Chapter 4 - Worshipping the Conch

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Brahmā said:

1. If one marks oneself with red hot discus and gets initiated, O Keśava, tell me, of what benefit are garlands of seeds of lotus and of Tulasī twigs,

Śrī Bhagavān said:

2. The Brāhmaṇa who wears the garland of Tulasī twigs undoubtedly attains me, even if he is unclean and devoid of good conduct.^[1]

3. The man on whose body the garland made of Dhātrī fruits or Tulasī twigs is visible is indeed a Bhāgavata (devotee of the Lord).

4. He who wears the garland of Tulasī leaves particularly the ones taken off from me (i.e. my idol), is worthy of being bowed to even by the heaven-dwellers.

5. The garland made of Tulasī leaves or of Dhātrī fruits grants salvation even to sinners. All the mote so in the case of my devotees who serve me.

6. He who wears the garland of Tulasī leaves (worn by me) attains the merit of ten horse-sacrifices for every leaf (of it).

7. If a man wears a garland of Tulasī twigs, O dear one, I grant him the merit arising from (visit to the holy town) Dvārakā everyday.

8. After dedicating it to me with devotion, if a man wears a garland of Tulasī twigs devoutly, he has no sin at all.

9. lam always pleased with him who wears a garland of Tulasī twigs. He is (as dear to me) as (my) excellent vital air. It is not necessary that he should perform any expiatory rite. There is nothing unclean or polluted in his body.

10. He in whose body Tulasī twigs form ornaments for the head, arms and hands, is dear to me.

11. One should do meritorious acts after adorning oneself with a garland of Tulasī twigs. The auspicious rites of Manes and Devas (performed by him) shall have crores of times the benefit.

12. On seeing a garland of Talasī twigs, the messengers of Yama disappear from far like a leaf shaken off by wind.

13. In Kali Yuga, sin does not contaminate that house where a Tulasī twig or leaf, whether dry or green, is present.

14. If anyone, embellished with a garland of Tulasī twigs, moves about on the earth, he will not see bad dreams or ill omens or any danger from enemies.

15. If rationalists or heretics with sinful intentions refuse to wear a garland (of Tulasī), they will never return from hell. They will be burnt by the fire of my anger.

16. Hence a garland made of Tulasī twigs, seeds of lotus or Dhātrī fruits should be worn carefully and devoutly. It bestows excellent merit.

17. Hence a devotee should have the Ūrdhvapuṇḍra, and the imprints of conch etc. With Darbha grass in his hands he should remember me and perform Sandhyā prayers etc. at the root of a Tulasī plant.

18. A devotee who has concluded the Sandhyā prayers etc., should worship me thereafter. If the preceptor is present there, he should first go to him and bow down to him.

19. After giving him something as present, he should joyfully prostrate himself before him. After performing the Ācamana rite, he should enter the pavilion of worship.

20. After occupying a beautiful seat with deerskin or Kuśa grass spread over it, he should sit properly in the posture of “Lotus”.^[2] He should perform the rite of Bhūtaśuddhi (purification of the elements).

21. Reciting the Mantra and subduing the sense-organs, he should petform three Prāṇāyāmas (holding the breath) facing the; North. By means of the sun of perfect knowledge he should cause the excellent lotus of the heart to bloom.

22. On the pericarp (of that lotus) he should fix the Sun, the Moon and Fire The devotee of Viṣṇu should conceive the three in that which consists of three (petals). Above them he should place a pedestal studded with different kinds of jewels.

23. On it he should fix the lotus of eight petals each representing the eight Aiśvaryas^[3] (super-human excellences) of the Lord. The Lotus consists of the (eight) syllables of the Mantra (oṃ na mo nā rā ya ṇā ya). The lotus is soft, glossy and has the splendour of the morning sun.

24-28. Then he should meditate on me, the Lord (comfortably) seated thereon, having four arms, holding the great lotus, conch, discus and iron club. The Lord resembles a crore of moons. His eyes are as large as the petals of a lotus. He is characterized by all good features (or symbols ön the body). Śrīvatsā and Kaustubha shine on his chest. He is dressed in yellow robes. He is endowed with wonderful ornaments. He is embellished with divine decorative things. His body is smeared with divine sandal-paste. He appears splendid with divine flowers. He is adorned with garlands of tender leaves of Tulasī and of sylvan flowers. He shines with the splendour resembling that of a crore of rising suns. His body is embraced by the divine Goddess Śrī who has all good characteristics. He is auspicious. After meditating thus, he should recite the Mantra with great concentration and purity.

29-32. He should repeat the Mantra a thousand or hundred times, according to his capacity. After doing the worship mentally, he should do it in accordance with the injunctions.

As the convention^[4] requires, he should place the conch in front of me. The vessel filled with scented water, Dūrvā sprouts and flowers should be placed by the preceptors to the right of sandal-paste and flowers. The water-pot should be placed on the left side. It should be sanctified with a cloth and be well-scented. The bell should be placed in front of the and the lamps be placed in the (different) directions. The other materials too should be plated in their proper positions.

33. Four vessels should be placed in front of me for keeping Arghya, Pādya, Ācamanīya and Madhuparka.

34. O Four-faced One, white mustard, raw rice grains, flowers, Kuśa grass, gingelly seeds, sandal-paste, fruits and barley grains should be kept in the vessel for Arghya.

35. For my satisfaction, the preceptor should place Dūrvā grass, Viṣṇupadī (Gaṅgā water), Śyāmā and lotus in the vessel for Pādya, O son.

36. In the Vessel for Ācamanīya he should, with great faith, place, O son, Kaṅkola, clove and nutmeg.

37. The worshipper should, with great faith, place cow’s milk, curds, honey, ghee and sugar-candy in the vessel for Madhuparka.

38. When the above-mentioned articles are not available, an expert in the procedure of worship should always place leaves and flowers with the idea that they are the articles required (in the procedure).

39. Thereafter, he should perform the Nyāsa of the hand as well as that of the limbs. He should, in accordance with the convention, perform the Nyāsa rite on five or six limbs.

40. I Should be remembered. The devotee should consider himself on a par with me. At the beginning of the worship, O Four-faced One, the man should recite the auspicious Mantras.

41. Then he should worship Pāñcajanya, my favourite conch. O dear one, by worshipping it he causes great delight unto me. During the worship of the Śaṅkha, O dear one, he should recite the following mantras:

42. “O Pāñcajanya, formerly you were born of the ocean. You have been held by Viṣṇu in his hand. You have been made by all the Devas. Obeisance to you.

43. On account of your sound, clouds and Suras and Asuras become afraid. Obeisance to you, O Pāñcajanya of the bright lustre of ten thousand moons.

44. The foetuses of the womenfolk of demons perish in thousands in the nether worlds, O Pāñcajanya. Obeisance to you.”

45. Merely at the sight of the conch sins perish like mist disappearing at sunrise. All the more so when it is touched.

46. If the Vaiṣṇava devotee bows to and holds in his hand the conch and bathes me repeating these Mantras devoutly, his merit is infinite.

47. Thereafter he should anoint the idol with well-perfumed oil and nibbing and cleansing etc. should be done by means of sandal-paste and musk.

48. I should be bathed with the perfumed water of great holiness along with mantras. Then, O dear one, he should offer Arghya, Pādya, Ācamanīyaka and Madhuparka. Thereafter, he should offer all the requisite services.

49-50. The Pīṭha (Pedestal) should be adorned with divine garments and ornaments in accordance with the injunctions. Then he should worship the pedestal with flowers.

After placing the Lord there, garments, ornaments, scents etc. should be devotedly offered to me. Then he should duly offer Naivedya of various kinds along with milk-pudding and sweet pie. It should be offered devoutly along with camphor and betel leaves.

51-52. He should men earnestly offer fragrant flowers with devotion. Incense with ten substances and lamps with eight charming ancillaries should be offered. He should then circumambulate and bow down. Then with great respect he should eulogize with hymns. After laying down the Lord in the cot, he should offer the auspicious Arghya.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

VV 2-16 describe the efficacy of wearing garlands of Tulasī and Dhātrī.

[2]:

VV 20 ff describe the procedure of Viṣṇu-worship which is strongly influenced by Āgamas.

[3]:

The siddhis in Yogaśāstra such as aṇimā, laghimā etc. are named here aiśvaryas. MW 234C gives another list of such supreme powers such as of vision, audition, cogitation, discrimination, omniscience and active powers like swiftness of thought, power of assuming forms at will, faculty of expatiation.

[4]:

VV 29-38 give the details of different Upacāras in Viṣṇu worship followed by Nyāsa (vv 39-40) and the worship of the conch Pāñcajanya (vv 41-46).