Chapter 35 - The Procedure of Preserving the Chariot

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Jaimini said:

1-3. Henceforth I shall describe the procedure of protecting the chariot, whereby terrible goblins, ghosts and others as well as hideous supernatural beings do not harm the chariots. O sages, (I shall tell you) what will be approved by you all.

Everyday the devotee should worship Kṛṣṇa and other deities stationed on the flags with sweet-smelling flowers, raw rice-grains, wreaths, excellent offerings and services, songs, dances etc. as well as incense, lamps and food-offerings.

4. Oblation should be offered to the Guardians of the Quarters everyday with rice cooked in milk. Excellent oblations should be offered to goblins, ghosts and evil spirits.

5. With great efforts (and care) those chariots should be kept in a condition fit for the riding (of the deities). It should be seen that no man or domestic animal climbs on them. Particularly birds whose habitation is inauspicious should not be allowed to occupy them.

6-11. On the eighth day the chariots should be kept facing the South. The devotee should adorn (the deities and the chariots) with cloths, wreaths, flags, chowries etc. On the morning of the ninth day the Devas should be installed in them luxuriously.

This South-facing journey of Viṣṇu is very difficult to be accomplished. That journey (procession) should be carried out with great effort, devotion and faith.

Just as the previous (procession), so also this—both of these yield salvation. Both these—the journey (procession) and re-entry of the Lord, are considered to constitute one festival alone.

Those who are conversant with tradition and mythology say that this journey is of nine days’ duration. This three-limbed (three-staged) journey (procession)^[1] should be attended to in full. To those who do so, the great festival of the Great Altar will yield complete benefit.

12. Those who watch Kṭṣṇa while returning from the Guṇḍicā Pavilion with face to the South and seated in the chariot along with Balarāma and Subhadrā, attain liberation.

13. That kind of benefit derived by those who witness the splendid Lords Rāma and others seated in the chariot with their faces to the North, is also obtained by those who see them (Rāma and others) facing the South.

14. If anyone sees (the Lord) going on foot or in the chariot facing the South, his birth is blessed, for at every step he obtains the merit of a horse-sacrifice.

15. The devotee should attend to the Lord in front with eulogies, prostrations, showers of flowers, different kinds of dances, offerings and services with fans, umbrellas, chowries and presents of various kinds.

16-17. Those who see Hṛṣīkeśa, the Lord who is like the wish-yielding Kalpa tree, who grants salvation to men merely by his sight, along with Subhadrā and Balarāma coming to Nīla mountain seated in the chariot and facing the South, are noble souls. They go to Hari’s abode, Vaikuṇṭha.

18-20. While Hari returns to his palace on Mount Nīla with his face to the South, those devout believers who eulogize him and prostrate themselves before him who is the abode of all the Tīrthas and is like a wish-yielding tree donating (anything and) everything, do not return to this world (after death). They get established in Brahmā’s region.

21. O sages, this great festival of the Great Altar has been described to you. By glorifying this a man becomes free from impurities (and sins).

22. The man who gets up early in the morning and recites this or listens to this or retains this in his memory, shall go to the world of Śakra.

23-24. If anyone makes a replica or a picture of Hari, places it on the chariot and carries out this procession with faith and devotion, that man shall obtain the merit of the festival of Guṇḍicā by the favour of Viṣṇu. He then goes to the abode of Vaikuṇṭha. There is no doubt about this.

25-26. A person should perform this Yātrā (procession) in accordance with his affluence, devotion and faith. By sponsoring or witnessing this one ceases to be afflicted and worried. This holy and great secret has been revealed by Brahma.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Tryavayavā Yātrā: The procession of three limbs i.e. stages, viz. (1) Journey from the temple of Guṇḍicā; (2) Return journey from Guṇḍicā to Nīlācala; (3) The visit of Dakṣiṇāmūrti (i.e. turning the chariots to the South).