Sutra-upasana Vaishnava-puja-vidhi

[Paramananda das]

Sutra-upasana Vaishnava-puja-vidhi

by Shrila Rupa Gosvami

-1-

First one must remember Radha and Krishna (as in the standard dhyana texts). Sitting on the asana, one should contemplate his siddha-deha. Then offer pranama to the guru-parampara with the mantras: shri-gurubhyo nama·, shri-parama-gurubhyo nama·, shri-paratpara-gurubhyo nama·.

-2-

The conchshell is consecrated in the following manner. Having poured water into the conchshell, invoke the presence of holy places with the mantra:

gange ca yamunacaivagodavari sarasvatinarmade sindhu kaverijale 'smin sannidhim kuru

By this mantra the conchshell is purified. Show the following mudras over the conchshell: nirajana, shankha and dhenu. Then chant the mula-mantra three times over the conchshell. Pick up the bell with the left hand while saying : jagad-ghurnatmane nama·. Then, while ringing the bell, recite Krishna’s mula mantra and offer Him pushpanjali.

-3-

Now meditate on Vrindavana:

“The twelve forests of Vrindavana are Bhadravana, Shrivana, Lohavana, Bhandiravana, Mahavana, Talavana, Khadiravana, Bahulavana, Kumuda-vana, Kamavana, Madhuvana and Vrindavana. Seven are on the western flank of the Yamuna and on the eastern flank are the five most confidential forests.”

There is a bower (nikunja) surrounded by the Yamuna. Within it is a transcendental garden. In its center is a desire tree. Under that tree is a golden platform. On it stands a pavilion bedecked with jewels. Within it is the great yoga-pitha. On that yoga-pitha is a lotus studded with jewels. Envision Radha and Krishna on the pericarp of that lotus. In the Vidagdha-madhava is found the following meditation:

“Vrindavana is covered with transcendental creepers. Their ends are adorned with flowers. Those creepers are beautified by their flowers and by the honeybees. As the honeybees busy themselves drinking nectar from the flowers, their humming produces a captivating song. I meditate on Shri Shri Radha Govindadeva, who sit upon an effulgent throne underneath a desire tree in a temple of jewels in Vrindavana. They are being served by their most confidential associates, the gopis.”

-4-

Now offer pushpanjali three times with the mula-mantra. Then meditate on Krishna:

phullendivara-kantim indu-vadanam barhavatamsam priyamshrivatsankam udara-kaustubha-dharam pitambaram sundaramgopinam nayanotpalarcita-tanum go-gopa-sanghavritamgovindam kala-venu-vadana-karam divyanga-bhusham bhaje

“He is as splendid as a blue lotus flower and His face resembles the moon. He looks so elegant with a peacock feather in His hair. He is beautified by the mark of shrivatsa on His and wears the magnificent kaustubha gem. His bright yellow silken garments make Him look very beautiful. He is worshiped by the lotus eyes of the gopis. He is always surrounded by cows and cowherd boys. He is accustomed to play soft notes on His bamboo flute. I worship that Govinda who is the transcendental gem among bodily forms.”



- 5 -



Chant the mula-mantra three times. Again offer pushpanjali three times. Then meditate on Shri Radha as situated to the left of Shri Krishna:



“Radha’s complexion is as lustrous as molten gold. In Her blackish hair tinged with blue She wears garlands of jasmine flowers. Her face is as lovely as the Autumn moon. Her eyes are always shifting like a dancing cakori bird. By the smiling beams from Her countinence She gives life to the whole world. She is adorned with precious jewels and a lovely pearl necklace hangs on Her breast. She is dressed in a blue skirt and adorned with many tinkling bells....She wears anklets made of many different jewels. Her enchanting body is most superb. She is the most beautiful of all women. She always stays at Krishna's side. She is always perturbed by Her unalloyed love for Shri Krishna. She is always submerged in the mellows of ecstasy. Let me take shelter of that fair maiden in Vrindavana."



- 6 -



Now chant Radha's mula-mantra three times and again offer puspanjali three times. Then show the mudras for Krishna's avahana, and so forth: avahana, samsthapana, sannidhapana, sakali-karana, avagunthana, amrti-karana and parami-karana. Touch the limbs of the Deity while chanting the mua-mantra (anga-nyasa). Then say: Shri-Krishna atragaccha (Shri Krishna, please come here), Shri-Krishna iha tistha (Shri Krishna, stay here), Shri-Krishna iha sannihito bhava (Shri Krishna, be firmly present), Shri-Krishnaiha sarvangam darsaya (Shri Krishna, show all Your limbs), Shri-Krishna tvam gopayami (Shri Krishna, I will protect You), Shri-Krishna amrtamayo 'si (Shri Krishna, You are full of bliss), Shri-Krishna paramo 'si (Shri Krishna, You are supermost). While reciting these mantras show the appropriated mudras.



- 7 -



Afterwards offer puspanjali three times. Then offer acamana three times. Next offer golden necklaces, anklets and other ornaments. Sitting Radha and Krishna on Their own place, do avarana-puja. (This is done as follows). Using the mantra "lalitadi-asta-sakhibhyo nama·," offer acamana, bath, clothes, ornaments and all other paraphernalia mentally.

Lalita is on the north, Vishakha on the northeast, Citra on the east, Campakalata on the southeast, Tungavidya on the south, Indulekha on the southwest, Rangadevi on the west and Sudevi on the northwest. One should worship these eight sakhis with their appropriate mantras at their places around Radha and Krishna: shri-lalitayai nama·, shri-vishakhayai nama·, shri-campakalatayai nama·, shri-citrayai nama·, shri-tunga-vidyayai nama·, shrindulekhayai nama·, shri-sudevyai nama·, shri-rangadevyai nama·.



- 8 -



The services which the eight sakhis render Radha and Krishna are as follows: Lalita gives Them tambula, Vishakha offers sandalwood paste, Campakalata—camara, Citra—cloth, Tungavidya—music, Indulekha—dance, Sudevi—water, Rangadevi—perfume and cosmetics.



- 9 -



After that, envision the eight manjaris in the eight corners. Offer them all the ingredients of worship as was done with the sakhis. Their mantras are: east—shri-lavanga-manjaryai nama·, southeast—shri-rupa-manjaryai nama·, south—shri-rati-manjaryai nama·, southwest—shri-guna-manjaryai nama·, west—shri-rasa-manjaryai nama·, northwest—shri-manjulali-manjaryai nama·, north—shri-vilasa-manjaryai nama·, northeast—shri-kasturi-manjaryai nama·.

Then worship the following maidens: east—gopala-kanyayai nama·, south—sruti-kanyayai nama·, west—muni-kanyayai nama·, norht—deva-kanyayai nama·.



- 10 -



Having set sandalwood paste, flowers, incense, lamp and naivedya in front of Shri Krishna, show the following mudras: shrivatsa, kaustubha, venu, varada, vilva and mala. Afterwards, while reciting the mula-mantra and ring a bell, offer incense and a lamp. Then offer different varieties of sweetmeats. Sprinkle a little water from a conchshell over the naivedya and then top it with a tulasi manjari. Show the avagunthana and dhenu mudras over the naivedya. Then, while chanting the mula-mantra, touch the plate. Offer puspanjali three times to Shri Krishna and then offer Him the naivedya while reciting the mula-mantra. While the Lord is eating, recite: pranaya svaha, panaya svaha, vyanaya svaha, udanaya svaha, samanaya svaha.

Offer puspanjali to Shri Radha with the mula-mantra. Go outside that place an wait a short time. Then return ans serve the Lord and His devotees with the following mantras:



shri-krishnaya acamanam nama·

shri-radhayai acamanam nama·

lalitadi asta-sakhibhyo naivedyam nama·

shri-radhika-parivarebhyo naivedyam nama·



Next offer puspanjali eight times with the following mantras:



1. shri-radha-damodarabhyam nama·

2. shri-radha-madhavabhyam nama·

3. shri-vrsabhanu-kisori-gopendra-nandanabhyam nama·

4. shri-govinda-priya-sakhi-gandharvabhyam nama·

5. shri-kunja-nagari-nagarabhyam nama·

6. shri-gosta-kisori-kisorabhyam nama·

7. shri-Vrindavanadhipabhyam nama·

8. shri-Krishna-vallabhabhyam nama·.



- 11 -



After that, offer Radha and Krishna sandalwood paste, flowers, incense, lamps, tambula, etc. Then offer aratrika. In the Brahmanda Purana it is stated: "One should offer aratrika to Krishna in this way. First offer four times to the feet, twice to the navel, once to the face, seven times to the whole body. Simply by beholding the beautiful lotus face of Shri Krishna during aratrika frees one from the sin of killing thousands of brahmanas or from that of incest."



- 12 -



Sprinkle water form the conchshell over the aratrika paraphernalia, toss a tulasi manjari over it and do the avagunthana and dhenu mudras. Then offer Radha and Krishna puspanjali three times. Then perform aratrika, waving the the articles like the fluttering of a dove, from the Lord's eyes to all twelve parts of His body. Wave a conchshell with water over Radha and Krishna and then sprinkle some of that water on one's own body and on those outside.



Thus ends the book entitled "Sutra-upasana Vaishnava-puja-vidhi" by Shrila Rupa Gosvami.



Offer puspanjali eight times with the following mantras:



1. shri-radha-damodarabhyam nama·

2. shri-radha-madhavabhyam nama·

3. shri-vrsabhanu-kisori-

gopendra-nandanabhyam nama·

4.shri-govinda-priya-sakhi-gandharvabhyam nama·

5. shri-kunja-nagari-nagarabhyam nama·

6. shri-gosta-kisori-kisorabhyam nama·

7. shri-vrindavanadhipabhyam nama·

8. shri-krishna-vallabhabhyam nama·.