2. WAKING UP THE DEITIES
(A)    Required Paraphernalia:
Make sure the following items are present:
1)    a small bell on a plate;
2)    a panca-patra containing samanya-arghya water;
3)    a panca-patra containing acmaniyam (clove water);
4)    a visarjariiya-pdtra (throw-out pot);
5)    towels for wiping the hands, mouth and feet (one for each Deity):
6)    Tulasi leaves;
[Inside the altar table following items should be present]
1)    a bell on a plate;
2)    a panca-patra;
3)    a covered kalasa with water;
4)    a conch-shell on the stand;
(B)    Entering the Deity Room:
(1)      Purification before Entering the Main Deity Room:
j>       Outside the Deity room (altar), sit on an asana and perform acamana ^T  /see vaisnava acamana) and purify your feet with the water kept in the >      spouted pot.
ii)      Offer obeisances to your spiritual master, saying his pranama prayers and requesting his blessings to perform the day's activities:
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srimate [spiritual master's name] iti namine
'I offer my respectful obeisances unto [spiritual master's name] who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.'
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
'I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanata Swami Prabhupada who is very dear to Lord Krsna, hiving taken shelter at His lotus feet.'
 
(2)     Entering the Deity Room (altar) and Greeting the Deities:
While ringing a bell just outside the Deity room (altar), you may chant the following verses, meditating on the Lord awakening and begging Him to bestow His mercy:
so'sav adabhra-karuno bhagavan vivrdhha-prema-smitena nayanamburuham vijrmbhan
utthaya visva-vijayaya ca no visadam niadhvya girapanayatat purusah puranah
'The Lord, who is supreme and is the oldest of all, is uniimitedly merciful. I wish that He may smilingly bestow His benediction upon me by opening His lotus eyes. He can uplift the entire cosmic creation and remove our, dejection by kindly speaking His directions.' [Srimad Bhagavatam, 3.9.25]
deva prapannarti-hara prasadam kuru kesava
**~*"    aval^kana-danena bhuyo mam parayacyuta
lO Kesava, O infallible Lord, O You who remove the distress of the •^      surrendered souls! Please bestow Your mercy upon me by again awarding me Your transcendental glance.'
*    M.     Ja>'aJaya krpamaya jagatera natha
„    sarvajagatere koro subha-drsti-pata
'Ail glories, all glories to the merciful Lord of the universe! O Lord, please cast Your auspicious glance upon all the worlds.'
1)    Before entering the Deity room, draw the Lor*-
a sound, either by clapping your hands, ringing a '    "v>,
Deity room door.
2)    Turn on the lights, open the doors and up
in a festive mood:
jaya srl-sri-guru-gauranga, sri s sri gopala, sri sri gaur-'
 
3)    Then step into the Deity room (altar) with your right foot first.
4)    Take waking up paraphernalia inside.
(C)    Waking the Spiritual Master and the Deities:
1)    While ringing a small bell with your left hand, approach your
spiritual master's bed, touch his lotus feet with your right hand and chant:
uttisthottistha sri-guro tyaja nidram krpa-maya 'O all-merciful spiritual master, please rise from sleep.'
2)    Next meditate that the spiritual master is rising from bed to receive
your services.
3)    Next while ringing a bell with your left hand,  approach Srila
Prabhupada's bed, touch his lotus feet with your right hand and chant:
uttisthottistha sri param-guro tyaja nidram krpa-maya
4)    Next meditate that Srila Prabhupada is rising from bed to receive your
services.
J>) Remove shawl from spiritual master's bed, remove shawls from all photographs and keep them at their respective places. Set up the photographs at their respective places.
(Follow a similar procedure for waking up the Deities.)
After chanting mantras, remove shawl from each bed, fold it and keep ii on the top.
6)      Approach Lord Nityananda's bed, touch His lotus feet, and chant.
uttistha jahnavesvara yoga-nidram tyaja prabho namno hatte divya-ndmam su-sraddhartham vitarasi
'O Nityananda Prabhu, Lord of Jahnava, please arise and give up Your divine sleep. At the marketplace of the holy name You distribute the divine name, asking only for one's faith in payment.'
 
7)    Approach Lord Caitanya's bed, touch His lotus feet, and chant:
uttisthottistha gaurangajahi nidram mahaprabho subha-drsti-pradanena trailokya-mahgalam kuru
'0 Lord Gauranga, please rise from sleep and bless the three worlds with Your auspicious glance.'
8)    Approach, Sri Gopala's bed , touch His lotus feet and chant.
uttisthottistha govinda uttistha paramesvara uttistha kamala-kanta trailokyam mangalam kuru
'O Govinda, O Paramesvara, O beloved of LaksmI, please rise and bestew good fortune on all the three worlds.'
9)    Then approach Lord Salagrama- sila's bed and chant
uttisthottistha govinda uttistha paramesvara uttistha kamala-kanta trailokyam mangalam kuru
In advance, bring acamana patra and tulasi leaves. Place one dry TulasI leaf on the dhoti which is placed on the sirhhasana. Take Saiagrama- sila with your right hand and place Him on the sirhhasana. Also replace upavita. flute and crown. (Keep Salagrama- sila on the simhasana after the small Radha Gopinatha are kept back to Their place on the altar.)
10)    Then approach Radha's and Krsna's bed, touch Their lotus feet and
chant:
Isvara sri-hare krsna devakl-nandana prabho nidram muhca jagan-natha prabhata-samayo bhavet
'O supreme controller, Q.Lord Hari, O Krsna, O son of Devaki, d master. O Lord of the Universe, please give up Your sleep, for daybreak has come."
go-gopargokulanandayasoda-nanda-vardhana uttistha radhaya sardham pratar aslj jagat-pate

 
'0 master of the universe, O bliss of Gokula, the cowherds, and the cows, O You who gladden the hearts of Yasoda and Nanda, please rise from bed with 3ri Radhika, for morning has come.'
11)    At this time place back small Radha Goplnatha on the altar.
12)    You may now keep &alagrama- sila back on the simhasana. If there
are large Deities, meditate on walking Them and leading Them from Their
beds to Their respective place.
13)    Remove flowers from bedding and the bedding from the altar etc.
14)    Place shoes back to their respective places.
15)    Clean the Deity room altar platform and then wash hands.
16)    Then replace any crowns, turban pieces, fresh garland in Srimat!
Radharani's lotus hand, cddars that belong to Their Lordship's night dress,
(except flute of small Krsna and venu and vetra of Sri Gopala. Replace them
after offering.)
(D)    Offering Early- Morning Paraphernalia;
1)    While chanting the following mantras, offer the appropriate items:
(i)      Chant idam acamanlyam and guru-mula-mantra, and offer clove water for sipping; discard it in the visarjariiya-patra.
(ii)     Chant idam anga-vastram and guru-mula-mantra, and dry your spiritual master's hands and face with a towel.
2)    Now repeat the same procedure to Srila Prabhupada, Nityananda
Prabhu, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Gopala, Srimati RadharanI and Lord
Krsna one after another (in that order), with the appropriate mula-mantras.
3)    Finally, you may offer Tulasl leaves to the feet of Lord Krsna and
Lord Caitanya (and other visnu-tattva Deities) while chanting:
etat tulasl'patram (or, for several leaves, etani tulasi-patrani) and
the mida-mantra.
 
4)      Now that the Deities have been awakened, you may offer obeisances to Them outside the Deity room.
(E)    Afternoon Waking Up
Follow the same order as during the Morning Waking Up but chant only uttisthottistha and appropriate mula-mantras
No need to chant the complete mantra.
Remove flowers from beddings. Then the Deities' beddings are taken out of the altar. Replace shoes, clean altar, wash hands. Offer crowns, turban pieces, Srimatl Radharani's hand garland; and flute and hand rest of Gopinatha. Remove water glasses, (kalasa, bell on plate and acamana patra from aratl table.) Give it for cleaning. Replace it before arati starts.
(F)    Offering Afternoon Paraphernalia:
1)    While chanting the following mantras, offer the appropriate items:
(i)      Chant idam acamanlyam and guru-mula-mantra, and offer clove water for sipping; discard it in the visarjanlya-patra.
(ii)     Chant idam ahga-vastram and guru-mula-mantra, and dry your spiritual master's hands and face with a towel.
2)    Now repeat the same procedure to Srlla Prabhupada, Nityananda
Prabhu, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Gopala, Srimati RadharanI and Lord
Krsna one after another (in that order), with the appropriate mula-mantras.
3)    Finally, you may offer Tulasl leaves to the feet of Lord Krsna and
Lord Caitanya (and other visnu-tattva Deities) while chanting:
etat tulasl-patram (or, for several leaves, etani tulasi-patram) and
the mula-mantra.
4)    Now that the Deities have been awakened, you may offer obeisances
to Them outside the Deity room.
 
3. Offering Food (bhoga-arpana)
This is a standard procedure for offering food to the Deity that may be used for the various offerings during the day. Make sure the following items are present on the altar table, i)  a bell on a plate
ii) panca patra containing samanya-arghya water iii) a covered kalas"a with water iv) a blowing conchshell on stand.
(A)    Required Paraphernalia:
Make sure the following items are present:
1)    a water-pot with a spout and cover, filled with samanya arghya water;
2)    padya (samanya-arghya water)
3)    acamaniya water (clove water)
4)    a visarjanlya-patra (throw-out) pot;
5)    flower petals
6)    tulasl leaves;
7)    some arrangement for supporting the bhoga plates - preferably low
tables (choiikis, 4 nos., one for each set of Deities);
8)    asana for the spiritual master and Deities (4 nos., one for each set of
Deities);
9)    the hhoga offerings in plates (4 nos.);
(B)    Preliminary Activities:
1)    Outside   the   Deity   room   (altar),   perform   acamana   and  offer
obeisances to your spiritual master and the Deities while saying prandma
prayers.
2)    Keep bhoga plates ready before entering the Deity room.
3)    Enter the Deity room (altar) after clapping your hands, ringing a bell,
or knocking on the Deity room door. Enter the Deity room while chanting
the names of the Deities. (Jaya Sri Sri Radha Gopinath, Sri Gopdla, Sri Sri
Gaur-Nitdi.)
4)    Close the curtain if not closed.
5)    Keep the spiritual master's photgraph on the altar if not there.
 
6)    Clean the offering area
7)    Chant e§a puspanjalih and the guru-miila-mantra, and draw your
spiritual master's attention by offering a few flower petals to his feet,
begging his permission to serve the Deities. Then chant:
sri-guro paramananda premananda phala-prada vrajananda-pradananda-sevayam ma niyojaya
'My dear spiritual master, who gives the fruit of the highest bliss- the bliss
of love of Godhead - please engage me in the blissful service of Sri Krsga,
who bestows bliss upon the land of Vraja.'    ^
8)    Keep asana for Guru and Param Guru.
Then chant idam asanam and the guru-mula-mantra, and offer your spiritual master a sitting place (show asana mudra).
Chant etatpadyam and the mula-mantra for the Guru and offer padyam.
Chant idam acamanlyam and the mula-mantra for the Guru and offer acamana.
Similarly, offer puspanjalih, asana, padyam, acamaniyam for Param Guru, (Srila Prabhupada)
9)    Keep the asanas for other Deities at this time. (Sri Sri Gaur Nitai, Sri
Gopala, Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha.
10)    Bring the tables on which bhoga plates are to be kept and wipe them.
(C)    Purifying the Bhoga:

1)    Remove the flute of small Krsna Deity and Venu, vetra of Sri Gopala.
2)    Bring in the plates for the bhoga offering and place it (them) on the
tables. Then put a few drops of water from the spouted pot onto the fingers
 
of your right hand, purify each plate by proksana: (sprinkling water from the fingertips of right hand)
• Chanting om astraya phat once for each plate. (Before doing proksana, see that your hands are washed and cleaned)
3)    Next, while showing the bijaksara-mudrd chant the mula-mantra
eight times for each Deity over the appropriate plate. Over each plate, hold
your left hand over your right (palms down) and count the recitations of the
miila-mantra with the fingers of your right hand, as if chanting Gdyatri.
(The following mula-mantras should be chanted:
(i)      Guru's plate    - aim gurave namah
(ii)     §ri Caitanya and   Nityananda's plate - ktirii gaurdya namah
(iii)    Sri Gopala's plate    - kUth krsnaya namah)
(iv)    Radha and Gopinatha's plate    -srimktim radha-kr§nabhyam
namajt
4)    Place TulasI leaves on each preparation, except spiritual master's
plate, (for bdlya-bhoga offering, you may put tulasi leaves outside the Deity
room.)
(D)    Inviting the Lord to Take His Meal:
1)    Draw Their Lordships' attention by offering a few flower petals it
Their lotus feet in ascending order while chanting:
esa puspanjalih and the mula-mantra of the Deity.
Starting  with  Lord  Nityananda.   Lord  Chaitanya,  Sri  Gopala,  Srimatl Radharani and Sri Gopinatha.
2)    While chanting idath dsanam and the miila-mantra of the Deity, offer
them dsanas by making hand gesture (asana mudra).
3)    Ringing a bell with your left hand, offer both padya and acamana to
the Deity, starting with Lord Nityananda, Lord Caitanya, Sri Gopala,
Srimatl Radharani and progressing to Lord Gopinatha. While doing this
chant:
etat padyam and the miila-mantra for the Deity; idam acamanlyam and the mula-mantra for the Deity;
 
Pour each spoonful of offered padya and acamaniya water into the visarjanlya-patra.
4) Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each Deity and then proceed to next Deity in sequence beginning with, Lord Nityananda, Lord Caitanya, £ri Gopala, Srimati Radharani, and then to Lord Goplnatha.
(E)    Offering the Bhoea
1)    With a hand gesture offer the bhoga to the Deity, starting with Lord
Goplnatha, Srimati Radharani, Sri Gopala, Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityananda
and then to Param guru and Guru, showing the plates and chanting:
idam naivedyam and the mula-mantra for each Deity; idarii panlyam and the mula-mantra for each Deity.
2)    While ringing a bell sitting on an asana and one by one chant the
following   pranama   prayers   {Guru-pranama,   Param   Guru-pranama,
Gaurdnga-prandma, Govinda-prandma) three times each:
(Chant the pranama prayers to your spiritual master three times each begging permission to assist him in serving the Deities:)
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-iale srimate {spiritual master's name) iti ndmine
'I offer my respectful obeisances unto {spiritual master's name}, who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.'
(Chant the following prayers three times to param-guru:)
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
'f offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.'
 
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vanl-pracarine nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
'Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant oh Sarasvatl  Goswaml.   You  are  kindly  preaching  the  message  of Lord Caitanya-deva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.'
(Chant the following prayer to Lord Caitanya three times, requesting His mercy:)
namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te krsnaya krsna-caitanya-namne gaura-tvise-namah
'0 most munificent incarnation! You are a Krsna Himself appearing as Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You have assumed the golden colour of Srimati Radharani, and You are distributing pure love of Krsna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You.' [C.c, Madhya, 19.53]
(Chant the following prayer three times, offering respect to Lord Krsna:)
namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca jagad-dhitaya krsnaya govindaya namo namait
'Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Krsna, who is worshipable for all brahminical men, who is the well-wisher of the cows and the brahmanas, and who is benefiting the whole world. I offer my repeated obeisances to the Personality of Godhead, known as Krsna and Govinda.' (Visnu-purana)
3) Leave the Deity room and chant the Gayatrl mantras. Meditate on the Lord's eating. While the Lord eats, you may chant various verses of your own choosing, or you may chant the Bhoga arati song by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura., especially during the noon and evening offering.
s     For Raja-bhoga (noon) and sandhya-bhoga (evening) offerings, chant all the guru-given mantras. (Complete Gayatrl)
 
For all other offerings, you may simply chant the brahma-gayatri ten times(the first of the seven guru-given mantras).
4) After some set time (generally fifteen to twenty minutes for noon and evening offerings; five to ten for the bdlya-bhoga offering before mangala-arati and breakfast), re-enter the Deity room while making a sound, either by knocking on the door, clapping your hands or ringing a bell.
(F)    After the Lord's meal:
1) Standing on dsana and ringing a bell with your left hand, offer water. Begin with the Lord Goplnatha, Srimati Radharanl, Sri Gopala, Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityanand, and then to Param guru and Guru. Repeat the following four steps for each Deity in sequence as mentioned above:
1)    idarn hasta-mukha-praksalanam and the mula-mantra for the Deity
and offer water (from spouted water pot) for cleaning hands and face;
ii)      etatpadyam and the mula-mantra for the Deity;
iii)     idam acamanlyam and the mula-mantra for the Deity.
iv)     While meditating on escorting Their Lordships back to the aitar, indicating the way with a gesture of your hands, chant:
idam asanam and the mula-mantra.
2)    Finally, remove the plates and clean the dining area. After washing
your hands, offer pranama to your spiritual master and the Deities.
3)    Replace the flute of small Krsna and venu, vetra of Sri Gopala.
4)    Open the curtain for performing the dratl.
Note: Offering is to be made only to the installed Deities and not to the pictures and Tulasi devl.
 
4. ARATI CEREMONY
(A)    Required paraphernalia:
Make sure the following items are present on the altar table. (a) a bell on a plate
(b) panca patra containing samanya-arghya water
(c ) a covered kalasa with water
(d) a blowing conchshell on stand.
II.    a receptacle to catch the water from rinsing the conch (just outside
the Deity room in the temple hall or side room)
III.    a clock easily visible for pujari.
(In addition for full arati:)
1)    a small lamp (eka-dipa) for lighting incense sticks & ghee lamps
2)    an incense holder with an odd number (3)of incense sticks ;
3)    a camphor lamp with one ghee wick (for rdja-bhoga draft);
4)    a ghee lamp with five wicks (on Sundays and festival days, use ghee
lamp with 15 no. of wicks);
5)    an arghya conch for arghya water, with a stand;
6)    a water pot, filled with samanya arghya water (this is for the arghya
water to be offered in the conch);
7)    a small visarjaniya-pdtra (throw out container) for the     offered
arghya;
8)    a handkerchief (cotton or silk);
9)    flowers on a plate;
10)    acdmara;
11)    a peacock fan (only in warm weather);
(For dhupa-arati:)
1)    an incense holder with odd number (3) of sticks ;
2)    flowers on a plate;
3)    a cdmara;
4)    a peacock fan.(only in warm weather);
(B)    Preliminary Activities for Arati:
1) After cleaning the place where the arati paraphernalia will be set up, bring the tray with paraphernalia and place them in the order of offering.
 
2)    Pujari can light small ghee lamp for lighting the incense sticks and ghee
lamps.
3)    Prior to blowing the conch shell pujari should light the incense sticks.
4)    Play the cassette if there is no kirtan by the devotees in the temple hall.
5)    Remove the horizontal rope which is holding the curtain in place.
6)    Put on fountain
7)    Come to the dsana from where the drati is to be performed. Purify the
hands.
Note: Everyday, during mangala-arati, sringar-darsan, also on Sundays and festivals days, the pujari should open the sliding doors, (from outside if possible), before raising the curtain. This will enable the devotees to take proper darsana of Their Lordships as soon as the curtain is raised.
(C)    Requesting the Lord to Accept the Arati (puspaniali):
1)    Pujari should purify the hands first and then conchshell by sprinkling
dcamana water and blow three times and then again purify the conchshell
and place it over the stand horizontally.
2)    Pujari should purify hands and then the bell by sprinkling dcamana
water and then ringing bell in left hand, pujari should open the curtain fully
and wrap the nylon ropes two times round the brass ring and then open the
sliding doors fully.
(D)    Purifying the Upacaras:
Before offering each upacaras, purify both your right hand and the upacaras by sprinkling them with 3 drops of water from panca-pdtra. Take the spoon in your right hand and then sprinkle water on the upacaras directly from the spoon.
(E)    Offering Procedure:
1) While standing on an dsana and ringing a bell, present the incense first to your spiritual master by waving it in three graceful circles, and then show it in one cricle to param guru, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, then waving it three times to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, showing once it to Siimati Radharani, and then start full drati with mula-mantra to Sri Gopinatha, and in the descending order with mula-mantras as mentioned below:
 
[With the consciousness that you are offering it on behalf of your spiritual master and with the blessings of 3rila Prabhupada, Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya, offer it with the full number of circles (listed below) to the main Deity.]
Sri Gopinatha
SrimatI Radharani
Sri Gopala
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Sri Nityananda Prabhu
Sri Nrsimhadeva, (3 circles only)
TulasI Maharani, (3 circles only)
Sri Param-guru
Sri Guru.
2)    No separate arafi is to be offered to £ri Vijay murtis. While offering
the drati to big deities of Srlmatl Radharani and Sri Gopinatha, the small
Deity is also to be offered the drati simultaneously.
3)    Arafi paraphernalia should be offered gracefully, in a meditative
mood. But do not be either too slow or too fast, and do not perform it in a
showy manner, but as a humble servant of your spiritual master and the
assembled Vaisnavas—stand to the left of the altar (as viewed from the
temple room)--not hidden entirely from the view but also not distracting by
your presence.
4)    Offered items should not be mixed with unoffered items. You should
not place offered items back on the plate that was used to bring in the
paraphernalia. Open the door next to you and keep them on the platform
outside the altar room.
(F)    How To Offer Each Item:
Offer all items, except the cdmara and fan, by moving them in clockwise circles while ringing a bell with your left hand (above waist level), fixing your attention on the Deities.
1)     Incense: Offer seven circles around the whole body of the Lord. Chant the Upacdra mantra:
esa dhupah and the mula-mantra for each Deity.

2)    Camphor: (Only for raja-bhoga aratl) Same as ghee lamp. Chant the
Upacara mantra:
esa dipah and the mula-mantra for each Deity.
3)    Ghee lamps:   Offer 4 circles at the lotus feet, 2 circles at the lotus
navel, 3 circles around the face and 7 circles around the whole body. Chant
the Upacara mantra:
esa dipah and the mula-mantra for each Deity.
4)    Arghva in a conch:   Offer three circles to the Lord's head and seven
circles to the whole body of the Lord. Then pour a small amount of the
offered arghya into the visarjanlya-patra (small throw-out pot) before
proceeding to offer arghya to the next personality. {Aratl arghya : plain or
scented samanya arghya water). Chant the Upacara mantras:
idath arghyam and the mula-mantra for each Deity.
5)    Cloth:       Offer seven times around the Lord's body. Chant the
Upacara mantra:
idam vastram and the mula-mantra for each Deity.
6)    Flowers:     Offer seven times around the Lord's body. Chant the
Upacara mantra:
etanipuspani and the mula-mantra for each Deity. (idath puspam , if offering a single flower)
7)    Camara:   Wave before the Lord a suitable number of times. Try to
gauge the time for offering each upacara so that you can offer the camara
and fan gracefully a moderate number of times before concluding the aratl.
Chant the Upacara mantra:
esa camara-seva and the mula-mantra for each Deity.
8)    Fan:    Wave before the Lord a suitable number of times. Chant the
Upacara mantra:
esa vyajana-seva and the mula-mantra for each Deity.
9)    You may give the lamp(s) to the assembled devotees immediately
after offering to the Deities.

 
Note:
1)    Incense, arghya, cloth and flowers could be offered with fewer circles
if time is short. The main item of the aratl ceremony is the lamp for which
sastra gives specific number of circles. In general, the exact number of
circles for offering a given item is not considered critical.
2)    For  Guru  Maharaja and installed  Deities,  full  aratl has  to be
performed.
3)    Lord Nrsimhadev and TulasI, three circles of aratl are offered around
the whole body.
4)    For  Garudajl,  Hanumanji,   Gurudeva,   Param  gurudeva  and  the
assembled Vaisnavas (in temple hall), three circles of aratl are offered
around the whole body.
(G)    Completing the Aratl:
1)    Full aratls, including fanning and blowing of the conch before and
after the aratl, may last up to twenty-five minutes. The duration of short
aratls (in which incense, flowers, camara and fan are offered) is ten
minutes.
2)    After completing the aratl, blow the conch three times, as at the
beginning of the aratl. Then distribute the arghya to the assembled
devotees.
3)    Then offer premadhvani mantras if the klrtan leader or another
devotee in the temple does not chant them.
4)    Next remove the aratl paraphernalia from the Deity room, clean the
area   and   articles,   and   at   last   offer   dandavat-prandmas   (prostrated
obeisances) outside the Deity room.
5)    Conch is rinsed in a pot outside the Deity room, near the fountain.
6)    After all aratis, the photograph of the spiritual master is kept on the
platform outside the altar room.
7)    After 10.00 am and 04.30 pm arati, the sliding main door of the altar
should be closed for security purpose. Pujari who had done arati should take
responsibilty of this.
Note:
(a) Mahgala-arati (At 5.00 AM):
1)    For 25 minutes, even if the klrtan is extended.
2)    When Sri Nrsimhadev prayers starts, at that time pujari should give
out the sprinkling water in the pot.
3)    After Mahgala-arati, during the Nrsirhha prayers,  offer scented
cotton on flower towards nose to smell to each Deity. (Chant esa-gandha
and mula-mantra)
4)    Snmati Tulasi-devI is given outside.
5)    Pujarl should clean the altar.
6)    When Sri Nrsimhadev prayers are ending, (5.30 a.m.), sliding doors
are closed. After book distribution score reading is over, at that time curtain
is closed. Fountain is put off.
7)    Only the tube lights inside the altar are put on during Mahgala-drati.
(b)    Darsana-arad (at 7.15 AM):
1)    Before  opening  the  curtains  for  darsana-dratl,  clear  away  all
unnecessary paraphernalia, sweep the floor around the altar. Offer their
Lordships a mirror so they may view themselves, chanting esa darpah and
rddhd krsna mula-mantra, and similarly go in descending order. At the
same time, you should check carefully that everything is in its proper place,
and that nothing inappropriate (such as a pin cushion) is left on the altar.
2)    Before opening curtain, put on all lights.
3)    Big mirror and camara should be kept inside.
4)    Open the sliding doors (if possible, from outside. Or if the sliding
doors are to be opened from inside, then it should be done from below. See
that the curtain is not stretched.)
5)    Light the incense sticks.
6)    When   the  curtain   is   opened,  at  that  time   GOVINDAM  ADI
PURUSAM is played, (opening the curtain and the playing of the cassette
should be simultaneous)
7)    One assistant pujarl should show mirror, offer scented cotton on
flower and then offer the camara.
8)    Conch is not blown till GOVINDAM ADI PURUSAM is completed.
9)    One should offer water glasses to all Deities before curtain opens.
(c)    Mangal- bhoga arati: Arati (at 10.00 AM):
1)    &rila Prabhupada's tape is started before curtain is opened.
2)    Perform for ten minutes.
3)    After the arati is completed fountain , tape and big Halogens and
focus are put off. Only spot lights and tube lights are kept on.
(d)    Raja-Bhoga Arati (at 12.30 PM):
1)    Only four small pieces of camphor are used, in small lamp. It is
immediately offered and not given outside to the viewers.
2)    15 wicks ghee lamp is used on Sundays. It is given outside with proper
cover to proper devotee who knows how to give it to everyone. Standing
big fans are put off.
3) If you are keeping the ghee lamp or camphor lamp in the Deity room, keep it in such a way that it will not burn anything or make things black. Do not keep on the wooden platform. Keep on the marble platform.
3) Lasts for 25 minutes.
(e)    Vaikalika Bhoga aratl (at 4.30 PM):   same as mangal-bhoga aratl
at 10.00 AM.
(f)    Sandhya Arati (at 7.00 PM): For 25 minutes.
Note: Pranama is the concluding activity of puja. Pranama is generally done after all activities like cleaning the altar is done. It is done outside the altar. While worshipping the Deities outside the altar in the Deity room (eg. during salagram-slla worship), please offer dandavats little far away from the Deities
* After all the aratis, the altar room should be thoroughly broomed and cleaned.
5.  Dressing (Srngara)

(A)    Preliminary activities;

Purification before Entering the Deity Room: (Altar) (for night dressing or other services)

1. Sit on an asana and perform acamana (see vaisnava acamana) and
   purify your feet with the water kept in the spouted pot.

2. Offer obeisances to your spiritual master, saying his prandma prayers
   and requesting his blessings to perform the day's activities:

nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srimate [spiritual master's name] iti nomine

'I offer my respectful obeisances unto [spiritual master's name] who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.'

nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine

'I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanata Swami Prabhupada who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.'

(B)    Requesting the spiritual master and previous Acarva's biessings (guru-pankti-namaskara):

1) Draw the attention of your spiritual master by placing flowers before him (puspdnjall) while chanting esa puspanjalih and the guru-mula-mantra. Then, meditating on your spiritual master's service to the previous dcdryas, show the prandma-mudrd (joined palms) and chant:

sri-guro paramananda premananda phala-prada vrajananda-pradananda-sevayam ma. niyojaya

 

'My dear spiritual master, who gives the fruit of the highest bliss- the bliss of love of Godhead - please engage me in the blissful service of Sri Krsna, who bestows bliss upon the land of Vraja.'

jaya sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda sn-advaita gadadhara srivasadUgaura-bhakta-vrnda

'All glories to Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Acarya, Sri Gadadhara, Srivasa Thakur and all those devotees who follow in their footsteps.'

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Entering the Deity Room and Greeting the Deities:

Before entering the Deity room, draw the Lord's attention by making a sound, either by clapping your hands, ringing a bell, or knocking on the Deity room door.

jaya sri-sri-guru-gauranga, sri sri radha-gopinatha, sri gopala, sri sri gaur-nitai, hi jaya

 

***The Purification Procedure for the Puiaris dressing in the morning

[ The purification procedure is to be performed according to their services
Dasanudas :                  Perform acamana,  Gayatri,  bhuta-suddhi,  Guru

puja Gaur Nitai Dressing :      Perform acamana,  Gayatri,  bhuta-suddhi,  Guru

puja, Gaurariga puja
Gopal:                           Perform acamana,  Gayatri,  bhuta-suddhi,  Guru

puja, Gaurariga puja, Radha - Krsna puja (with

mula mantra - klirh krsnaya namah)
Radha Gopinath
(Small or Big):              Perform acamana,  Gayatri,  bhuta-suddhi,  Guru

puja, Gaurariga puja, Radha - Krsna puja with

mula   mantra  -  srlrh  kllm  radha  krsnabhyarh

namah)

1)      Offer obeisances to your spiritual master, saying his pranama
prayers and requesting his blessings to perform the day's activities: (In
the Deity Room)

naina om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srlmate [spiritual master's name] iti namine

'I offer my respectful obeisances unto fspiritual master's namej who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.'

nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srlmate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine

'I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanata Swami Prabhupada who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.'

* Take acamana patra, empty patra, bell, asana, picture sheet and proceed to the room adjacent to the Deity room. (Before you start the purification procedure see that the floor is broomed and wiped with the wet cloth.)

2) Perform acamana

(i) Chant om kesavaya namah and sip water from the brahtna-iirtha of your right hand.

 

(ii) Chant om narayanaya namah and sip water from the brahma-firtha of your right hand.

(iii) Chant om madhavaya namah and sip water from the brahma-tlrtha of your right hand.

1. Chant Gayatri mantra

2. Purify the Bodily elements by identifying oneself as the eternal
   servant of the servant of Lord Krsna (Bhuta-suddhi);

• Recite the following prayers, meditating on their meaning: I am by nature the eternal servant of Krsna. But because of my bad fortune, I have been inimical toward Him from time immemorial, and thus I have identifled myself with my body and continuously wandered in the cycle of birth and death in the material world, suffering the burning threefold miseries. Now, as a result of some unimaginable good fortune, my spiritual master's mercy has enabled me to know ttot I am Krsna's eternal servant, an infinitesimal spiritual being completel^part from the gross and subtle body. And so by the order of my spiritual master I have obtained the good fortune of serving his lotus feet and, following in his footsteps, the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Sri Radha- Gopinath [or the names of the Deities one is worshiping].

Chant the following prayers:

naham vipro na ca nara-palir napi vai'syo na sudro naham varnl na ca grha-patir no vana-stho yatir va kintuprodyan-nikhila-paramananda-pumamrtabdher gopl-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah

'I am not a brahmana, I am not a ksatriya, I am not a vaisya or a sudra. Nor am I a brahmacari, a householder, a vanaprastha, or a sarhnyaasl. 1 identify myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of LordSri Krsna, the maintainer of the gopls. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance'.

(om) apavitrah pavitro va sarvavastham gato 'pi va yah smaret pundarikaksam sa bahyabhyantarah sucih

'Whether pure or impure or having passed through all conditions of material life one who remembers lotus eyed Krishna becomes internally and externally clean.'

 

5) Meditation on the form of the Spiritual Master (dhvana):

Meditate on the place where your spiritual master is situated: 'At the yogapltha in Sri Mayapur, in the spiritual abode of Navadvipa, Lord Gaurasundara sits on a jeweled throne. On His right is Lord Nityananda, on His left Sri Gadadhara. In front, with joined palms are Sri Advaita and Srivasa Thakura, who holds an umbrella over Lord Caitanya's head. On a jeweled platform below Lord Gauranga's throne, my spiritual master sits.'

6)      Worship of the Spiritual Master with Articles (bahva-puja)

Meditate on offering sixteen upacaras to your spiritual master. While ringing the bell with your left hand, offer sixteen upacaras to your spiritual master, samanya-arghya water from the panca-patra for each item, and then discard it into a receptacle. After offering each item, purify your right hand with a few drops of water from the panca-patra.

1. Chant idam asanam and the guru-inula-mantra.

2. Chant svagatarh su-svagatam and the guru-mula-mantra.

3. Chant etat padyam and the guru-mma-mantra.

4. Chant idam arghyam and the guru-mula-mantra.

5. Chant idam acamanlyam and the guru-mula-mantra.

6. Chant esa madhuparkah and the guru-mula-mantra.

7. Chant idam punar acamanlyam and the guru-mula-mantra.

8. Chant idarii snanlyam and the guru-mula-mantra.

9. Chant idam vastram and the guru-mula-mantra.

10. Chant imani abharanani and the guru-mula-mantra.
    11)    Chant esa gandha and the guru-mula-mantra.

 

1. Chant etani puspani and the guru-mula-mantra.

2. Chant esa dhupah and the guru-mula-mantra.

3. Chant esa dipah and the guru-mula-mantra.

4. Chant idarii naivedyam and idam acamanlyam and the guru-miila-
   mantra.

5. Offer respects (pranama).

7) Guru-pranama

• Offer obeisances with the following verses: om ajhana-timirandhasya jhanahjana-salakaya caksur unmllitam yena tasmai srl-gurave namah

I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.

 

nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srimate [spiritual master's name] iti namine

I offer my respectful obeisances unto [your spiritual master's name], who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.

nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine

'I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.'

jaya srl-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda

 All glories to Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Acarya, Sri Gadadhara, Sri Srivasa, and all the devotees of Lord Caitanya.

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

Worshiping Lord Caitanva (Gauranga puia):

8) Meditate on the transcendental form of Lord Caitanya amidst His ai associates.

 ^Chant theToIIowing^ Verse and meditate on the transcendental form of Lord Caitanya amidst His eternal associates:

sriman-mauktika-dama-baddha-cikuramsu-smera-candrananam srl-khandctguru-caru-citra-vasanamsrag-divya-bhusahcitam nrtyavesa-rasanumoda-madhuram kandarpa-vesojjvalam caitanyam kanaka-dyutim nija-janaih samsevyamanam bhaje I worship Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is being served by all His devotees and associates, whose hair is bound with strings of pearls, and whose moonlike face bears the nectar of His gentle smile. His beautiful golden body is adorned with lovely garments, anointed with sandalwood and aguru pulp, and bedecked v.ith garlands and various glistening ornaments. He is extremely charming, absorbed as He is in enjoying the sweet mellows of dancing, and His dress is more splendid than even Cupid's.

 

1. Meditate on offering Lord Caitanya sixteen upacaras. Repeat the
   procedure given in (6) with gaura-mula-mantra.

2. Then chant the following verses:

anarpita-carlm drat karunayavatlrnah kalau samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasam sva-bhakti-sriyam harihpurata-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandipitah sada hrdaya-kandare sphuratu vah saclnandanah

May that Lord who is known as the son of Srimatl Sacldevl be transcendentally situated in the innermost core of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has descended in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most elevated mellow of devotional service, the mellow of conjugal love. [Caitanya-caritamita, Adi 1.4]

jaya sri-krsna-caitanyaprabhu-nityananda srl'ddvaita gadadhara srivasadUgaura-bhakta-vrnda

All glories to Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Acarya, Sri Gadadhara, Sri Srivasa, and all the devotees of Lord Caitanya.

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

Worship of Radha Krsna: ~~

11)  Chant the following verse and meditate on Radha and Krsna seated
on throne in Vrndavana:

divyad-vrndaranya-kalpa-drumadhah srimad-ratiiagara-simhasana-sthau sn-sri-radha-sfila-govinda-devau presthallbhih sevyamanau smarami

'In a temple of jewels in vrndavana, underneath the desire tree. Sri Sri Radha Govinda served by their most confidential associates, sit upon an effulgent throne. I meditate upon them.'

12)  Meditate on offering Radha-Krsna sixteen upacaras. Repeat the
procedure given in (6) with Radha-Krsna-mula-mantra.

13) Then chant the following verses

 

 

he krsna karuna-sindho dina-bandho jagat-pate gopesa goplka-kanta radha-kanta namo 'stu te

O my dear Krsna, You are the friend of the distressed, the ocean of mercy, and the Lord of creation. You are the master of the cowherds and the lover of the gopls, especially Radharani. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

tapta-kahcana-gaurahgi radhe vrndavanesvari vrsabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye

Srlmati Radharani. I offer my respects to you, whose bodily complexion is like molten gold. O Goddess, You are the queen of Vrndavana. You are the daughter of King Vrsabhanu and are very dear to Lord Krsna.

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

* Then enter the Deity room, purify hands from the acamana patra and the feet with the water kept in the spouted pot.

Requesting the spiritual master and previous Acarva's blessings (guru-pankti-namaskara):

Draw the attention of your spiritual master by placing ilowers before him ipuspahjall) while chanting esa puspafijalih and the guru-mula-manira. Then, meditating on your spiritual master's service to the previous acanas, show the pranama-mudra (joined palms) and chant:

sri-guro paramananda premananda phala-prada vrajananda-pradananda-sevayam ma niyojaya

'My dear spiritual master, who gives the fruit of the highest bliss- the bliss of love of Godhead - please engage me in the blissful service of Sri Krsna, who bestows bliss upon the land of Vraja.'

jaya srl-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda srl-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda

'All glories to Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Acarya, Sri Gadadhara, Srlvasa Thakur and all those devotees who follow in their footsteps.'

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Then offer obeisances.

 

(C ) Preparation for worship (purvanga-karma):

To avoid interrupting the worship, make sure that the following items are present before beginning (For all the Deities):

1. snana-patra and snana-jala (one should learn how to make snana-
   jala: see daily services);

2. a bell;

3. a bathing conch shell;

4. a pahca-patra with samanya-arghya water (see daily services);

5. an asana for performing worship (towel to sit on altar);

6. pin-cushion and tag;

7. towels for wiping the deities (silk or cotton)

8. jewellery in a tray or box

9. daily clothes;

10. peacock feather, crowns, turban cloth, packing for turban, effulgence;

11. flower garlands;

 

1. candan paste and TulasI leaves;

2. belts for Deities

(D)    Purifviifg the Lords paraphernalia (dravva-suddhhi):

(1)     Purify the Lords paraphernalia and garlands by sprinkling a few drops
from pahca-patra.

(Sprinkle very few drops of water so that you can avoid spoiling the clothes or jewellery while purifying )

1. Remove the previous day's dresses and keep them in a tray by folding
   them or put them on hanger.

2. For big Deities, use a slightly damp cloth or cotton buds to remove
   dust from the pores of fingers of lotus hand and feet and then give Them
   bath.

3. Apply fragrant oil to Sri Gopala before the bath. Apply only to the
   uncovered areas and lotus face.

 

(E)    Bathing the Deities (snana) and Dressing;

1) Keep bathing pot in front of the Deities. While bathing the marble Deities, we should invite them and meditate that They are standing on abhisek patra. Give Them bath three times by directly pouring water in the abhisek patra, while ringing the bell and chanting the Brahma-samhita prayers:

cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa-laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam govindam adi-purusam tarn aham bhajami

venurii kvanantam aravinda-dalayataksam barhavatamsam asitambuda-sundarahgam kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-visesa-sobham govindam adi-purusam tarn aham bhajami

alola-candraka-lasad-vannmlya-vamsi-ratnahgadam pranaya-keli-kala- vilasam sy'amam tri-bhanga-lalitam niyata-prakasam govindam adi-purusam tarn aham bhajami

2) Then dry Their Lordships with soft clothes. (FOR THE MARBLE
DEITIES, BE EXTREMELY GENTLE, NOT TO ANYWAY DISTURB
THE PAINT ON THEIR FACE* ESPECIALLY THE ENTIRE FACE
OF Sri Gopinath.)

1. Then apply candan and TulasI ]eaves to the lotus feet of the Deities.

2. Give Their Lordships dresses, jewellery, garlands etc.

3. After dressing the Deities, clean the altar. Give Deities Their shoes.

4. Set-up the altar.

5. The pujarl who completes his/her worship first should assist other
   pujaris in making offering plates, putting the dresses and jewellery at proper
   places, putting up the backdrops, changing the TulasI plants, garlanding all

photographs. All Krsna's animals should be handled very carefully and kept at proper position.

Procedure for small Radha Gopinath

• Perform acamana; Gayatri; bhuta-suddhi; dhyana, bahya puja & stutis for
  Guru, Gauranga and Radha Krsna in the room next to the Deity room.

• Then enter the Deity room, purify hands from the acamana patra and the
  feet with the water kept in the spouted pot.

Requesting the spiritual master and previous Acarva's blessings (guru-pankti-namaskara):

Draw the attention of your spiritual master by placing flowers before him (puspahjali) while chanting esa puspahjalih and the guru-mula-mantra. Then, meditating on your spiritual master's service to the previous acaryas, show the pranama-mudra (joined palms) and chant:

srl-guro paramananda premananda phala-prada vrajananda-pradananda-sevayamma niyojaya

'My dear spiritual master, who gives the fruit of the highest bliss- the bliss of love ot Godhead - please engage me in the blissful service of Sri Krsna, who bestows bliss upon the land of Vraja.'

jaya sri-hrsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda srl-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda

'All glories to Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Acarya, Sri Gadadhara, Srivasa Thakur and all those devotees who follow in their footsteps.'

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Then offer obeisances.

 

(A)   Preparation for worship (pnrvanga-karma):

To avoid interrupting the worship, make sure that the following items are present before beginning (For all the Deities):

1. snana-patra and snana-jala (one should learn how to make snana-
   jala: see daily services);

2. a bell;

3. a bathing concfr shell;

4. a pan§a-pdtra with samanya-arghya water (see daily services);

5. an asana for performing worship;                              

6. pin-cushion and tag;m

7. towels for wiping the Deities (2 nos.);

8. jewellery;.

9. daily clothes in a tray;

10. peacock feather, crowns, turban cloth, packing for turban, effulgence;
    1 l)flower garlands;

12)  candan paste and TulasI leaves;                                   

13) Visarjaniya patra (throw-out pot);

14)madhuparka;       .                                                                         

15)acamaniyam (clove water);

16)Gopi candan and lemon juice paste;

17) cotton;

19)dantakastam.

20) Flowers

(B) Madhuparka

Madhuparka, composed of the auspicious elements of cow milk, yogurt, ghee, honey and sugar, is a highclass refreshment given to a respected person.

Preparation

Madhuparka should have four parts honey and one part of each of the

remaining ingredients.

Before offering it, chant

esa madhuparkah and the mula-mantra for the Deity

 

( C ) gopi-candan and lemonjuice paste preparation

Take two and a half spoonful of gopi-candan powder. Add lemon juice (one)in it. See that the seeds do not remain in paste. Candan paste should not be very liquid.

• After the curtains are closed take the table of the small Deities in the
  altar room. Put table cloth on it. Shift the Deities' from the altar to lift?
  table.

• Airange the paraphernalia in such a way that you need not move  from
  your asana and so that you can easily reach them. Sit on asana.

 

 

Position of Guru maharaja in yantra.

 

1. Bathing vessel is called Goloka yantra. -

2. Make the lotus in the yantra with candan paste.

3. Write ' MinV (the blja mantra) in the center of the yantra.

4. Offer uowcr and chandan to bell, conch, Guru maharaja, Goloka
   Dhama, and paraphernalia.

5. Offer acmanlyam- madhuparka-punar acmaniyarn (clove water) to
   Krsna and then Srimati RadharanI.

6. Undress Srimati RadharanI.

7. Put yantra on table.

8. Invite Srimati RadharanI into yantra and put the Deity in yantra.

9. Offer twigs, i.e., danta kastham.

1. Pour little bathing water through conch on Deity.

2. Then rub the body of deity with candan paste with the help of wet
   piece of cotton starting from face. Do not put candan paste into the
   lotus eyes of the Deities and on painted parts.

3. Again pour little water on Deity.

4. Rub with wet cotton only.

5. Bathe the Deity with water from conch-shell three times.

6. Take the Deity out of yantra and wipe the body of Deity with towel.

7. Immediately after bathing tulasi leaves should be offered at the lotus
   feet of Sri Gopinath. (* only for Gopinath not fbrllatiharani)

8. Then dress the Deity.

9. Rub the stand of the Deity with wet cotton an&candan paste (mixed
   with lemon juice) and clean with water.

10. Repeat the same procedure (from step 7 to 19) for Sri Goplnathajl.

11. Then decorate the Deities with jewellery and garlands etc.

[Note: We use only right hand for cleaning Deity's lotus body.

Use small handkerchief or cotton while supporting or holding with the left

hand.

We do not turn the back of the Deities while giving Them bath, dressing or

decoration                                      „*

While giving Them bath the gopOhcandan paste should be completely

removed from the Deity's lotus body.

Deity's stand and flute should also be cleaned and dried completely.]

Special   Instructions   on   Dressing   the   Deities   (at   Radha Gopinath Temple)

1. Radhdrdni's crown should not be too low or too high.

2. Radhdrdni .Gopinath, Gaur-Nitdi's hair should come down.

3. Turban should be round on top.

4. Gopinath's turban should give Him look of a cowherd boy.

5. Keep simplicity in peacock feather decoration.

6. Shawls should come down and out. Should not look like wings,
   sticking out. Shawls should not be on one side only.

7. There should not be many extra clothes.

8. Gopinath's lotus feet should be always visible.

9. Deities should look natural.

 

1. If this service is new to you, please start with simple dressing.

2. Plastic bindi should not be used for Rddhdrdni. Use a jewel   with a
   little tack. Always use red jewel as bindi.

3. For small Radhdrdni, use small jewel as bindi and a nose ring. Bindi
   should always be red.

4. In the morning, before bathing the Deity and in the evening before
   sayana  dressing remove  tack from  all  places.  Clean  the body-
   especially face with towels/cotton.

5. Our mouth smell should not^go to the Deities.

6. Offering & taking out of flute; jewellery should be done very gently

7. One should not put Deities paraphernalia on  cloth asana which we
   use for sitting on altar.

8. One should not put tack on hair or on  forehead of the Deity. Tack
   should be one inch inside the hair.

9. Dressing and offering should be done in time.

10. Deity worship must be simple.

11. There should be no jewellery at night.

12. Radhdrdni must have nose ring and bindi at all times during darshans.

13. All crowns, turban pieces and peacock feathers should be removed
    while putting the Deities to rest.

14. For night clothes - no embroidery, comfortable, beautiful and dress
    colour should be different from background curtain colour.

15. Day dressing:

(i)      Radhdrdni- One crown / chandrika, one effulgence, belt, jewel as bindi and nose ring, garland or flowers in hand, (ii)     Krsna - Always should have turban/crown, effulgence, shawl, dhoti, pant, belt. No pointed turbans should be used. ON THE FACE

THERE SHOULD NOT   BE ANY GOPI CANDAN  DOTS OR TACK. Use only one or two peacock feathers.

1. NO TACK ON THE FACE AND CLOTHES OF ANY DEITIES.

2. No tack on altar and anywhere in the Deity room. It should go only in
   its respective place.

3. The effulgence should go all around the head.

29)  The devotees feet should not touch the Singhasana. He /She
should sit/stand on a cloth asana for sitting on altar.

30)     The Pujari should purify his hand, if he touches anything else. For
example : if he touches his cddar or she touches her sari etc. or body.

31)   The previous dress of the Deities should be folded very nicely.

1. During the morning dressing, the pujaris should start the dressing
   immediately after the curtain closes. They should finish the chanting
   of Gayatri mantras and collection of all paraphernalia required for
   dressing before the curtain closes.

2. Use only silk towel after bathing.

3. No need of cloth on Deity's waist during giving bath.

4. Sri Gopala must have a peacock feather.

5. After night dressing one should remove the glue tag and pins from the
   jewellery and other paraphernalia.

6. While dressing pins should not be visible from the outside of the
   clothes.

7. Dressing should be proportionate. Back part of the deities should be
   covered properly.

8. Color of the dresses (extra clothes for turban) should be matching.

9. PINS SHOULD NEVER TOUCH THE LOTUS BODY OF THE
   DEITY.

10. While putting the turban, inside packing should not be visible.

11. Jewellery for the Lotus Feet or waist should not be used on the Lotus
    head.

12. Jewellery on the Lotus Hand, Lotus Feet should not be very tight.

13. If one touches the simhdsana with feet or other part of the body, then
    he/she should immediately offer respect by touching hand to the
    head.

14. One should never stand directly on any part of the altar. One must use
    cloth dsana before ascending the altar.

15. When Deities are given bath, pujari should not leave them for any
    other service. They should be dressed properly covered with proper
    cloth.

16. Deities should have upavita made from silk threads.

 

48)    Using Tack :

(i)      As minimum as possible

(ii)     No tack on the cloth

(iii)    No tag on the face (except for 3rl Gopala and nose ring and

bindi for Radharani) (iv)    One can use tack for earrings and if the jewellery falls short to

be tied, one can use safety pins to tie them, (v)     One should not use tack on the diamond side of jewellery or

one the peacock feathers, (vi)    Never stick excessive tack on the altar or anywhere. It should

go to its regular respective place, (vii)   For wigs, tack should be   one inch inside from hair. Never

allow tack to come in front and get stuck to the hair.

49)     Using Pins :

(i)      Not too many pins

(ii)     While using pins one should be very careful so that they do not

touch the Lotus body of the Deities, (iii)    Scratching pin to the lotus body of the Deity means scratching

our spiritual life (iv)    While undressing the Deity, remove all pins carefully not a

single pin should remain that will spoil the dress cloth.

50)    Using Flowers :

(i) While putting flowers, pins should pierce the turban and point outwards into the flower. There is possibility of hurting the body the Deity if the pin is pointing inwards towards the Deity.

(ii) The flower decoration should be proportionate to face and turban of the Deity.

(iii)    One should not stick flowers with tacks.

(iv)    Small flowers can be used for Radharani.

(v)     See pp supplement 33,34

51)    All pujaris  must  follow  the high standards of punctuality and
cleanliness.

H.H. Radhanath Maharai said regarding dressing:

"/ dressed deities for ten years in simple and standard way, with a few pieces of jewellery perfectly in line, exactly balanced and symmetrical. Many senior devotees used to come and say, 'How beautiful the Deities are!' People should see the beauty of the Deity. Krsna is not standing as a model to exhibit your artistic abilities."

General Instructions:

1. Nobody should go inside the Deity room except those who are
   performing aratl or having service inside the Deity room.   If you want
   something from the Deity room, you can ask for it from somebody serving
   inside the Deity room, while standing near the door.

2. NO   NAILS    OR   TACK    SHOULD   EVER   BE   USED   IN
   DECORATING        THE    ALTAR   AND    SRILA    PRABHUPADA'S

VYASASANA.

1. Altar Maha-cleaning should be done once a week.

2. One should follow one particular standard of Deity worship.

3. Dandavats should be offered outside the Altar, not inside.

4. For abhiseka, milk should be lukewarm.

5. For madhuparka ghee should be melted.

6. Glue tack or jewellery should not be stuck on the simhasana.

7. No pin-cushions or pins should be left on the altar.

8. If someone goes outside the Deity room to bring something from
   outside (e.g. TulasI plants), then he/she should wash his/her feet before
   entering the main Deity-room.

9. When worshipping Deities and when cooking, women should be
   dressed in a sari, with their heads covered. They should not use perfume
   and nail polish, and should part their hair in the middle and braid it or tie it.

10. Do not apply oil on any Deity except Sri Gopala.

 

1. The Deities sacred thread prasada is to be kept in a holy place and
   should not be worn by devotees.

2. No chemicals should be used for Deities' vessels, (pitambari, brasso,
   silvo etc.)

 

DETAILED PROCEDURE FOR DRESSING THE DEITIES AT SRI SRI RADHA GOPINATH MANDIR

DASANUDAS

1. Enter the Deity room at 5.00 a.m. immediately after taking darsana. If
   mataji, enter with friend or husband. Pay Obeisances.

2. Go to the next room and perform purification procedure (purvaiiga
   karma).

3. Enter the Deity room. Purify your hands. Wash your feet.

4. Offer flowers to Guru Maharaj. (Chant esa puspanjalih and mula mantra;
   offer pranama mudra and chant \sn guru paramananda...., jay srl krsna
   caitanya... and Hare Krsna maha mantra') Then offer obeisances.

5. Bring TulasI maharani. Put inner and outer dress.

6. If you have gone out of the Deity room for servie, purify hands and feet
   each time.

7. Wash vessels of Balya Bhoga. Wipe them and put them back in their
   places. (On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays).

8.  Ensure that adequate quantity of   chandan paste is available or else
make necessary arrangements.

1. Make abhiseka patras. ( Kalasa with purified water added with chandan
   paste, flowers and TulasI leaves, bathing conch shell, bell and acamana
   patra with samanya arghya water).

2. After curtains are closed, remove back drop.

11.Give Deity Dresses, Deity Towels, Jewellery boxes, extra chains (if

wanted), Stainless steel boxes, garlands for each Deity. 12.Put on cassette as soon as chanting starts in the temple hall. 13.Remove conch shell with stand, bell with plate, acaman Patra, kalasa and

agarbatti stand from arati table, and give for cleaning. 14.Stand in the passage, collect snana patra, conch shell bell, visarjana

patra and kalasa from each pujari as soon as He/She finishes bathing the

Deities. Remove the snana patra etc. very very carefully. It should

not touch the Deities. 15.Put water in the bucket and conch shell on the platform on one side.

Handle the conch shell extremely carefully to avoid breakages. 16.Wash the snana patra, conchshell of Nityananda and give back to pujari .

When he/she finishes bathing of Lord Chaitanya take snana patra back

and keep for washing.

 

 

17.After Deities' bathing give Tulasi and candan paste for lotus feet of the

Lord. lS.Bring night outfits outside the altar. Fold them nicely and put on Hanger.

Do not mix clothes with other Deities'    clothes. Extra clothes, belts,

turban pieces, peacock feathers, crowns should be put back in their

respective places.

19.Bring Deity Towels, fold them and put on hanger. 20.Remove cows' old dresses and put on new ones. Put old dresses in

respective places. 21.The dresses of Tulsi, cows and the small Deities should be matching

with the dresses of the main Deities. 22.Shift Tulasi Maharani to the alter. 23.Wash vessels (if not already washed) removed from aratl table, wipe

them and put them back on the aratl table. 24.Whenever   any pujari calls, should   go and immediately provide the

necessary items. Should respond alertly and enthusiastically. 25.Put on new Back drop. 26.By 6.30 a.m. put milk on heater for heating. 27.If required, help with small Deities dressing. 28.Clean all photosiranhs wirh cotton and garland them. 29.  Offer tulasi and candan to Pancha Tattva and  Lord  Narsimhadev

photographs.

50 Make ottering pi^es und y.hoga plates. 31.Fill up seven glasses of water for Deities and Guru Maharaj. 32. At 6.45 a.m. ring bell so that pujaris get down. No body should be on the

alter after 6.45 a.m. 33.Make small arati plate with flowers and agarbatti. Make flower with

scented cotton.   Put one acamana patra and bell with scented flower on

plate. 34.Before 6.55 a.m., the altar should be cleaned and rearranged. The floor

should be swept and mopped. 35.Start offering sharp at 6.55 a.m.

36.Put all paraphernalia and dresses Cif any) back to their respective places. 37.By 7.10 a.m. the Deity room platform and the floor should be cleaned.

DASANUDAS   should   be   very   expert,   humble,   gentle,   alert   and enthusiastic in the performance of his/her duties.

 

SRI SRl GAUR NITAI DRESSING

1. Enter the Deity room at 5.00 a.m. immediately after taking darsana. If mataji,
   enter with friend or husband. Pay Obeisances.

2. Go to the next room and perform purification procedure (purvariga karma).

3. Enter the Deity room. Purify your hands. Wash your feet.

4. Offer flowers to Guru Maharaj. (Chant esa puspanjalih and mula mantra; offer
   pranama mudra and chant 'srl guru paramananda...., jay srl krsna caitanya...
   and Hare Krsna maha mantra') Then offer obeisances.

5. After the curtain is closed, take all paraphernalia (abhiseka patra, acamana
   patra, empty   tray, turban clothes, turban pieces or crowns, pin cushion and
   tack) required before climbing on the altar.

6. Remove the shoes of the Deities to the side so that pujaris will not place their
   knees on them.

7. Place towels on the altar for squatting/sitting.

8. The pujari should purify his hand if he touches anything else. For e.g. - If he
   touches his cadar or she touches her saree etc. or body

9. Undress the Deities carefully taking care that the pins do not touch their
   Lotus bodies.   One hand should be used for removing the pins and the
   second hand should be used for holding clothes such as turban, shawl etc.
   When both the hands are used to remove the pins, the chances of the pins
   touching the Lotus body of the Lord are greater.

10. Handle the Deities very gently.

11. Care should be taken that our mouth odour does not go to the deities.

12. Bring snana patra in front of Lord Nityananda Prabhu/Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

13. Meditate on inviting Lord Nityananda Prabhu/ Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to me
    snana patra.

14. Give bath with conch shell three times by pouring water into the snana patra
    while chanting Brahma Samhita.

15. Meditate on inviting them back to their place.

16. Dry the lord with soft towel very gently without shaking the Deities. Do not
    rub but gently dust the painted areas.

17. Apply Tulsi and Chandan to Their Lotus feet.

18. Purify each item of the Lord's paraphernalia before using them.

19. If this service (Dressing) is new to you, please start with simple dressing.

20. While dressing do not keep any paraphernalia on the altar cloth (towels) used
    to climb on the alter.

21. Put on Their Shirts first.

22. Put on Their pants/Dhotis over Their Shirts. Pants/Dhotis should not touch -Jie
    chandan on Their lotus feet.23.        Put the Skirt or waist clothes: then put on waist belts. Pin up the skirts to nylon
    threads but not very high.

24. Put the jewellery very gently so that they don't scratch against the face of the
Lord. Also anklets and bracelets should be neither very light nor very loose.
They should also not scratch against Their feet or hands. In case no shirt is put
(e.g. in summer) then put armlets. In case the jewellery has pendants with
design, the correct side should come out.

1. In case use is made of extra chains, then these should be put around i.e. by the
   side of the main jewellery.

2. Put Garland. Garland should not be hanging below the skirt and there should
   not be too much space between garland and jewellery.

3. Put on shawls and pin them up in such a way that they are neither too much in
   front nor too much behind or very high.

4. Put earrings before putting hair so that the tack does not stick to the hair. One
   should not put tack on hair or on the forehead. Tag should be one inch inside
   the hair.

5. Put on the wig and take all the hair behind neatly so it does not come over the
   face. While taking the hair behind care should be exercised that fingers should
   not rub the eyebrows.

6. Put the sponge piece neither very tight nor very loose and not covering the
   eyebrows.   The sponge should be taken to the front and crossed in the front.
   The sponge should be joined with one pin. Pin should go upward and not in the
   wig

7. Turban : Put cloth for padding in case the turban piece is very thin and small
   or put the net turban very neatly with minimum pins without letting the pins go
   through the wigs. Put one or more turban pieces to decorate the turban in a
   simple way. The turban should be proportionate to the face; Not too big and not
   too small. No pointed turban. Turban should be round on top.

8. Effulgence: Put the effulgence, symmetrically attaching it with pins to the
   turban, or adjusting it on stand.

9. Crown : After putting sponge piece, put a thin turban cloth. Then carefully put
   the crown on the turban cloth. If the crown has holes in the design, put one or
   two pins through the crown to the turban. It will give temporary support to the
   crown.  Then neatly tie the knot  behind.  Put peacock feather for Lord
   Chaitanya. While putting the crown, take care that the crown will not scratch or
   hurt the forehead or the face of the-Deity. This is very important. Crown should
   look symmetrical and proportionate to the face.

10. No peacock feather should be put over Lord Nityananda Prabhu. Add peacock
    feather to the turban / crown of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Check everything-dress, jewellery, effulgence, flowers if any. Garlands are symmetrical for Lord Nityananda and Lord Gauranga before coming down from the altar. Please also check that the altar is clean and that not a single petal is left behind.

 

SRI GOPALA DRESSING

1. Enter the Deity room at 5.00 a.m. immediately after taking darsana. If mataji.
   enter with friend or husband. Pay Obeisances.

2. Go to the next room and perform purification procedure (purvariga karma).

3. Enter the Deity room. Purify your hands. Wash your feet.

4. Offer flowers to Guru Maharaj. (Chant esa puspanjalih and mula mantra; offer
   pranama mudra and chant 'srl guru paramananda...., jay srl krsna caitanya...
   and Hare Krsna maha mantra') Then offer obeisances.

5. After the curtain is closed, take all paraphernalia (kaupin, turban piece, turban
   cloth, peacock feathers, empty tray, jewellery boxes, pin cushion, tack, oil)
   required before climbing on the altar.

6. Remove the shoes of Sri Gopal to the side so that pujari will not place the
   knees on them.

7. Put altar cloth (Towel) on altar for sitting.

8. The pujari should pourify his hand if he touches anything else. For e.g. - If he
   touches his cadar or she touches her saree etc. or body

9. Undress Gopal and carefully remove all tacks from the head, face, fingers, toes

10. Undress Gopal carefully taking care that the pins do not touch His Lotus
    body.   One hand should be used for removing the pins and the second
    hand should be used for holding clothes such as turban, shawl etc. When
    both the hands   are used to remove the pins, the chances of the pins
    touching the Lotus body of the Lord are greater.

11. Handle the Deity very gently.

12. Care should be taken that our mouth odour does not go to the Deity.

13. Massage with a little bit of sandal wood oil to the face and open parts of the
    Lord.

14. Bring snana patra in front of Gopala.

15. Meditate on inviting Lord Gopal to the snana patra.

16. Give bath with conch shell three times by pouring water into the snana patra
    while chanting Brahma Sarhhita.

17. Meditate on inviting Him back to His place.

18. Dry the lord with soft towel very gently without shaking the deity. Do not rub
    but gently dust the painted areas.

19. Apply Tulsi and Chandan to His Lotus feet.

20. Purify each item of the Lord's paraphernalia before using them.

21. If this service (Dressing) is new to you, please start with simple dressing.

22. While dressing do not keep any paraphernalia on the altar cloth (towels) which
    is used to climb on the altar.

23. Before putting on or while removing the clothes of the Deity, check if there is
    any pin or tag on the cloth. Do not use any paraphernalia negligently.

24.   Put on His Kaupin.

1. Put on His Shirt.

2. Put on His pant over His Shirt. Pant should not touch the chandan on His lotus
   feet.

27. If not putting shirt (like in summer) ensure that the upavita is not tucked into
die dhoti/pant but is kept outside.

28.    Put the Skirt.

1. Pin up the skirt to nylon threads but not very high.

2. Put the shawl through the thumb of the left hand and pin behind peacock. The
   shawl should be at the same level as the hand; neither too high nor too low and
   it should look naturally curved. The other part of the shawl should go over the
   wrist of the right hand and should be tied to the thread connected to the
   peacock next to Radharani.

3. Put the garland behind the right hand. Garland must come down till ankles
   only. The garland should be symmetrical.

4. Put the Jewellery without scratching against the Lotus face of Gopal.

5. Put anklets and bracelets neither very tight nor very loose.

6. Put on armlets along with the strap of the shawl on the left arm . Strap should
   not be seen from the front of the Deity.

7. Put the turban cloth tightly,  without any pins ,  in such a way that it can hold
   the weight of the turban piece .

8. Attach the turban pieces with minimum pins onto the ball under the turban
   cloth firmly. The pins should go upward so that they will not touch the Deity
   and scratch His Lotus body.

9. Put the Chandika gently (so that it does not scratch ) on the left side of the
   turban sticking with tag on the head and not on the cloth.

10. The crown (or turban) and candrika of Sri Gopal should be proportionate (at 45
    degrees) and they should not be leaning on either side.

11. Put the head beads in a neat"W" shape and then put the Tilak.

12. Put the beads and Tilak in such a way that the forehead can be seen.

13. Put the earrings on the cheeks close to the ears. Put them gently, in such a way
    that they will not scratch the cheeks.

14. Put Nose ring (Red Colour) on the right side of the nose and Chibhuk (White
    color) on the chin.

15. Put small diamonds just behind the toe nails of both the feet.

16. Put medium sized diamonds as rings.

17. Make design on the face around eyes with candan paste and (if available,
    colours) but not on the cheeks .

Check everything - dress, jewellery, flowers if any, and garland are symmetrical for Sri Gopal before coming down from the altar. Please also check that the altar is clean and that not a single petal is left behind.

 

 

SRIMATIRADHARANPS DRESSING

1. Enter the Deity room at 5.00 a.m. immediately after taking darsana. If mataji,
   enter with friend or husband. Pay Obeisances.

2. Go to the next room and perform purification procedure (purvariga karma).

3. Enter the Deity room. Purify your hands. Wash your feet.

4. Offer flowers to Guru Maharaj. (Chant esa puspanjalih and mula mantra; offer
   pranama mudra and chant 'srl guru paramananda...., jay sii krsna caitanya...
   and Hare Krsna maha mantra') Then offer obeisances.

5. After the curtain is closed, take all paraphernalia (nose rings, bindi, effulgence,
   crown, inner petticoat, pin cushion, tack, acamana patra. Abhiseka patra)
   required before climbing on the altar

6. Remove the shoes of Radharani to the side so that pujari will not place the
   knees on them.

7. Place towels on the altar for sitting

8. The pujari should  purify his hands if touches anything else. For e.g. - is he
   touches a cadar or she touches her saree etc. or body.

9. Undress the Deity carefully taking care that the pins do not touch Her Lotus
   body.   One hand should be used for removing the pins and the second hand
   should be used for holding clothes such as shawl, blouse, skirt etc. When both
   the hands,  are used to remove the pins, the chances of the pins touching the
   Lotus body of the Lord are greater.

10. Handle the Deity very gently.

11.Care should be taken that our mouth odour does not go to the Deity.

12.Bring snana patra in front of Srlmati Radharani

13.Meditate on inviting Srlmati Radharani to the snana patra.

14.Give bath with conch shell three times by pouring water into the snana patra

while chanting Brahma Samhita. 15.Meditate on inviting Her back to Her place. 16.Dry the Deity with soft towel very gently without shaking the deity. Do not

rub but gently dust the painted areas.

17.Purify each item of the Deity's paraphernalia before using them. 18.If this service (Dressing) is new to you, please start with simple dressing. 19.While dressing don't keep any paraphernalia on the altar cloth (Towel). 20.Before putting or removing the clothes of the Deity, check for any pins or

tacks. Do not use any paraphernalia negligently. 21.Put on the inner skirt closing the Velcro properly, position it on the right rather

than back so that back is properly covered. 22.Put on the blouse. If it is loose, then tighten the neck of the blouse by putting

pin behind in such a way that it doesn't hurt Deity. 23.Then put the outer skirt over Her waist not too low or too high - in such a way

that Her form stands out.24.Put the belt on.

25.Take the jewellery and measure it to see how low it comes and then put the

flower garland. 26.The garland should not go too below the waist. Remove or adjust some flowers

from the side which will go behind Her left hand . 27.Now put on the main jewellery-necklace. Place it such a way that it forms inner

contour to garland. While placing take care that it doesn't scratch against Her

face. Necklace shouldn't cover complete neck, neither it should hang too low. 28.Put on the bracelets not very tight   or very   loose. Take care not to scratch

against Her hands. 29.Take a red jewel and use a little tack to put as bindi. Take a matching nose ring

and with a little tack attach to left side of the nose. Never put tack in nostrils.

Stick the other end of nose ring to the upper part of the left ear. 30.Stick the earrings with a little tack. (Nose ring and Ear rings must be placed

before putting on wigs so that tack doesn't stick to the hair) 31.Take Her hair and carefully stick on the top of the head. Then neatly take all

the hair behind so that they don't come over Her face. Then holding the middle

part of the hair gently pose them in such a way that it forms inverted "V"

shape from the parting and sides should touch the eyebrows. 32.Neatly fold the shawl (chunni) & place it over the head & pin the 2 inner

borders on the shoulders by carefully picking up the blouse, pinning it closer to

the neck. (While pinning use your finger as a judgement support so that it will

not hurt the Deity). Also pin the shawl up from both the sides but not very h'^h.

There should not be any gap between the inner side of the shawl &Her warsi 33. Adjust garland and jewellery neatly so that it stands out symmetrically. Pin the

right side of the garland to the blouse. While pinning lift up the blouse to avoid

hurting the Deity. 34.Now place the crown ( not too front or too behind, not too low or high) in such

a way that the inverted "V" shape of the hair is properly seen. 35.Even if extra jewelry is used to decorate the crown, please maintain the

inverted "V" shape of the hair. 36.Gently place the effulgence over the shawl so that it goes all around the head.

(Effulgence should not be put directly on the hair, it will hurt the Deity. Adjust

effulgence on the stand.)

37.Place the garland symmetrically in both Her hands. 38.If you want to decorate with flowers, use small flowers. 39.Spread Her skirt over the stand and stick with tag but not very high. 40.Dress Shrimati Radharani in such a way that it will give Her the look of a

chaste   lady.   Check   everything   -   dress,   jewellery,    effulgence,   hair.

crown/chandrika, bindi, nose ring, earrings, garland, belt, skirt, shawl etc.  are

symmetrical before coming down from the altar. Please also check that the altar

is clean and that not a single petal is left behind.

 

SRI GOPINATH'S DRESSING

1.  Enter the Deity room at 5.00 a.m. immediately after taking darsana. If mataji,
enter with friend or husband. Pay Obeisances.

1. Go to the next room and perform purification procedure (purvariga karma).

2. Enter the Deity room. Purify your hands. Wash your feet.

 

1. Offer flowers to Guru Maharaj. (Chant esa puspanjalih and mula mantra; offer
   pranama mudra and chant 'srl guru paramananda...., jay srl krsna caitanya...
   and Hare Krsna maha mantra') Then offer obeisances.

2. After the curtain is closed, take all paraphernalia (turban piece, turban cloth,
   empty tray, jewellery boxes, pin cushion, tack, peacock feathers etc.) required
   before climbing on the altar.

3. Remove shoes aside

4. Put altar cloth (towel) on altar for sitting

5. The pujari should purify his hands if he touches anything else. For e.g. - if he
   touches his cadar or she touches her saree etc. or body.

6. Undress Lord Gopinath and carefully remove all tacks if any.  Undress
   Gopinath carefully taking care that the pins do not touch His Lotus body.
   One hand should be used for removing the pins and the second hand
   should be used for holding clothes such as turban, shawl etc. When both
   the hands  are used to remove the pins, the chances of the pins touching
   the Lotus body of the Lord are greater.

7. Handle the Deity very gently.

8. Care should be taken that our mouth odour does not go to the Deity.

9. Bring snana patra in front of Gopinath.

10. Meditate on inviting Lord Gopinath to the snana patra.

11. Give bath with conch shell three times by pouring water into the snana patra
    while chanting Brahma Samhita.

12. Meditate on inviting Him back to His place.

13. Dry the lord with soft towel very gently without shaking the Deity. Do not
    rub but gently dust the painted areas.

14. Apply TulasI and candan to His Lotus feet.

15. Purify each item of the Lord's paraphernalia before using them.

16. If this service (Dressing) is new to you, please start with simple dressing.

17. Do not keep any Deity paraphernalia on the altar cloth (towel)

18. Before putting or removing the clothes of the Deity, check for any pins or tags.
    Do not use any paraphernalia negligently.

19. Put on His Shirt.

20. If not putting shirt, then ensure that the upavita is kept outside the dhoti/pant

21. Put on His pant over His Shirt. Pant should not touch candan on His lotus feet.

22. Put the Skirt or waist cloth. The skirt should be raised on Lord Gopinath's left
    side till the hand of Srimati Radharani; and on the right, to the peacock stand at
    an appropriate height. The waist cloth should not go down beyond the ankle of
    the Lord & should neatly cover the waist in such a way that the curve form of the Lord stands out. There should be no bulging of that cloth near the navel part of the Lord.

1. Then put the belt.

2. Neatly fold the shawl and put over the right shoulder. Pin the inner side of the
   right flap of the shawl near the waist and the outer side to the peacock stand.
   Pin the left flap inner side near waist and outer side to the right sleeve of
   Radharani's blouse.

3. Put on the garland. Remove some flowers from the left side of the garland
   which will go behind His arms.

4. Put the main jewellery necklace and if lot of space is there between the
   jewellery and the garland, put on extra chains of matching colours but place
   them neatly by the side of the main necklace. Don't scratch the face while
   putting them on.

5. Put on the bracelets, anklets and ear rings. If you are not putting the shirt, put
   armlets. While putting the anklet and bracelets, see that they are not too tight or
   too loose. Also they should not scratch the Deity's body. While putting ear
   rings, support the Deity from behind to avoid shaking.

6. Put on His hair & take all hair behind and little over the shoulders to avoid
   covering the face. While taking the hair behind, please do not rub His eyebrows

7. Put the sponge piece, not very tight and not very loose, with only one pin going
   upwards and not in the wig. Don't cover the eyebrows with the sponge.

8. Put the cloth for padding if the turban piece is very thin or put the net cloth
   neatly with minimum pins. The shape of turban should not be pointed. It should
   be round on top. The shape of the turban should give Him the look of a
   cowherd boy. It should be proportionate to the face - not very big and not very-
   small. Decorate with one or more turban pieces in a simple way without putting
   the pins straight into the wig. The pins must always go upwards.

9. Crown : After putting sponge piece, put a thin turban cloth. Then carefully put
   the crown on the turban cloth. If the crown has holes in the design, put one or
   two pins through the crown to the turban. It will give temporary support the
   crown. Then neatly tie the knot behind. While putting the crown, take care that
   the crown will not scratch or hurt the forehead or the face of the Deity. This is
   very important. Crown should look symmetrical and proportionate to the face.

10. Take care to see that you don't shake the body of the Deity while putting the
    pins on the turbans. Be very gentle.

11. Put the effulgence, attaching to the turban with pins or adjusting with nylon
    threads in such a way that it goes all around the head.

12. Offer some jewels stones on Gopinath's fingers as finger rings.

13. If you want, then decorate with some flowers, but the flowers on the turbans
    should be put from behind and not from front. The flowers should not cover the
    forehead.

39.Replace the flute through the fingers without touching them; then put hand rest Check everything - dress, jewellery, effulgence, flowers, garlands are symmetrical for Lord Gopinath before coming down from the altar.