Chapter XXXII - Adoration of the five fundamental principles of the universe

Maheshvara said:—O holder of conch-shell, discus and club, do thou describe the adoration of five Tattvas^[1] by knowing which discriminately a man attains to the most exalted station.

Hari said:—O Shankara! O thou of good vows! I will describe the adoration of five Tattvas, which yeilds auspiciousness and is itself auspicious, heavenly, secret, great and yeilds all desired-for objects. Do thou listen to this most sacred subject, O Mahadeva, which destroys Kali.

Vasudeva is one, undecaying, peaceful, the great soul, eternal, unstained. O god, by his Maya (illusive power) Hari exists in five forms, viz. as Vishnu who favours the creation and destroys the wicked, as Vasudeva, Sangkarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. In his own form Narayana exists as five. O bull-emblemed deity, listen to the mantrams expressive of these five forms.

Om, am, salutation unto Vasudeva. Om, am, salutation unto Sankarshana. Om, am, salutation unto Pradyumna. Om, salutation unto Aniruddha. Om, salutation unto Narayana.

I have thus related the five mantrams expressive of the five deities. They are destructive of all sins and diseases and are holy. I will now describe the most auspicious adoration of the five Tattvas—the religious prescription and the mantras involved therein, O Shankara.

A worshipper should first of all bathe and then perform the Sandhya rite. Then entering the temple of worship he should wash his head, rinse his mouth and then sit in a baddha. posture. Then with the mantram “Am, Kshraum, Ram” the purificatory rite of all the articles should be performed. Then hardening the ordinary article he should make an egg. And then dividing it he should meditate on the great Ishvara in it—Vasudeva, the lord of the universe clad in a silk raiment, effulgent like athousand suns and wearing shining Kundalas. Then in the lotus of the heart he should meditate on the great Ishvara. Then he should meditate on the lordly deity Sangkarshana, his own self, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Narayana and all the celestials headed by Indra, all originating from the god of gods. Then he should make assignment of two hands. Then with the mantrams for limbs he should perform the Anganyasa called Vyapaka, O Mahadeva. Listen to these mantrams, O thou of firm vows. Om, am, salutation unto the heart. Om, Im, salutation unto the head. Om, um, salutation unto the tuft of hair. Om, Em, salutation unto the coat of mail. Om, Oum, salutation unto the three eyes. Om, as, salutation unto the weapon, phat.

Om, salutation unto the entire family of Achyuta. Om, salutation unto Dhatri. Om salutation unto Vidhatri. Om, salutation unto the Adhara Sakti. Om, salutation unto the tortoise. Om, salutation unto Ananta. Om, salutation unto the earth. Om, salutation unto knowledge. Om, salutation unto the spirit of disassociation from the world. Om, salutation unto prosperity. Om, salutation unto irreligion. Om, salutation unto ignorance. Om, salutation unto poverty. Om, salutation unto the solar disc. Om, salutation unto the lunar disc. Om, salutation unto the orb of fire. Om, salutation unto Vasudeva, the great Brahman, Shiva in the form of fire, extending all over, the presiding lord of all the celestials. Om, salutation unto Panchajanya. Om, salutation unto Sudarshana. Om, salutation unto the club. Om, salutation unto the lotus. Om, salutation unto Shri. Om, salutation unto Kriya (action). Om, salutation unto Pushti (nourishment). Om, salutation unto Sakti (energy). Om, salutation unto Priti (affection). Om, salutation unto Indra. Om, salutation unto Agni. Om, salutation unto Yama. Om, salutation unto Nairita. Om, salutation unto Varuna. Om, salutation unto Vayu. Om, salutation unto Ishana. Om, salutation unto Ananta. Om, salutation unto Brahma. Om, salutation unto Vishvaksena. Om, salutation unto the lotus.

O Rudra! I have thus described to thee all the mantrams. The adoration should be offered in the mystic diagram of Sastika and others. Having made the assignment of limbs the worshipper should show all the Mudras. Having meditated as the self, Vasudeva and the Great Ishvara a man should first worship the seat and then invoke the spirit. O bull-emblemed deity, Dhatri and Vidhatri should be adored in the door. O Shankara, before the image of Vasudeva a person should adore that of Garuda. He should adore in the middle of the diagram [all his parapharnalia] beginning with the conch-shell and ending with the lotus. In the east [the presiding gods of] religion, knowledge, the spirit of disassociation from the world and prosperity [should be adored.] In the south-east pitha corners he should adore the four deities of irreligion &c. In the petals of the eastern side Sangkarshana and other deities should be adored. A person should adore the Lord Vasudeva in the pericarp. In the north-east and other corners Panchajanya and other weapons should be adored. O Shankara, on the eastern side of the god of gods all his Saktis should be adored. In the eastern and other sides Indra and other guardian deities of the world should be adored. A good worshipper should adore the serpent downwards and Brahman upwards. O Shankara, thou shouldst thus learn of the positions in the mystic diagram. O Shankara, having invoked the spirit of the deity in the mystic diagram, performed Nyasa and displayed Mudras a worshipper should dedicate, with the principal mantram, water for washing feet and other ingredients, He should then, O Shankara, bathe him, offer raiment, water for rinsing mouth, salutation, and circumambulation. Then he should recite the name with the principal mantram and dedicate it. Then recollecting Vasudeva he should recite afterwards the following hymn.

Om, salutation unto Vasudeva. Salutation unto Sangkarshana. Salutation unto the first deity Pradyumna. Salutation unto Aniruddha. Salutation unto Narayana. Salutation unto the lord of men. Salutation unto him who is adored by men, whose glories are described and sung by them, and who gives boons. Salutation unto the ancient who is without beginning and destruction. Salutation unto the lord of Brahma who is the agent of creation and destruction. Salutation unto him who is known in’ the Vedas and who is the holder of conch-shell and discus. Salutation unto the lord of celestials who saves all from the sins of Kali. Salutation unto him who cuts the tree of Samsara (transmigatory series) and snaps Maya (illusion). Salutation unto him of manifold forms, who is identical with all the sacred shrines and the three gunas (qualities). Salutation unto him of the form of Brahma and Vishnu, who is the giver of salvation. Salutation unto the road of emancipation, unto religion and renunciation. Salutation unto him identical with Para Brahman and who gives all desired for objects. Do thou save me who am immersed in the dreadful deep of Samsara. O lord of celestials! O lord of the universe! save thee there is no other saviour. I seek refuge with thee, O Vishnu! O thou omnipresent! By giving me the lamp of knowledge, do thou make me freed of ignorance.

This is the hymn of the king of gods destructive of all sorts of afflictions. Having chanted his glories with other Vedic hymns, O blue-throated deity! a man should meditate in his heart on Vishnu with the five Tattvas. Afterwards he should throw away the image of the deity. Thus, O Shankara, the most excellent adoration of Vasudeva is described which yields all desired for objects. By offering this adoration a man becomes successful in all his objects. The man, who reads this adoration, of the five Tattvas, who listens to it or makes others listen to it, repairs to the region of Vishnu.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Five Tantrik ingredients worship.