5. Narayana-Worship

The Brahma-purana describes in details the mode As lord Narayana is the abode of of Narayana-worship. waters, he should be remembered at the time of taking a bath (60.34) and the recitation of the eight-lettered mantra constitutes the chief part of Narayana-worship.17 Then follows the rites of performing the nyasa. One should make the nyasa of 'Om' in the left foot, of 'na' 17 Om namo Narayanaya 60.23.

6 7 8 in the right foot, of 'me', in the left part of the waist, of 'na' in the right part of the waist, of 'ra' in the region of navel, of 'ya' in the left hand, of 'na' in the right hand, and of 'ya' on the head. It is also said that one should perform the nyasa of 'om' and 'na' in the thumbs of both the hands and of remaining fingers and on hands (60.36-39). i Then one should recite the kavaca in the following way. May Govinda in the east, Madhusudana in the south, Srida in the west, Kesava in the north, Visnu in Agneya, Madhava in the Nairrtya, Hrsikesa in the Vayavya, Vamana in Isana, Varaha on earth and Trivikramain the heaven protect me (60.41-42). 18 Then one should recite the mantra noted below. After that one should take a bath, recite the vaidic mantras, dip thrice in the waters and recite the aghamarsana mantra. After that one should do pranayama, acamana, sandhyopasana and then should worship lord Surya (60.46-50). Then one should utter the Gayatri mantra for one hundred and eight times and also utter the other mantras related to 18 Tvamagnirdvipadam natha retodhah kamadipanah | Pradhanah sarvabhutanam jIvanam prabharavyayah 11 Amrtasyaranitvam hi devayonirapam pate 1 Vrjinam hara me sarvam tirtharaja namo'stu te 1) 60.44,45. "

679 Surya. Then one should perform the tarpana of gods, sages, divine beings and pitrs. (60.51-54). E After that on the shore of the ocean one should make a four-sided mandala having four doors and in it one should prepare a figure of eight-petalled lotus. Then one should recite the eight-lettered mantra in the honour of lord Narayana (61.1-3). After that follows the rites that purify the body. One should meditate on 'a' with its round line. It destroys all the sins. After that one should meditate on 'ra 19 in head. On thinking that 'ra' is situated in the middle portion of the candramandala, is of white colour and besmears the world with nectar, one gets freedom from sins and gets a divine body. After that beginning with the left foot one should make the nyasa of the eight-lettered mantra in all the limbs of the body (61.4-6). After that follows the rites of purification of hand. With the help of the thumb, one should do the nyasa of the eight-lettered mantra in his eight fingers. First the nyasa should be done in the left hand and then it should be done in the right hand. In the left foot the nyasa of white-coloured earth together with Omkara, the colour 'na' 19 Instead of 'ra' the ms. 'ka' reads 'va'.

680 is black and its deity is Sambhu. left foot. Its nyasa is in the 'Mo' is of the nature of kala and its nyasa is in the left part of the waist. 'Ra' is of the nature of brilliance and its region is that of navel. The deity of 'ya' is Vayu and its nyasa is in the left shoulder. 'Na' is all-pervading and its position is in the right shoulder. The position of 'ya' is in the head (61.8-12). .20 Then follows the Vaisnavapancangnyasa and the Caturvyahanyasa.2 21 Then one should meditate on lord Narayana in the following way. "Before me resides lord Visnu and behind me resides lord Kesava, on the right side resides Govinda and on the left Madhusudeana, in the above portion lord Vaikuntha and in the lower portion lord Varaha. In the middle portion resides lord Mahadeva. While moving, standing, waking and sleeping lord Nrsimha protects me and lord Vasudeva constitutes my nature." " Then the lord should be worshipped with the - 20 "Om Visnave namah sirah, on jvalanaya namah dikha om visnave namah kavacen, om visnave namah sphuranam disovandhaya, on Hum Phat astram." (61.13). 21 On sirasi suklo vasudeva iti, on am lalate raktah sarkarsanah garutman vahnisteja aditya iti, on an grivayam pitah Pradyumnah Vayumedha iti, om am hrdaye krsnoniruddhah sarvasaktisamanvita iti (61.13).

681 twelve-lettered mantra (61.22) and recite the avahanamantra, 22 the sthapana mantra 23, the arghya mantra, 24 the padya mantra, 25 the madhuparka mantra,2 the achamaniya mantra, 27 the snana mantra, 28 the vastra 29 a 26 mantra, the vilepana mantra, 30 the up vita mantra, 31 the alamkara mantra, the dhupa mantra, 33 34 32 mantra, and the naivedya mantra. 35 22 Miharupo varahasea narasimhotha vamana | ayatu devo varado mama narayanadgratah On namo narayanaya namah (61.24). the dipa 23 Karnikayam supithetra padmakalpitamasanam 1 Sarvasattvahitarthaya tistha tram madhusudana || Om namo narayanaya namah (61.25). 24 25 Om trailokyapatinam pataye devadevaya Hrsikesaya visnave namah I Om namo narayanaya namah I (61.26). Om padyam padayordeva padmanabha sanatana kamalapatraksa grhana Madhusudana namah | (61.27). 1 Visno 1 Om namo narayanaya 26 Madhuparkam Mahadeva Brahmadyaih Kalpitam tava | Maya niveditam bhaktya Grhana Purusottama | Om Namo narayanaya namah |(61.28). 27 Mandahinyah sitam vari Sarvapapaharam sivan | Grahanacamaniyan tvam maya bhakty a niveditam | (61.29). 28 Tvamapah Prthivi caiva Jyotistvam vayureva ca 1 Lokesa vrttimatrena varina snapayamyakanz -> (61.30)Myaham || 29 Devasattvasamayukta yajnavarnasamanvita I Svarnavarnaprabhe deva vasasi tava kesava " 61.31. 30 Sariram te na janami cestam caiva ca kesava i 31 maya nivedito gandhah pratigrhya vilipyatam | 61.32. Rgyajahsamamantrena trivrtam padmayonina, savitrigranthisamyuktamupavitan tavarpaye | 61.33. 32 Divyaratnasamayukta vahnibhanusamaprabhe 1 34 gatrani tava sobhantu salamkarani Madhava | 61.34. 33 Vanaspatiraso divyo gandhadhyah surabhisca te I maya nivedito bhaktya dhupoyam pratigrhyatam ||61.36. Suryacandrasano Jyotirvidyadagnyostathaiva ca l Tvameva jyotisam deva dipoyam pratigrhyatam " 61.37. Annam vaturvidham caiya rasaih sadbhih samanvitam | maya niveditam bhaktya naivedyam tava kesava >> 61.38. 35

682 Then one should perform the nasa of Vasudeva in k the eastern petal of the eight-peralled lotus, that of Samkarsana in the southern petal, that of Pradyumna in the western petal, that of Aniruddha in the northern petal, that of Varaha in the Agni direction, of Narasimha in the Nairrtya, of Madhava in the xxx vayavya, and of Trivikram< in the Isana. One should establish Garuda near the eightlettered god. Similarly to his left should be established cakra and gada, to his right Sankha and the Sarga bow, to the right the two divine weapons, and sridevi and to his right khadga and pustidevi. Then one should worship with tantric mantras lord Indra, Agni, Vayu, Yama, Nirrti, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera, Isana, Ananta, and Brahma, Then one should mutter the mulamantra either 108 or 128 or 8 times. Then one should perform the eight mudras, viz. Padma, Sankha, Srivatsa (61-39-53), Gada, Garuda, Cakra, Khadga and Sarriga (61.39.55). Incidentally this type of worship mentions the caturvyuha theory, some of the incarnations of lord Visnu and shows tantric influence. Then one should recite the Visarjanamantra.36 Those who do not know the mantras should worship lord Vasudeva with the mulamantra (61.57). - 36 Gaccha gaccha Param sthanam Puranapurusottama | Yatra brahmadayo deva vindanti Paramam Padam 61.56.