Bhajana Rahasya – Appendix

Śrīmad Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavera Saṁkṣepa Arcana Paddhati
(A Condensed Deity Worship Manual for Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas)

All perfection is achieved through nāma-saṅkīrtana, yet, in a life which is full of bhakti, other activities in relation to Deity worship are especially beneficial.

In the early morning after taking bath, the sādhaka should sit on an āsana facing east. While touching the water in the pañca-pātra he should invoke all the tīrthas by reciting this mantra:

gaṅge ca yamune caiva godāvari sarasvati
narmade sindho kāveri jale’smin sannidhiṁ kuru

O Gaṅgā, Yamunā, Godāvarī, Sarasvatī, Narmadā, Sindhu, Kāverī – be present in this water.

He should sprinkle this water upon his head, then perform ācamana while chanting, oṁ śrī viṣṇuḥ, oṁ śrī viṣṇuḥ, oṁ śrī viṣṇuḥ.

With gopī-candana, he should apply tilaka in twelve places. The tilaka-mantra is:

lalāṭe keśavaṁ dhyāyen nārāyaṇam athodare
vakṣaḥ-sthale mādhavaṁ tu govindaṁ kaṇṭha-kūpake
viṣṇuṁ ca dakṣiṇe kukṣau bāhau ca madhusūdanam
trivikramaṁ kandhare tu vāmanaṁ vāma-pārśvake
śrīdharaṁ vāma-bāhau tu hṛṣīkeśaṁ ca kandhare
pṛṣṭhe tu padma-nābhaṁ ca kaṭyāṁ dāmodaraṁ nyaset
tat prakṣālana-toyaṁ tu vāsudevāya mūrdhani

 Marking the forehead, one should meditate upon Keśava. Marking the belly – Nārāyaṇa. The chest – Mādhava. The hollow of the throat – Govinda. On the right side of the belly – Viṣṇu. The right arm – Madhusūdana. The right shoulder – Trivikrama. The left side of the belly – Vāmana. The left arm – Śrīdhara. The left shoulder – Hṛṣīkeśa. The top of the back – Padmanābha. The lower back – Dāmodara. The top of the head –Vāsudeva.

First, one should do guru-pūjā, meditating on the guru thus:

prātaḥ śrīman-navadvīpe dvi-netraṁ dvi-bhujaṁ gurum
varābhaya-pradaṁ śāntaṁ smaret tan-nāma-pūrvakam

Early in the morning, one should remember the guru in Śrī Navadvīpa, possessing two eyes and two arms, being tranquil, and as awarding blessings and fearlessness upon those that chant his name.

In the spiritual Navadvīpa, at the Yogapīṭha in Śrī Māyāpura, Śrī Caitanya is seated upon a jewelled dias. Śrī Nityānanda is on His right, and Śrī Gadādhara on His left. In front of Him, Śrī Advaita offers prayers with folded hands. Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita stands beside him holding an umbrella. Śrī Gurudeva is seated upon an altar below them. In this way, one should meditate on sitting near to Gurudeva, worshiping him with sixteen articles thus:

idam āsanaṁ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (offering a seat)

idam pādyaṁ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (washing his feet)

idam arghyaṁ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (offering arghya)

idam ācamanīyaṁ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (offering ācamana)

idam madhuparkaḥ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (offering madhuparka)

idam punar-ācamanīyaṁ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (offering ācamana again)

idam snānīyaṁ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (bathing him)

idam sottarīya vastraṁ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (offering cloth)

idam ābharaṇaṁ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (offering ornaments)

idam gandhaḥ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (offering sandalwood paste)

idam dhūpaḥ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (offering incense)

idam dīpaḥ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (offering a lamp)

idam sa-candana puṣpaṁ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (offering flowers dipped in sandalwood paste)

idam naivedyaṁ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (offering foodstuffs)

idam pānīya-jalaṁ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (offering drinking water)

idam punar-ācamanīyaṁ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (offering ācamana)

idam tāmbūlaṁ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (offering tāmbūla)

idam sarvaṁ – aiṁ gurudevāya namaḥ (offering oneself)

Then one should perform japa of the guru-gāyatrī:

aiṁ gurudevāya vidmahe
kṛṣṇānandāya dhīmahi
tan no guruḥ pracodayāt

Then one should chant the following praṇāma:

oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

I offer my obeisance unto my guru, who has opened my darkened eyes that were blinded by ignorance, with the torchlight of spiritual knowledge.

Then offer obeisances to the Vaiṣṇavas by chanting:

vāñchā-kalpa-tarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca
patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ

 I bow before the Vaiṣṇavas who are like desire trees and are like an ocean of mercy as they deliver the fallen souls from material existence.

After that, one should perform pūjā to Śrī Gaurāṅga. The meditation upon Śrī Gaurāṅga is thus:

śrīman mauktikadāma-vadha-cikuraṁ susmera-candrānanaṁ
śrīkhaṇḍāguru-cāru-citra-vasanaṁ srag divya-bhuṣāñcitam
nṛtyāveśa-rasānumoda-madhuraṁ kandarpa-veśojjvalaṁ
caitanyaṁ kanaka-dyutiṁ nija-janaiḥ saṁsevyamānaṁ bhaje

 His hair is bound with a string of beautiful pearls, His moon-like face smiles sweetly, He is adorned with sandalwood paste, aguru, charming  garments and decorated with a divine flower garland and ornaments. Dancing madly due to His relishing of sweet rasa, He is more splendorous than the god of love. I worship Śrī Caitanya, who possesses a golden complexion and is always served by His associates.

Pūjā is performed thus:

idam āsanaṁ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering a seat)

idam pādyaṁ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (washing His feet)

idam arghyaṁ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering arghya)

idam ācamanīyaṁ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering ācamana)

idam madhuparkaḥ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering madhuparka)

idam punar-ācamanīyaṁ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering ācamana again)

idam snānīyaṁ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (bathing Him)

idam sottarīya vastraṁ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering cloth)

idam ābharaṇaṁ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering ornaments)

idam gandhaḥ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering sandalwood paste)

idam dhūpaḥ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering incense)

idam dipaḥ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering a lamp)

idam sa-candana-puspaṁ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering flowers dipped in sandalwood paste)

idam sa-candana-tulasī – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering tulasī dipped in sandalwood paste)

idam naivedyaṁ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering foodstuffs)

idam pānīya-jalam – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering drinking water)

idam punar-ācamanīyaṁ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering ācamana)

idam tāmbūlaṁ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering tāmbūla)

idam mālyaṁ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering a garland)

idam sarvaṁ – klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya namaḥ (offering oneself)

After pūjā, one should chant japa of the gayatri thus:

klīṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanyāya vidmahe
viśvambharāya dhīmahi
tan no gauraḥ pracodayāt

The praṇāma-mantra is thus:

ānanda-līlā-maya-vigrahāya hemābha-divyacchavi-sundarāya
tasmai mahā-prema rasa-pradāya caitanya-candrāya namo namaste

 Obeisance unto Śrī Caitanya-candra, the bestower of the rasa of mahā-prema, who is the personification of blissful pastimes, and is beautiful with a splendour like gold.

Then, considering oneself to be the recipient of the mercy of Śrī Guru and Śrī Gaurāṅga, one should perform the worship of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.

First, one should meditate upon Śrī Vṛndāvana:

tato vṛndāvanaṁ dhyāyet paramānanda-vardhanam
kālindī-jala-kallola saṅgi-māruta-sevitam
nānā-puṣpa-latābaddha-vṛkṣa-ṣaṇḍaiś ca maṇḍitam
koṭi-sūrya-samā-bhāsaṁ vimuktaṁ ṣaṭ-taraṅgakaiḥ
tan madhye ratna-khacitaṁ svarṇa-siṁhāsanaṁ mahat

 One should meditate upon Vṛndāvana, a place of ever-increasing bliss. It is served by breezes that come in contact with the pleasurable waters of the Yamunā. It is adorned with various kinds of flowers, creepers, plants and trees. Its effulgence is equal to that of a million suns, and it is free from the six mundane waves. Within it is a large golden throne, bedecked with jewels.

Then one should meditate upon Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa thus:

śrī-kṛṣṇaṁ śrī ghana-śyāmaṁ purṇānanda-kalevaraṁ
dvi-bhujaṁ sarva-deveśaṁ rādhāliṅgita-vigraham

Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s form resembles a fresh rain-cloud and is replete with divine bliss. He possesses two arms, is the Master of all the Devas and He is embraced by Rādhā.

Then perform pūjā with sixteen articles thus:

idam āsanaṁ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering a seat)

idam pādyaṁ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (washing Their feet)

idam arghyaṁ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering arghya)

idam ācamanīyaṁ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering ācamana)

idam madhuparkaḥ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering madhuparka)

idam punarācamanīyaṁ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering ācamana again)

idam snānīyaṁ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (bathing Them)

idam sottarīya vastraṁ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering cloth)

idam ābharaṇaṁ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering ornaments)

idam gandhaḥ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering sandalwood paste)

idam dhūpaḥ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering incense)

idam dipaḥ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering a lamp)

idam sacandana puspaṁ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering flowers dipped in sandalwood paste)

idam sacandana tulasī – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering tulasī dipped in sandalwood paste)

idam naivedyaṁ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering foodstuffs)

idam pānīya-jalam – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering drinking water)

idam punar-ācamanīyaṁ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering ācamana)

idam tāmbūlaṁ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering tāmbūla)

idam mālyaṁ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering garlands)

idam sarvaṁ – śrīṁ-klīṁ rādhā-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ namaḥ (offering oneself)

After pūjā, chant japa of the gāyatrīs:

klīṁ kṛṣṇāya vidmahe
dāmodarāya dhīmahi
tan no kṛṣṇaḥ pracodayāt

śrīṁ rādhikāyai vidmahe
prema-rūpāyai dhīmahi
tan no rādhā pracodayāt

Then offer praṇāmas:

he kṛṣṇa karuṇā-sindho dīna-bandho jagat-pate
gopeśa gopikā-kānta rādhā-kānta namo ‘stu te

O Kṛṣṇa, You are an ocean of mercy. You are the friend of the distressed and the Lord of the universe. You are the Master of the cowherd men, the lover of the gopīs, and the beloved of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. I offer my respects unto You.

tapta-kāñcana-gaurāṅgi rādhe vṛndāvaneśvari
vṛṣabhānu-sute devi praṇamāmi hari-priye

I offer my respects unto Rādhā, whose bodily hue is like molten gold. She is the Queen of Vṛndāvana, the daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu, that Goddess who is most dear to Hari.

Next, one should chant the kāma-gāyatrī and mūla-mantra as much as one can. Then one should read the Padya-pañcaka and Vijñapti-pañcaka respectively.

Padya-pañcaka:

(1)
saṁsāra-sāgarān-nātha putra-mitra-gṛhāṅganāt
goptārau me yuvām eva prapanna bhaya-bhañjanau

O Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa! You are the Masters overlooking the ocean of material life, which is characterised by sons, friends, home and wife. Both of You please protect me. Indeed, You eradicate the fear of those who surrender unto You.

(2)
yo’haṁ mamāsti yat kiñcid iha loke paratra ca
tat sarvaṁ bhavato’dyaiva caraṇeṣu samarpitam

Today, I offer myself at Your feet along with everything that I have in this world and the next.

(3)
aham apy aparādhānām ālayas tyakta-sādhanaḥ
agatiś ca tato nāthau bhavantau me parā gatiḥ

I am an abode of offences and I have abandoned the path of sādhana. I am devoid of any shelter. O my Masters, please become my refuge.

(4)
tavāsmi rādhikā-nātha karmaṇā manasā girā
kṛṣṇa-kānte tavaivāsmi yuvām eva gatir mama

O Lord of Rādhikā, I am Yours along with my actions, mind and words. O Beloved of Kṛṣna! I am Yours. You are indeed my refuge.

(5)
śaraṇaṁ vāṁ prapanno’smi karuṇā-nikarākarau
prasādaṁ kuru dāsyaṁ bho mayi duṣṭe’parādhini

Both of You are my shelter. I am surrendered unto You, O oceans of compassion. Be merciful and grant me Your service although I am such a wicked offender.

Vijñapti-pañcaka:

(1)
mat samo nāsti pāpātmā nāparādhī ca kaścana
parihāre’pi lajjā me kiṁ bruve puruṣottama

 There is no sinner or offender equal to me. I am even ashamed to ask for forgiveness! What can I say, O Puruṣottama?

 (2)
yuvatīnāṁ yathā yuni yunāñ ca yuvatau yathā
manobhiramate tadvat mano me ramatāṁ tvayi

Just as the mind of a young girl is charmed by a young boy, and the mind of a young boy is enchanted by a young girl, similarly, let my mind find pleasure in You. 

(3)
bhumau skhalita-pādānāṁ bhūmir evāvalambanam
tvayi jātāparādhānāṁ tvam eva śaraṇaṁ prabho

The ground is the only support for those whose feet have slipped, and You are the only shelter for those who have offended You, O Lord.

(4)
govinda-vallabhe rādhe prārthaye tvām ahaṁ sadā
tvadīyam iti jānātu govindo māṁ tvayā saha

O Rādhā! Beloved of Govinda! I constantly pray unto You, “May You and Govinda consider me to be Your very own.”

(5)
rādhe vṛndāvanādhīśe karuṇāmṛta vāhini
kṛpayā nija-pādābja-dāsyaṁ mahyaṁ padīyatām

O Rādhā! O Queen of Vṛndāvana. You are a river of nectarean mercy. Please bestow upon me the service of You lotus feet.

Then offer Their remnants to Śrī Gurudeva etc. thus:

etat mahā-prasāda nirmālyaṁ – śrī-gurave namaḥ (offer prasāda to the guru)

etat pānīya jalaṁ – śrī-gurave namaḥ (offer drinking water to the guru)

etat prasāda tāmbulaṁ – śrī-gurave namaḥ (offer prasāda-tāmbūla to guru)

etat sarvaṁ sarva-sakhībhyo namaḥ (offer obeisance to the gopīs)

śrī paurṇamāsyai namaḥ (offer obeisance to Paurṇamāsī)

sarva vraja-vāsibhyo namaḥ (offer obeisance to the vraja-vāsīs)

sarva vaiṣṇavebhyo namaḥ (offer obeisance to the Vaiṣṇavas)

The perform tulasī-pūjā:

nirmālya-gandha-puṣpādi-pānīya-jalaṁ – idaṁ ārghyaṁ – śrī-tulasyai namaḥ(offer prasāda remnants of sandalwood paste, flowers, drinking water etc. to Tulāsī Devī)

Offer pranāmas to tulasī and then chant japa on one’s tulasī-māla. There is no consideration of place, times, purity or impurity when chanting hari-nāma. It is supreme and eternal. After chanting one’s mantras, one should accept śrī-caraṇāmṛta by putting some on one’s head. The mantra is as follows:

aśeṣa-kleśa-niḥśeṣa-kāraṇaṁ śuddha-bhakti-dam
kṛṣṇa pādodakaṁ pītvā śirasā dhārayāmy aham

I drink this water from Kṛṣṇa’s feet, which mitigates unlimited miseries and awards pure bhakti, and place it upon my head.

After that, one should accept some mahā-prasāda:

rudanti pātakāḥ sarve niśvasanti muhur muhuḥ
hā hā kṛtvā palāyanti jagannāthānna-bhakṣaṇāt

Upon eating that food offered to the Lord of the universe, all impious activities sigh and cry out, “Alas! Alas!” before fleeing.

After, offer sāṣṭāṅga-daṇḍavats:

dorbhyāṁ padbhyāṁ ca jānubhyām urasā śirasā dṛśā
manasā vacasā ceti praṇāmo ‘ṣṭāṅga īritaḥ

Offering obeisance with ones hands, feet, knees, chest, head, vision, mind, and words is known as sāṣṭāṅga.

Thus ends the morning activities.

At twilight one should chant japa of the mūla-mantra and gāyatrī twelve times. Do not partake of food that has been offered to Bhagāvan or is impure.

pathyaṁ pūtam anāmayantam āhāryaṁ sāttvikaṁ viduḥ
rājasam indriya-preṣṭhaṁ tāmasam ārtido’śuciḥ

Food in the mode of goodness is digestible, pure and easily attained. Food in the mode of passion is dear to the senses, and food in the mode of ignorance creates suffering and is impure.

One should observe Ekādaśī and the appearance days of Hari etc. as much as possible. Never engage in bad association.

Before pūjā, it is essential to pick tulasī with the following mantra:

tulasy amṛta-janmāsi sadā tvaṁ keśava-priyā
keśavārthaṁ cinomi tvāṁ varadā bhava śobhane

O Tulasī, who was born from nectar! You are always dear to Keśava. I am collecting you for Keśava. O beautiful one, kindly bless me.

Thus ends the Condensed Deity Worship Manual

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Śrī Guru Praṇālī
(Lineage of Śrī Guru)

1) Śrī Bhagavān
2) Śrī Caturānana (four-head Brahmā)

3) Śrī Nārada

4) Śrī Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa)
5) Śrī Madhvācārya

6) Śrī Mādhavendra Purī
7) Śrīman Mahāprabhu

8) Śri Parama-guru (one’s grand guru)

9) Śrī Gurudeva

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Śrī Siddha Paricaya
(The Identity of a Perfected Being)

 

Nāma (their name in eternity)

Sambandha (their eternal relationship)

Vayaḥ (their eternal age)

Rūpa (their eternal form)

Veśa (their clothing)

Yutha (their group)

Ājñā (their orders)

Āvāsa (their eternal residence)
Sevā (their service)

Parākāṣṭhā (their aspiration)

Pālya Dāsī (their sentiment as a maidservant who depends on her superiors)