॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
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तयात्मभूतया पिण्डे व्याप्ते सम्पूज्य तन्मय: । आवाह्यार्चादिषु स्थाप्य न्यस्ताङ्गं मां प्रपूजयेत् ॥
T: The spirit of worship is paramount in the process, not the mere ritual. The devotee visualises Paramatma suffusing and enlivening his own body. The form is one of the devotee’s choice (Ishta). While being totally absorbed in the mind, the devotee then touches the various parts and limbs of the image, invoking his Paramatma to become present therein. That is the beginning of worship.
पाद्योपस्पर्शार्हणादीनुपचारान् प्रकल्पयेत् । धर्मादिभिश्च नवभि: कल्पयित्वासनं मम ॥
पद्ममष्टदलं तत्र कर्णिकाकेसरोज्ज्वलम् । उभाभ्यां वेदतन्त्राभ्यां मह्यं तूभयसिद्धये ॥
T: "I am the seated in the devotee’s heart as well as the worshipped image, surrounded by all the different Deities worshipped generally, the nine practices of Sanatana Dharma. My seat is the radiant eight-petalled lotus with its saffron-coloured filaments, as the devotee proceeds with Vedic chants and rituals of worship like Arghya etc. This is like receiving a most honoured guest at home."
सुदर्शनं पाञ्चजन्यं गदासीषुधनुर्हलान् । मुषलं कौस्तुभं मालां श्रीवत्सं चानुपूजयेत् ॥
नन्दं सुनन्दं गरुडं प्रचण्डं चण्डमेव च । महाबलं बलं चैव कुमुदं कमुदेक्षणम् ॥
दुर्गां विनायकं व्यासं विष्वक्सेनं गुरून्सुरान् ।स्वे स्वे स्थाने त्वभिमुखान् पूजयेत् प्रोक्षणादिभि: ॥
T: Bhagavan Maha Vishnu’s divine weapons, Sudarshana, Panchajanya, and so on are then propitiated, as well as his Kaustubha gem and the Srivatsa mark, the garland of flowers, too. So also his attendants who surround him are worshipped. Devi Durga, Vinayaka, Sage Vyasa, other preceptors, gods and so on, are also worshipped.
There is then a list of sacred materials like sandal paste, camphor, kumkuma, aguru and so on to be used, as also the Mantras to be chanted like Purusha Sukta, Sama Veda and so on.
Garlands, fine garments, perfumes, and so on are all offered in turn. Flowers, grains, incense and lamps are a must. Naivedya of sweet dishes like Payasam and Modaka are offered.
The abhisheka of the Deity at least on special occasions with fragrant unguents must be performed. There should be singing and dancing to celebrate the greatest presence one can ever experience in one’s life, i.e. of Bhagavan!
Yajna with the sacred fire lit up with firewood gathered by one’s own hands is most auspicious. Seated on the kusha grass, the devotee invokes the Lord within with sacred chants. Then there is a period of deep meditation experiencing the Lord as present in the sacred fire.
There is an elaborate description of Bhagavan’s divine form with his four hands, his divine weapons, his immaculate radiance, his jewellery, and so on to be visualised. This is possible when the devotee is truly immersed in the worship, and the chants like Purusha Sukta very much enliven his visualisation.
मूलमन्त्रं जपेद् ब्रह्म स्मरन्नारायणात्मकम्
T: The essential OM that represents Parabrahman becomes the personification of Bhagavan Sriman Narayana.
Elaborate, fervent, physical worship of the Lord, singing his glories, reciting the Mantras, reading the sacred scriptures like Srimad Bhagavatam, and celebrating without hesitation with like-minded devotees, all culminate in a cathartic surrender to the Lord.
शिरो मत्पादयो: कृत्वा बाहुभ्यां च परस्परम् । प्रपन्नं पाहि मामीश भीतं मृत्युग्रहार्णवात् ॥
T: Placing his head at the feet of the Deity, the devotee should then stand with folded hands before the Lord and pray, “Oh my Lord, please protect me, who am surrendered unto You. I am most fearful of this ocean of material existence, standing as I am in the mouth of death.”
Saying this, the devotee accepts the Prasada.
अर्चादिषु यदा यत्र श्रद्धा मां तत्र चार्चयेत् । सर्वभूतेष्वात्मनि च सर्वात्माहमवस्थित: ॥
एवं क्रियायोगपथै: पुमान् वैदिकतान्त्रिकै: । अर्चन्नुभयत: सिद्धिं मत्तो विन्दत्यभीप्सिताम् ॥
T: This is Bhagavan’s assurance: “Whenever one develops faith in Me — in My form as the Deity or in other bona fide manifestations — one should worship Me in that form. I certainly exist both within all created beings and also separately in My original form, since I am the Paramatma of all. By worshipping Me through the various methods prescribed in the Vedas and tantras, one will gain from Me his desired perfection in both this life and the next.”
By building and maintaining great temples where all worship is conducted meticulously and with devotion, by charities, and by creating beautiful public spaces for Sattvic enjoyment by everyone in society, man attains the Punya to proceed to the world of gods.
मामेव नैरपेक्ष्येण भक्तियोगेन विन्दति । भक्तियोगं स लभत एवं य: पूजयेत माम् ॥
T; “But one who simply engages in Bhakti Yoga with no consideration of fruitive results attains Me. Thus, whoever worships Me according to the process I have described will ultimately attain pure Bhakti Yoga i.e. the path of merging into Me.”
There is also a severe warning by Bgahavan that stealing or abetting the crime of thieving temple property or sacred articles of worship and images and sacred ornaments is the most heinous sin that results in the worst hellish punishment in all creation as this is the worst conduct for a human being possible.
Imagine the fate of iconoclasts who demolished temples and tore away idols and ornaments in a murderous loot!
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