Chapter XXXI - Description of another form of Vishnu worship

Rudra said:—O lord, do thou again describe unto me the adoration of the lord of the universe by which I may cross over the most difficult ocean of Samsara (transmigatory series.)

Hari said:—O bull-emblemed deity, hear, O great one, I will describe the adoration of the Lord Vishnu which yeilds the most auspicious emancipation and enjoyment.

Having bathed and performed the rite of Sandhya a worshipper should enter the sacrificial room. Having washed hands and feet and rinsed his mouth particularly he should assign the words of the principal mantram to his hand. Hear, hear, O Rudra, I will describe the principal mantram of the deity.

Om, Shrim, Hrim, salutation unto Shridhara Vishnu.

This is the mantram of the Lord Vishnu, the king of the celestials. It destroys all diseases, counteracts the evil influence of the planets, dissipates all sins and gives enjoyment and emancipation. A learned worshipper should then make the assignment of the limbs.

Om, Ham, salutation unto the heart. Om, Him, salutation unto the head, Svaha. Om, Hum, salutation unto the tuft of hair, Vashat. Om, Haim, salutation unto the coat of mail, Hum. Om, Haum, salutation unto the three eyes, Vaushat. Om, has, salutation unto the weapon, phat.

I have thus described unto thee the mantram of the powerful Vishnu. Having performed Nyasa (assignment of mantrams) a self-controlled worshipper should make Mudras. He should then meditate on the great Vishnu—Hari, white as the moon or a Kunda flower, holding conch-shell and discus, bearing the mystic mark of Srivatsa and the Kaustava jem and adorned with the garland of forest flowers—the great Ishvara bedecked with a jewelled necklace and a crown. Having meditated “I am Vishnu” he should perform the purificatory rite. With the mantrams yam, Ksham and Ram he should [mentally] harden and form an egg and then cut it with Pranava. Then, O bull-emblemed deity, thinking of the form as described before he should make (the worship of self with sacred sweet-scented flowers. Then invoking spirit unto all the deities seated there he should worship them with mantrams. Hear them, O Mahadeva! O Shankara.

O ye deities! come to the seat of Vishnu. Om, salutatation unto the entire family of Achyuta. Om, salutation unto Dhatra. Om, salutation unto Vidhatra. Om, salutation unto the Ganges. Om, salutation unto Yamuna. Om, salutation unto Sankha Nidhi. Om, salutation unto the Nidhi, lotus. Om, salutation unto Chanda. Om, salutation unto Prachanda. Om, salutation unto the presiding goddess of the gate. Om, salutation unto the Adhara Sakti. Om, salutation unto the tortoise. Om, salutation unto Ananta. Om, salutation unto Shri. Om, salutation unto Dharma. Om, salutation unto knowledge. Om, salutation unto the spirit of disassociation from the world. Om, salutation unto religion. Om, salutation unto worldliness. Om salutation unto poverty. Om, salutation unto Sattva. Om, salutation unto Rajas. Om, salutation unto Tamas. Om, salutation unto Skanda. Om, salutation unto Nila. Om, salutation unto the lotus. Om, salutation unto the solar disc. Om, salutation unto the lunar disc. Om, salutation unto the orb of fire. Om, salutation unto Vinata. Om, salutation unto Utkarshini. Om, salutation unto knowledge. Om, salutation unto action. Om, salutation unto disease. Om, salutation unto Prarha. Om, salutation unto Satya. Om, salutation unto Ishana. Om, salutation unto Anugraha.

With these mantrams and scented flowers these deities should be adored. Thereupon having worshipped Vishnu, the author of creation and destruction and invoked his spirit in the mystic diagram, O Rudra, the worshipper should worship the great Ishvara. O Rudra, this religions rite of Vishnu destroys all sins. He should first of all make assignment of mantrams in self and the deity. He should then show Mudra and afterwards offer Arghya. Then he should bathe the deity and next offer raiments and water for rinsing the mouth. Next he should present scented flowers, incense, lights and charu. Then circumambulating the idol and reciting the name he should dedicate it to him. A worshipper should also adore his limbs with other mantrams. Know this to be the principal mantram of the deity. Hear, O three-eyed deity, I will now describe the other mantrams.

Om, Ham, salutation unto the heart. Om, Him, salutation unto the head. Om, Hum, salutation unto the tuft of hair. Om, Haim, salutation unto the coat of mail. Om, Haum, salutation unto the three eyes. Om, Has, salutation unto the weapon. Om, salutation unto Shri. Om, salutation unto the conch-shell. Om, salutation unto the lotus. Om, salutation unto the discus. Om, salutation unto the club. Om, salutation unto the mystic mark Srivatsa. Om, salutation unto the jewel Kaustava. Om, salutation unto the garland of forest flowers. Om, salutation unto the yellow raiment. Om, salutation unto the sword. Om, salutation unto the mace. Om, salutation unto the noose. Om salutation unto the hook. Om, salutation unto the Shranga bow. Om, salutation unto the arrow. Om, salutation unto Brahma. Om, salutation unto Narada. Om, salutation unto all the Siddhas. Om salutation unto Bhagavan. Om, salutation unto the preceptor. Om, salutation unto the great preceptor. Om, salutation unto Indra, the king of the celestials, his carrier and entire family. Om, salutation unto Agni, the king of fire, his carrier and the entire family. Om, salutation unto Yama, the king of the dead, his carrier and the entire family. Om, salutation unto Nirhiti, the king of Rakshas, his carrier and the entire family. Om, salutation unto Varuna, the king of waters, his carrier and the entire family. Om, salutation unto Vayu, the king of vital airs, his carrier -and the entire family. Om, salutation unto Ishana, the king of learning, his carrier and the entire family. Om, salutation unto Ananta, the king of serpents, his carrier and the entire family. Om, salutation unto Brahma, the lord of creation, his carrier and the entire family. Om, unto thunder-bolt, Hum, phat, salutation. Om, unto Sakti, hum, phat, salutation. Om, unto rod, hum, phat, salutation. Om unto the sword, hum, phat, salutation. Om, unto the noose, hum, phat, salutation. Om unto the standard, hum, phat, salutation. Om, unto the club, hljm, phat, salutation. Om unto the trident, hum, phat, salutation. Om, unto the discus, hum, phat, salutation. Om, Vaum, salutation unto Vishvaksena.

With these mantrams, O Mahadeva, his attendants and parapharnalia should be adored by men. Having adored the great Vishnu, identical with Brahman he should chant the glories of the great undecaying Atman, with the following hymn.

Salutation unto the powerful lord Vishnu, the god of gods. Salutation unto Vishnu, unto Vasudeva, the author of creation. Salutation unto Grasishnu who lies at the time of universal dissolution. Salutation unto the lord of celestials and sacrifice. Salutation unto Vishnu, the lord of Munis and Yakshas. Salutation unto the great Jishnu, the lord of all gods and present every where. Salutation again and again unto the lord of all adored of Brahma, Rudra and Indra. Salutation unto the lord of the world Who encompasses the well-being of all creatures, who protects all, who creates aH, who destroys the wicked, who gives boons, who is of a quiescent soul, who is worthy of adoration, who is worthy of taking refuge with, who is manifest in his Own form and who gives religious profit, worldly profit and desire.

Having thus chanted his glories the worshipper should meditate on the undecaying Brahman in his heart and should thus adore Vishnu, O Shankara, with the principal mantram. The man, who recites this principal mantram, goes to Hari. O Rudra, I have thus described unto thee, the most excellent theme of Vishnu, mysterious, highly secret and yeilding emancipation and enjoyment. The learned person, devoted to Vishnu, who reads this, listens to it or makes others listen to it, goes to the region of Vishnu.