vayaù // 11 //
Horses were born from the sacrifice, along with animals with two sets of teeth, such as donkeys and mules. Cows were also born from the sacrifice, along with goats and sheep.
- Chant eña gandhaù and the Deity müla-mantra, then offer candana and scents according to season.iii
- Puñpa
- Chant:
yat-puruñaà vyadadhuù / katidhä vyakalpayan(e) /
mukhaà kim-asya kau bähü / kävürü pädä vucyete // 12 //
In the mental sacrifice, when they divided up the véräö-puruña, how many parts did they divide? What is stated about His face, arms, thighs, and feet?
- Chant etäni puñpäëi and the Deity müla-mantra, and then offer fragrant flowers to the Lord’s lotus feet.
- Chant etäni tulasé-paträëi and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer tulasé leaves and maïjarés to the Lord’s lotus feet. (Affix them toward the back on top.)
- Chant idaà mälyam and the Deity-müla-mantra, and offer flower garland. (Chant ime mälye if offering more than one garland.)
- Dhüpa
- Chant:
brähmaëo ‘sya mukhaà äséd / bähü räjanyaù kåtaù /
ürü tad-asya yad-vaiçyaù / padbhyägà çüdro ajäyata // 13 //
The brähmaëas arose from the face [of the véräö-puruña], the kñatriyas from His two arms, the vaiçyas from His thighs, and the çüdras from His feet.
- Chant eña dhüpaù and the Deity müla-mantra, then offer incense to the Lord.
- Dépa
- Chant:
candramä manaso jätaù / cakñoù süryo ajäyata /
mukhäd-indraç-cägniç-ca / präëäd-väyur-ajäyata // 14
His mind gave rise to the moon; His two eyes, the sun; His breath, Väyu; and His mouth, Indra and Agni.
- Chant eña dépaù and the Deity müla-mantra, and then offer the Lord a ghee lamp.
- Naivedya
- Clean table by putting some water on the table then wiping with the towel that was used to hold the Lord.
Purifying the bhoga (some fruit and / or sweets and water)
- Put the bhoga plate on the table.
- Cut the fruits. (Directly into the bowls.)
- Chant oà asträya phaö and sprinkle the bhoga with samänya-arghya water. Show the cakra-mudrä. Over drinking water show the gäliné-mudrä.
- Showing the dhenu-mudrä, meditate on the food as amåta.
- Chant the müla-mantra over the bhoga while showing the béjäkñara-mudrä; then protect the bhoga with the matsya-mudrä.
- Place Tulasé leaves on the bhoga.
- Put the mukha-väsam and the tämbülam to the right side of the plate. These will be offered later.
- Chant idam äsanam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer an äsana to the Lord.
- Chant etat pädyam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer water for washing the Lord’s lotus feet.
- Chant idam äcamanéyam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer water for sipping.
Offering the Bhoga
- Chant:
näbhyä äséd-antarikñam / çérñëo dhyauù samavartata /
From His navel arose the space between earth and heaven; from His head, the heavens; from His feet, the earth; and from His ears, the directions. In this way the worlds were created.
- Chant idaà naivedyam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer bhoga to the Lord.
- Chant idaà päëéyam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer a glass of drinking water to the Lord.
- Lift the plate briefly with both hands (as a gesture of offering), while praying for the Lord to accept the offering. Then show the gräsa-mudrä.
- Chant the gopäla-mantra and käma-gäyatré mantra with eyes closed, meditating on the Lord taking His meal with His associates. Wait a short time for the Lord to enjoy His meal, and then open your eyes.
After the Meal
- Clap your hands three times and offer the following items while ringing the bell:
- Chant idaà hasta-mukha-prakñälanam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer water for washing the Lord’s hands and face from the go-mukha water pot.
- Chant etat pädyam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer water for washing the Lord’s lotus feet.
- Chant idam äcamanéyam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer water for sipping.
- Chant idam äsanam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer an äsana to the Lord.
- Chant eña gandhaù and the Deity müla-mantra, offer candana with Tulasé leaves for the Lord to freshen His hands and face. Then discard it into the snäna-pätra.
- Chant idaà mukha-väsam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer sweet spices to scent the Lord’s mouth.
- Chant idaà tämbülam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer betel to the Lord.
- Chant idaà sarvam and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer flowers to the Lord’s lotus feet. These flowers represent whatever else might be pleasing to Him.
- Put the flute near to the Lord’s mouth and put on His crown
- Praëäma – Concluding Activities
- Chant:
vedäham-etaà puruñaà mahäntam / äditya-varëaà tamasastu-päre/
sarväëi rüpäëi vicitya dhéraù / nämäni kåtvä ‘bhivadan(e) yadäste // 16 //
I know that great véräö-puruña, as effulgent as the sun, who stands beyond the darkness of the material creation. Having given all the living entities their forms and names, He directs their affairs.
Worshiping the Lord’s Personal Paraphernalia (upäìga – püjä) and Associates (avaraëa – püjä)
- Chant ete gandha-puñpe oà çré-mukha-veëave namaù and offer gandha-puñpa (flowers dipped in candana) to the Lord’s flute, placing the flowers at Kåñëa’s lotus feet.
- Chant ete gandha-puñpe oà vakñasi vana-mäläyai namaù and offer gandha-puñpa to the Lord’s flower garland, resting on His chest. Then place the flowers at His lotus feet.
- Chant ete gandha-puñpe oà dakña-stanorddhe çrévatsäya namaù and offer gandha-puñpa to the Lord’s Çrévatsa mark, on the right side of His chest. Then place the flowers at His lotus feet.
- Chant ete gandha-puñpe oà savya-stanorddhe kaustubhäya namaù and offer gandha-puñpa to the Lord’s Kaustubha gem, on the left side of His chest. Then place the flowers at His lotus feet.
Offering Prasäda to the Lord’s Associates
- Using the silver äcamana spoon put some caraëämåta into a bowl. Add this as well as the bowl of madhuparka to the plate with the mahä-prasädam.
- With the following mantras offer the Lord’s prasäda remnants to your spiritual master and the Lord’s associates.
- Chant:
idaà mahä-prasädam nirmälyädikam (and the guru-müla-mantra)
idaà mahä-prasädam nirmälyädikam (and the gaura-müla-mantra)
idaà mahä-prasädam nirmälyädikam oà sarva-sakhébhyo namaù
idaà mahä-prasädam nirmälyädikam oà çré-paurëamäsyai namaù
idaà mahä-prasädam nirmälyädikam oà sarva-vrajaväsibhyo namaù
idaà mahä-prasädam nirmälyädikam oà sarva-vaiñëavebhyo namaù
Stuti
- Chant:
dhätä purastäd-yamudäjahära / çakraù pravidvän-pradiçaç-catasraù /
tam-evaà vidvän-amåta iha bhavati / nänyaù panthä ayanäya vidyate // 17 //
Brahmä explained his realization to Indra. Indra, who knows all the living entities in all four directions, explained it to all others. One who knows the nature of the véräö-puruña becomes immortal even in his life on earth. There is no other path to reach the goal of immortality.
yajïena yajïam-ayajanta deväù / täni dharmäëi prathamäny-äsan(e) /
te ha näkaà mahimänaù sacante / yatra pürve sädhyäù santi deväù // 18 //
In this way the devatäs conducted the mental sacrifice using the véräö-puruña to manifest variety in the world. By that sacrifice both the physical laws of nature and the first spiritual codes of conduct arose. The great souls, by similar mental worship, attain the place of immortality where dwell the sädhyas and devatäs, the first worshipers
Karma – samarpaëa
- Offer all your activities to the Lord, reciting this Sanskrit prayer (and / or its translation):
itaù purvaà präëa-buddhi-dharmädhikärato jägrat-svapna-suñupty-avasthäsu manasä väcä karmaëä hastäbhyäà padbhyäm udareëa çiñnä yat småtaà yad uktaà yat kåtaà tat sarvaà çré-kåñëärpaëaà
bhavatu svähä
mäà madéyaà ca sakalaà haraye samarpayämi.
oà tat sat
As a living entity endowed with life, intelligence, body, and the power to discriminate between right and wrong, I offer Kåñëa whatever I have thought with my mind, spoken with my words, and performed with my hands, feet, stomach, and genitals while awake, asleep, or in deep sleep. I offer myself and everything I have to the Lord.
Ätma – samarpaëa
- Chant:
ahaà bhagavato ’àço ’smi sadä däso ’smi sarvathä
tvat-kåpäpekñako nityam ity ätmänaà samarpaye
I offer myself in full surrender, always praying for Your mercy and thinking myself Your eternal part.
Praëäma
- With joined palms chant:
Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Kåñëa, who is the worshipable Deity for all brahminical men, who is the well-wisher of cows and brähmaëas, and who is always benefiting the whole world. I offer my repeated obeisances to the Personality of Godhead, known as Kåñëa and Govinda.
Aparädha – çodhana
- Chant:
aìga-hénaà kriyä-hénaà vidhi-hénaà ca yad bhavet
astu tat sarvam acchidraà kåñëa-kärñëa-prasädataù
yat kiïcit vaiguëyaà jätaà tad doña-praçamanäya
çré-kåñëa-smaraëaà karomi.
May the mercy of Kåñëa and His devotees nullify all the mistakes we have made in our observance of the rules of worship and in our performance of the acts of worship. I now remember Kåñëa to nullify whatever faults there may be. [Sat-kriyä-sära-dépikä]
(See endnotes for additional aparädha-çodhana-mantrasiv.)
hare kåñëa hare kåñëa kåñëa kåñëa hare hare
hare räma hare räma räma räma hare hare
Endnotes
i Çré Guru praëäma
oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù
माझा जन्म अज्ञानमय अंधकारात झाला होता, परंतु माझ्या आध्यात्मिक गुरूंनी प्रकाशमय ज्ञानाने मला दृष्टी प्रदान केली आहे. मी त्यांना सादर प्रणाम करतो.
ii One should bathe the Lord with water in which nicely scented flowers have been soaking for some time. [Caitanya-caritämåta, Madhya 24.33, purport]
iii In India, seasons are divided into 6: winter, frost, spring, summer, rainy and autumn. Seasons change with every second full moon. In accordance with that system, there are some traditional, twelve seasonal scents one per month.
Winter | (Kesava): Heena |
(Narayana): Musk | |
Frost | (Madhava): Amber |
(Govinda): Kesar (saffron) | |
Spring | (Viñëu): Juhi |
(Madhusudana): Champaka | |
Summer | (Trivikrama): Khusa |
(Vamana): Kewara | |
Rainy | (Sridhara): Rose |
(Håsikesa): Kadamba | |
Autumn | (Padmanabha): Jasmine |
(Damodara): Agar |
Other scents usable year round: Sandalwood, patchouli, night queen, mogra, bela.
iv Verses for requesting forgiveness for one’s offenses (aparädha-çodhana-mantras)
mantra-hénaà kriyä-hénaà bhakti-hénaà janärdana
yat püjitaà mayä deva paripürëaà tad astu me
O my Lord, O Janärdana, whatever little püjä or worship that has been performed by me, although it is without devotion, without proper mantras, and without the proper performance, please let that become complete.
yad-dattaà bhakti-mätrena patraà puñpaà phalaà jalam
äveditaà nivedyan tu tad gåhäëänukampayä
Whatever has been offered with devotion—the leaf, the flower, the water, the fruit, the food offering—please accept it out of Your causeless mercy.
vidhi-hénaà mantra-hénaà yat kiïcid upapäditam
kriyä-mantra-vihénaà vä tat sarvaà kñantum arhasi
Whatever has happened without the proper chanting of the mantra, or without following the proper procedure, kindly forgive all that.
ajïänäd athavä jïänäd açubhaà yan mayä kåtam
kñantum arhasi tat sarvaà däsyenaiva gåhäna mäm
sthitiù sevä gatir yäträ småtiç cintä stutir vacaù
bhüyät sarvätmanä viñëo madéyaà tvayi ceñöitam
Whatever inauspicious things I have done out of ignorance or unknowingly, please forgive that, and accept me as Your insignificant servant. Let my normal condition be service, let my movement be holy pilgrimage, let my thought be remembrance of You, let my words be glorification of You. O Visnu, let my activities, with my whole mind, body and soul, be engaged in You.
aparädha-sahasräëi kriyante ’har-niñaà mayä
däso ’ham iti mäà matvä kñamasva madhusudana
Thousands of offenses are performed by me day and night. But thinking of me as Your servant, kindly forgive those, O Madhusüdana.
pratijïä tava govinda na me bhaktaù praëaçyati
iti saàsmåtya saàsmåtya präëän saìdhärayämy aham
O Govinda, Your promise is that Your devotee will never perish. By remembering this over and over again, I am able to retain my life-airs.
Tray with Paraphernalia
- Plate with bhoga offering. Two bowls of sweets, two for the bananas, two uncut washed bananas, a knife, one small silver plate with mukha-väsam and one with tämbulam, a silver spoon and the cup with drinking water.
- Silver plate has six silver bowls. One each for: milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, sugar water and madhuparka. Also a spoon.
- Ghee lamp.
- Incense
- Bell on äsana
- Steel plate for carrying Deity.
- Jewellery box.
- Siàhäsana.
- Table.
- Visarjanéya-pätra.
- Äcamana-pätra (for püjäri).
- Conches are small to large, left to right. Padya, arghya and the bathing conch.
- Tray with paraphernalia (see following diagram).
- Snäna-pätra.
- Äsana.
- Go-mukha water pot.
- Äcamana-pätra (for Deity).
- Tulasé leaves and maïjarés.
- Flowers and petals, flower garlands.
- Gopicandana.
- Neem twig.
- Candana
- Bathing äsana.
- Brush for cleaning the Lord.
- Incense stick stand.
- Ghee lamp stand.
To avoid interrupting the worship, make sure you have the following items before beginning:
- Set silver trays up as listed above.
- On the bathing tray, visarjanéya-pätra, bell on a plate, ghee lamp, 4 sticks of incense in stand, 3 conches and stands (for pädya, arghya and bathing), go-mukha water pot and kalash filled with water for bathing.
- Two stainless steel trays, one on top of the other with two large copper pätras, one with Tulasé (leaves and maïjarés) the other flowers and petals, small pätra with neem sticks for painting, 2 äcamana-pätras (for Deity and püjäri), the äsana and the ring for holding the Deity during bathing, the brush for cleaning the Lord, and a garland.
- Deity dress (dhoti and chädar).
- Jewellery box, gunja mälä, Jewellery, crown and peacock feather.
- Two towels, green and white, two handkerchiefs for covering bhoga and the cloth for holding the Lord.
Sipping water for purification (vaiñëava – äcamana)
Always perform äcamana before entering the Deity room to worship the Lord. Sit on a proper sitting place (äsana). (If there is no äsana, kneel with your right knee touching the floor and your left foot flat on the floor.)
With an äcamana-pätra filled with water clean both hands by sprinkling them with water, holding the äcamana spoon in your left hand, pour a few drops into the right palm. While looking at the water chant the appropriate mantra and then silently sip the water from the base of the right thumb (the brahma-tértha).
- Chant oà keçaväya namaù and sip water from the brähma-tértha of your right hand.
- Chant oà näräyaëäya namaù and sip water from the brähma-tértha of your right hand.
- Chant oà mädhaväya namaù and sip water from the brähma-tértha of your right hand.
- Chant oà govindäya namaù and sprinkle water on your right hand.
- Chant oà viñëave namaù and sprinkle water on your left hand.
- Chant oà madhusüdanäya namaù and touch your right cheek with the fingers of your right hand.
- Chant oà trivikramäya namaù and touch your left cheek with the fingers of your right hand.
- Chant oà vämanäya namaù and wipe above your upper lip with the base of your right thumb.
- Chant oà çrédharäya namaù and wipe below your lower lip with the base of your right thumb.
- Chant oà håñékeçäya namaù and sprinkle water on both hands.
- Chant oà padmanäbhäya namaù and sprinkle water on your feet.
- Chant oà dämodaräya namaù and sprinkle water on the top of your head.
While chanting the following mantras, perform the hand motions:
- Chant oà väsudeväya namaù and touch your upper and lower lips with the tips of the fingers of your right hand.
- Chant oà saìkarñaëäya namaù and touch your right nostril with your right thumb and forefinger.
- Chant oà pradyumnäya namaù and touch your left nostril with your right thumb and forefinger.
- Chant om aniruddhäya namaù and touch your right eye with your right thumb and ring finger.
- Chant oà puruñottamäya namaù and touch your left eye with your right thumb and ring finger.
- Chant om adhokñajäya namaù and touch your right ear with your right thumb and forefinger.
- Chant oà nåsiàhäya namaù and touch your left ear with your right thumb and forefinger.
- Chant om acyutäya namaù and touch your navel with your right thumb and little finger.
- Chant oà janärdanäya namaù and touch your heart with the palm of your right hand.
- Chant oà upendräya namaù and touch your head with all the finger tips of your right hand.
- Chant oà haraye namaù and touch your right upper arm with the fingertips of your left hand.
- Chant oà kåñëäya namaù and touch your left upper arm with the fingertips of your right hand.
Now chant the following mantra from the Åg Veda while showing the praëäma-mudrä (palms together in front of your heart):
(oà) tad viñëoù paramaà padaà
sadä paçyanti sürayaù
divéva cakñur-ätatam
tad vipräso vipanyavo
jägåvaà saù samindhate
viñëor yat paramaà padam
Just as those with ordinary vision see the sun’s rays in the sky, so the wise and learned devotees always see the supreme abode of Lord Viñëu. Because those highly praiseworthy and spiritually awake brähmaëas can see that abode, they can also reveal it to others. [Åg Veda Saàhitä]
Appendix C
Kåñëa-praëäma
oà namo viçva-rüpäya viçva-sthity-anta-hetave
viçveçvaräya viçväya govindäya namo namaù
Lord Brahmä, speaking to the great sages and saints, prayed to Lord Kåñëa as follows: I offer my huàble obeisances to Lord Kåñëa, who is the giver of pleasure to the cows, whose external form is the form of the universe, who is the cause of the maintenance and dissolution of the material universe, and who is the Lord of the universe.
namo vijïäna-rüpäya paramänanda-rüpiëe
kåñëäya gopé-näthäya govindäya namo namaù
I offer my obeisances to Lord Kåñëa, who is the giver of pleasure to the cows, who is the Lord of the gopés and who is the embodiment of unlimited knowledge and the highest bliss.
namaù kamala-neträya namaù kamala-mäline
namaù kamala-näbhäya kamalä-pataye namaù
I offer my obeisances to Kåñëa, who possesses lotus-petal eyes, who wears a garland of sweet-smelling lotus flowers, who has a lotus navel and who is the Lord of the gopés, who are as beautiful as lotus flowers.
barhäpéòäbhirämäya rämäyäkuëöha-medhase
ramä-mänasa-haàsäya govindäya namo namaù
I offer my obeisances to Lord Govinda, who looks very beautiful wearing a peacock feather upon His head. His plenary expansion is Lord Rämacandra, His intelligence is eternal and ever-fresh, and He is the swan that swims in the mind of Lakñmé-devé.
kaàsa-vaàça-vinäçäya keçi-cäëüra-ghätine
våñabha-dhvaja-vandyäya pärtha-särathaye namaù
I offer my obeisances unto Kåñëa, who is the destroyer of the dynasties of demons headed by King Kaàsa. He is the slayer of the Keçi demon and the wrestler Cäëüra. He is offered prayers by Lord Çiva, whose chariot flag is marked with the insignia of Nandi, the bull, and He is the chariot driver of the son of Påthä, Arjuna.
veëu-vädana-çéläya gopäläyähi-mardine
kälindé-küla-loläya lola-kuëòala-valgave
I offer my obeisances to Kåñëa, who is accustomed to playing on a flute, who is the protector of the cows and the chastiser of the Käliya serpent. He is fond of wandering here and there on the banks of the Yamunä and He is beautified by wearing swinging earrings.
ballavé-vadanämbhoja-mäline nåtya-çäline
namaù praëata-päläya çré-kåñëäya namo namaù
I offer my obeisances again and again unto Çré Kåñëa, who wears a garland of kisses from the lotus mouths of the gopés. He is conversant with the art of dancing and is the protector of the surrendered souls.
namaù päpa-praëäçäya govardhana-dharäya ca
pütanä-jévitäntäya tåëävartäsu-häriëe
I offer my obeisances unto Lord Kåñëa, who is the destroyer of the sins of the fallen souls. He is the lifter of Govardhana Hill, He brought about the end to the life of Pütanä and He took away the life of the demon Tåëävarta.
niñkaläya vimohäya çuddhäyäçuddha-vairiëe
advitéyäya mahate çré-kåñëäya namo namaù
I offer my huàble obeisances again and again unto the great Lord Kåñëa, who is beyond the illusion of Mäyä and from whom that illusion comes. He is the supreme pure, the enemy of the demons and is one without a second.
praséda paramänanda praséda parameçvara
ädhi-vyädhi-bhujäìgena dañöaà mäm uddhara prabhu
O Supreme Lord, O reservoir of the highest pleasure, be pleased upon me. I have been bitten by the poisonous snake of mental and bodily miseries. Therefore, O Lord, please deliver me.
çré-kåñëa rukmiëé-känta gopé-jana-manohara
saàsära-sägare magnaà mäm uddhara jagad-guro
O Lord Kåñëa, O lover of Rukmiëé, O attractor of the minds of the gopés, please uplift me, for I am immersed in the ocean of birth and death, O spiritual preceptor of the universe.
keçava kleça-haraëa näräyaëa janärdana
govinda paramänanda mäà samuddhara mädhava
O Lord Keçava, O destroyer of the three-fold miseries, O only refuge of all souls, O destroyer of the Jana demons, O Govinda, O reservoir of pleasure, please uplift me who am fallen, O husband of the goddess of fortune.
Pädya-païcaka
saàsära-sägarän nätha putra-mitra-gåhäìganät
goptärau me yuväm eva prapanna-bhaya-bhaïjanau
O Rädhä-Kåñëa, You are my protectors from the ocean of material existence, which is filled with sons, friends, household, and land. Therefore You are known as the destroyers of fear for those surrendered unto You.
yo ’haà mamästi yat kiïcid iha loke paratra ca
tat sarvaà bhavato ’dyaiva caraëeñu samarpitam
O Your Lordships, myself and whatever little bit is mine in this world and in the next—all this I now offer unto Your lotus feet.
aham apy aparädhänäm älayas tyakta-sädhanaù
agatiç ca tato näthau bhavantau me parä gatiù
O Your Lordships, I am certainly the abode of many offenses and am completely devoid of any devotional practices. Nor do I have any resort or shelter. Therefore, I regard You as my ultimate goal.
taväsmi rädhikä nätha karmaëä manasä girä
kåñëa-känte tavaiväsmi yuväm eva gatir mama
çaraëaà väà prapanno ’smi karuëä-nikaräkarau
prasädaà kuru däsyaà bho mayi duñöe ’parädhini
I am Yours, O Lord of Çrématé Rädhäräëé, as are my actions, mind, and words. O Çrématé Rädhäräëé, lover of Çré Kåñëa, I belong to You alone. O Rädhä and Kåñëa, O ocean of mercy, You are my only shelter, and thus I take shelter of You. Although I am such a fallen offender, please be merciful to me and make me Your servant.
Vijïäpti-païcaka
mat-samo nästi päpätmä näparädhé ca kaçcana
parihäre ’pi lajjä me kià bruve puruñottama
yuvaténäà yathä yüni yünäm ca yuvatau yathä
mano ’bhiramate tadvan mano me ramatäà tvayi
O Puruñottama, no sinner or offender is as bad as I am. How can I describe my shame? Just as the minds of young ladies take pleasure in a young man, and the minds of young men take pleasure in a young woman, kindly let my mind take pleasure in You alone.
bhümau skhalita-pädänäà bhümir evävalambanam
tvayi jätäparädhänäà tvam eva çaraëaà prabhu
Just as the ground is the only support for those whose feet have slipped, You alone are the only shelter for those who have offended You.
govinda-vallabhe rädhe prärthaye tväm ahaà sadä
tvadéyam iti jänätu govindo mäà tvayä saha
O Çrématé Rädhäräëé, beloved of Lord Govinda, this is my request: may You and Lord Govinda consider me one of Your assistants.
rädhe våndävanädhéçe karuëämåta-vähini
kåpayä nija-pädäbja-däsyaà mahyaà pradéyatäm
O Çrématé Rädhäräëé, O queen of Våndävana, You are a river flowing with the nectar of mercy. Please be kind to me and give me a little service at Your lotus feet.
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