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SIMPLE PŪJĀSTUDENT MANUAL

Copyright © 2021 Bhakti Event GmbH.

This edition was published in 2021 by Bhakti Event GmbH.

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SIMPLE PŪJĀ STUDENT MANUAL

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 6

PŪJĀ RULES AND PREPARATION 7

SIMPLE PŪJĀ - STEP BY STEP 9

DEVI ĀVĀHANA INVOCATION 14

ĀSANA 15

REQUESTING PERMISSION 16

PĀDYAM 16

ARGHYAM 16

ĀCMANĪYAM 17PĀNĪYAM 17SNĀPAYĀTI SNĀNAM 17

PLODHAM 18

DRAVYAM 18 YAJÑOPAVĪTAM 18 VASTRAM 19

UPAVASTRAM 19

ĀBHARAṆAM 20

CANDANAM 20KUṀKUMA 21

TULASĪPATTRAM 21

PUṢPAM 22

DHŪPAM 22

DĪPAM 23

ARGHYAM 23

NIVEDANAM PURIFICATION 24

NIVEDANAM 24

PĀNĪYAM 26

ĀCMANĪYAM 26

ARGHYAM 26

MUKHAVĀSAM 27

AṢṬHOTTARA-ŚATA NĀMAVALI 27

ĀRATĪ 29

FINAL PRAYERS 29

MAHĀ-SUDARŚANA MŪLA-MANTRA 30

6

INTRODUCTION

If you place a mūrti/deity on your altar, you have to be aware that this is not just a statue but something much, much more – especially after it has been blessed. A mūrti is the manifestation of a deity in this world. The deity takes the form of a statue so that we can comprehend the form of the deity with our limited mind and thereby find it easier to connect with the Divine.

This way to connect and build up a steady relationship to the Divine in the form of the deity is very powerful and important on the spiritual path. By worshipping the deity in such a form through pūjā – worshipping the Divine in the outside through various offerings and the chanting of mantras (Archana Bhakti) – it becomes much easier for us to concentrate and to go beyond the limitations of our mind. It also helps to cleanse our negativity so that we may be able to receive and handle more LOVE which our gurudeva/iṣṭadeva is constantly giving us. They are always willing to give even more through the grace of the satguru but we must do our part to prepare ourselves for that.

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PŪJĀ RULES AND PREPARATION

PŪJĀ RULES

• Take a shower and brush your teeth before starting the pūjā.• Wear neat and clean clothes. (Prabhus: proper kurta and dhotī ;

mātājis: sari with shoulders and head covered.)• Keep the pūjā place/items clean.• You must be a vegetarian and a non-smoker to offer pūjās. • Do not consume garlic, onion, or intoxicating substances

between the time you wake up and the time you offer your pūjā.• Mātājis during menstruation: mātājis can decide for themselves if

they wish to do a personal pūjā or flower offering or yajna during this time. When in a temple, however, any physical offering is prohibited.

• Mātājis should always cover their heads during prayer.• If possible, always perform the pūjā at the same place and the

same time.• All offerings should always be done with the right hand, and

never point your feet at the deity.

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PŪJĀ PREPĀRATĪON What you need to have:

Pūjā plate

• conch for blowing• bell• plate• (golden) pot (udharini) with

(golden) spoon for water offering to the deity

• pot to collect offered water (prasāda)

• (copper) water pot with (copper)spoon for hand washing

• pot with turmeric rice• pot to collect offered turmeric rice

(prasāda)

• pot for flowers• small pot with Tulsī leaves• small pot with candana paste• small pot with dry kuṁkuma

powder• small pot with mukhavāsaṁ

(mouth sweetener)• perfume• incense sticks• small āratī lamp with ghī wick• oil lamp• lighter

9

SIMPLE PŪJĀ - STEP BY STEP

AJASRA DĪPĀ

Light the oil lamp.

uddī(̎ -ī)pyasva jāta-vedo apaghnan nirṝtiṁ mama | paśūm̐(g)ś-camahyamamāvahajīvanaṁ ca diśo diśa || Blow the conch three times and ring the bell.

oṁ oṁ oṁ

GURU PRATHANA

Offer turmeric rice/flower petals.gurur brahmā gurur viṣṇuḥ gurur devo maheśvaraḥ | gurur sākṣāt paraṁ brahma tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ ||

Guru Himself is the creator, sustainer and the destroyer. He is verily the very transcendental divinity (the timeless life-principle, which is the very essence of the Creator). My reverential salutations to that glorious teacher.

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GAṆEŚA-PRĀRTHANĀ

Hold a rice/flower petal in your right hand, while chanting the mantra below. Then, offer it to the mūrti/picture of Gaṇeśa.

oṁ vakratuṇḍa mahākayā sūryakoti samaprabhā | nirvighnam kurume deva sarva kāryeṣu sarvadā ||

Meaning: O Lord Gaṇeśa of large body, curved trunk, with the brilliance of a million suns, please make all my work free of obstacles, always.

Note: This step is performed to remove all the obstacles during the pūjā.

EXTERNAL PURIFICATION (ANTA-KARAṆA KĪ ŚUDDHI)

Take a spoon of water from the little copper pot, and put it on your cupped right hand. Then, wash your hands by rubbing them together, while chanting:

oṁ apa upa-spṛśya

Take a spoon of water from the little copper pot, and pour it into your cupped right hand. Then, sip this water immediately after chanting a mantra. Repeat this procedure 3 times for each one of the following mantras:

oṁ keśavāya namaḥ (sip water)

Meaning: I offer salutations to the One who has beautiful hair (Kṛṣṇa).

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oṁ nārāyaṇāya namaḥ (sip water)

Meaning: I offer salutations to the One who is the resting place for all living beings.

oṁ mādhavāya namaḥ (sip water)

Meaning: I offer salutations to the One who propounds the true knowledge about Himself.

Note: This mouth rinsing procedure, together with the blessing of chanting the Names of Lord Nārāyaṇa, cleanses/purifies the sense of taste, and makes yourself pure and ready to speak the mantras/Names of the Lord.

Again, take a spoon of water from the little copper pot, and put it on your cupped right hand. Then, wash your hands by rubbing them together, while chanting:

oṁ apa upa-spṛśya

Using your fists, gently tap with the fists the two sides of your head (temples) 5 times, while chanting:

śuklām baradharaṁ viṣṇuṁ śaśi varnaṁ catur bhujam | prasanna vadanaṁ dhyāyet sarva vighnopa śāntaye ||

Meaning: I meditate on the ever-smiling face of the all-pervading four-armed Lord who is dressed in white, and glowing like the moon. Please Lord, remove all obstacles on my way.

Note: This is the first verse of the Śrī-Viṣṇusahasranāma. It is chanted here to purify the mind of all negative thoughts, and to focus it on the Lord.

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SAṄKALPA SETTING THE INTENTION

Take some grains of turmeric rice and a flower/rose petal, and put them together in your right hand. Now, make a fist. Put your left hand on your right knee and put your right fist on your left hand. Chant the following mantra:

śri bhagavathāgnyeyā bhagavathu | kainkarya rupam | śriman nārāyana prīthyartham śuklām baradharaṁ viṣṇuṁ | śaśi varnaṁ catur bhujam prasanna vadanaṁ dhyāyet | sarva vighnopa śāntaye

ŚLOKA FOR VIGANASA

śri lakṣmi vallabhārambhām vigano muni madhyamām asmathu ācarya paryanthām vande guru param parām asmath gurubhyo namaḥ asmathu parama gurubhyo namaḥ asmathu śrī viśwānanda gurubhyo namaḥ adya pūrvokta | yaevanguna

sakala viśeṣena | viśiśtāyām asyām varthāmānāyām subhatithow name of the deity | mahā viṣṇoḥ | swāmi sannidhow

TIME OF DAY

prātha kālārādhanam kariṣye (morning) mādhyāniha kālārādhanam kariṣye (noon) sāyan kālārādhanam kariṣye (evening)

Now, place the turmeric rice and the flower/rose petal on the floor in front of you.

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Please note that these procedures can also be performed separately, like for example as a purification ritual before the japa practice, creating a protective shield around the person.

GĀYATRĪ-MANTRA

Chant the Gāyatrī-mantra 3 times:

oṁ bhūr bhuvaḥ suvaḥ | tat savitur vare̎ṇyaṁ | bhargo devasya dhīmahi | dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayā̎t ||

Meaning: Oh Divine Mother, we meditate on Thee as the Supreme Light that illumines the Earth, the sky and the Heavens, the adorable Sun of Divine Consciousness that illumines the devas and dissipates all darkness and ignorance. Through Thy grace may You enlighten our intellect and awaken the same brilliant Divine Light in us.

DHYĀNA-ŚLOKA

Meditate on the deity in your heart and chant:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | dhyāyāmi ||

Meaning: I meditate upon [Name of the deity].

Note: The dhyāna-śloka is the moment when you focus on your deity and visualise the deity sitting inside of your heart. Remind yourself that all the outward offerings that you give during the pūjā actually happen also inside of you simultaneously. The mūrti of the deity is but a reflection of who one truly is inside, and it is given directly by the Divine's grace in order to help us focus the mind more easily.

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DEVI ĀVĀHANA INVOCATION

General Note: Āvāhana is only done if the murti has not been blessed before.

1. This invocation step is only performed for each particular deity once a day, usually in the morning, during the first puja of the day.

2. The term āvāhayāmi means ‘I call upon you’. In this step, you are inviting the deity to descend into the murti.

3. This invocation step does not have to be performed for:• Sri Yantra• Tulsi Devi plants• Śila / Saligrama• for materialised or self-manifested deities (e.g. also

lingams from Guruji)

INVOCATION FOR FEMALE DEITIES Only for 1st prayer of the day.

srīṁ oṁ / āyātu bhagavati devī | śrī suvarṇa varṇa sagaṇa sa sainya /parama puruṣa sahāyā | saḥ devatābhir-anumanyathām / yā padmāsanā padma hastā | haṁsa niryākya vāhini / nityā mṛṣibikṣānu gāminīṁ tāmajām | puṇḍarīka nayanāṁ bhagavatīm //

Now, every time you chant avāhayāmi offer a flower petal from your heart to the crown chakra of the deity.

oṁ śrīyām | āvāhayāmi oṁ tritīm | āvāhayāmi oṁ pavitrīm | āvāhayāmi oṁ pramodāyinīm | āvāhayāmi oṁ mahālakṣmī | āvāhayāmi

Meaning: Inviting the deity to descend into the murti.

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INVOCATION FOR MALE DEITIES Only for 1st prayer of the day.

laṁ oṁ / āyātu bhagavān puruṣaḥ | sagaṇa sa sainya / sasri sahāya saḥ devatābhir anumanyathām / yas tu garuḍarato | nityā mṛṣibikṣānu gāminaṁ | tāmajām | puṇḍarīka kṣaṁ bhagavantam //

On each āvāhayāmi offer a flower petal on crown chakra of deity.

oṁ viṣṇum | āvāhayāmi oṁ puruṣam | āvāhayāmi oṁ satyam | āvāhayāmi oṁ acyutam | āvāhayāmi oṁ aniruddham | āvāhayāmi

Meaning: Inviting the deity to descend into the murti.

ĀSANA (SEAT; R.V. 1.154-2)

Offer turmeric rice (akṣataṁ) to the mūrti’s feet while chanting:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | āsanaṁ (akṣataṁ) samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer a seat.

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REQUESTING PERMISSION

Join both hands in prayer and ask the deity for permission to do the pūjā, while chanting:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | asmin ārādhana karmaṇi anumānyatām ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I ask: ‘Please grant me permission to worship you!’

PĀDYAM (FEET RINSING; R.V. 1.22-18 , V.S.)

Offer a spoon of water to the deity’s Feet while chanting the mantra below.

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | pādyaṁ samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer water to wash the Feet.

ARGHYAM (HAND WASHING; R.V. 7.100-3; V.S.)

Offer a spoon of water, symbolising the rinsing of the deity’s hands, while chanting:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | arghyaṁ samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer water to rinse His/Her hands.

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ĀCMANĪYAM (MOUTH RINSING; R.V. 10.9-4)

Offer a spoon of water to the deity’s hand and then to the mouth, symbolising the rinsing of the deity´s mouth, while chanting:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | ācmanīyaṁ samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer water to rinse the mouth.

PĀNĪYAM (DRINK; R.V. 1.22.17 V.S.)

Offer a spoon of water from the golden water pot to the deity´s mouth, symbolising the offering of a drink, while chanting and ringing the bell:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | pānīyaṁ samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer water as a drink.

SNĀPAYĀTI SNĀNAM (WATER WASH; R.V. 10.9 1-3)

Offer a spoon of water from the golden water pot to the deity, symbolising the washing of the body, while chanting the mantra below.

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | snānaṁ samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer water to wash the body.

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PLODHAM (DRYING)

Offer turmeric rice (akṣataṁ), symbolising the drying of the deity, while chanting the mantra indicated below.

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | plodhaṁ (akṣataṁ) samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], whom I offer to dry.

DRAVYAM (PERFUME)

Offer perfume by applying (rubbing/massaging) it on the deity while chanting:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | dravyaṁ samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer fragrant oil.

Notes:1. The word dravya means ointment, or ‘related to/derived from a

tree, like resin’.2. The perfume represents our desires. We offer them to the deity to

be purified; on the spiritual path God should be our only desire.

YAJÑOPAVĪTAM (JANEŪ - BRĀHMAṆA THREAD; S.V.[KS] 1.1.1-01,03)

Offer turmeric rice (akṣataṁ) to the deity, symbolising the offering of the brāhmaṇa sacred thread, also called janeū or yajñopavītam (over left shoulder to the right side), while chanting the mantra indicated below. If available, you can also offer the actual sacred thread.

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oṁ śrī … namaḥ | yajñopavītaṁ (akṣataṁ) samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer the brāhmaṇa sacred thread.

VASTRAM (CLOTHES;TAITIRIYA SAMHITA 1.7.10 PARTS)

Offer turmeric rice (akṣataṁ) to the deity, symbolising the offering of clothes, while chanting the mantra indicated below.

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | vastraṁ (akṣataṁ) samarpayāmi ||

Meaning (partial): Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer garments.

UPAVASTRAM (UPPER CLOTHES)

Offer turmeric rice (akṣataṁ), symbolising the offering of upper clothes to the deity, while chanting the mantra indicated below.

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | uttarīyaṁ (akṣataṁ) samarpayāmi ||

Meaning (partial): Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer upper/outer garments.

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ĀBHARAṆAM (JEWELLERY)

Offer turmeric rice (akṣataṁ), symbolising the offering of jewellery to the deity, while chanting the mantra indicated below. If you have performed abhiṣekaṁ, in this step you can actually adorn the mūrti.

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | ābharaṇaṁ (akṣataṁ) samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer ornaments.

Note: The ornaments symbolise the various predominant attributes of the deity and the good qualities we should strive to manifest.

CANDANAM (CANDANA - ELEMENT: EARTH)

Offer candana paste, by applying it on the Feet, hands, forehead, and weapons of the deity, while chanting:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | candanaṁ samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer candana.

Note: The word candana (adj.) means ‘charming’ or ‘anything that is the most excellent’. It represents the male qualities or Nārāyaṇa; it also stands for strength as well as desires.

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KUṀKUMA (KUṀKUMA - ELEMENT: FIRE)

Offer dry kuṁkuma powder, by applying it on the Feet, hands, forehead, and weapons of the deity, while chanting:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | kuṁkumaṁ samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer kuṁkuma.

Note: The kuṁkuma represents the female qualities (śakti) and it also stands for our emotions as well as inner wisdom.

TULASĪPATTRAM (HOLY BASIL)

Offer a Tulsī leaf to the Feet of the deity while chanting:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | tulasīpattraṁ samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer Tulsī.

Notes:1. Tulsī-devī is the embodiment of bhakti (devotion); She

multiplies our devotion to the Lord.2. Tulsī is offered ONLY to forms of Nārāyaṇa not to Śiva or Devī.

During Nārāyaṇa-pūjā the offering of a Tulsī leaf is the most important offering, and without a Tulsī leaf the pūjā will not be accepted.

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PUṢPAM (FLOWER- ELEMENT WATER; R.V. 1.22-20, V.S.)

Offer flowers/garland to the deity, while chanting:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | sugandhaṁ puṣpaṁ samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer flowers/garland.

Note: The flowers represent the beauty deep inside our hearts, all the good in us, which we offer to the guru to be multiplied.

DHŪPAM (INCENSE - ELEMENT: AIR; R.V. 7.99-1, V.S.)

Offer an odd number of incense sticks (3) to male deities, or an even number of incense sticks (2) for female deities by making clockwise circles (start by the deity’s Feet), while ringing the bell and chanting:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | dhūpaṁ dhūpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer incense.

Notes:1. Make sure you do not go above the deity while offering the

incense so that you do not drop (hot) ash on them.2. The incense symbolises our ignorant and clouded mind

(smoke), which binds us to this material world. We offer it to the Divine to be transcended.

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DĪPAM (OIL LAMP – ELEMENT: ETHER; R.V. 1.22-19, V.S.)

Offer an oil lamp, by waving it clockwise in front of the deity, while chanting:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | dīpam darśayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer deepam.

Note: The flame symbolises our soul, the ātma; we offer the Light within us as an acknowledgement of our surrender and devotion.





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NIVEDANAM PURIFICATION (R.V. 3.62-10 , Y.S 36.3)

Sprinkle water with the help of a spoon, making a clockwise circle around the plate of prasāda, while chanting:

oṁ bhūr bhuvaḥ suvaḥ

Now, sprinkle water with the help of a spoon, on top of the prasāda, while chanting:

tat savitur vare̎ṇyaṁ | bhargo devasya dhīmahi | dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayā̎t ||

Meaning: We meditate on that most adored Supreme Lord, the Creator, whose effulgence (Divine Light) illumines all realms (physical, mental and spiritual). May His Divine Light illumine our intellect.

NIVEDANAM (FOOD – ELEMENT: EARTH; R.V. 1.154-5 , V.S.)

Offer prasāda to the deity. If you are performing a pūjā to Nārāyaṇa or any of His incarnations, you have to put a Tulsī leaf on top of the prasāda before this offering.

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | (naivedyam*) nivedayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer food.

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Now, with a petal in your hand make a circle clockwise around the prasāda plate, while chanting each one of the following mantras; each time you chant svāhā, offer the petal straight to the deity’s mouth.

oṁ praṇāya svāhā̎ | oṁ apānāya svāhā̎ | oṁ vyanāya svāhā̎ | oṁ udānāya svāhā̎ | oṁ samānāya svāhā̎ | oṁ brahmaṇe svāhā̎ |

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | (naivedyam*) nivedayāmi ||

* depending on the kind of food you offer you can replace the word ‘naivedyam’ as follows:• fruit – nānāvidha phalam• sweet rice – gulānnam• sweets – nānāvidha gula-pakṣanam

Notes:1. The food symbolises our gross body/qualities as well as all

our material attachments. In this step we offer our body/mind consciousness to the deity, so that they can be transformed into the bestower of knowledge (prasāda). Prasāda represents the principle of immortality: amṛta.

2. The fruits (phalam) represent the fruits of our actions and offering them to the deity is symbolic of our detachment, self-sacrifice and surrender.

3. The coconut (traditionally offered as prasāda) symbolises the offering of oneself in an act of self-surrender (prapatti).

4. By sharing prasāda, we symbolically share all the knowledge, Light and Love we have received throughout the pūjā’s performance.

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PĀNĪYAM (DRINK; R.V. 1.22.17, V.S.)

Offer a spoon of water to the deity´s mouth, symbolising the offering of a drink, while chanting:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | pānīyaṁ samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer water as a drink.

ĀCMANĪYAM (MOUTH RINSING; R.V. 10.9-4)

Offer a spoon of water to the deity’s hand and then to the mouth, symbolising the rinsing of the deity´s mouth, while chanting:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | ācmanīyaṁ samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer water to rinse the mouth.





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MUKHAVĀSAM (MOUTH SWEETENER; R.V. 7.100-4; G.S. 4.12-65, V.S.)

Offer a little bit of mouth sweetener to the mouth of the deity while chanting:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ | mukhavāsaṁ samarpayāmi ||

Meaning: Salutations to [Name of the deity], to whom I offer mouth sweetener.

AṢṬHOTTARA-ŚATA NĀMAVALI (108 NAMES OF THE DEITY)

Chant the 108 Names of the deity. After chanting each Name, offer flower petals or turmeric rice. Optional.

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VAIṢṆAVA MANTRA (R.V. 1.22.16-21, T.S. 1.2-15)Hold your hands in prayer position, and fold the middle finger of both hands inside the hands. Keep flower(s) between both hands, and ask for forgiveness for everything you may have done wrong/forgotten during the pūjā performance. Chant the following mantra:

ato devā avantu no yato viṣṇur vicakrame ǀ pṛthivyāḥ sapta dhāmabhiḥ ǁ May the demigods preserve us on the Earth whence Viṣṇu (aided) by the seven metres, stepped.

idaṁ viṣṇur vicakrame tredhā nidadhe padam ǀ samūḍham asya pā(g)m̐ sure ǁ Viṣṇu walked across this whole world; three times He planted His foot, and the whole world was collected in the dust of His footstep.

trīṇi padā vicakrame viṣṇur gopā adā̎bhyaḥ ǀ ato dharmāṇi dhārayan ǁ Viṣṇu, the preserver, the invincible, stepped three steps, thereby upholding righteous acts.

viṣṇoḥ karmāṇi paśyata yato̎ vratāni paspaśe ǀ indrasya yujyaḥ sakhā̎ ǁ Behold the pastimes of Lord Viṣṇu, through which (the devotee) accomplishes pious activities. That devotee is the worthy friend of Indra.

tad viṣṇo̎ḥ paramaṁ pada(g)m̐ sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ ǀ divīva cakṣur ātatam ǁ Just as the sun’s rays in the sky are visible to an average person, in the same way the wise and learned devotees always see the abode of Lord Viṣṇu.

tad viprāso vipanyavo jāgṛvā(g)m̐ saḥ samindhate ǀ viṣṇor yat paramaṁ padam ǁ Because those highly praiseworthy and spiritually awake devotees can see the spiritual world, they are also able to reveal that supreme abode of Lord Viṣṇu.

Offer the flower(s) to the deity’s Feet.

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Now, offer flowers and turmeric rice to the Feet of the deity, while chanting:

oṁ śrī … namaḥ ǀ āsanādi samasta upacārān samarpayāmi ||

Note: This mantra is chanted to ask the deity for forgiveness for everything one had forgotten or didn t́ do properly during the pūjā performance.

ĀRATĪ

Offer āratī to the deity with an āratī lamp (ghī wick); Do the deities ́gāyatrī-mantra 3 times.

After performing āratī, take a spoonful of water and circle it once clockwise around the āratī lamp flame, and then empty the spoon into a cup. (Repeat twice more.) Then, circle some flowers around the āratī flame three times and offer them. Next, offer the flame to the deity with your right hand, then take the lamp in your right hand and show the light to the people so that they may receive the blessing of it. Finally, take the blessing for yourself.

FINAL PRAYERS

Chant the following mantras:

tvam eva mātā ca pitā tvam eva tvam eva bandhuś ca sakhā tvam eva | tvam eva vidyā draviṇaṁ tvam eva tvam eva sarvaṁ mama deva deva ||

Meaning: Oh Lord! You alone are my mother, my father, my brother and my friend. You alone are the knowledge, my real wealth. You are everything for me. You are verily my God alone.

30

asato mā sad gamaya tamaso mā jyotir gamaya mṛtyor mā (a)‘mṛtām gamaya

Meaning: Lead me from the unreal to the true reality; lead me from darkness to Light; lead me from mortality to immortality.

oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ | lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu || (3x)

Meaning: oṁ, peace, peace, peace. May all beings in all the worlds be happy and free.

oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ | śrī gurubhyo namaḥ | hariḥ oṁ ||

Meaning: oṁ peace, peace, peace. Salutations to the guru.

Glorifications Chant the following glorifications:

prem se bolo lakṣmī nārāyaṇa bhagavān kī | jai || prem se bolo śrī rādhā kṛṣṇa kanhaiya-lāla kī | jai || prem se bolo śrī rāmānuja ācārya kī | jai || prem se bolo mahāvatāra kriyā bābāji kī | jai || prem se bolo sadgurudeva śrī svāmī vishwananda mahāprabhu kī | jai ||

MAHĀ-SUDARŚANA MŪLA-MANTRA

Chant the following mantra:

oṁ klīṁ kṛṣṇāya govindāya gopījana-vallabhāya | parāya parama-puruṣāya | parakarma mantra yantra tantra auṣadhāstra śaṣtrāṇi | saṁhara saṁhara mṛtyor mocāya mocāya | oṁ namo bhagavate mahā sudarśanāya dīpte jvāla parītāya sarvadik-kṣobhaṇa huṁ phaṭ | parasmai parabrahmaṇe paraṁjotiṣe | svāhā ||

31

Meaning: O Lord Kṛṣṇa, controller of all the senses, and beloved of the gopīs. O Supreme Soul of the universe, the Paramātma, please protect me from all the evil acts of others, evil mantras, and weapons. O Lord, who holds the Mahā-Sudarśana, which shines in all the eight directions, I surrender myself before Thee.

oṁ pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idaṁ pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate pūrṇasya pūrṇamādāya pūrṇam evāvaśiṣyate ||

Meaning:1. That is the whole, this is the whole. From the whole, the whole arises.

Taking away the whole from the whole, the whole remains.2. The Supreme Lord is perfect and complete, and because He is

completely perfect, whatever is produced of the complete Whole is also Whole in itself. As He is the complete Whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains in complete balance.

oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ | śrī gurubhyo namaḥ | hariḥ oṁ ||

Meaning: oṁ peace, peace, peace. Salutations to the guru.

Now after you have finished, bow down to the deity to receive Their blessing. If you can, please sit for a few moments in silence meditating on the guru and/or the deity. See Them in all Their beauty and splendour, ever radiating Their infinite Love and compassion. Know that They will always be by your side protecting and guiding you every step of your life.

simple pŪjĀ - bhaktimarga.org

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