Deity Worship Manual Krsna Balarama

Deity Worship Manual
Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandir
Founder Äcärya:
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KÅIÑHËA CONSCIOUSNESS
Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg, Räman Reti,

Vrndävana, Matura UP – 281 121 INDIA
Tel: (540) 779 706, Email: [email protected]
Index
Chapter Page Number
Introduction.......................................................................................1
The History of the Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandir..................5
Païcäìga-püjä.....................................................................................7
Viçeña-äcamana..............................................................................10
Calling of the Holy Rivers..............................................................12
Maìgalacarana - Standard Prayers...............................................13
Procedure for Waking up the Deities............................................18
Dressing Their Lordships...............................................................22
Greeting the Deities (çåìgära ärati)...............................................23
Procedure for Putting the Deities to Rest......................................25
Procedure for Offering Bhoga.......................................................28
Ärati Ceremony / Müla-mantras...................................................30
Morning Püjä...................................................................................32
The Sixteen Basic Upacäras...........................................................32
Çré Çré Gaura-Nitäi Püjä..............................................................37
Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Püjä......................................................47
Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa Püjä...........................................................58
Çälagräma-çilä Püjä.......................................................................72
Çréla Prabhupäda Samädhi Worship...........................................87
The Worship of Tulasé-devé (tulasé-sevä)....................................92
Mantras for Picking Tulasé............................................................96
Viñëu-smaraëa.................................................................................97
Maìgala-çänti...................................................................................98
Prayers for Worshiping the Spiritual Master.............................100
Çré Çré Ñaò-gosvämy-añöaka.....................................................102
Çré Çré Çikñäñöaka.....................................................................106
Çré Brahma-Saàhitä.....................................................................109
Puruña-sükta.................................................................................118
Verses for Requesting Forgiveness for One’s Offenses.............122
Mudräs...........................................................................................124
Outfit colours by days of the Week..............................................127
Introduction
Çré Çré Kåñëa Balaräma Mandir, ISKCON Vrndävana
For the pleasure of Çréla Prabhupäda, the Deities and the assembled
Vaiñëavas we would like to present the procedure of Deity worship in
written form, to assist the püjärés in their service at the Kåñëa Balaräma
Mandir. This is our humble attempt to maintain the required standard and
make necessary improvements. We are therefore also pleased to receive
any suggestions for improvement.
First, we pray for the mercy of Çré Guru and Gauranga that we may
properly present this Arcanä-Paddhati (Deity Worship Manual) according
to guru, sädhu and çästra and also appropriately according to time, place
and circumstance.
His divine Grace, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda established this

temple personally and so we try to maintain his standards and mood. Çréla
Prabhupäda is completely in line with the teachings of his Guru-Mahäräja,
Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkur and the previous äcäryas up to
Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé who established the mood of Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu. Rüpa Gosvämé is most respected and we therefore like to
refer to ourselves as Rüpänuga Vaiñëavas.
In the bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu, presented by Çréla Prabhupäda, Çréla Rüpa

Gosvämé explains that there are 64 limbs of devotional service, of which
the first, namely guru-x, taking shelter of the spiritual master is most
important. Then one takes dékñä and çikña from the spiritual master, serves
him, ask questions pertaining to the Absolute Truth, and follow the path
given by him and the previous äcäryas. The bona-fide spiritual master is
situated on the highest platform of devotional service (uttamä -bhakti,
prema bhakti) and is serving the Absolute Truth Çré Kåñëa Caitanya and
Çré Kåñëa in both Gaura-lélä and Kåñëa-lélä respectively. The spiritual
master introduces the disciple to the process of Deity worship
(Païcarätrika-vidhi) and also engages the disciple in the process of hearing,
chanting and remembering the Lord (bhägavat-vidhi). Both processes are to
be adopted by the sincere disciple in order to quickly advance in spiritual
life. Furthermore, Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé emphasises those processes he
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considers most important: 1) Sädhu-saìga,, 2) Bhägavat-çravaëa, 3) Näma-

kértana, 4) Mathurä-väsa 5) Arcä-vigraha-sevä. Many of the other items of
devotional service are dependent on and closely related to the process of
Deity worship. We can therefore understand the importance of Deity
Worship.
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu appeared 500 years ago to spread the yuga-
dharma, the chanting of the Mahä-mantra (holy names of Kåñëa):
Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare

Hare Räma Hare Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare
He declared that the chanting of the holy name is the only way to attain
love of God and there is no other way to the spiritual realm. This is
mentioned in the Caitanya-caritämåta [Adi 17.21]:
harer näma harer näma / harer nämaiva kevalam

kalau nästy eva nästy eva / nästy eva gatir anyathä
“In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is
chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no
other way. There is no other way.”
The essential message of the scriptures is to always remember Kåñëa and to

never forget Him. The hearing and chanting of the Holy name is the best
way to remember Kåñëa. The same thing is stated in the Padma Puräëa:
smartavyaù satataà viñëur / vismartavyo na jätucit

sarve vidhi-niñedhäù syur / etayor eva kiìkaräù
“Kåñëa is the original Lord Vishnu. He should always be remembered and

never forgotten at any time. All the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the
çästras should be servants to these two principles.”
The first rule in spiritual life is to remember Vishnu or Kåñëa always and
the second rule is to never forget Him. All other rules and regulations in the
scriptures are subservient to these 2 rules. Also Prahläda Mahäräja in the 7 th
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canto of the Çrémad Bhägavatam explains the importance of hearing,

chanting and remembering Vishnu or Kåñëa:
çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù / smaraëaà päda-sevanam

arcanaà vandanaà däsyaà / sakhyam ätma-nivedanam
iti puàsärpitä viñëau / bhaktiç cen nava-lakñaëä

kriyeta bhägavaty addhä / tan manye 'dhétam uttamam
"Hearing and chanting about the transcendental name, form, qualities,

paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Vishnu, remembering them, serving the
lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen
types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant,
considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto
Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words) - these
nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has
dedicated his life to the service of Kåñëa through these nine methods
should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired
complete knowledge." (S.B. 7.5.23-24)
Çréla Prabhupäda has explained the different limbs of devotional service in

more detail in his books. So devotees should be conversant in these
teachings in order to be able to properly serve as qualified brähmaëas.
Çréla Prabhupäda desired that his society should train devotees to become
highly qualified brähmaëas. A Vaiñëava is supposed to be the best
brähmaëa and, as explained in the scriptures, the brähmaëas study the
scriptures, worship the Deities, perform yajïas, teach others to also do these
things, and they accept and give in charity.
Püjärés have to be exemplary brähmaëas in order to be able to properly

worship the Deities and satisfy Them fully. In this manual we give some
hints and guidelines for devotees to become acquainted with this subject
matter, but it is strongly recommended that the reader get guidance from
devotees who are experienced in Deity worship, and read the scriptures to
understand fully. The Supreme Lord in the heart is our worshipable Deity,
our Iñöadeva, and He is always helping and guiding us. He will also inspire
His sincere worshiper how He wishes to be taken care of. So with great
enthusiasm, determination and patience, taking the help of the assembled
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Vaiñëavas, the spiritual master and the Supreme Lord Himself, we should
fully surrender ourselves with mind, body and words to the processes of
païcarätrika-vidhi and bhägavat-vidhi. In this way we will swiftly advance
in our spiritual life and we shall be able to distribute the most precious gift
of blissful Kåñëa consciousness received from the transcendental realm.
We would like to inform our readers that the GBC has published a two
volume book called the Païcarätrika-pradépa in which the process of
worshipping the Lord is very elaborately described. Our Deity Worship
Manual is simply a supplement to that book and intended to concentrate on
our worship here at the Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandir in the most holy place of
Çré Vrndävana Dhäma.
Lastly we would like to thank all the devotees who have and will help
directly and indirectly in the past, present and future in the service of our
most beloved Çré Çré Gaura-Nitäi, Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma, Lalitä,
Viçäkhä and Çré Çré Rädhä-Çyämasundara. We beg for the causeless
mercy of Çréla Prabhupäda by whose mercy we have been able to serve,
will continue to serve now and eternally, both in this world and the next.
We humbly dedicate this booklet to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta

Swami Prabhupäda and all his sincere followers who are helping in his
mission to fulfill the desires of the previous äcäryas, Çré Gauraìga
Mahäprabhu and Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa to spread Kåñëa consciousness all
over the world.
Hare Kåñëa - OM TAT SAT
Your humble servants in the service of Çré Çré Gaura-Nitäi, Çré Çré
Kåñëa-Balaräma Çré Çré Rädhä-Çyämasundara and Çréla Prabhupäda.
Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandir Deity Department
Mukunda Datta Däs – Head Püjäré
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The History of the Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandir
Çréla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda started this Kåñëa

consciousness movement in 1965 in the USA by the order and desire of his
spiritual master and Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. After successfully
preaching there and opening many temples and preaching centers he
returned to India in 1967 with plans to establish two big mandirs in the two
most holy places of Çré Mäyäpur and Çré Vrndävana. After many years of
hard struggle his desire for a temple in Çré Vrndävana dhäma was finally
fulfilled in 1975. On Räma-navamé, the appearance day of Lord Çré
Rämachandra, by the mercy of Çréla Prabhupäda, the Deities were installed
in the midst of enthusiastic Hare Kåñëa kirtan and Vedic yajïas.
There is so much to say about this most wonderful temple but we will
mention just a few things which are relevant to this subject matter. Çréla
Prabhupäda wanted this temple and the various facilities around the temple
to be used for preaching the message of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and also
to introduce the public to Çré Çré Gaura-Nitäi, showing that they are non-
different from Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma. Çréla Prabhupäda knew the
importance of the location and as Räman-reti was the place of the
cowherding pastimes of Kåñëa and Balaräma, he named this temple the Çré
Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandir. We have Çré Çré Gaura-Nitäi on the first
altar, Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma on the middle altar and Çré Çré Rädhä
Çyämasundara along with Çré Lalitä and Çré Viçäkhä on the right altar.
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So, by the mercy of Çréla Prabhupäda we have the opportunity to engage in

the devotional service of the Lord in His arcä-vigraha form. Çréla
Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura writes in his Guru-astakam:
çré-vigrahärädhana-nitya-nänä-
çåìgära-tan-mandira-märjanädau
yuktasya bhaktäàç ca niyuïjato ’pi
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam
“The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Çré Çré
Rädhä and Kåñëa. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They
dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple,
and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful
obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.”
At first there were only the large Deities and the small Rädhä Kåñëa
Deities. The small Deities of Gaura-Nitäi came in 1978. The Govardhana
and Çälagräma-çiläs came between 1980 and 1984. In 1984 the small
Kåñëa-Balaräma Deities were installed. In 1987 the small Deities of Çréla
Prabhupäda and Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta arrived and finally, in the year 2000
the small Deities of Lalitä and Viçäkhä were installed.
After the disappearance of Çréla Prabhupäda his divine body was placed in
samädhi in front of the main temple. Simple worship was started while
plans were drawn up for the construction of a grand samädhi for his
pleasure. As the building neared completion a bigger than life-size
añöadhätu mürti of Çréla Prabhupäda was installed and a complete program
of worship began.
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Païcäìga-püjä
The five aspects of worship (païcäìga-püjä)
The païcarätra scriptures divide Deity worship into five categories (aìgas)
of activity. These categories are interrelated and interdependent, making an
all-encompassing program of service. Although the forth item – ijyä refers
to the direct worship of the Lord, worship is not complete without the other
four activities. Here is a brief description of païcäìga-püjä:
1. Abhigamana (approaching the temple). The first aìga or limb in the

païcäìga-püjä is called abhigamana which explains how to approach to
serve the Deities in the temple. This starts right from waking up early in the
morning. Upon waking, the devotee is supposed to immediately offer
obeisances to Çré Guru, Çré Gauraìga and Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa or
whichever Deities are present by saying the appropriate praëäm mantras or
by at least calling out Their names. The devotee should then clean
him/herself externally by brushing the teeth and taking bath. While bathing
the following mantra should be chanted:
(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-vilasa 3.47; quoted from the
Garuda Puräëa]
The idea is that both external and internal cleanliness must be there.
Therefore the devotee should always try to remember, hear and chant about
Kåñëa 24 hours a day. The devotee then puts on clean cloth (washed only
by a clean devotee), ornaments the body with tilaka and tulasé beads,
removes and cleans used articles, and cleans and decorates the temple.
Generally all activities performed up to and including the early-morning
Maìgala-äraté are considered abhigamana.
2. Upädäna (gathering articles for worship). The second aìga is called

Upädäna which means gathering flowers, suitable foodstuffs, and tulasé
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leaves, preparing cooked foods, and selecting the proper utensils for the
worship. Whatever is used should be of first class quality if possible. More
broadly it refers to collecting funds to worship the Deity or to help maintain
the Lord’s temple.
3. Yoga (establishing and becoming fixed in one’s spiritual identity). The

third aìga is called Yoga meaning to link to or to connect with the Lord; to
be situated on the spiritual platform. If just a little service is required the
devotee will do simple äcamana and chant:
(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 Vishnu.
Because those highly praiseworthy and spiritually awake brähmaëas can
see that abode, they can also reveal it to others.” [Rg Veda Samhita]
The devotee will then offer obeisances before entering the altar. If the
devotee is performing püjä then prepäration is more elaborate by chanting
mantras like the Visnu-smaraëaà; Maìgala-çänti; Bhüta-çuddhi (identifying
oneself as the servant of the servant of Kåñëa); and the full version of the
Maìgaläcaraëa prayers. These purificatory procedures, performed just
before the main worship of the Deity, are also called purvaìga-karma.
4. Ijyä (worship of the Lord). The forth aìga is Ijyä. This refers to the
offering of sixty-four items of worship, or upacäras, such as äsana, padya,
and snäna. In the broader sense this refers to the services throughout the
day beginning from waking the Deities in the morning and putting them to
rest at night. There is a list of 64 upacäras in the scriptures which can be
offered on special occasions, otherwise one should offer as many as
possible. Of course one should perform all these services according to the
rules and regulations mentioned in the scriptures, and not whimsically.
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5. Svädhyäya (cultivation of devotional service). Finally, the fifth aìga is

Svädhyäya, which means literally self-study. Specifically it refers to
studying and hearing çästra; performing sädhana-bhakti; sad-acar (proper
behaviour); and, since we are a preaching movement it is also expected to
mean that all brähmaëas actively preach. This aìga is extremely important
to preserve the proper consciousness and mood. Çréla Prabhupäda left us so
many books, letters and lectures which we should study extensively. It is
expected that the püjärés at the Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandir be well versed in
scripture and be able to quote verses to support what they speak. To enable
this one has to memorise necessary mantras and çlokas from the Bhakti-
rasamrita-sindu, Upadesamrita, Bhagavad-gita, Çrémad Bhägavatam and
Caitanya-caritämåta. Svädhyäya also includes:
 serving the Vaiñëavas;

 respecting prasäd;
 receiving guests;
 serving tulasé;
 serving the holy dhäma.
Thus, studying çästra becomes complete when one follows the instructions
of çästra and performs these activities. One can thus understand that arcana
consists of much more than simply offering articles externally to the Deity
of the Lord; rather, it involves various preparatory and supplemental
activities, all of which are necessary to ensure devotional purity and
concentration, without which, external worship simply becomes a dry
ritual.
Hare Kåñëa- OM TAT SAT
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Viçeña-äcamana
Sipping Water for Purification (Viçeña-äcamana) (complete äcamana)
Always perform äcamana before entering the Deity room to worship the
Lord.
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
brähma-tértha). The procedure for basic äcamana consists of the first three
steps below. If time and circumstances permit, you may perform the
complete äcamana:
 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.
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 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 oà 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 oà 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 oà 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):

sadä paçyanti sürayaù
jägåvaà saù samindhate
“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 Vishnu.
Because those highly praiseworthy and spiritually awake brähmaëas can
see that abode, they can also reveal it to others”. [Rg Veda Samhita]
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Calling of the Holy Rivers
Set an empty païca-pätra in place and fill it with fresh water. After pouring
a few drops of water from the äcamana-pätra or a spouted waterpot onto the
fingers of your right hand, purify the païca-pätra by prokñaëa:
 Chanting oà asträya phaö, sprinkle water on the païca-pätra.

 (optional) Over the païca-pätra show the cakra-mudrä, then gäliné-
mudrä, then dhenu-mudrä (or surabhi-mudrä).
 Invoke the Gaìga 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 Gaìga, Yamuna, Godavari,

Sarasvati, Narmade, Sindhu, and Kaveri kindly be present.”
 Now invoke the béja-syllable oà into the water, chanting it eight

times silently while holding the béjäkñara-mudrä over the païca-
pätra.
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Maìgalacarana - Standard Prayers
Çréla Prabhupäda Pranati:
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

Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly preaching the
message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which
are filled with impersonalism and voidism.”
Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Pranati

çrémate bhaktisiddhänta-sarasvatéti nämine
I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta

Sarasvaté, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus
feet.
çré-värñabhänavé-devé-dayitäya kåpäbdhaye
kåñëa-sambandha-vijïäna-däyine prabhave namaù
I offer my respectful obeisances to Çré Värñabhänavé-devé-dayita däsa

[another name of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté], who is favored by
Çrématé Rädhäräëé and who is the ocean of transcendental mercy and the
deliverer of the science of Kåñëa.
mädhuryojjvala-premäòhya-çré-rüpänuga-bhaktida
çré-gaura-karuëä-çakti-vigrahäya namo ’stu te
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I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, the personified energy of Çré

Caitanya’s mercy, who delivers devotional service which is enriched with
conjugal love of Rädhä and Kåñëa, coming exactly in the line of revelation
of Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé.
namas te gaura-väëé-çré-mürtaye déna-täriëe

rüpänuga-viruddhäpasiddhänta-dhvänta-häriëe
I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, who are the personified

teachings of Lord Caitanya. You are the deliverer of the fallen souls. You
do not tolerate any statement which is against the teachings of devotional
service enunciated by Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé.
Çréla Gaurakiçora Praëati
namo gaura-kiçoräya säkñäd-vairägya-mürtaye

vipralambha-rasämbhode pädämbujäya te namaù
I offer my respectful obeisances unto Gaura-kiçora däsa Bäbäjé Mahäräja

[the spiritual master of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté], who is
renunciation personified. He is always merged in a feeling of sepäratéon
and intense love of Kåñëa.
Çréla Bhaktivinoda Praëati
namo bhaktivinodäya sac-cid-änanda-nämine

gaura-çakti-svarüpäya rüpänuga-varäya te
I offer my respectful obeisances unto Saccidänanda Bhaktivinoda, who is

transcendental energy of Caitanya Mahäprabhu. He is a strict follower of
the Gosvämés, headed by Çréla Rüpa.
Çréla Jagannätha Praëati
gaurävirbhäva-bhümes tvaà nirdeñöä saj-jana-priyaù

vaiñëava-särvabhaumaù ñré-jagannäthäya te namaù
14
I offer my respectful obeisances to Jagannätha däsa Bäbäjé, who is

respected by the entire Vaiñëava community and who discovered the place
where Lord Caitanya appeared.
Çré Vaiñëava Praëäma
väïchä-kalpatarubhyaç ca kåpä-sindhubhya eva ca

patitänäà pävanebhyo vaiñëavebhyo namo namaù
I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaiñëava devotees of the Lord.
They are just like desire trees who can fulfill the desires of everyone, and
they are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.
Çré Gauräìga Praëäma
namo mahä-vadänyäya kåñëa-prema-pradäya te

kåñëäya kåñëa-caitanya-nämne gaura-tviñe namaù
O most munificent incarnation! You are Kåñëa Himself appearing as Çré

Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu. You have assumed the golden color of
Çrématé Rädhäräëé, and You are widely distributing pure love of Kåñëa.
We offer our respectful obeisances unto You.
Çré Païca-tattva Praëäma
païca-tattvätmakaà kåñëaà bhakta-rüpa-svarüpakam

bhaktävatäraà bhaktäkhyaà namämi bhakta-çaktikam
I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Kåñëa, who is nondifferent

from His features as a devotee, devotional incarnation, devotional
manifestation, pure devotee, and devotional energy.
Çré Kåñëa Praëäma
he kåñëa karuëä-sindho / déna-bandho jagat-pate

gopeça gopikä-känta / rädhä-känta namo ’stu te
15
O my dear Kåñëa, ocean of mercy, You are the friend of the distressed and
the source of creation. You are the master of the cowherdmen and the lover
of the gopés, especially Rädhäräëé. I offer my respectful obeisances unto
You.
Sambandhädhideva Praëäma
jayatäà suratau paìgor mama manda-mater gaté

mat-sarvasva-padämbhojau rädhä-madana-mohanau
Glory to the all-merciful Rädhä and Madana-mohana! I am lame and ill

advised, yet They are my directors, and Their lotus feet are everything to
me.
Abhidheyädhideva Praëäma
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.
Prayojanädhideva Praëäma
çrémän räsa-rasärambhé vaàçé-vaöa-taöa-sthitaù

karñan veëu-svanair gopér gopénäthaù çriye ’stu naù
Çré Çréla Gopénätha, who originated the transcendental mellow of the räsa
dance, stands on the shore in Vaàçévaöa and attracts the attention of the
cowherd damsels with the sound of His celebrated flute. May they all
confer upon us their benediction.
Çré Rädhä Praëäma
tapta-käïcana-gauräìgi rädhe våndävaneçvari

16
våñabhänu-sute devé praëamämi hari-priye
I offer my respects to Rädhäräëé, whose bodily complexion is like molten

gold and who is the Queen of Våndävana. You are the daughter of King
Våñabhänu, and You are very dear to Lord Kåñëa.
Païca-tattva Mahä-mantra
(jaya) çré-kåñëa-caitanya prabhu nityänanda

çré-advaita gadädhara çréväsädi-gaura-bhakta-vånda
Hare Kåñëa Mahä-mantra
HARE KÅÑËA HARE KÅÑËA KÅÑËA KÅÑËA HARE HARE

HARE RÄMA HARE RÄMA RÄMA RÄMA HARE HARE
17
Deity Schedule
Procedure for Waking up the Deities
The püjäré should arrive no later than 3:20 a.m.
Prepärations:
 Make up 7 small trays with:
o 2 rasamäläi; 2 rasagula; 2 sandesh; 2 burfé; 1 cup sweet
rice; 1 cup water.
Note: place tulasé on each prepäration.
 Make up 3 äraté trays with:

o 3 incense; ghee lamp; flowers; handkerchief; Yamuna or
rose water; 1 cotton stick for scent.
3:40 a.m. Wake up Their Lordships

Perform full äcamana
Chant prayers whilst ringing a small bell.
so ’säv adabhra-karuëo bhagavän vivåddha-

prema-smitena nayanämburuhaà vijåmbhan
utthäya viçva-vijayäya ca no viñädaà
mädhvyä giräpanayatät puruñaù puräëaù
The Lord, who is supreme and is the oldest of all, is unlimitedly

merciful. I wish that He may smilingly bestow His benediction
upon me by opening His lotus eyes. He can uplift the entire cosmic
creation and remove our dejection by kindly speaking His
directions. (SB 3.9.25)
deva prapannärti-hara prasädaà kuru keçava

avalokana-dänena bhüyo mäà parayäcyuta
O Keçava, O infallible Lord, O You who remove the distress of the

surrendered souls! Please bestow Your mercy upon me by again
awarding me Your transcendental glance.
18
jaya jaya kåpamaya jagatera nätha

sarva jagatere koro çubha-dåñöé-päta
All glories, all glories to the merciful Lord of the universe! O Lord,
please cast Your auspicious glance upon all the worlds.
Clap or ring bell 3 times before entering Deity room. Offer

obeisances at door. Turn on light next to door.
While ringing a small bell and touching the feet of the Deity with
the right hand, wake up Çréla Prabhupäda and Çréla
Bhaktisiddhänta on the small bed and chant:
uttiñöhottiñöha çré-guro
tyajïa nidräà kåpä-maya
(with the müla-mantra)
Replace both on altar, make bed, replace Bhaktisiddhanta’s

spectacles on altar Deity. Replace Çréla Prabhupäda’s bead bag.
Wake up Lord Caitanya (small Deity in bed) and chant:
uttiñöhottiñöha gauräìga / jahi nidräà mahäprabho

çubha-dåñöi-pradänena / trailokya-maìgalaà kuru
O Lord Gauräìga, please rise from sleep and bless the three worlds
with Your auspicious glance.
Wake up Lord Nityananda (small Deity in bed) and chant:
uttiñöha jähnaveçvara / yoga-nidräà tyajïa prabho

nämno haööe divya-nämaà / su-çraddhärthaà vitarasi
19
O Nityänanda Prabhu, Lord of Jähnavä, please arise and give up

Your divine sleep. At the marketplace of the holy name You
distribute the divine name, asking only for one’s faith in payment.
Carefully replace the Deities on the altar, Their wigs and crowns.
Make bed. Place shoes and cups back on altar.
Wake up Lord Balaräma and Lord Kåñëa (small bed) and chant:
brahmandesvarottishtetam / gopalau krsna-ramau ca

radhesa rohini-suta / vam sakhan saha kridatam
O Lord Kåñëa and Lord Balaräma, You are the protectors of the
cows. Please arise now, O Lord of the universe. O son of Mother
Rohini, please come and play with Your friends.
Replace Them on altar with Their wigs and crowns. Leave flute
until bhoga offering. Make bed. Replace shoes and cups on altar.
Proceed to Rädhä-Çyämasundara’s altar.
Wake Rädhä-Çyämasundara (small Deities on bed) and chant:
go-gopa-gokulänanda yaçodä-nanda-vardhana
uttiñöha rädhayä särdhaà prätar äséj jagat-pate
O master of the universes, O bliss of Gokula, the cowherds, and the

cows, O You who gladden the hearts of Yaçodä and Nanda, please
rise from bed with Çré Rädhikä, for morning has come.
Replace crowns and Kåñëa’s staff and water cups. Make bed.
Replace shoes.
Place out sitting mats for bhoga offering and clean offering tables.
4:10 a.m. Offer bhoga (follow the bhoga offering procedure)

20
idam äsanam & müla-mantra

etat padyam & müla-mantra.
idam äcamanéyam & müla-mantra
Offer prayers and gäyatré mantra.
4:25 a.m. Perform äcamanéyam. Remove plates. Clean tables.

Bring in ärati tray. Light candle. Close curtain. Replace
Kåñëa’s flute.
Maìgala-ärati
4:30 a.m. Open doors, blow conch, open curtain, offer ärati.
4:55 a.m. Finish ärati, blow conch.

Offer devotees prasäd flowers
Clean and put away ärati tray.
5:00 a.m. Offer scent. Clean floor.
Close doors after yesterdays Laksmi collection is announced.
21
Dressing Their Lordships
Rädhä Çyämasundara, Lalitä & Viçäkhä
The small Rädhä Kåñëa Deities are placed on the center big table along
with Lalitä & Viçäkhä. Çälagräma-çiläs go on the table in-between the
altars. The shoes, cups and elephants are placed on the small table.
The large Deities are undressed and massaged with oil by hand. Washed
with a wet towel cloth from the bathing pot and dried with a fresh dry
towel.
On Ekädaçés they are massaged with ghee, given new brahman threads (9
strings) and then dressed.
Kåñëa Balaräma
The small Kåñëa Balaräma Deities are placed on the center table for
worship along with the Govardhana sila and tulasé. The disciplic
succession and Nrsimhadeva pictures are placed on the large bed along
with Their shoes.
Gaura-Nitäi
The small Gaura-Nitäi Deities along with Çréla Prabhupäda and Çréla
Bhaktisiddhanta are placed on the center table for worship.
22
Greeting the Deities (çåìgära ärati)
7:10 a.m. The small Deities and Silas are placed on the altar. Clean
floor. Light and offer incense. Offer mirror. Close
curtain. Open doors.
7:15 a.m. Blow conch, open curtain for Gaura-Nitäi, then Kåñëa
Balaräma, then Rädhä Çyämasundara. Offer peacock fan
(not in winter) and cämara simultaneously by 2 püjärés.
7:40 a.m. Breakfast offering, make up 7 plates of:

Daily sweet 2 piece; halava; kitchari; subji; puris 2 each;
milk; water; fruit salad.
Breakfast Offering
8:00 a.m. Close Deity doors, use small bell during class. Clean
tables and floor, set out sitting mats, bring in offering.
8:10 a.m. Begin offering from where the spoon with water, cloves
and nutmeg is kept.
Offer padyam: etat padyam to all personalities

individually with their müla-mantras.
Offer äcamanéyam: idam äcamanéyam & müla-mantra
Offer äsana: idam äsanam & müla-mantra
Sprinkle water from conch on preparations. Chant 8

times müla-mantra over plate. Chant:
idaà anna-vyaïjana-pänéyädikaà sarvam.
Chant gäyatré
8:25 a.m. Offer Deities äcamanéyam. Remove plates, pick up asana,

replace Kåñëa’s flute, close curtain, bring in incense and
flower plate for ärati. Open doors.
8:30 a.m. Dhüpa-ärati. Offer incense; flowers; cämara and peacock

fan (not in winter) 10 mins. Clean altar.
23
Räja-bhoga Offering and ärati
10:30 a.m. Püjäré makes bhoga plates.
10:55 a.m. Enter püjäré room.
11:00 a.m. Close altar doors starting from Gaura-Nitäi, Kåñëa

Balaräma and then Rädhä-Shyamsundar. Wipe tables
with wet cloth. Clean floor. Remove flute, cane, etc.
Place asanas, put flower petals on them. Bring in
offering plates.
11:10 a.m. Make offering (see offering procedure). Make up 3 full

ärati trays: incense; camphor lamp; ghee lamp; scented
water; handkerchief; flowers; cämara and peacock fan
(not in winter).
11:45 a.m. Enter altar calpping hands 3 times or ringing bell,

remove plates, replace flute, stick, etc. Close curtains,
open doors.
12:00 noon Blow conch and open curtains. Offer full ärati (see ärati
procedure).
12:25 p.m. Finish ärati. Sweep and wash floor. Change water, bring
in bowl of kheer and pan for offering at rest time.
Uncover beds. Place water cup, kheer and pan on table
next to bed. Chant prayers for putting Deities to rest
while touching Their lotus feet.
24
Procedure for Putting the Deities to Rest
Rädhä-Syamsundar
ägaccha çayana-sthänaà / priyäbhiù saha keçava

divya-puñpätya-çayyäyäà / sukhaà vihara mädhava
(with müla-mantra)
Now come, O Keñava, along with Your beloved Çrématé Rädhäräëé and
Her friends, to the bed covered with transcendental, aromatic flowers. Now
happily enjoy Your pastimes, O Mädhava.
Move the shoes and cups of all the Deities. Turn off lights. Close and lock
altar door. Chant prayers for obtaining forgiveness.
Kåñëa-Balaräma
çayyäm ägacchataà kåñëa yaçodänanda-vardhana

çayyäm ägacchataà räma patitaà mäà dayäà kuru
(with müla-mantra)
O Kåñëa, O source of Mother Yaçodä’s happiness, now please come to

Your bed. O Lord Balaräma, please come to Your bed and bestow Your
mercy upon me, who am lowly and fallen.
Move the shoes and cups big and small to the table next to the bed.
Lord Chaitanya Mahäprabhu
ägaccha viçrama-sthänaà / sva-gaëaiù saha gauräìga

kñaëaà viçramya sukhena / lélayä vihara prabhu
(with müla-mantra)
O Lord Gauräìga, please come to Your resting place along with Your
associates. O Lord, rest comfortably for a moment, enjoying Your
pastimes.
Move the shoes big and small.

25
Lord Nityananda
ägaccha çayana-sthänaà / nityänanda jagad-guro

tava rüpe mahä-viñëor / anante çayanaà kuru
(with müla-mantra)
O spiritual master of the universe, Lord Nityänanda, please come to Your

place of rest. In Your form of Mahä-Viñëu, please rest upon the thousand-
headed serpent known as Çeña.
Move the shoes big and small.
Çréla Prabhupäda & Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta
ägaccha çayana-sthänaà sva-gaëaiù saha çré-guro

(with müla-mantra)
O spiritual master, please come to your resting place, along with all your
associates.
Waking up the Deities
3:15 p.m. Cut and prepare fruit bhoga offering. Make up offering
plate: 2 cookies; 3 bowls fruit; 1 drink; water (1 bowl
honey for Balaräma);
3:40 p.m. Wake up the Deities (see morning procedure);
4:10 p.m. Make offering (see offering procedure);
4:25 p.m. Remove plate. Perform äcamana for Deities. Remove
asanas, clean tables, floor, etc.;
4:30 p.m. Dhüpa-ärati: incense; flowers; cämara; peacock fan (not
in winter);
4:40 p.m. Finish ärati, clean up, wash floor, etc.
CLOSE THE DOOR LEADING TO THE ALTAR
26
Sandhyä-ärati and Offering
6:10 p.m. Make offering plate: 3 subjis; 4 puris; 1 halava; 1

milk; water; 2 daily sweets;
6:30 p.m. Close Deity doors. Set out asanas etc. for offering;
6:40 p.m. Offer bhoga and make up full ärati trays;
6:55 p.m. Remove plates. Perform äcamana for Deities. Remove
7:00 p.m. Sandhya ärati;
7:25 p.m. Finish ärati. Change water in cups.
Rätri-käléna-ärati and Offering
7:45 p.m. Make offering plate: 1 subji; 2 puris; 1 halava; 1 milk;

water; 2 daily sweets;
8:00 p.m. Close doors and prepare for offering;
8:10 p.m. Offer bhoga;
8:25 p.m. Remove plate. Perform äcamana for Deities. Remove
8:30 p.m. Dhüpa-ärati: incense; flowers; cämara; peacock fan (not
in winter);
8:40 p.m. Finish ärati and distribute garlands;
8:45 p.m. Close Deity doors.
Putting the Deities to Rest
The small Deities, Çälagräma-çiläs, tulasé devi and brass elephants are
brought to the püjä table. Shoes and cups are placed on table next to bed.
Remove flowers and garlands. Undress Deities. In summer, bathe with cold
water. Dress simply with little jewellery. Bring in and offer kheer and
water.
Put Deities to rest with prayers and mantras as at noon-time. Lock altar
door. Chant mantras for forgiveness.
27
Procedure for Offering Bhoga
Wipe tables and offering place. Remove flutes, sticks, etc. Bring in bhoga
plates. Check that all preps have tulasé leaves. Offer to Çré Çré Gaura-
Nitäi, Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma and then Çré Çré Rädhä-Çyämasundara.
o Offer äsana and chant idam äsanam & müla-mantra;
o Offer padyam. This water is for washing the Lords lotus feet from
a bowl and offered to the Lord with a spoon whilst meditating that
you are pouring it over His lotus-feet. Water is discarded in a
throw-out pot. This is done twice whilst chanting: etat padyam &
müla-mantra;
o Offer äcamana. This water is for rinsing the Lord’s mouth and is
offered by spoon from a bowl. It consists of water with ground
nutmeg and ground cloves added. The spoon should be held before
the mouth of the Lord whilst the püjäré meditates that he is offering
water to the Lord for rinsing His mouth. Discard water into a
throw-out pot. This is done 3 times whilst chanting: idam
äcamanéyam & müla-mantra.
Purify the foodstuff from contamination that may have entered during
preparation by placing some drops of arghya jal over plate and chant:
oà asträya phaö;
Place sacred thread around thumb of right hand over plate, cover right hand
with left hand and. counting on the fingers, chant müla-mantra for each
Deity 8 times – Gaura-Nitäi, Kåñëa-Balaräma and Rädhä-Çyämasundara.
While offering the bhoga chant the following:
o idaà naivedyam & müla-mantra or

o idaà anna-vyaïjana-pänéyädikaà sarvam for breakfast, noon and
evening offerings) or
o idaà miñöänna-pänéyädikaà sarvam for maìgala and fruit
offerings.
Chant 3 times the following prayers given to us by Çréla Prabhupäda:
28

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.”

“O most munificent incarnation! You are Kåñëa Himself appearing as Çré

We offer our respectful obeisances unto You.”
namo brahmaëya-deväya go-brähmaëa-hitäya ca

jagad-dhitäya kåñëäya govindäya namo namaù
“I offer my obeisances again and again to Lord Kåñëa, who is always

worshiped by qualified brähmaëas and is very dear to them. He is always
concerned with the welfare of the cows, the brähmaëas, and the whole
universe, and He gives pleasure to the cows, land, and senses.”
Leave the altar and chant full gäyatré if time allows, otherwise chant either
the gaura-gäyatré (for Gaura-Nitäi), gopal-gäyatré (for Kåñëa- Balaräma)
or käma-gäyatré (for Rädhä-Çyämasundara) mantra 10 times.
After 15 minutes re-enter Deity room and offer äcamana to each Deity.
Note: It should be understood that by the mercy of the spiritual master,

Çréla Prabhupäda we are able to engage in the service of the Lord in His
arcä-vigraha, like offering bhoga. Then at the end, after the offering, we
meditate that Çréla Prabhupäda and your spiritual master, where
appropriate, are taking the remnants both in Kåñëa-léla and Gaura-lélä after
all the associates have taken.
29
Ärati Ceremony / Müla-mantras
DEITIES MÜLA-MANTRA
Spiritual Master aià gurave namaù
Spiritual Masters oà parama-gurave namaù
Lord Chaitanya kléà gauräya namaù
Lord Nityänanda kléà nityänandäya namaù
Lord Kåñëa kléà kåñëäya namaù
Lord Balaräma kléà balarämäya namaù
Çrémati Rädhäräëé çréà räà rädhikäyai svähä
Çré Lalitä çréà läà lalitäyai namaù
Çré Viçäkhä çréà väà viçäkhäyai namaù
Çré tulasé Devé oà tulasyai namaù
Lord Nrsimhadeva oà praà kñrauà prahläda-nåsiàhäbhyäà namaù
Rädhä-Kåñëa çréà kléà rädhä-kåñëäbhyäm namaù
MANTRA ITEM FEE WAIS HEA BOD

T T D Y
eña dhüpaù Incense 4 2 7
eña dépaù Ghee Lamp 4 2 3 7
idam arghyam Arghya Water 7
idaà vastram Handkerchief 4 2 3 7
etäni puñpäni Flowers 4
eñä cämara-sevä Camara According to the available time
eñä vyajïana-sevä Peacock Fan not a fixed number
All Articles should be shown to Guru before being offered to Kåñëa
30
Order of Worship
Gaura-Nitäi’s Altar
DEITIES SHOWING
S
Caitanya Mahäprabhu Full ärati
Nityänanda Prabhu Full ärati
Panca Tattva 3 Showings
Çré tulasé Devé 3 Showings
Ñaò Gosvämé 3 Showings
Çréla Bhaktisiddänta Full ärati
Çréla Prabhupäda Full ärati
Kåñëa-Balaräma’s Altar
DEITIES SHOWING
S
Çré Kåñëa Full ärati
Çré Balaräma Full ärati
Govardhana- çiläs 3 Showings
Çré Çré Prahläda 3 Showings
Nåsiàha
Çré Tulasé Devé 3 Showings
Jagannätha Däs Bäbäji 3 Showings
Gaura-Kiçora Däs Bäbäji 3 Showings
Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura 3 Showings
Çréla Bhaktisiddänta Full ärati
Çréla Prabhupäda Full ärati
Rädhä Shyamsundar’s Altar
DEITIES SHOWING
S
Çré Kåñëa Full ärati
Çrémati Full ärati
Rädhäräëé
Çälagräma Silas 3 Showings
Çré Lalitä Devé Full ärati
31
Çré Viçäkhä Devé Full ärati

Çré tulasé Devé 3 Showings
Çréla Prabhupäda 3 Showings
32
Morning Püjä
The Sixteen Basic Upacäras
16 12 10 5 3 2
items items items items items items
Reception
1 äsana äsana äsana
2 svägata svägata svägata
3 padya padya padya
4 arghya arghya arghya
5 äcamana äcamana äcamana
6 madhuparka madhuparka
7 punar- punar-
äcamana äcamana
Bathing and Dressing
8 snäna
9 vastra
10 alaëkara
Worship
11 gandha gandha gandha gandha gandha gandha
12 puñpa puñpa puñpa puñpa puñpa puñpa
13 dhüpa dhüpa dhüpa dhüpa
14 dépa dépa dépa dépa
15 naivedya naivedya naivedya naivedya naivedya
Concluding Activities
16 praëäma
The single upacära that must be offered, with or without the other upacäras,
is bhakti.
33
Upacära Names
idam äsanam seat

etat padyam footwash
ime päduke shoes
idam arghyam arghya water
idam äcamanéyam water for sipping
eña madhuparkaù madhuparka drink
idaà punar-äcamanéyam second äcamana
idaà snänéyam bath
idaà vastram clothes
idam upavétam sacred thread
eña puñpäïjaliù flower petals
ete gandha-puñpe sandalwood paste & flowers
eña gandhaù sandalwood paste & scents
idaà sugandha-tailam scented oil
idaà tilakam tilaka
etat tulasé-pätram or etäni tulasé-paträni tulasé leaves
idam äbharaëam or imäni äbharaëäni ornaments
idaà malyam or plural ime mälye flower garland
idaà sarvam represents pleasing articles
eña dhüpaù insence
eña dépaù ghee lamp
idaà naivedyam offer bhoga
34
The Main Worship with Sixteen Items (ñoòaçopacära-püjä)
Prepäration for Worship (pürväìga-karma)
Required Paraphernalia
To avoid interrupting the worship, see to it that the following items are
present before beginning:
1) a small bell on a plate;

2) a païca-pätra containing fresh water and a spoon;
3) a waterpot with a cover and a spout, filled with water;
4) a visarjanéya-pätra (throw-out pot);
5) (if polishing metal Deities) almond paste or powdered gopé-
candana mixed with lemon juice; either cotton wool or a soft cloth
for polishing; a soft cloth for wiping off the chandan;
6) taila (fragrant oil);
7) a water-conch on a stand;
8) a snäna-pätra (bathing receptacle);
9) a receptacle for caraëämåta;
10) a towel and gämchä (cloth worn prior to dressing);
11) clothing, underclothing, and pins;
12) ornaments and blutack;
13) gandha (sandalwood paste);
14) flowers and flower garlands;
15) tulasé leaves and maïjarés (buds);
16) incense and ghee or camphor lamp;
17) naivedya (fruits and / or sweets);
18) a picture of your spiritual master and a receptacle for offerings;
19) a picture of Lord Caitanya or the Païca-tattva and a receptacle for
offerings;
20) this püjä manual, (if required).
Outside the Deity room, perform äcamana and offer obeisances to your
spiritual master.
In the Deity room, clean the area where you will do the worship and place
an äsana in position for performing the worship. While thinking of your
35
spiritual master sitting on an äsana to perform the worship, sit on your own
äsana.
Arranging the Paraphernalia for Worship (pätra-sthäpana)
1) Arrange the items in such a way that you can easily reach them
without touching offered to un-offered items:
2) Place the bell on a plate to your left, and place the bathing conch
on a stand so you can easily lift and replace it several times.
3) The waterpot, flowers, candana, and tulasé leaves should be within
easy reach.
4) Use the throw-out pot (visarjanéya-pätra) for offered äcamana and
arghya, or you may pour these liquids into the bathing receptacle
(snäna-pätra) if it is a receptacle which has a drain. You may use a
second visarjanéya-pätra for offered flower petals, cotton swabs,
and so on.
5) Bathing towels should be placed on a tray, table or the altar, not on
your lap or directly on the floor.
Purifying Hands (kara-çuddhi)
Wash your hands with water from the waterpot or smear them lightly with
candana.
Purifying the Flowers (puñpa-çuddhi)
Sprinkle the flowers with samänya-arghya water while chanting:
oà asträya phaö.
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.
Purifying the Lord’s Paraphernalia (dravya-çuddhi)
36
Sprinkle all the paraphernalia lightly with samänya-arghya water while

chanting:
oà asträya phaö.
Purifying the Bodily Elements by Identifying Oneself as the Eternal

Servant of the Servant of Lord Kåñëa (bhüta-çuddhi )
Do prokñaëa by sprinkling yourself lightly with samänya-arghya water

while chanting the gopäla-mantra (the sixth guru-given mantra) once.
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, I have obtained the good fortune of being able to serve the lotus
feet of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma and Çré Çré
Rädhä-Çyämasundara.”
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-kamäläyor 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]
37
Çré Çré Gaura-Nitäi Püjä
Worship with sixteen items (Ñoòaçopacära-püjä)

5) powdered gopé-candana mixed with lemon juice;
38

10) clothing and pins;
14) tulasé leaves;
15) padya-pätra, argya-pätra, äcamana-pätra (one for the Lord and one
for you), madhuparka-pätra;
16) 4 incense and 4 ghee or camphor lamp;
17) naivedya (fruit and sweets);
19) This püjä manual (if required).
Flower Garlands
1) 2 garlands for Gaura-Nitäi already made;

2) 3 small garlands, Guru, Çréla Prabhupäda and Çréla
Bhaktisiddhänta.
Bhoga Plate Prepärations
1) 1 big plate for Gaura-Nitäi - 5 kinds of sweets; 3 kinds of fruits and

water (2 sweets in each bowl);
2) 2 small plates for Çréla Prabhupäda and Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta
3 kinds of sweets; 3 kinds of fruits and water,
(1 sweet in each bowl).
Outside the Deity room perform äcamana and offer obeisances to your
spiritual master. Carry all required paraphernalia into the Deity room.
an asana on the floor. While thinking of your spiritual master sitting on an
asana in position for performing the worship, sit on your own asana.
Arrange the items in such a way that you can easily reach them without
touching offered to un-offered items.
39
Place the bell (on a plate) to your left, and place the bathing conch on a
stand so you can easily lift and replace it several times. The waterpot,
flowers, candana, and tulasé leaves should be within easy reach.
Use the throw-out pot (visarjanéya-pätra) for offered äcamana and arghya,
or you may pour these liquids into the bathing receptacle (snäna-pätra) if it
is a receptacle which has a drain. You may use a second visarjanéya-pätra
for offered flower petals, cotton swabs, etc.
Bathing towels should be placed on a tray, table or the altar, not on your lap
or directly on the floor. This applies to all paraphernalia; nothing should be
placed on the lower cloth or the floor.
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 pray for his blessings to assist
in the worship of the Lord.
Çré Guru-praëäma
om ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù
“I was born in the darkness of ignorance and my spiritual master opened

my eyes with the torchlight of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances
unto him.”

çrémate [spiritual master’s name] iti nämine
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto [your spiritual master’s name], who

is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.”
40
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 Mäyäpur, in the spiritual abode of Navadvépa,

Lord Gaurasundara sits on a jewelled 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 jewelled platform below Lord Gauräìga’s throne, my
spiritual master sits.”
While chanting the following mantra, meditate on your spiritual master’s

form, and remember his spiritual qualities and activities:
prätaù çréman-navadvépe dvi-netraà dvi-bhujaà gurum

varäbhaya-pradaà çäntaà smaret tan-näma-pürvakam
“In the morning, one should remember the spiritual master as being situated
in Çré Navadvépa, having two eyes and two arms, as being peaceful, and as
bestowing all benediction and fearlessness upon chanting his name.”
çré-guro paramänanda premänanda phala-prada

vrajänanda-pradänanda-seväyäà mä niyojaya
“My dear spiritual master, who give 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.”
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
41
“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.”
Preliminary Worship
Worship the Spiritual Master with five items (païca-upacäras)
1) Offer puñpäïjali – eña puñpäïjali & müla-mantra (aià gurave

namaù);
2) Offer païca-upacäras - gandha, puñpa, dhüpa, dépa and naivedya;
3) Offer flower garland - idaà malyam & müla-mantra;
4) Chant praëäma mantra and seek his blessings to begin the worship.
Then chant the prema-dhvani for your spiritual master (jaya oà viñëupäda
[name of your spiritual master] ké jaya).
42
Worshiping Çréla Prabhupäda with sixteen items (ñoòaçopacära-

püjä)
Worship Çréla Prabhupäda & Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta with sixteen upacäras

as in the Samädhi worship of Çréla Prabhupäda.
Worshiping Çré Çré Gaura-Nitäi (Gauraìga püjä)
Meditation on Navadvépa-dhäma (navadvépa-dhyäna)
Chant these verses and meditate on Navadvépa-dhäma, the transcendental

place of the Lord’s pastimes:
svardhunyäç cäru-tére sphuritam ati-båhat-kürma-påñöhäbha-gätraà

ramyärämävåtaà san-maëi-kanaka-mahä-sadma-saìghaiù parétam
nityaà pratyälayodyat-praëaya-bhara-lasat-kåñëa-saìkértanäòhyaà
çré-våndäöavy-abhinnaà tri-jagad-anupamaà çré-navadvépam éòe
“I praise the holy dhäma of Navadvépa. Being entirely non-different from

Çré Våndävana, it is completely different from the material world,
consisting of the three planetary systems. Situated on the beautiful banks of
the Ganges, Navadvépa is covered by lovely groves and gardens, and it
appears like the back of a gigantic turtle. That holy dhäma is filled with
many great palatial houses made of gold and bedecked with brilliant jewels,
and in those houses devotees are always performing kåñëa-saìkértana in the
mellow of ecstatic love.”
vande çré-kåñëa-caitanya / nityänandau sahoditau

gauòodaye puñpavantau / citrau çaà-dau tamo-nudau
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto Çré Kåñëa Caitanya and Lord

Nityänanda, who are like the sun and moon. They have arisen
simultaneously on the horizon of Gauòa to dissipate the darkness of
ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all.”
[Cc. Ädi 1.2]
43
yad advaitaà brahmopaniñadi tad apy asya tanu-bhä

ya ätmäntar-yämé puruña iti so ’syäàça-vibhavaù
ñaò-aiçvaryaiù pürëo ya iha bhagavän sa svayam ayaà
na caitanyät krñëäj jagati para-tattvaà param iha
“What the Upaniñads describe as the impersonal Brahman is but the

effulgence of His body, and the Lord known as the Supersoul is but His
localized plenary portion. Lord Caitanya is the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Kåñëa Himself, full with six opulences. He is the Absolute Truth,
and no other truth is greater than or equal to Him.” [Cc. Ädi 1.3]
rädhä kåñëa-praëaya-vikåtir hlädiné çaktir asmäd

ekätmänäv api bhuvi purä deha-bhedaà gatau tau
caitanyäkhyaà prakaöam adhunä tad-dvayaà caikyam äptaà
rädhä-bhäva-dyuti-suvalitaà naumi kåñëa-svarüpam
“The loving affairs of Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa are transcendental

manifestations of the Lord’s internal pleasure-giving potency. Although
Rädhä and Kåñëa are one in Their identity, They separated Themselves
eternally. Now these two transcendental identities have again united, in the
form of Çré Kåñëa Caitanya. I bow down to Him, who has manifested
Himself with the sentiment and complexion of Çrématé Rädhäräëé
although He is Kåñëa Himself.” [Cc. Ädi 1.5]
Worship of Lord Caitanya with sixteen articles (bähya-püjä)
Chant eña puñpäïjali along with the Gaura & Nitäi müla-mantras, offer
flower petals to Their Lordship’s lotus feet.
1) Äsana
Chant ime päduke and the Gaura & Nitäi müla-mantras, and offer
shoes to Their Lordships.
Chant idam äsanam and the Gaura & Nitäi müla-mantras, and
offer an äsana for Their Lordships to sit on. Escort Them to the
place of worship with a gesture of your hands.
44
2) Svägata
Chant svägataà su-svägatam and the Gaura & Nitäi müla-
mantras, and with joined palms welcome Their Lordships and see
to Their comfort.
3) Padya
While ringing a bell chant etat padyam and the Gaura & Nitäi
müla-mantras, and offer padya water to wash Their Lordships’
lotus feet.
4) Arghya
While ringing a bell, chant idam arghyam and Gaura & Nitäi
müla-mantras, and offer arghya to Their Lordships in Their hands
so that They can sprinkle it over Their heads.
5) Äcamana
While ringing a bell, chant idam äcamanéyam and the Gaura &
Nitäi müla-mantras, and offer Their Lordships water for sipping.
6) Madhuparka
While ringing a bell, chant eña madhuparkaù and the Gaura &
Nitäi müla-mantras, and offer cups of madhuparka to Their
Lordships.
7) Punar-äcamana
While ringing a bell, chant idaà punar-äcamanéyam and the
Gaura & Nitäi müla-mantras, and again offer water for sipping.
8) Snäna
Mürti-çuddhi: carefully remove the Deities’ clothes and ornaments
being careful not to scratch or harm Them in any way. Do not drag
the clothes across Their faces. Cleanse Their Lordships with a soft
cloth or sponge dampened with warm water, wiping off the
candana, tulasé leaves, and so on. Wrap Them in gämchäs or
towels.
Chant ime päduke and the Gaura & Nitäi müla-mantras, and offer
shoes to Their Lordships and with a gesture of the hand escort
Them to Their bathing place, the snäna-pätra. Place Their shoes
behind the snäna-pätra.
Chant idaà sugandha-tailam and the Gaura & Nitäi müla-
mantras, and massage Their Lordships with fragrant oil. (You may
massage Them with both hands).
Chant idaà snänéyam and the Gaura & Nitäi müla-mantras, and
bathe Their Lordships by pouring water from the conch (filling it at
45
least three times with water) while ringing the bell and chanting the
Govindam prayers from the Brahma-saàhitä and other appropriate
prayers.
Chant idam aìga-vastram and the Gaura & Nitäi müla-mantras,
and dry Their Lordships with soft cloths.
Chant idam äcamanéyam and the Gaura & Nitäi müla-mantras,
and offer Their Lordships water for sipping.
9) Vastra
Chant idaà vastram and the Gaura & Nitäi müla-mantras, and
offer fresh clothing to Their Lordships.
Chant idam upavétam and the Gaura & Nitäi müla-mantras and
offer upavétam.
Chant idaà tilakam and the Gaura & Nitäi müla-mantras and
paint on the tilak.
10) Äbharaëa
Chant imäni äbharaëäni and the Gaura & Nitäi müla-mantras,
and offer Their Lordships ornaments and decorate Them.
Chant idaà malyam and the Gaura & Nitäi müla-mantras and
offer the flower garlands.
11) Gandha
Chant eña gandhaù and the Gaura & Nitäi müla-mantras, and
apply candana.
12) Puñpa
Chant etäni puñpäni and the Gaura & Nitäi müla-mantras, and
offer fragrant flowers.
Chant etäni tulasé-paträëi and the Gaura & Nitäi müla-mantras,
and offer tulasé leaves.
13) Dhüpa
While ringing a bell, chant eña dhüpaù and the Gaura & Nitäi
müla-mantras, and offer incense.
14) Dépa
While ringing a bell, chant eña dépaù and the Gaura & Nitäi
müla-mantras, and offer a ghee lamp.
15) Naivedya
For offering bhoga refer to the bhoga offering procedure in this
manual.
16) Praëäma
Offer respects, glorification and obeisances.
46
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]
Silently chant the gaura-gäyatré-mantra ten times.
Chant the aparädha-çodhana mantras (seeking the Lord’s forgiveness)
Çré Çré Gaura-Nitäi Ké Jaya!
47
Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Püjä

48

14) tulasé leaves;
19) a picture of Lord Caitanya (or the Païca-tattva) and a receptacle for
offerings;
Flower Garlands:
1) 2 garlands for Kåñëa-Balaräma already made;

2) 5 small garlands for Guru, Giriraja silas and Kåñëa-Balaräma.
Bhoga Plate Prepärations:
1) 1 big plate for Kåñëa-Balaräma – 5 kinds of sweets (2 sweets in

each bowl); 3 kinds of fruit; water;
spiritual master.
Carry the paraphernalia into the Deity room.
49
Arrange the items in such a way that you can easily reach them without
touching offered to un-offered items.
Place the bell (on a plate) to your left, and place the bathing conch on a
stand so you can easily lift and replace it several times.
The waterpot, flowers, candana, and tulasé leaves should be within easy
reach.
Use the throw-out pot (visarjanéya-pätra) for offered äcamana and arghya,
or you may pour these liquids into the bathing receptacle (snäna-pätra) if it
is a receptacle which has a drain. You may use a second visarjanéya-pätra
for offered flower petals, cotton swabs, and so on.
Bathing towels should be placed on a tray, table or the altar, not on your lap
or directly on the floor. This applies to all paraphernalia, nothing should be
placed on the lower cloth or the floor.


unto him.”
50






Guru-stuti
51

Preliminary Worship
Worshiping the Spiritual Master with five items (païca-upacäras)

namaù);
52


“I praise the holy dhäma of Navadvépa. Being entirely nondifferent from





53

[Cc. Ädi 1.2]
Offer five items (païca-upacära-püjä)
1) Offer gandha - eña gandha & the Gaura-Nitäi müla-mantras;

2) Offer puñpa - etäni puñpäni & the Gaura-Nitäi müla-mantras;
3) Offer dhüpaù - eña dhüpaù & the Gaura-Nitäi müla-mantras;
4) Offer dépaù - eña dépaù & the Gaura-Nitäi müla-mantras;
5) Offer naivedyam - idaà naivedyam.
Meditation on Kåñëa-Balaräma (Kåñëa-Balaräma dhyäna)
dadarça kåñëaà rämaà ca vraje go-dohanaà gatau

péta-nilämbara-dharau çarad-amburuhekñanau
kiçorau çyämälä-çvetau çré-niketau båhad-bhujau

su-mukhau sundara-varau bäla-dvirada-vikrämau
dhvaja-vajräìkuçämbhojaiç cihnitair aìghribhir vrajam

çobhayantau mahätmänau sänukroça-smitekñaëau
udära-rucira-kréòau sragviëau vana-mälinau

puëya-gandhänuliptäìgau snätau viraja-väsasau
pradhäna-puruñäv ädyau jagad-dhetü jagat-paté

avatérëau jagaty-arthe sväàçena bala-keçavau
diço vitimirä räjan kurväëau prabhayä svayä

yathä märakataù çailo raupyaç ca kanakäcitau
“Akrüra then saw Kåñëa and Balaräma in the village of Vraja, going to
milk the cows. Kåñëa wore yellow garments, Balaräma blue, and Their
eyes resembled autumnal lotuses. One of those two mighty-armed youths,
the shelters of the goddess of fortune, had a dark-blue complexion, and the
other’s was white. With Their fine-featured faces They were the most
beautiful of all persons. As they walked with the gait of young elephants,
54
glancing about with compassionate smiles, those two exalted personalities

beautified the cow pasture with the impressions of Their feet, which bore
the marks of the flag, lightning bolt, elephant goad and lotus. The two
Lords, whose pastimes are most magnanimous and attractive, were
ornamented with jewelled necklaces and flower garlands, anointed with
auspicious, fragrant substances, freshly bathed, and dressed in spotless
raiment. They were the primeval Supreme Personalities, the masters and
original causes of the universes, who had for the welfare of the earth now
descended in Their distinct forms of Keçava and Balaräma. O King
Parikñit, They resembled two gold-bedecked mountains, one of emerald
and the other of silver, as with Their effulgence They dispelled the sky’s
darkness in all directions.” [Bhäg. 10.38.28–33]
Worshipping Kåñëa-Balaräma with sixteen upacäras

(Kåñëa-Balaräma püjä)
1) Clean the plate and make a sat-kona with candana;

2) Place some flower petals and tulasé leaves;
3) Place the snäna-vedi’s for Giriraja-silas.
Undress Kåñëa-Balaräma and bring Them to the snäna plate.
Chant: eña puñpäïjali & müla-mantras for Kåñëa-Balaräma. Offer flower

petals to Their Lordship’s lotus feet.
1) Äsana
Chant ime päduke and the Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-mantras, and
offer shoes to Their Lordships.
Chant idam äsanam and the Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-mantras,
and offer an äsana for Their Lordships to sit on. Escort Them to the
2) Svägata
Chant svägataà su-svägatam and the Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-
mantras, and with joined palms welcome Their Lordships and see
to Their comfort.
3) Padya
55
While ringing a bell chant etat padyam and the Kåñëa &
Balaräma müla-mantras, and offer padya water to wash Their
Lordships’ lotus feet.
4) Arghya
While ringing a bell, chant idam arghyam and Kåñëa & Balaräma
müla-mantras, and offer arghya to Their Lordships in Their hands
5) Äcamana
While ringing a bell, chant idam äcamanéyam and the Kåñëa &
Balaräma müla-mantras, and offer Their Lordships water for
sipping.
6) Madhuparka
While ringing a bell, chant eña madhuparkaù and the Kåñëa &
Balaräma müla-mantras, and offer cups of madhuparka to Their
Lordships.
7) Punar-äcamana
Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-mantras, and again offer water for
sipping.
8) Snäna
towels
Chant ime päduke and the Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-mantras, and
offer shoes to Their Lordships and with a gesture of the hand escort
Chant idaà sugandha-tailam and the Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-
mantras, and massage Their Lordships with fragrant oil. (You may
massage Them with both hands).
Chant idaà snänéyam and the Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-mantras,
and bathe Their Lordships by pouring water from the conch (filling
it at least three times with water) while ringing the bell and
chanting the Govindam prayers from the Brahma-saàhitä and other
appropriate prayers.
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Chant idam aìga-vastram and the Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-

mantras, and dry Their Lordships with soft cloths.
Chant idam äcamanéyam and the Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-
mantras, and offer Their Lordships water for sipping.
9) Vastra
Chant idaà vastram and the Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-mantras,
and offer fresh clothing to Their Lordships.
Chant idam upavétam and the Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-mantras
and offer upavétam.
Chant idaà tilakam and the Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-mantras and
paint on the tilak.
10) Äbharaëa
Chant imäni äbharaëäni and the Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-
mantras, and offer Their Lordships ornaments and decorate Them.
Chant idaà malyam and the Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-mantras
and offer the flower garlands.
11) Gandha
Chant eña gandhaù and the Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-mantras,
and apply candana.
12) Puñpa
Chant etäni puñpäni and the Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-mantras,
and offer fragrant flowers.
Chant etäni tulasé-paträëi and the Kåñëa & Balaräma müla-
mantras, and offer tulasé leaves.
13) Dhüpa
While ringing a bell, chant eña dhüpaù and the Kåñëa &
Balaräma müla-mantras, and offer incense.
14) Dépa
While ringing a bell, chant eña dépaù and the Kåñëa & Balaräma
müla-mantras, and offer a ghee lamp.
15) Naivedya
manual.
16) Praëäma
namas te tu hala-gräma / namas te muñaläyudha

namas te revaté-känta / namas te bhakta-vatsala
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Obeisances to You, O holder of the plow! Obeisances to You, O wielder of

the mace! Obeisances to You, O beloved of Revati! Obeisances to You,
who are very kind to Your devotees!
namas te balinäà çreñöha / namas te dharaëé-dhara

pralambäre namas te tu / trähi mäà Kåñëa-pürvaja
I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Balaräma, the best of the strong
and the supporter of the earth. Obeisances to You, O enemy of Pralamba!
Please deliver me, O elder brother of Kåñëa
Silently chant the gopal-gäyatré-mantra ten times.
Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Ké Jaya!
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Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa Püjä

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14) tulasé leaves;
19) a picture of Lord Caitanya (or the Païca-tattva) and a receptacle for
offerings;
Flower Garlands
1) 2 garlands for Rädhä-Çyämasundara already made;

2) 1 garland each for Lalitä and Viçäkhä already made;
3) 4 extra garlands for decoration;
Bhoga Plate Prepärations
1) 1 big plate for Rädhä-Çyämasundara - 5 kinds of sweets; 3 kinds of

fruits and water (2 sweets in each bowl);
spiritual master.
Carry the paraphernalia into the Deity room.
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unto him.”





61

Guru-stuti

Preliminary Worship
Worshiping the Spiritual Master with five items (païca-upacäras)

namaù);
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63

[Cc. Ädi 1.2]
Offer five items (païca-upacära-püjä)
1) Offer gandha - eña gandha & the Gaura-Nitäi müla-mantras;

2) Offer puñpa - etäni puñpäni & the Gaura-Nitäi müla-mantras;
3) Offer dhüpaù - eña dhüpaù & the Gaura-Nitäi müla-mantras;
4) Offer dépaù - eña dépaù & the Gaura-Nitäi müla-mantras;
5) Offer naivedyam - idaà naivedyam.
Worship of Rädhä-Kåñëa (Rädhä-Kåñëa Püjä)
Meditation on Våndävana-dhäma (våndävana-dhyäna)
tato våndävanaà dhyäyet paramänanda-vardhanam

sarvartu-kusumopetaà patatri-gäna-näditam
bhramad-bhramara-jhaìkära-mukharé-kåta-diì-mukham
kälindé-jala-kallola-saìgé-märuta-sevitam
nänä-puñpa-latä-baddha-våkña-ñaëòaiç ca maëòitam
kamalotpala-kahlära-dhüli-dhusaritäntaram
tan-madhye ratna-bhümià ca süryäyuta-sama-prabham
tatra kalpa-tarüdyanaà niyataà prema-varñiëam
mäëikya-çikhärälambi tan-madhye maëi-maëòapam
nänä-ratna-gaëaiç citraà sarvartu-suviräjitam
nänä-ratna-lasac-citra-vitänair upaçobhitam
ratna-toraëa-gopura-maëikyäcchädanänvitam
koöi-sürya-samäbhäsaà vimuktaà sat-taraìgakaiù
tan-madhye ratna-khacitaà svarëa-siàhäsanaà mahat
kamalotpala-kahlära-dhüli-dhüsaritäntaram
“Våndävana-dhäma is an abode of ever-increasing joy. In that

transcendental land grow flowers and fruits of all seasons, and various birds
fill it with sweet sounds. Cool breezes and the Yamunä’s waters enhance
the atmosphere, and all directions resound with the humming of
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bumblebees. Våndävana is decorated with wish-fulfilling trees embraced

by many varieties of flower-bearing creepers, and its divine beauty is
ornamented with the pollen of red, blue, and white lotuses. The ground is
made of jewels that shine with the brilliance of ten million suns rising in
the sky at once. On that ground is a garden of desire trees forever
showering divine love, and in that garden sits a bejewelled temple with a
pinnacle of rubies. Bedecked as it is with various jewels, that temple shines
brilliantly in every season. It is beautified with brightly colored canopies,
glittering with various gems, and endowed with coverings decorated with
rubies, as well as gateways and arches inlaid with gems. That temple shines
with the splendor of millions of suns and is eternally free from the six
waves of material miseries. Within it sits a great, golden, gem-inlaid
throne. In this way one should meditate on Çré Våndävana-dhäma, the
divine realm of the Supreme Lord.” [Gautaméya-tantra 4]
Meditation on the Form of Rädhä-Kåñëa (rädhä-kåñëa-dhyäna)
Chant the following verse and meditate on Rädhä and Kåñëa seated on a
throne in Våndävana:
dévyad-våndäraëya-kalpa-drumädhaù
çrémad-ratnägara-siàhäsana-sthau
çré-çré-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 meditate upon Them.” [Cc. Adi 1.16]
Worshipping Rädhä-Kåñëa with sixteen upacäras (bähya-püjä)
Chant: eña puñpäïjali & müla-mantra for Rädhä-Kåñëa. Offer flower

petals to Their Lordship’s lotus feet.
1) Äsana
Chant ime päduke and the Rädhä-Kåñëa müla-mantra, and offer
shoes to Their Lordships.
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Chant idam äsanam and the Rädhä-Kåñëa müla-mantra, and

offer an äsana for Their Lordships to sit on. Escort Them to the
2) Svägata
Chant svägataà su-svägatam and the Rädhä-Kåñëa müla-mantra,
and with joined palms welcome Their Lordships and see to Their
comfort.
3) Padya
While ringing a bell chant etat padyam and the Rädhä-Kåñëa
müla-mantra, and offer padya water to wash Their Lordships’
lotus feet.
4) Arghya
While ringing a bell, chant idam arghyam and Rädhä-Kåñëa
müla-mantra, and offer arghya to Their Lordships in Their hands
5) Äcamana
While ringing a bell, chant idam äcamanéyam and the Rädhä-
Kåñëa müla-mantra, and offer Their Lordships water for sipping.
6) Madhuparka
While ringing a bell, chant eña madhuparkaù and the Rädhä-
Kåñëa müla-mantra, and offer cups of madhuparka to Their
Lordships.
7) Punar-äcamana
Rädhä-Kåñëa müla-mantra, and again offer water for sipping.
8) Snäna
towels
Chant ime päduke and the Rädhä-Kåñëa müla-mantra, and offer
shoes to Their Lordships and with a gesture of the hand escort
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Chant idaà sugandha-tailam and the Rädhä-Kåñëa müla-mantra,

and massage Their Lordships with fragrant oil. (You may massage
Them with both hands).
Chant idaà snänéyam and the rädhä-kåñëa-müla mantra, and
bathe Their Lordships by pouring water from the conch (filling it at
least three times with water) while ringing the bell and chanting the
Govindam prayers from the Brahma-saàhitä and other appropriate
prayers.
Chant idam aìga-vastram and the Rädhä-Kåñëa müla-mantra, and
dry Their Lordships with soft cloths.
Chant idam äcamanéyam and the Rädhä-Kåñëa müla-mantra,
and offer Their Lordships water for sipping.
9) Vastra
Chant idaà vastram and the Rädhä-Kåñëa müla-mantra, and offer
fresh clothing to Their Lordships.
Offer Kåñëa an upavéta, water for sipping, and ürdhva-puëòra
tilaka before putting on His upper cloth, chanting respectively:
idam upavétam and the kåñëa-müla-mantra;
idam äcamanéyam and the kåñëa-müla-mantra;
idaà tilakam and the kåñëa-müla-mantra.
(When offering tilaka you may also chant the names of Viñëu, as
when applying tilaka on yourself: oà keçaväya namaù for the
forehead, etc.)
Chant idaà kuìkumam and mark Çrématé Rädhäräëé’s forehead
with kuìkuma.
Chant idam äcamanéyam and the rädhä-kåñëa-müla-mantra, and
offer Their Lordships water for sipping.
10) Äbharaëa
Chant imäni äbharaëäni and the Rädhä-Kåñëa müla-mantra, and
offer Their Lordships ornaments and decorate Them.
Chant idaà kaìkaëam and the rädhä-kåñëa-müla-mantra and
comb, arrange, and decorate Their hair. You may offer garlands
either at this time or after offering flowers. (You may find it easier
to put on the strands of beads after the garlands. This will avoid the
possibility of covering the beads with the garlands);
Chant idaà malyam and the Rädhä-Kåñëa müla-mantra and offer
the flower garlands.
11) Gandha
67
Chant eña gandhaù and the rädhä-kåñëa-müla-mantra, and apply

candana mixed with scents, according to season, to Their
Lordships’ lotus feet, hands and head;
12) Puñpa
Chant etäni puñpäni and the rädhä-kåñëa-müla-mantra, and offer
fragrant flowers or flower petals dipped in candana to Their
Lordships’ lotus feet while ringing a bell. You may offer additional
flowers for decoration at this time.
Chant etat tulasé-pätram (for one leaf) or etäni tulasé-paträëi (for
several leaves) and the kåñëa-müla-mantra, and offer tulasé leaves
and maïjarés with candana to Kåñëa’s lotus feet.
Place a tulasé leaf in Rädhä’s right hand, for her to offer to Kåñëa.
Chant imäni mälyäni and the rädhä-kåñëa-müla-mantra, and
offer flower garlands to Their Lordships. (Alternatively, you may
offer garlands when offering the ornaments, or after offering
naivedya.)
13) Dhüpa
While ringing a bell, chant eña dhüpaù and the Rädhä-Kåñëa
müla-mantra, and offer incense.
14) Dépa
While ringing a bell, chant eña dépaù and the Rädhä-Kåñëa müla-
mantra, and offer a ghee lamp.
15) Naivedya
manual.
16) Praëäma
Silently chant the käma-gäyatré-mantra ten times.
Prayers to Rädhä-Kåñëa (stuti)
saàsära-sägarän nätha putra-mitra-gåhäìganät

goptärau me yuväm eva prapanna-bhaya-bhaïjanau
68
“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
69
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 prabho
“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.”
Çåìgära Darçana
Before opening the curtains for darçana, clear away all unnecessary
paraphernalia, sweep the floor around the altar, light standing or hanging
ghee or oil lamps, and (after washing your hands) offer Their Lordships a
mirror so They may view Themselves. At the same time you should check
carefully to see that everything is in its proper place and that nothing
improper (such as pin cushions) are left on the altar. Check to see that the
Deities’ ornaments - especially crown and ear ornaments - are all in
place.
70
Obeisances (praëäma)
Offer añöäìga-praëämas to your spiritual master and to Their Lordships

while reciting prayers:
he kåñëa karuëä-sindho déna-bandho jagat-pate

gopeça gopikä-känta rädhä-känta namo ’stu te
“O my dear Kåñëa, ocean of mercy, You are the friend of the distressed and
the source of creation. You are the master of the cowherdmen and the lover
of the gopés, especially Rädhäräëé. I offer my respectful obeisances unto
You.”
tapta-käïcana-gauräìgi rädhe våndävaneçvari

våñabhänu-sute devi praëamämi hari-priye
“O Çrématé Rädhäräëé, I offer my respects to You, whose bodily

complexion is like molten gold. O Goddess, You are the queen of
Våndävana. You are the daughter of King Våñabhänu and are very dear to
Lord Kåñëa.”
Çré Çré Rädhä-Çyämasundara Ké Jaya!
71
Çälagräma-çilä Püjä
Prepärations in the Deity kitchen.
1) Prepare madhuparka consisting of five ingredients: milk; yogurt;

ghee; honey and sugar. Mix and whip in a pot until creamy;
2) Fill the abhiñeka bowls with milk, yogurt, honey and sugar;
3) Collect some tulasé leaves, nice flowers and grind candana mixed
with saffron and camphor (not in winter);
4) Fill bathing and püjä pots with fresh water for äcamana, arghya,
padya and viçeña-arghya;
5) Make a fruit and sweet offering plate consisting of: 3 varieties of
fruits and 5 varieties of sweets (räsamäläi, sandeça, burfé, sweet
rice, rasagullä).
Offering Obeisances (guru-praëäma)
Offer prostrated obeisances to your spiritual master while chanting his

praëäma prayers.
Sip Water for Purification (vaiñëava-äcamana) - Outside Deity room.
Entering the Deity Room (praveça)
Before entering the Deity room perform äcamana and chant the mantra:
(oà) tad viñëoù paramaà padaà………. etc. Chant the Deities names.
Clean the worship area with a wet cloth. Clean the worship table with a
separate wet cloth.
Replace the Lord’s bed in the cupboard and bring the paraphernalia boxes,
towels, mat, etc.
Place the püjä plate and the offering plate within reach of the worship area.
72

5) containers for padya, argya, äcamana and madhuparka;
6) a soft cloth for cleaning the Çiläs;
10) 5 small containers each containing one of the following: milk,
yogurt, ghee, honey, sugar water;
12) a few towels;
13) clothing (a bordered cloth may go under a Çilä as a dhoti, a second
may go behind as a chädar);
14) ornaments (an upavéta thread, one or two necklaces, especially
pearls or guïja-mälä, and a crown);
15) gopé-candana (or regular candana) and a tulasé twig, or a small
gold or silver stick, or a paintbrush - for painting tilaka designs;
18) tulasé leaves and buds (maïjarés) and, if possible, a tulasé garland;
19) incense and ghee or camphor lamps (one set each for worship of
the spiritual master, Lord Caitanya, and the Çälagräma-çilä); and a
lighter for lighting them;
20) naivedya (fruit and sweets with drinking water);
22) a picture of Lord Caitanya or the Païca-tattva;
23) This manual or book for guidance (if required).
Establishing a Place for Worship (äsana-sthäpana)
Chant om asträya phaö and purify the floor by prokñaëa.
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Draw a sad-koëa maëòala (an equilateral triangular) pointing away from

you on the floor with water using the knuckle of your right middle finger.
Worship the maëòala with flower petals and candana as you chant:
ete gandha-puñpe
om ädhära-çaktaye namaù
om anantäya namaù
oà kürmäya namaù.
Place the äsana over the maëòala.
Joining the palms in the praëäma-mudrä, chant:
påthvi tvayä dhåtä lokä devi tvaà viñëunä dhåtä

tvaà ca dharäya mäà nityaà pavitraà cäsanaà kuru
“O Mother Earth, O goddess, you support all the world’s people, and Lord
Viñëu sustains you; please give your support to me continuously and
provide me with a pure seat upon which to sit while worshiping the Lord.”
Purifying the Hands (kara-çuddhi)
Wash your hands with water from the waterpot and clean them by smearing
them lightly with candana.
Purifying the Flowers (puñpa-çuddhi)
Chant om 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 cäyaväkérëe ca huà phaö svähä
“O flowers, O great and auspicious flowers who have appeared from a

budding creeper, may you be purified.”
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Purifying the Lord’s Paraphernalia (dravya-çuddhi)
Chant om 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.
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-
Çyämasundara.”
nähaà vipro na ca nara-patir näpi vaiçyo na çüdro

nähaà varëé na ca gåha-patir no vanastho yatir vä
kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramänanda-purëämåtäbdher
gopé-bhartuù päda-kämäläyor däsa-däsänudäsaù
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“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.” [Padyävali 74]
1) Before arranging the Lord’s paraphernalia perform full äcamana

from your païca-pätra separate from the Lord’s;
2) Add Gaìgä-jäla in the liquids with a few small flower petals except
in the äcamana pot. Add tulasé to the païca-ämåta and other liquids
except the äcamana;
3) Add some candana to arghya pot, add nutmeg to äcamana pot.
Preliminary Worship
Worshiping the Lord’s Bell (ghaëöä-püjä)
While offering the bell a flower petal dipped in candana, chant:
sarva-vädya-mayi ghaëöe deva-devasya vallabhe

tväà vinä naiva sarveñäà çubhaà bhavati çobhane
“O beautiful bell so dear to Çré Kåñëa, the God of gods, you embody the
sweet sound of all music. Without you there is no auspiciousness for
anyone.”
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
Worshiping the Spiritual Master (guru-püjä)
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Perform worship of your spiritual master before worshiping the main Deity.
First meditate on him being situated in Navadvipa at the lotus feet of the
Païca-tattvan and remembering his spiritual activities, chant::

oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened

my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the
torchlight of knowledge.”


he guro jïäna-da déna-bandho / svänanda-dätaù karuëaika-sindho

våndävanäséna hitävatära / praséda rädhä-praëaya-pracära
“O spiritual master, O giver of divine wisdom, O friend of the fallen, you

are the giver of your own bliss and you are the only ocean of mercy.
Although dwelling in Våndävana, you have descended for the welfare of
fallen souls like myself and you are preaching the divine love of Rädhä for
Kåñëa. Please be kind upon me.”

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show the praëäma-mudrä (joined palms) and chant:
çré guro paramänanda premänanda phala prada

vrajanända pradänanda seväyäà mä niyojaya
“My dear spiritual master, who give 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.”
While ringing the bell with your left hand, offer puñpäïjali, gandha,
puñpa, dhüpa, dépa and naivedya.
Worship of Çré Çré Gaura-Nitäi (Gauraìga 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:
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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.”

“O most munificent incarnation! You are Kåñëa Himself appearing as Çré

We offer our respectful obeisances unto You.”
While ringing the bell with the left hand, offer puñpäïjali, puñpa, dhüpa,
dépa and naivedya (or replace these with flower petals).
jaya çré-kåñëa-caitanya prabhu-nityänanda

çré-advaita gadädhara çréväsädi-gaura-bhakta-vånda
“All glories to Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu, Çré Nityänanda Prabhu,

Çré Advaita Äcärya, Çré Gadädhara, Çré Çréväsa, and all the devotees of
Lord Caitanya.”
Worship of the Çälagräma-çilä with Articles (bähya-püjä)
While offering upacäras in Çälagräma-çilä worship, you may chant the

Puruña-sükta verses or other prayers, e.g. Brahma-samhita etc. You may
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also show the appropriate upacära-mudrä for each of the sixteen major
upacäras before offering the item.
Chant eña puñpäïjaléù and the Deity müla-mantra, and offer flower petals
to the Lord’s lotus feet.
1) Äsana
Chant ime päduke and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù, and
offer shoes to The Lord;
Chant idam äsanam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù
while showing the äsana-mudrä; then bring the Deity (on His
siàhäsana) behind the snäna-pätra (away from you);
2) Svägata
Chant svägataà su-svägatam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya
namaù, and show the svasti-mudrä welcoming the Lord and
making Him comfortable;
3) Padya
Chant etat padyam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù and
show the padya-mudrä; then offer padya water to wash the Lord’s
lotus feet, discarding it in the snäna-pätra;
Chant idam aìga-vastram and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya
namaù, and offer a towel to dry the Lord’s feet;
Chant eña gandhaù and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù,
and offer candana to the Lord’s lotus feet with a flower petal;
Chant eña puñpäïjaléù and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù,
and offer flower petals to the Lord’s lotus feet;
4) Arghya
Chant idam arghyam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù
and show the arghya-mudrä; 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;
5) Äcamana
Chant idam äcamanéyam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya
namaù, and show the äcamanéya-mudrä; then offer äcamana for
the Lord to sip, discarding it in the visarjanéya-pätra;
6) Madhuparka
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Chant eña madhuparkaù and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya

namaù, and show the madhuparka-mudrä; then offer a cup of
madhuparka to the Lord’s right hand;
7) Punar-äcamana
Chant idaà punar-äcamanéyam and the müla-mantra kléà
kåñëäya namaù, and offer äcamana for the Lord to sip, discarding
it in the visarjanéya-pätra;
8) Snäna
Cleaning the Deity Before His Bath (mürti-çuddhi)
Wipe the tilaka and candana off with a soft wet cloth, being careful
to not touch the Lord directly with the hand by covering Him with
a cloth or towel;
Place tulasé leaves and flower petals dipped in candana on a stand
in the snäna-pätra where the Deity will sit for bathing.
Chant ime päduke and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù, and
offer shoes to The Lord and with a gesture of the hand escort Him
to The bathing place, the snäna-pätra;
namaù, and offer a flower petal and candana as a gämchä. Discard
the flower petal into the visarjanéya-pätra;
If any of the following are not available, you may offer them by
substituting viçeña-arghya water from the païca-pätra:
Chant eña danta-käñöhaù and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya
namaù, and offer a twig for brushing the Lord’s teeth;
Chant etaj jihvollekhané and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya
namaù, and offer a tongue scraper;
Chant idaà hasta-mükha-prakñälanam and the müla-mantra kléà
kåñëäya namaù, and offer water for washing the Lord’s hands and
face;
Chant etat pädyam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù, and
offer water for washing the Lord’s lotus feet;
Chant idaà sugandha-tailam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya
namaù, and massage the Lord with fragrant oil while holding Him
in a cloth in your left hand;
Bathing and Drying the Lord
Chant idaà snänéyam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù,
and show the snäna-mudrä; then bathe the Lord by pouring water
from the conch while chanting the Brahmä-saàhitä’s Govindam
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prayers and other appropriate prayers. Fill the conch at least three
times;
You may then bathe the Lord with païcämåta. As you pour one
after another, in this order; milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, and sugar
water, chant the following mantras:
idaà kñéra-snänéyam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù
idaà dadhi-snänéyam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù
idaà ghåta-snänéyam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù
idaà madhu-snänéyam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù
idaà séta-snänéyam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù
After bathing the Lord in païcämåta, bathe Him again in warm
water, thus removing remnants of the païcämåta from the
Çälagräma-çilä;
namaù, and dry the Lord with a soft cloth (taking care not to touch
Him directly with the left hand);
Chant idaà tilakam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù, and
decorate the Lord with tilaka. (You may also paint eyes with gopé-
candana, put tilaka, mouth, etc.);
namaù, and offer water for sipping;
9) Vastra
Chant idaà vastram, idam uttaréyam and the müla-mantra kléà
kåñëäya namaù, and show the vastra-mudrä; then offer fresh
clothing to the Lord. (You may place a lower cloth under
Çälagräma-çilä and a chädar around behind Him);
Chant idam upavétam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù
while showing the upavéta-mudrä; then offer a sacred thread to the
Lord;
10) Äbharaëa
Chant imäni äbharaëäni and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya
namaù, while showing the äbharaëa-mudrä; then offer the Lord a
crown and other ornaments;
11) Gandha
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Chant eña gandhaù and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù,

while showing the gandha-mudrä; then offer candana and scents
according to season;
12) Puñpa
Chant etäni puñpäni and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù,
while showing the puñpa-mudrä; then offer fragrant flowers to the
Lord’s lotus feet;
Chant etäni tulasé-paträëi and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya
namaù, and offer tulasé leaves and maïjarés to the Lord’s lotus
feet. (Affix them near the base or toward the back, not on the
cheeks or head, if the çilä has a face. If no face is there, affix them
anywhere on the çilä);
Chant ime mälye and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù, and
offer flower garlands and a tulasé garland to the Lord. (Chant idaà
malyam for one garland);
13) Dhüpa
Chant eña dhüpaù and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù,
while showing the dhüpa-mudrä; then offer incense to the Lord;
14) Dépa
Chant eña dépaù and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù, while
showing the dépa-mudrä; then offer the Lord a ghee lamp;
15) Naivedya
Chant idam äsanam and the guru-müla-mantra, and offer an asana
to your spiritual master;
Purifying the bhoga (some fruit and/or sweets and water)
Chant om asträya phaö and sprinkle the bhoga with viçeña-arghya
water. Show the cakra-mudrä. Over drinking water show the
gäliné-mudrä;
Sprinkle the water over the bhoga while meditating on drying up
any faults the food may have;
Chant the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù eight times into some
water in your right palm, and then sprinkle the water on the bhoga;
Place tulasé leaves on the bhoga;
Chant idam äsanam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù,
and offer an asana to the Lord;
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namaù, and offer water for sipping.
Offering the Bhoga
Chant idaà naivedyam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù,

and offer bhoga to the Lord;
Chant idaà päëéyam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù,
and offer a glass of drinking water and/or other suitable drinks to
the Lord;
Chant nivedayämi bhavate juñaëedam havir hare, praying for the
Lord to accept the offering, and lift the plate briefly with both
hands (as a gesture of offering);
While ringing the bell, chant the praëäma-mantras three times each
for your spiritual master, Lord Caitanya, and Kåñëa;
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, then open your
eyes.
After the Offering
Clap your hands three times and offer the following items while
ringing the bell:
Chant idaà gaëòüñam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù,
and offer water for rinsing the mouth;
Chant idaà hasta-mukha-prakñälanam and the müla-mantra kléà
kåñëäya namaù, and offer water for washing the Lord’s hands and
face;
namaù, and offer a cloth for drying the Lord’s face, hands, and
feet;
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Chant idaà sarvam and the müla-mantra kléà kåñëäya namaù, and
offer flowers to the Lord’s lotus feet. These flowers represent
whatever else might be pleasing to Him.
16) Praëäma - Concluding Activities
Offering Oneself to the Lord (ätma-samarpaëa)

Offer yourself to the Lord while reciting this verse:
ahaà bhägavato ’àço ’smi sadä däso ’smi sarvathä

tvat-kåpäpekñako nityam ity ätmänaà samarpaye
“O Lord, I offer myself to You in full surrender, always praying

for Your mercy and considering myself eternally part and parcel of
You.”
With joined palms chant:
namo brahmaëya-deväya go-brähmaëa-hitäya ca

jagad-dhitäya kåñëäya govindäya namo namaù
“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]
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This completes the morning worship of the Çälagräma-çilä. Generally, in

temples Çälagräma-çilä is worshiped daily once only in the morning,
although in elaborate worship one could offer additional services during the
course of the day. One may optionally perform çayana-sevä, putting the
Lord to rest. Alternatively, the Çälagräma-çilä may remain on His äsana,
with crown and flowers removed, or you may place Him in a bed consisting
of a closed, cushioned container, such as a jewellery box.
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Çréla Prabhupäda Samädhi Worship
Morning Services
Müla-mantras:
guru: aià gurave namaù
parama guru: oà parama-gurave namaù
3:35 a.m.
1) Perform äcamanéyam. Offer full praëäma to Çréla
Prabhupäda outside the Deity room and 3 times praëäma
mantras;
2) Request His blessings to perform the days activities;
3) Enter quietly and light a lamp or turn on lights;
3:40 a.m.
1) While ringing a small bell approach his bed and touch his
feet and chant:
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uttiñöhottiñöha çré-guro tyajïa nidräà kåpä-maya &

müla- mantra
“O all-merciful spiritual master, please rise from sleep”;
2) Meditate on Çréla Prabhupäda walking and bring him to
the altar;
3) Remove old garlands and flowers. Clean altar and room.
Wash hands;
4) Offer mouthwash and chant:
idam äcamanéyam & müla-mantra;
5) Offer twig for teeth and chant:
eña danta-käñöhaù & müla-mantra;
6) Offer tongue scraper and chant:
idam jihvollekhanam & müla-mantra;
7) Offer mouthwash and chant:
idam äcamanéyam & müla-mantra;
8) Offer cloth for mouth and chant:
idam aìga-vastram & müla-mantra;
3:50 a.m. Offer bhoga and remove offering by 4:05 a.m;
4:10 a.m. Maìgala ärati starts;
4:25 a.m. Maìgala ärati finishes;
5:00 a.m. Close doors to begin püjä (see püjä procedure);
7:00 a.m. Open doors and offer dhüpa-ärati (incense, ghee lamp,
flowers, cämara) (7 minutes);
8:00 a.m. Close doors for offering;
8:10 a.m. Make offering;
8:25 a.m. Remove offering;
8:30 a.m. Dhüpa-ärati (5 minutes); Leave doors open until 11:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m. Close doors for räja bhoga;
11:10 a.m. Offer bhoga until 11:55 a.m;
12:00 noon Full ärati (15 minutes. – to finish at 12:15 a.m.);
12:45 p.m. Close doors and put Çréla Prabhupäda to rest;
3:45 p.m. Wake up Çréla Prabhupäda (follow morning procedure);
4:25 p.m. Remove plate and perform äcamana;
4:30 p.m. Dhüpa-ärati (5 minutes.); Leave doors open until 6:30 p.m;
6:30 p.m. Close doors;
6:55 p.m. Remove plate and perform äcamana;
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7:00 p.m. Full ärati (15 minutes) until 7:15 p.m;

8:00 p.m. Close doors;
8:10 p.m. Offer bhoga until 8:25 p.m;
8:30 p.m. Dhüpa-ärati (5 minutes);
8:45 p.m. Close doors and put Çréla Prabhupäda to rest (see resting
procedure).
Notes
1) After each ärati wash items in Çréla Prabhupäda’s samädhi sink;

2) Clean ghee lamp;
3) All paraphernalia must remain in samädhi after cleaning;
4) Change Çréla Prabhupäda’s water 3 times a day;
5) Wash altar floor after each ärati with water and eucalyptus oil;
6) During offering the samädhi must be locked.
Resting Procedure
1) Püjäré should bring kheer and flowers;

2) Wash hands;
3) Remove Çréla Prabhupäda’s japa mälä and garland;
4) Chant mantra for inviting Çréla Prabhupäda to rest:
ägaccha çayana-sthänaà sva-gaëaiù saha çré-guro;
5) Inviting Çréla Prabhupäda to take rest, escort him by hand to his
bed and chant müla-mantra;
6) Place kheer and water next to bed and chant:
idaà pänéyam & müla-mantra;
7) Place flowers at his lotus feet and chant:
eña puñpäïjaliù & müla-mantra;
8) Turn out lights;
9) Offer full obeisances and prayers outside his room.
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Bhoga Offering Procedure
1) Püjäré should see the following items are present:

a) Padya water in pätra with kusi;
b) Äcamana water in pätra with kusi;
c) Conchshell filled with water;
d) Flower petals.
2) Place table in front of Çréla Prabhupäda and set up bhoga;
3) Offer flower petals at Çréla Prabhupäda’s feet while chanting:
eña puñpäïjaliù & müla-mantra;
4) Offer asana to Çréla Prabhupäda by placing flower petals and
chant:
idam äsanam & müla-mantra;
5) Offer padya: etat padyam & müla-mantra;
6) Offer äcamana: idam äcamanéyam & müla-mantra;
7) Sprinkle a few drops of water from the conchshell on the
preparations and chant:
idaà miñöänna-pänéyädikaà sarvam for sweet, or
idaà anna-vyaïjana-pänéyädikaà sarvam for salty preparations.
Chant müla-mantra 8 times on brahman thread;
8) Chant guru gäyatré 10 times;
9) Leave room and close doors;
10) Allow 15 minutes for Çréla Prabhupäda to accept the offering;
11) Offer äcamana, remove plate and clean the area.
Püjä Procedure
1) Outside the samädhi room bow down to the spiritual master;

2) Glorify Çréla Prabhupäda by chanting: Jaya Çréla Prabhupäda!
3) Enter samädhi;
4) Perform bhuta-suddhi;
5) Recite prayers to glorify the spiritual master (see prayers at end).
6) Offer the spiritual master an asana by placing flowers dipped in
candana in the bathing receptacle while chanting:
idam äsanam & müla-mantra;
7) Request the spiritual master to sit on the flower petal seat by
folding hands and chanting: prabhu kripaya svägataà kuru &
müla-mantra;
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8) Offer padya: etat padyam & müla-mantra;

9) Offer arghya: idam arghyam & müla-mantra;
11) Offer madhuparka: eña madhuparkaù & müla-mantra;
12) Offer äcamana: idaà punar-äcamanéyam & müla-mantra;
13) Meditate on massaging Çréla Prabhupäda with fragrant oil and
chant: idaà tailam & müla-mantra;
14) Bathe Çréla Prabhupäda 3 times with conchshell while chanting:
idaà snänéyam & müla-mantra;
15) Dry Çréla Prabhupäda with a soft cloth by meditation;
16) Chant: idaà sottariya vastram & müla-mantra while offering
flowers in ärati fashion thinking of them as garments. Discard into
throw-out pot;
18) Meditate that he has taken his seat on the altar;
19) Touch his lotus feet and chant the müla-mantra 8 times;
20) Chant: idam upavétam & müla-mantra and offer sacred thread by
showing flower petals in ärati fashion;
21) Chant: idaà tilakam & müla-mantra and offer tilak;
22) Chant: idaà malyam & müla-mantra and offer flower garland;
23) Chant: eña gandhaù & müla-mantra and place sandalwood past on
his lotus feet;
24) Chant: ete gandha-puñpe & müla-mantra and offer flowers dipped
in sandalwood paste to his lotus feet;
25) Chant: etat tulasé-pätram & müla-mantra and place tulasé leaves
on his right hand;
26) Chant: eña dhüpaù & müla-mantra and offer incense;
27) Chant: eña dépaù & müla-mantra and offer ghee lamp;
28) Chant: idaà naivedyam & müla-mantra;
29) Chant: idaà sarvam & müla-mantra and offer flower petals to his
lotus feet while ringing a bell;
30) Chant the müla-mantra 10 times;
31) Recite prayers to glorify the spiritual master (see prayers at end).
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The Worship of Tulasé-devé (tulasé-sevä)
In the morning, after maìgala-äraté offer obeisances to Tulasé-devé with

the tulasé-praëäma-mantra, chanted three times:
(oà) våndäyai tulasé-devyai priyäyai keçavasya ca

kåñëa-bhakti-prade devi satyavatyai namo namaù
“I offer my repeated obeisances unto Våndä, Çrématé Tulasé-devé, who is

very dear to Lord Keçava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to
Kåñëa and you possess the highest truth.”
Then sing the tulasé-püjä-kértana while one devotee offers äraté to Tulasé-
devi with incense, a ghee lamp and flowers. While offering the articles, the
devotee offering tulasé-äraté should stand on a mat and ring a bell with his
left hand. Each of the items may be distributed to the assembled devotees
after they have been offered to Tulasé-devé. (See the text of the tulasé-
püjä-kértana.)
When the song is finished, the assembled Vaiñëavas should
circumambulate Tulasé-devé at least four times and offer her water by
pouring some drops at her root. While circumambulating chant:
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yäni käni ca päpäni brahma-hatyädikäni ca

täni täni praëaçyanti pradakñiëaù pade pade
“When a person circumambulates Çrématé Tulasé-devé, all the sins he may

have committed are destroyed at every step, even the sin of killing a
brähmaëa.”
Notes: When carrying a potted tulasé plant, it is best to honor her by

carrying her on the head. If the plant is too large, hold her in front. Also, it
is best if the stand is high enough so the base of the tulasé plant is above
the waist of the devotee offering äraté. Furthermore, it is best if the devotee
offering tulasé äraté is dressed as for doing service in the Deity room.
Honor Tulasé-devé by having a tulasé plant on a table next to the
Bhägavatam speaker during the lecture.
Additional Tulasé-püjä
You may perform the following worship of Tulasé-devé after the other
Deities’ morning worship is completed. If that is not possible, then worship
her later in the morning. (You should be as clean as you are for service in
the Deity room.)
Make sure the following are present for tulasé worship:

• a païca-pätra with water;
• arghya (that has been offered to Kåñëa) in a conch or other container;
• flower(s);
• candana;
• Deity caraëämåta;
• prasäda garland or prasäda flowers;
• a container for collecting tulasé leaves.
The procedure is as follows:
1. First recite the following prayer:
nirmitä tvaà purä devair arcitä tvaà suräsuraiù

Tulasé hara me ’vidyäà püjäà gåhëa namo ’stu te
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“O Çrématé Tulasé-devé, you were previously created by the demigods and

worshiped by both them and the demons. O Çrématé Tulasé-devé, kindly
take away my ignorance and accept my worship. I offer you my humble
obeisances again and again.”
2. Then, while sprinkling water on Çrématé Tulasé-devé with your right

hand from a païca-pätra held in your left hand, chant the following mantra:
(oà) govinda-vallabhäà devéà bhakta-caitanya-käriëém

snäpayämi jagad-dhätréà kåñëa-bhakti-pradäyiném
“I am bathing goddess Tulasé-devé, who is very dear to Govinda, who is

the mother of the universe, who gives life to all the devotees, and who
bestows devotion to Lord Kåñëa.”
3. While pouring some arghya from a conch or other container on her soil,
chant:
çriyaù çriye çriyäväse nityaà çrédharaà sat-kåte

bhaktyä dattaà mayä devi arghyaà gåhëa namo ’stu te
“O goddess Tulasé, I offer my obeisances unto you, the shelter and

residence of all beauty and opulence. You are even worshiped by the
Supreme Lord. O Tulasé, please accept this arghya I am offering with
devotion.”
4. Then offer the following items with the appropriate mantras:
idaà sagandha-puñpam oà tulasyai namaù and offer Tulasé-devé a flower

with sandalwood pulp.
idaà çré-kåñëa-caraëämåtam oà tulasyai namaù and offer Tulasé-devé
the Lord’s bath water.
idaà mahä-prasäda-nirmälyädikaà sarvaà oà tulasyai namaù and offer
Tulasé-devé the Lord’s prasäda garlands and flowers.
idaà äcamanéyam oà tulasyai namaù and offer Tulasé-devé äcamana.
5. Then sing Çrématé Tulasé-devé’s praises as follows:
94
mahä-prasäda-janané sarva-saubhägya-vardhiné
ädhi-vyädhi-hare nityaà Tulasé tvaà namo ’stu te
“O Çrématé Tulasé-devé, I offer my repeated obeisances unto you, the

mother of mahä-prasäda. You increase everyone’s good fortune and
remove all diseases and anxieties.”
6. Now offer obeisances to Tulasé-devé, chanting the tulasé-praëäma-

mantra:
(oà) våndäyai tulasé-devyai priyäyai keçavasya ca

kåñëa-bhakti-prade devi satyavatyai namo namaù
“I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vånda, Çrématé Tulasé-devé, who is

very dear to Lord Keçava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to
Kåñëa and possess the highest truth.”
95
Mantras for Picking Tulasé
7. With your right hand, carefully pick the tulasé leaves or soft tulasé-
maïjarés, along with their stems—one at a time—while repeatedly chanting
the tulasé-cayana-mantra:
(oà) tulasy amåta-janmäsi sadä tvaà keçava-priyä

keçavärthaà cinomi tväà vara-dä bhava çobhane
“O Tulasé, you are born from nectar. You are always very dear to Lord
Keçava. Now, to worship Lord Keçava, I am collecting your leaves and
maïjarés. Please bless me.”
Take special care to avoid causing Çrématé Tulasé-devé any pain. Pluck
her leaves with your right hand while holding the branch in your left, taking
care not to break it. Do not use scissors or a knife to cut the leaves from the
plant. When finished, recite the kñamä-prärthanä-mantra, begging her
pardon:
cayanodbhava-duùkhaà ca yad hådi tava vartate

tat kñamasva jagan-mätaù våndä-devi namo ’stu te
“O Tulasé-devé, I offer my respectful obeisances unto you. Kindly forgive

me if I have caused you pain by picking your leaves and maïjarés, O
mother of the universe.”
Do not pluck tulasé leaves in the morning before daylight or in the evening
after dark, nor at any time on Dvädaçé-téthi, the day following Ekädaçé.
Even if the tulasé leaves have become dry because they were cut on the
previous day or in the morning, they may still be used in Deity worship.
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Additional Verses and Prayers
Viñëu-smaraëa
(oà) yaà brahma vedänta-vido vadanti

pare pradhänaà puruñaà tathänye
viçvodgateù käraëam éçvaraà vä
tasmai namo vighna-vinäçanäya
Obeisances unto Him who is the destroyer of all obstacles, who the
knowers of Vedänta describe as the Supreme Brahman, and who others
describe as the pradhäna, or totality of mundane elements. Some describe
Him as the supreme male person, or puruña, while others describe Him as
the Supreme Lord and the cause of the creation of the universe. [Viñëu
Puräëa]

sadä paçyanti sürayo
jägåväàsaù samindhate
Just as the sun’s rays in the sky are extended to the mundane vision, so in
the same way the wise and learned devotees always see the supreme abode
of Lord Viñëu. Because those highly praiseworthy and spiritually awake
brähmaëas are able to see the spiritual world, they are also able to reveal
that supreme abode of Lord Viñëu. [Åg Veda 1.22.20–21]
(oà) mädhavo mädhavo väci mädhavo mädhavo hådi

smaranti sädhaväù sarve sarva-käryeñu mädhavam
Lord Mädhava is in one’s words and Lord Mädhava is in one’s heart. All
the saintly persons remember Lord Mädhava, the husband of the goddess of
fortune, in all their undertakings. [Nåsiàha Puräëa]
(oà) kåñëo vai sac-cid-änanda-ghanaù

kåñëa ädi-puruñaù kåñëaù puruñottamaù
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kåñëo ha u karmädi-mülaà
kåñëaù sa ha sarvaiù käryaù
kåñëaù käçaà kåd-ädhiço-mukhya-prabhuù-püjyaù
kåñëo ’nädis tasminn ajäëòäntar-bähye
yan maìgalaà tal labhate kåté
Lord Kåñëa is the color of a new rain cloud, therefore He is compared to a

transcendental cloud full of eternity, bliss and cognizance. He is the
original and supreme person. He is the origin of all activities and the one
and only Lord of all. He is the worshipful Lord of the best of demigods, the
controller of Brahmä, Viñëu and Çiva. Kåñëa is without any beginning.
Whatever auspiciousness is found within or beyond this universe the
devotee obtains in Kåñëa alone. [Kåñëa Upaniñad, Åg Veda]
Maìgala-çänti
(oà) svasti no govindaù svasti no ’cyutänantau

svasti no väsudevo viñëur dadhätu
svasti no näräyaëo naro vai
svasti naù padmanäbhaù puruñottamo dadhätu
svasti no viçvakseno viçveçvaraù
svasti no håñékeço harir dadhätu
svasti no vainateyo hariù
svasti no ’ïjanä-suto hanür bhägavato dadhätu
svasti svasti su-maìgalaiù keço mahän
çré-kåñëaù sac-cid-änanda-ghanaù sarveçvareçvaro dadhätu
May Lord Govinda, Acyuta, Ananta Çeña, Väsudeva and Lord Viñëu
bestow auspiciousness upon us. May Nara-Näräyaëa, Padmanäbha and
Puruñottama bestow auspiciousness upon us. May Viçvaksena, the Lord of
the universe, Håñékeça and Lord Hari bestow auspiciousness upon us. May
Garuòa and the son of Aïjanä, who is the great devotee of Lord Räma,
Hanumän, bestow auspiciousness upon us. May the great and only Lord of
auspiciousness, Çré Kåñëa, who is like a transcendental cloud full of
eternity, knowledge, and bliss and who is the Lord of all the demigods,
bestow upon us all prosperity and auspiciousness. [Kåñëa Upaniñad, Åg
Veda]
98
karotu svasti me kåñëaù sarva-lokeçvareçvaraù

kärñëädayaç ca kurvantu svasti me loka-pävanäù
May Lord Kåñëa, the Lord of the demigods, the presiding controllers of all
the worlds, bestow auspiciousness upon me. May His devotees, who are the
saviors of all people, bestow benedictions of auspiciousness upon me.
[Sammohana-tantra]
kåñëo mamaiva sarvatra svasti kuryät çriyä samam

tathaiva ca sadä kärñëiù sarva-vighna-vinäçanaù
May Lord Kåñëa along with His beloved Rädhä bring about prosperity and
auspiciousness at all times. In the same way may the devotee of Kåñëa,
who is able to destroy all obstacles, always bring about auspiciousness.
[Viñëu-yämala-saàhitä]
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Prayers for Worshiping the Spiritual Master

unto him.”


mükaà karoti väcälaà paìguà laìghayate girim

yat-kåpä tam ahaà vande çré-guruà déna-täraëam
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of

the fallen souls. His mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and
enables the lame to cross mountains.”
näma-çreñöhaà manum api çacé-putram atra svarüpaà

rüpaà tasyägrajam uru-puréà mäthuréà goñöhaväöém
rädha-kuëòaà giri-varam aho rädhikä-mädhaväçäà
präpto yasya prathita-kåpayä çré-guruà taà nato ’smi
“I bow down to the beautiful lotus feet of my spiritual master, by whose

causeless mercy I have obtained the supreme holy name, the divine mantra,
the service of the son of Çacé-mätä, the association of Çréla Svarüpa
Dämodara, Rüpa Gosvämé, and his older brother Sanätana Gosvämé, the
supreme abode of Mathurä, the blissful abode of Våndävana, the divine
Rädhä-kuëòa and Govardhana Hill, and the desire within my heart for the
loving service of Çré Rädhikä and Mädhava in Våndävana.”
he guro jïäna-da déna-bandho

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svänanda-dätaù karuëaika-sindho
våndävanäséna hitävatära
praséda rädhä-praëaya-pracära
“O spiritual master, O giver of divine wisdom, O friend of the fallen, you

are the giver of your own bliss and you are the only ocean of mercy.
Although dwelling in Våndävana, you have descended for the welfare of
fallen souls like myself and you are preaching the divine love of Rädhä for
Kåñëa. Please be kind upon me.”

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Çré Çré Ñaò-gosvämy-añöaka
Eight Prayers to the Six Gosvämés by Çréniväsa Äcärya
(1)
kåñëotkértana-gäna-nartana-parau premämåtämbho-nidhé
dhérädhéra-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau püjitau
çré-caitanya-kåpä-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bhärävahantärakau
vande rüpa-sanätanau raghu-yugau çré-jéva-gopälakau
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvämés, namely Çré Rüpa
Gosvämé, Çré Sanätana Gosvämé, Çré Raghunätha Bhaööa Gosvämé, Çré
Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé, Çré Jéva Gosvämé, and Çré Gopäla Bhaööa
Gosvämé, who are always engaged in chanting the holy name of Kåñëa and
dancing. They are just like the ocean of love of God, and they are popular
both with the gentle and with the ruffians, because they are not envious of
anyone. Whatever they do, they are all-pleasing to everyone, and they are
fully blessed by Lord Caitanya. Thus they are engaged in missionary
activities meant to deliver all the conditioned souls in the material
universe.”
(2)
nänä-çästra-vicäraëaika-nipuëau sad-dharma-saàsthäpakau
lokänäà hita-käriëau tri-bhuvane mänyau çaraëyäkarau
rädhä-kåñëa-padäravinda-bhajanänandena mattälikau
Gosvämé, who are very expert in scrutinizingly studying all the revealed
scriptures with the aim of establishing eternal religious principles for the
benefit of all human beings. Thus they are honored all over the three worlds
and they are worth taking shelter of because they are absorbed in the mood
of the gopis and are engaged in the transcendental loving service of Rädhä
and Kåñëa.”
(3)
çré-gauräëga-guëänuvarëana-vidhau çraddhä-samåddhy-anvitau
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päpottäpa-nikåntanau tanu-bhåtäà govinda-gänämåtaiù

änandämbudhi-vardhanaika-nipuëau kaivalya-nistärakau
Gosvämé, who are very much enriched in understanding of Lord Caitanya
and who are thus expert in narrating His transcendental qualities. They can
purify all conditioned souls from the reactions of their sinful activities by
pouring upon them transcendental songs about Govinda. As such, they are
very expert in increasing the limits of the ocean of transcendental bliss, and
they are the saviors of the living entities from the devouring mouth of
liberation.”
(4)
tyaktvä türëam açeña-maëòala-pati-çreëéà sadä tuccha-vat
bhütvä déna-gaëeçakau karuëayä kaupéna-kanthäçritau
gopé-bhäva-rasämåtäbdhi-laharé-kallola-magnau muhur
Gosvämé, who kicked off all association of aristocracy as insignificant. In
order to deliver the poor conditioned souls, they accepted loincloths,
treating themselves as mendicants, but they are always merged in the
ecstatic ocean of the gopis’ love for Kåñëa and bathe always and repeatedly
in the waves of that ocean.”
(5)
küjat-kokila-haàsa-särasa-gaëäkérëe mayüräkule
nänä-ratna-nibaddha-müla-viöapa-çré-yukta-våndävane
rädhä-kåñëam ahar-niçaà prabhajatau jévärthadau yau mudä
103
Gosvämé, who were always engaged in worshiping Rädhä-Kåñëa in the
transcendental land of Våndävana where there are beautiful trees full of
fruits and flowers which have under their roots all valuable jewels. The
Gosvämés are perfectly competent to bestow upon the living entities the
greatest boon of the goal of life.”
(6)
saìkhyä-pürvaka-näma-gäna-natibhiù kälävasäné-kåtau
nidrähära-vihärakädi-vijitau cätyanta-dénau ca yau
rädhä-kåñëa-guëa-småter madhurimänandena sammohitau
Gosvämé, who were engaged in chanting the holy names of the Lord and
bowing down in a scheduled measurement. In this way they utilized their
valuable lives and in executing these devotional activities they conquered
over eating and sleeping and were always meek and humble enchanted by
remembering the transcendental qualities of the Lord.”
(7)
rädhä-kuëòa-taöe kalinda-tanayä-tére ca vaàçévaöe
premonmäda-vaçäd açeña-daçayä grastau pramattau sadä
gäyantau ca kadä harer guëa-varaà bhäväbhibhütau mudä
Gosvämé, who were sometimes on the bank of the Rädhä-kunda lake or the
shores of the Yamuna and sometimes at Vaàçévaöa. There they appeared
just like madmen in the full ecstasy of love for Kåñëa, exhibiting different
transcendental symptoms in their bodies, and they were merged in the
ecstasy of Kåñëa consciousness.”
(8)
104
he rädhe vraja-devéke ca lalite he nanda-süno kutaù

çré-govardhana-kalpa-pädapa-tale kälindé-vane kutaù
ghoñantäv iti sarvato vraja-pure khedair mahä-vihvalau
Gosvämé, who were chanting very loudly everywhere in Våndävana,
shouting, "Queen of Våndävana, Rädhäräëé! O Lalitä! O son of Nanda
Mahäräja! Where are you all now? Are you just on the hill of Govardhana,
or are you under the trees on the bank of the Yamunä? Where are you?"
These were their moods in executing Kåñëa consciousness.”
105
Çré Çré Çikñäñöaka
1)
ceto-darpaëa-märjanaà bhava-mahä-dävägni-nirväpaëaà
çreyaù-kairava-candrikä-vitaraëaà vidyä-vadhü-jévanam
änandämbudhi-vardhanaà prati-padaà pürëämåtäsvädanaà
sarvätma-snapanaà paraà vijayate çré-kåñëa-saìkértanam
“Glory to the çré-kåñëa-saìkértana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust
accumulated for years together and thus extinguishes the blazing fire of
conditioned life, of repeated birth and death. This saìkértana movement is
the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of
the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge, it
increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste
the nectar for which we are always anxious.”
2)
nämnäm akäri bahudhä nija-sarva-çaktis
taträrpitä niyamitaù smaraëe na kälaù
etädåçé tava kåpä bhagavan mamäpi
durdaivam édåçam ihäjani nänurägaù
“O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living
beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of transcendental names,
such as Kåñëa and Govinda, in which You have invested all Your
transcendental energies. There are no hard and fast rules for chanting these
names. O My Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You
by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for
them.”
3)
tåëäd api sunécena
taror api sahiñëunä
amäninä mänadena
kértanéyaù sadä hariù
“One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind,
thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more
tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be
106
ready to offer all respects to others. In such a state of mind one can chant
the holy name of the Lord constantly.”
4)
na dhanaà na janaà na sundaréà
kavitäà vä jagad-éça kämaye
mama janmani janmanéçvare
bhavatäd bhaktir ahaituké tvayi
“O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire

beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your
causeless devotional service, birth after birth.”
5)
ayi nanda-tanuja kiìkaraà
patitaà mäà viñame bhavämbudhau
kåpayä tava päda-paìkaja-
sthita-dhülé-sadåçaà vicintaya
“O son of Mahäräja Nanda [Kåñëa], I am Your eternal servitor, yet

somehow or other I have fallen into this horrible ocean of birth and death.
Please pick me up from this ocean of death and place me as one of the
atoms at Your lotus feet.”
6)
nayanaà galad-açru-dhärayä
vadanaà gadgada-ruddhayä girä
pulakair nicitaà vapuù kadä
tava näma-grahaëe bhaviñyati
“O My Lord, when will my eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing

constantly when I chant Your holy name? When will my voice choke up,
and when will the hairs of my body stand on end at the recitation of Your
name.”
7)
yugäyitaà nimeñeëa
cakñuñä prävåñäyitam
107
çünyäyitaà jagat sarvaà

govinda-viraheëa me
“O Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering a moment to be

like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of
rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in Your absence.”
8)
äçliñya vä päda-ratäà pinañöu mäm
adarçanän marma-hatäà karotu vä
yathä tathä vä vidadhätu lampaöo
mat-präëa-näthas tu sa eva näparaù
“I know no one but Kåñëa as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He

handles me roughly by His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not
being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and
everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally.”
108
Çré Brahma-Saàhitä
Text 1
éçvaraù paramaù kåñëaù / sac-cid-änanda-vigrahaù
anädir ädir govindaù / sarva-käraëa-käraëam
“Krsna, who is known as Govinda, is the Supreme Godhead. He has an

eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other
origin, and He is the prime cause of all causes.”
Text 29
cintämaëi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-våkña-
lakñävåteñu surabhér abhipälayantam
lakñmé-sahasra-çata-sambhrama-sevyamänaà
govindam ädi-puruñaà tam ahaà bhajämi
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the first progenitor, who is tending
cows yielding all desires among abodes built with spiritual gems, and who
is surrounded by millions of desire trees. He is always served with great
reverence and affection by hundreds of thousands of lakñmés, or gopés."
Text 30
venuà kvanantam aravinda-daläyatäkñaà
barhävataàsam asitämbuda-sundaräìgam
kandarpa-koöi-kamanéya-viçeña-çobhaà
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept at playing on His
flute, who has eyes like the petals of a blooming lotus, whose head is
bedecked with a peacock feather, who has a figure of beauty tinged with
the hue of blue clouds, and whose unique loveliness is charming millions of
Cupids."
Text 31
älola-candraka-lasad-vanamälya-vaàçé-
ratnäìgadaà pranaya-keli-kalä-viläsam
çyämaà tri-bhaìga-lalitaà niyata-prakäçaà
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, around whose neck is swinging a
garland of flowers beautified with the moon-locket. His two hands are
adorned with the flute and jeweled ornaments, He always revels in pastimes
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of love, and His graceful threefold-bending form of çyämasundara is

eternally manifest."
Text 32
aìgäni yasya sakalendriya-våtti-manti
paçyanti pänti kalayanti ciraà jaganti
änanda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala-vigrahasya
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who eternally sees, maintains, and
manifests the infinite universes, both spiritual and mundane. His
transcendental form is full of bliss, truth, and substantiality and is thus full
of the most dazzling splendor. Each of the limbs of that transcendental
figure possesses in itself the full-fledged functions of all the organs."
Text 33
advaitam acyutam anädim ananta-rüpaà
ädyaà puräëa-puruñaà nava-yauvanaà ca
vedeñu durlabham adurlabham ätma-bhaktau
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is inaccessible to the Vedas,
but who is obtainable by pure unalloyed devotion of the soul. He is one
without a second, not subject to decay, and without a beginning. His form
is endless, He is the beginning of all. Though the eternal, ancient purusa,
He is a person possessing the beauty of blooming youth."
Text 34
panthäs tu koöi-çata-vatsara-sampragamyo
väyor athäpi manaso muni-puìgavänäm
so 'py asti yat-prapada-sémny avicintya-tattve
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, only the tip of the toes of whose
lotus feet are approached by the yogis, who aspire after the transcendental
and betake themselves to präëäyäma by drilling the respiration, and by the
jñänis, who try to find out the nondifferentiated Brahman by the process of
elimination of the mundane, extending over thousands of millions of
years."
Text 35
eko 'py asau racayituà jagad-aëòa-koöià
110
yac-chaktir asti jagad-aëòa-cayä yad-antaù

aëòäntara-stha-paramäëu-cayäntara-sthaà
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is an undifferentiated entity,

as there is no distinction between the potency and the possessor thereof. In
His work of creation of millions of worlds, His potency remains
inseparable from Him Himself. All the universes exist in Him, and at the
same time He is present in His fullness in every one of the atoms that are
scattered throughout the universes. Such is the primeval Lord whom I
adore."
Text 36
yad-bhäva-bhävita-dhiyo manujas tathaiva
sampräpya rüpa-mahimäsana-yäna-bhüñaù
süktair yam eva nigama-prathitaiù stuvanti
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, in whose praise men who are
imbued with devotion sing the mantra-suktas contained in the Vedas,
thereby gaining their appropriate beauty, greatness, thrones, conveyances,
and ornaments."
Text 37
änanda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhävitäbhis
täbhir ya eva nija-rüpatayä kaläbhiù
goloka eva nivasaty akhilätma-bhüto
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who, while residing in everyone's
heart as the Supersoul, also resides in His own realm, Goloka, with Rädhä,
who resembles His own spiritual figure and who embodies the ecstatic
potency of hlädiné. Their companions are Her confidantes, who are
extensions of Her bodily form and who are permeated with ever-blissful,
spiritual rasa."
Text 38
premäñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santaù sadaiva hådayeñu vilokayanti
yaà çyämasundaram acintya-guëa-svarüpaà
111
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is çyämasundara, Kåñëa

Himself, who possesses innumerable inconceivable attributes, and whom
the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged
with the salve of love."
Text 39
rämädi-mürtiñu kalä-niyamena tiñöhaà
nänävatäram akarod bhuvaneñu kintu
kåñëaù svayaà samabhavat paramaù pumän yo
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who manifests Himself personally
as Krsna and also as the many incarnations in this world, such as Rama,
Nrsimha, and Vamana, who are His subjective portions."
Text 40
yasya prabhä prabhavato jagad-aëòa-koöi-
koöéñv açeña-vasudhädi-vibhüti-bhinnam
tad brahma niñkalam anantam açeña-bhütaà
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is endowed with great power.
The glowering effulgence of His transcendental form is the impersonal
Brahman, which is absolute, complete, and unlimited and which displays
the varieties of countless planets with their different opulences in millions
and millions of universes."
Text 41
mäyä hi yasya jagad-aëòa-çatäni süte
traiguëya-tad-viçaya-veda-vitäyamänä
sattvävalambi-para-sattva-visuddha-sattvaà
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is the absolute substantive
principle, being the ultimate entity in the form of the support of all
existence. His external potency embodies the threefold mundane qualities-
goodness, passion, and ignorance-and He diffuses the Vedic knowledge
regarding the mundane world."
Text 42
änanda-cinmaya-rasätmatayä manaùsu
112
yaù präëinäà pratiphalan smaratäà upetya

léläyitena bhuvanäni jayaty ajasraà
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, whose glory ever triumphantly
dominates the mundane world by the activity of His own pastimes, for He
is reflected in the minds of recollecting souls as the transcendental entity of
ever-blissful cognitive rasa."
Text 43
goloka-nämni nija-dhämni tale ca tasya
devé-maheça-hari-dhämasu teñu teñu
te te prabhäva-nicayä vihitäs ca yena
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who has allotted their respective
authorities to the rulers of the three graded realms-namely, Devé-dhäma,
the mundane world; Maheça-dhäma, the abode of çiva; and, above that,
Hari-dhäma, the abode of Hari. And above them all is Kåñëa's own realm,
Goloka."
Text 44
såñöi-sthiti-pralaya-sädhana-çaktir eka
chäyeva yasya bhuvänani bibharti durgä
icchänurüpam api yasya ca ceñöate sä
"The external potency, Mäyä, who is of the nature of the shadow of the cit
potency, is worshiped by all people as Durgä, the creating, preserving, and
destroying agency of this mundane world. I adore the primeval Lord,
Govinda, in accordance with whose will Durgä conducts herself."
Text 45
kñéraà yathä dadhi vikära-viçeña-yogät
sañjäyate na tu tataù påthag asti hetoh
yaù çambhutäm api tathä samupaiti käryäd
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord. Just as milk changes into yogurt
when mixed with a yogurt culture but is actually constitutionally nothing
113
but milk, so Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, assumes the

form of Lord çiva for the special purpose of material transaction."
Text 46
dépärcir eva hi daçäntaram abhyupetya
dépäyate vivåta-hetu-samäna-dharmä
yas tädåg eva hi ca viñëutayä vibhäti
"When the flame of one candle is expanded to another candle and placed in
a different position, it burns separately, and its illumination is as powerful
as the original candle's. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Govinda, expands Himself in different Viñëu forms, who are all as
luminous, powerful, and opulent as He. Let me worship that Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Govinda."
Text 47
yaù käraëärnava-jale bhajati sma yoga-
nidräm ananta-jagad-aëòa-sa-roma-küpäù
ädähara-çaktim avalambya paräà sva-mürtià
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who assumes His own great
subjective form, which bears the name çeça, replete with the all-
accommodating potency and reposing in the Causal Ocean with the infinity
of the worlds in the pores of His hair, enjoys creative sleep [yoga-nidra].
Text 48
yasyaika-niçvasita-kälam athävalambya
jévanti loma-vilajä jagad-aëòa-näthäù
viñëur mahän sa iha yasya kalä-viçeño
"Brahmä and other lords of the mundane worlds, appearing from the pores
of hair of Mahä-Viñëu, remain alive as long as the duration of one
exhalation of Mahä-Viñëu's breath. I adore the primeval Lord, Govinda, of
whose subjective personality Mahä-Viñëu is the portion of a plenary
portion."
Text 49
bhäsvän yathäçma-sakaleñu nijeñu tejaù
svéyaà kiyat prakatayaty api tadvad atra
114
brahmä ya eña jagad-aëòa-vidhäna-kartä

"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord. As the sun manifests its brilliance
in a gem, so the original Personality of Godhead, Govinda, manifests His
special power in a pious living entity, who becomes Brahmä and manages
the affairs of the universe."
Text 50
yat-päda-pallava-yugaà vinidhäya kumbhä-
dvandve praëäma-samaye sa gaëädhiräjaù
vighnän vihantum alam asya jagat-trayasya
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, whose lotus feet are always held by
Ganeça upon the pair of tumuli protruding from his elephant head so that
he may obtain the power to perform his function of destroying all the
obstacles on the path of progress of the three worlds."
Text 51
agnir mahé gaganam ambu marud diçaç ca
kälas tathätma-manaséti jagat-trayäëi
yasmäd bhavanti vibhavanti viçanti yaà ca
"The three worlds are composed of the nine elements, viz., fire, earth, ether,
water, air, direction, time, soul and mind. I adore the primeval Lord,
Govinda, from whom they originate, in whom they exist, and into whom
they enter at the time of the universal cataclysm."
Text 52
yac-cakñur eña savitä sakala-grahäëäà
räjä samasta-sura-mürtir açeña-tejäù
yasyäjñayä bhramati sambhåta-käla-cakro
"The sun, who is the king of all the planets, full of infinite effulgence, the
image of the good soul, is the eye of this world. I adore the primeval Lord,
Govinda, in pursuance of whose order the sun performs his journey,
mounting the wheel of time."
Text 53
115
dharmo 'tha päpa-nicayäù çrutayas tapäàsi

brahmädi-kéta-patagavädhayaç ca jéväù
yad-datta-mätra-vibhava-prakaöa-prabhävä
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, by whose conferred power are
maintained the manifested potencies found to exist in all virtues, all vices,
the Vedas, the penances, and all jévas, from Brahmä down to the meanest
insect."
Text 54
yas tv indra-gopam athavendram aho sva-karma-
bandhänurüpa-phala-bhäjanam ätanoti
karmäëi nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhäjäà
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who regulates the sufferings and
enjoyments of the fruitive activities for everyone, from Indra, the king of
heaven, down the smallest insect, the Indragopa. That very Personality of
Godhead burns to ashes the karmic reactions of one engaged in His
devotional service."
Text 55
yaà krodha-käma-sahaja-praëayädi-bhéti-
vätsalya-moha-guru-gaurava-sevya-bhävaiù
sañcintya tasya sadåñéà tanum äpur ete
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord. Those who meditate upon Him
under the sway of wrath, amorous passion, natural, friendly love, fear,
parental affection, delusion, reverence, and willing service attain to bodily
forms befitting the nature of their contemplation."
Text 56-57
çriyaù käntä käntaù parama-puruñaù kalpa-taravo
drumä bhümiç cintämaëi-gaëa-mayé toyam amåtam
kathä gänaà näöyaà gamanam api vaàçé priya-sakhé
cid-änandaà jyotiù param api tad äsvädyam api ca
sa yatra kñérabdhiù sravati surabhibhyaç ca su-mahän

nimeçärdhäkhyo vä vrajati na hi yaträpi samayaù
116
bhaje çvetadvépaà tam aham iha golokam iti yaà

vidantas te santaù kñiti-virala-cäräù katipaye
"I worship that transcendental realm known as Çvetadvépa, where as loving

consorts the Laksmés in their unalloyed spiritual essence practice the
amorous service of the Supreme Lord, Kåñëa, as their only lover, where
every tree is a transcendental purpose tree, where the soil is made of
purpose gems, where the water is nectar, where every word is a song and
every step a dance, where the flute is the favorite attendant, where
effulgence is full of transcendental bliss, and the supreme spiritual entities
are all enjoyable and tasty, where numberless milk cows always emit
transcendental oceans of milk, and where there is eternal existence of
transcendental time, which is ever present and without past or future and
hence not subject to passing away even for the space of half a moment.
That realm is known as Goloka only to a very few self-realized souls in this
world."
117
Puruña-sükta
1)
sahasra-çérñä puruñaù / sahasräkñaù sahasra-pät
sa bhümià viçvato våtvä / atyatiñöhad daçäìgulam
"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."
2)
puruña evedaà sarvaà / yad bhütaà yac ca bhavyam
utämåtatvasyeçäno / yad annenätirohati
"The universes past, present, and future are but manifestations of the
Supreme Lord's puruña expansion. Though He is the Lord of immortality,
ha has manifested Himself as the puruña in the universe so that the jévas
may enjoy material fruits."
3)
etävän asya mahimä / ato jyäyäàç ca püruñaù
pädo 'sya viçvä bhütäni / tri-pädasyämåtaà divi
"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 quater portion, and the eternal nature in the spiritual
sky exists in three quarters portion."
4)
tripäd-ürdhva udait püruñaù / pädo 'syehäbhavat punaù
tato viçvaì vyakrämat / säçanänaçane abhi
"The three quarters portion of the Lord transcended the material portion.
The Lord in the one quarter manifested the universe agani, 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."
5)
tasmäd viräò ajäyata / viräjo adhi püruñaù
sa jäto atyaricyata / paçcäd bhümim atho puraù
118
"From the Lord, the universe was born, and in that universe was born the
viräö-puruña, the Supersoul of the universe. The the viräö-puruña grew and
produced the earth and the bodies of the jévas."
6)
yat puruñeëa haviñä / devä yajïam atanvata
vasanto asyäséd äjyaà/ gréñma idhmaù çarad dhaviù
"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."
7)
saptäsyäsan paridhayas / triù sapta samidhaù kåtäù
devä yad yajïaà tanvänä / abadhnan puruñaà paçum
"In this sacrifice the blades of kuça grass strewn around the fire [for
protection from räkñasas] were seven [the seven Vedic poetic metres], 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
viräö-puruña to offer Him as the sacrificial animals."
8)
taà yajïaà barhiñi praukñan / puruñaà jätam agrataù
tena devä ayajanta / sädhyä åñayaç ca ye
"The devatäs, sädhyas, and åñis placed the viräö-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 viräö-puruña."
9)
tasmäd yajïät sarva-hütaù / sambhåtaà påñad-äjyam
paçüàs täàç cakre väyavyän / äraëyä grämyäç ca ye
"From that sacrifice where everthing 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."
10)
tasmäd yajïät sarva-hüta / åcaù sämäni jajïire
chandäàsi jajïire tasmäd / yajus tasmäd ajäyata
119
"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 metres."
11)
tasmäd açvä ajäyanta / ye ke cobhayädataù
gävo ha jajïire tasmät / tasmäj jätä ajävayaù
"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."
12)
yat puruñaà vyadadhuù / katidhä vyakalpayan
mukhaà kim asya kau bähü / käv ürü pädä ucyete
"In the mental sacrifice, when they divided up the viräö-puruña, how many
parts did they divide? What is stated about His face, arms, thighs, and
feet?"
13)
brähmaëo 'sya mukham äséd / bähü räjanyaù kåtaù
ürü tad asya yad vaiçyaù / padbhyäà çüdro ajäyata
"The brähmaëas arose from the face [of the viräö-puruña], the kñatriyas
from His two arms, the vaiçyas from His thighs, and the çüdras from His
feet."
14)
candramä manaso jätaç / cakñoù süryo ajäyata
mukhäd indraç cägniç ca / präëäd ajäyata
"His mind gave rise to the moon; His two eyes, the sun; His breath, Väyu;
and His mouth, Indra and Agni."
15)
näbhyä äséd antarikñaà / çérñëo dyauù samavartata
padbhyäà bhümir diçaù çroträt / tathä lokän akalpayan
"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."
120
16)
vedäham etaà puruñaà mahäntam / äditya-varëaà tämasas tu päre
sarväëi rüpäëi vicintya dhéro / nämäni kåtväbhivadän yad äste
"I know that great viräö-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."
17)
dhätä purastäd yam udajahära / çakraù pravidvän pradiñaç catasraù
tam evaà vidvän amåta iha bhavati / nänyaù panthä ayanäya vidyate
"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 viräö-puruña becomes immortal even in his life on earth.
There is no other path to reach the goal of immortality."
18)
yajïena yajïam ayajanta deväs / täni dharmäëi prathamäny äsan
te ha näkaà mahimänaù sacante / yatra pürve sädhyäù santi deväù
"In this way the devatäs conducted the mental sacrifice using the viräö-
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."
121
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 pätraà 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 madhusüdana
122
“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.”
123
Mudräs
Purification and Protection mudräs

The cakra-mudrä purifies the paraphernalia to
be offered, dispelling inauspicious subtle
influences. With the right palm over the left
palm, spread the fingers out like the spokes of a
wheel. Hold this position briefly over the item
being purified.
The gäliné-mudrä is a “strainer” that purifies
liquids of imperceptible impurities. Hook the
middle three fingers of both hands into each
other while touching the little finger of the right
hand to the thumb of the left hand, and the
thumb of the right hand to the little finger of the
left hand. Hold this position briefly over the
item being purified.
The dhenu-mudrä transforms paraphernalia
into nectar. You should also use it when
invoking the Deity into viçeña-arghya or a
kalaça (pot for worship), at which time this
mudr expresses a request for the Lord to show
His blissful nature.
Invocation mudräs
The aìkuça-mudrä represents a goad for
controlling elephants. While invoking (by
mantra) the holy rivers into a container of
water, with your right middle finger touch the
surface of the water (avoid touching the water
with the fingernail). Your thumb should hold
the little and ring fingers, and your index finger
should be bent at the middle joint at a right
angle, perpendicular to the middle finger.
124
Use the béjkñara-mudrä when invoking béja

syllables, müla-mantras, or gäyatré mantras into
items for worship. With palms down, place
your left hand over your right, and use the right
thumb to count the syllables or mantras on the
joints of the fingers of the right hand, as when
chanting gäyatré.
Upacära-mudräs
Äsana-mudrä: Touch the tips of your thumbs
together, and do likewise with the tips of your
little fingers and base of your palms. Then
spread the remaining fingers upward and point
them slightly toward the Deity.
Svägata-mudrä: Touch your right thumb to the
inside of the second joint of your right middle
finger; now cup your fingers and hold your
right hand out toward the Deity with palm
upward.
Padya-mudrä: Hold your hands with palms up

and fingers slightly curved, fingertips toward
the Deity.
Arghya-mudrä: Hold your hands in the same

position as for padya-mudrä, but place the tips
of your thumbs on the second inside joint of
your middle fingers.
Äcamanéya-mudrä: (The same mudrä is

shown for äcamana and punar-äcamana.) Hold
your right hand with palm upward, with the first
three fingers bent slightly, with your thumb
toward the Deity, and with your little finger
bent down into the palm. If this is not possible,
use your thumb to hold the little finger down.
125
Madhuparka-mudrä and Vastra-mudrä:

Hold your right hand palm up and tuck your
ringfinger under your thumb. The remaining
fingers should be bent somewhat and pointed
toward the Deity.
Snänéya-mudrä: Hold your right hand palm
up, with the little finger and thumb extended
toward the Deity and the three remaining
fingers extended over the palm.
Äbharaëa-mudrä: Hold your right hand palm

up and tuck your middle finger under your
thumb. Now bend the remaining fingers slightly
and point them toward the Deity.
Gandha-mudrä: Hold your right hand palm

up, with the forefinger, middle finger, and little
fingers tucked under the thumb. The ring finger
should be bent somewhat and pointed toward
the Deity.
Puñpa-mudrä: Hold your right hand palm
down, with the forefinger, ring finger, and little
fingers tucked under the thumb. The middle
finger should be bent somewhat and pointed
toward the Deity.
Dhüpa-mudrä and Dépa-mudrä: Hold your
right hand palm up, with the thumb and
forefinger touching. The remaining fingers
should be bent somewhat and pointed toward
the Deity.
Gräsa-mudrä: Touch the tips of the five
fingers of your right hand together. Now with
your palm facing left, make a slight circular
motion with the hand (as a gesture of
encouragement to eat).
126
Upavéta-mudrä: (Although not counted as one

of the sixteen upacäras, this mudrä may be
shown for offering the upavéta to the Deity).
Hold your right hand palm up, and then bend
your little finger down and hold it with your
thumb. Now bend the first three fingers slightly
and point them toward the Deity.
Outfit colours by days of the Week
Day Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandir Other Vrindavan Temples

Monday: Red White
Tuesday: Blue Red
Wednesday: Yellow Green
Thursday: Green Yellow
Friday: Multicoulor Multicoulor
Saturday: Black or dark colors Black or dark colors
Sunday: Bright colors / opulent dress Bright colors / opulent dress
Ekädaçéi Red and silver / white Red and silver / white
Amavasya: Black and gold Black and gold
Purnima: White / silver White / silver
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare

Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare
127

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Deity Worship Manual

Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandir

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KÅIÑHËA CONSCIOUSNESS

Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg, Räman Reti,

Çré Çré Kåñëa Balaräma Mandir, ISKCON Vrndävana

His divine Grace, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda established this

In the bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu, presented by Çréla Prabhupäda, Çréla Rüpa

considers most important: 1) Sädhu-saìga,, 2) Bhägavat-çravaëa, 3) Näma-

Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare

harer näma harer näma / harer nämaiva kevalam

The essential message of the scriptures is to always remember Kåñëa and to

smartavyaù satataà viñëur / vismartavyo na jätucit

“Kåñëa is the original Lord Vishnu. He should always be remembered and

canto of the Çrémad Bhägavatam explains the importance of hearing,

çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù / smaraëaà päda-sevanam

iti puàsärpitä viñëau / bhaktiç cen nava-lakñaëä

"Hearing and chanting about the transcendental name, form, qualities,

Çréla Prabhupäda has explained the different limbs of devotional service in

Püjärés have to be exemplary brähmaëas in order to be able to properly

We humbly dedicate this booklet to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta

Hare Kåñëa - OM TAT SAT

The History of the Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandir

Çréla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda started this Kåñëa

So, by the mercy of Çréla Prabhupäda we have the opportunity to engage in

The five aspects of worship (païcäìga-püjä)

1. Abhigamana (approaching the temple). The first aìga or limb in the

(om) apavitraù pavitro vä sarvävasthäà gato ’pi vä

“Whether pure or impure, or having passed through all conditions of

2. Upädäna (gathering articles for worship). The second aìga is called

3. Yoga (establishing and becoming fixed in one’s spiritual identity). The

(oà) tad viñëoù paramaà padaà

5. Svädhyäya (cultivation of devotional service). Finally, the fifth aìga is

 serving the Vaiñëavas;

Hare Kåñëa- OM TAT SAT

With an äcamana-pätra filled with water clean both hands by sprinkling

 Chant oà keçaväya namaù and sip water from the brähma-tértha of

 Chant oà saìkarñaëäya namaù and touch your right nostril with

(oà) tad viñëoù paramaà padaà

Calling of the Holy Rivers

 Chanting oà asträya phaö, sprinkle water on the païca-pätra.

gaìge ca yamune caiva godävari sarasvati

“May water from the holy rivers Gaìga, Yamuna, Godavari,

 Now invoke the béja-syllable oà into the water, chanting it eight

Maìgalacarana - Standard Prayers

Çréla Prabhupäda Pranati:

nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C.

namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe

“Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of

Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Pranati

nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale

I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta

I offer my respectful obeisances to Çré Värñabhänavé-devé-dayita däsa

I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, the personified energy of Çré

namas te gaura-väëé-çré-mürtaye déna-täriëe

I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, who are the personified

Çréla Gaurakiçora Praëati

namo gaura-kiçoräya säkñäd-vairägya-mürtaye

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Gaura-kiçora däsa Bäbäjé Mahäräja

Çréla Bhaktivinoda Praëati

namo bhaktivinodäya sac-cid-änanda-nämine

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Saccidänanda Bhaktivinoda, who is

Çréla Jagannätha Praëati