Chapter 23 - Mode of performing worship

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Nārada said:

1-2. I will now describe the mode of worship, O brahmins! by doing which one gets all (objects of life). Having washed feet, sipping waters, and controlling his speech and having guarded (himself like this), facing the east, and having seated in the svastika or padmāsana or other posture (one has to meditate) on (the syllable) yam at the centre of the navel, having tawny colour and of the form of terrible wind.

3. Then meditating on the syllable kṣaum of abundant lustre at the centre of the heart, burn down all impurities from the body.

4-5. One has to burn the impurities with the flames surging upwards and downwards. One has to meditate on the (mantra) of the shape of the moon situated in the sky. An intelligent person has to sprinkle his own body with the nectar-like waters pervading the lotus in the heart through (the artery) suṣumnā and passing through the nerves.

6. Having purified materials (for worship) one has to assign (them). Then (one has) to purify hands as well as implements. Commencing with the thumb of the right hand, (the fingers) of the two hands are made to rest on the principal limbs.

7-8. (Then) with sixty-two mantras (sacred syllables) one has to assign to the body the twelve limbs—heart, head, tuft of hair, armour, weapons, eyes, belly, hinder part, arms, thighs, knees and feet. Having offered the mudrā (special posture of the arms and body), one has to meditate on Viṣṇu, and having repeated (his name) one hundred and eight times, one has to worship him.

9. Having placed the water-jar on the left and the materials for worship on the right and having washed (them) with the implements and water offerings, they are placed together with flowers and scents.

10-11. Having sprinkled the radiant (form) of consciousness and omnipresence with waters (purified) by the repetition (of the mantra of the lord) eight times (and) having sprinkled the hand with mantra ending with phaṭ and then having meditated on Hari, with his face directed towards the (southeast) direction (presided over by) Agni, (one has to pray) for virtue, knowledge, detachment, (and) supremacy. (Facing) the east (and other directions), (one has to get rid) of his sins and physical impurities remaining in yogic postures.

12. (Remaining) in Kūrma (tortoise) posture, one should adore Ananta, Yama, the solar and other luminous regions and other planets (occupying) the filament and pericarp (of the lotus).

13-14. Having first meditated (on them) in one’s heart and having invoked and worshipped in a circle, (offerings) of waters of respect, waters for washing feet, waters for rinsing, madhuparka^[1] (respectful offering), bath, cloth, sacred thread, scents, flowers, incense, lamp and eatables (are made) (along) with the formula (known as) Puṇḍarīkākṣa.

15. First, one has to worship the limbs and then Brahmā at the doorway in the eastern (direction), the disc and the club in the southern (direction); the conch, and the bow have to be assigned in the corner (governed by) the moon.

16. One should assign the quiver and sword to the left and right side of the deity, the armour and nourishment on the left, and the prosperity on the right in front.

17. One has to worship with respective sacred syllables, the garland of wild-flowers, (the mark) śrīvatsa, (the gem) kaustubha and the presiding deities of the quarters outside and all (the attendant gods) of Viṣṇu as well either partially or wholly.

18-19: One has to worship with the limbs with the sacred syllables partially or wholly. After having repeated (the sacred syllables), doing circumambulation and adoration and offering waters of adoration and the offerings, one has to assign in the heart and after having meditated, “I am the brahman and Hari”, (one has to repeat the words) ‘come’ used in (the ceremony of) invocation and “forgive me” in dismissal (at the conclusion).

20. Having worshipped in this manner with the mantra of eight letters (one becomes eligible) to get liberation. The (mode of) worship of one form (of a deity) has been described. Listen to the (mode of) worship in the structure of nine (apartments).

21-23. Having assigned Vāsudeva, Balarāma) and others to the two thumbs and then at first to the fingers, then to the body, head, forehead, face, heart, navel, organ of generation, knees, (and) between the feet, one has to worship in order, single seat of the deity consisting of nine parts and then the nine seats and of the nine forms consisting of nine parts in nine lotuses as before. Then in the midst of the lotus one has to worship Vāsudeva.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

madhuparka consists of curd, clarified butter, water, honey and sandal-paste.