Temple Songs - His - Divine - Grace - A. - C. - Bhaktivedanta - Swami

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Contents
Contents
1. Śrī Guru praṇāma
2. Śrīla Prabhupāda praṇati
3. Śrī Pañca-tattva praṇāma
4. Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahā-mantra
5. Śrī Śrī Gurv-aṣṭaka
6. Prema-dhvani Prayers
7. Śrī Nṛsiṁha Praṇāma
8. Śrī Tulasī-praṇāma
9. Śrī Tulasī-pūjā-kīrtana
10. Śrī Tulasī Pradakṣiṇa Mantra
11. The Ten Offences to the Holy Name
12. Vaiṣṇava-praṇāma
13. Śrī Śrī Śikṣāṣṭaka
14. Greeting the Deities
15. Śrī Guru-vandanā
16. Jaya Rādhā-Mādhava
17. Verses Recited Before Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Class
18. Śrī Śrī Ṣaḍ-gosvāmy-aṣṭaka
19. Other Kīrtana prayers
20. Nāma-saṅkīrtana
21. Śrī Nāma-kīrtana
22. Gaura-ārati
23. Sapārṣada-bhagavad-viraha-janita-vilāpa
24. Śrī Dāmodarāṣṭaka
25. Śrī Jagannāthāṣṭaka
26. Bhajahū Re Mana Śrī Nanda-nandana
27. Kṛṣṇa Jinakā
28. Jaya Mādhava Madana Murārī
29. Vande Kṛṣṇa Nanda Kumāra
30. Lālasāmayī Prārthanā
31. Sāvarana-śrī-gaura-pāda-padme
32. Offering Food
33. Prayers for honouring Prasadam
34. Offering Arati
35. Offering procedure
36. How to offer each item
37. Completing the Arati
38. Ekadasi
39. Applying Tilak
40. Tilaka Marking List
41. Temple Etiquette
42. Drinking Caranamrta
43. Circumbulating the temple of Visnu
44. Japa
45. Setting up a Temple at Home
46. Tulasi Devi
47. Tulasi arati
48. More about Tulasi
49. Concluding words
Temple Timetable
Temple Timetable
4:10 A.M. : Srila Prabhupada's Samadhi
Mangala-arati
4:30 A.M. : Temple Mangala-arati
Narsimha prayers
5:00 A.M. : Tulasi-arati
Obeisances to the Vaisnavas
5:10 A.M. : Chanting Hare Krsna on japa mala
7:15 A.M. : Sringara-arati
7:20 A.M. : Guru Puja to Srila Prabhupada
8:00 A.M. : Srimad Bhagavatam Class
8:30 A.M. : Dhupa-arati
12:00 P.M. : Raj Bhoga-arati
Winter/Summer
4:00/4:30 P.M. : Dhupa-arati
6:30/7:00 P.M. : Sandhya-arati
8:00/8:30 P.M. : Sayana-arati

Śrī Guru praṇāma
Śrī Guru praṇāma
om ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my

eyes, blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.
Śrīla Prabhupāda praṇati
Śrīla Prabhupāda praṇati
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale

śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine
I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta

Swami Prabhupāda, who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa, having taken shelter at His
lotus feet.
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe

nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvatī
Gosvāmī. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and
delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and
voidism.
Śrī Pañca-tattva praṇāma
Śrī Pañca-tattva praṇāma
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda

śrī-advaita gadādhara
śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
I offer my obeisances to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Prabhu Nityānanda, Śrī Advaita,

Gadādhara, Śrīvāsa and all others in the line of devotion.
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is always accompanied by His plenary expansion Śrī

Nityānanda Prabhu, His incarnation Śrī Advaita Prabhu, His internal potency
Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu, and His marginal potency Śrīvāsa Prabhu. He is in the
midst of them as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One should know that
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is always accompanied by these other tattvas.
Therefore our obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are complete when we
say, śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-
gaura-bhakta-vṛnda.
As preachers of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, we first offer our

obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by chanting this Pañca-tattva mantra;
then we say, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma,
Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. There are ten offenses in the chanting of
the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, but these are not considered in the chanting of the
Pañca-tattva mantra, namely, śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda śrī-advaita
gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is known as
mahā-vadānyāvatāra, the most magnanimous incarnation, for He does not
consider the offenses of the fallen souls. Thus to derive the full benefit of the
chanting of the mahā-mantra (Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare
Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare), we must first take
shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, learn the Pañca-tattva mantra, and then
chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. That will be very effective.
Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahā-mantra
Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahā-mantra

The Great Chanting for Deliverance
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa,

Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma,
Rāma Rāma Hare Hare
My dear Lord, and the spiritual energy of the Lord, kindly engage me in Your
service. I am now embarrassed with this material service. Please engage me in
Your service.
harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam

kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā
“In this age of Kali, the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of
Lord Hari, Kṛṣna. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no
other way.” [Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa, 18.126] This process of Hari-kīrtana is to
chant the mahā-mantra (the great chanting for deliverance): Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare
Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare
Hare. In the Padma Purāṇa it is stated: “There is no difference between the holy
name of the Lord and the Lord Himself. As such, the holy name is as perfect as
the Lord Himself in fullness, purity and eternity. The holy name is not a
material sound vibration, nor has it any material contamination.”[Padma
Purāṇa] How the holy name of the Lord can be chanted constantly is mercifully
described by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself in His Śikṣāṣṭaka verse 3:
“One can chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking
himself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a
tree, devoid of all sense of falseprestige, and should be ready to offer all
respects to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the
Lord constantly.”
Śrī Śrī Gurv-aṣṭaka
Śrī Śrī Gurv-aṣṭaka

Eight Prayers to the Guru
by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, who appeared in the middle of the

seventeenth century, is a great spiritual master in the Kṛṣṇa conscious chain of
gurus and disciples. He says, “One who, with great care and attention, loudly
recites this beautiful prayer to the spiritual master during the brāhma-muhūrta
obtains direct service to Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of Vṛndāvana, at the time of his death.”
(1)
saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-
trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a
cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master
delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of
material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a
spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.
(2)
mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta-
vāditra-mādyan-manaso rasena
romāñca-kampāśru-taraṅga-bhājo
Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical
instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the saṅkīrtana
movement of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows
of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels
quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my
respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
(3)
śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā-
śṛṅgāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau
yuktasya bhaktāṁś ca niyuñjato ’pi
The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Śrī Śrī Rādhā
and Kṛṣṇa. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the
Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform
other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the
lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
(4)
catur-vidha-śrī-bhagavat-prasāda-
svādv-anna-tṛptān hari-bhakta-saṅghān
kṛtvaiva tṛptiṁ bhajataḥ sadaiva
The spiritual master is always offering Kṛṣṇa four kinds of delicious food
[analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the
spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasāda,
he ist satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a
spiritual master.
(5)
śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apāra-
mādhurya-līlā guṇa-rūpa-nāmnām
prati-kṣaṇāsvādana-lolupasya
The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited
conjugal pastimes of Rādhikā and Mādhava, and Their qualities, names, and
forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my
respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
(6)
nikuñja-yūno rati-keli-siddhyai
yā yālibhir yuktir apekṣaṇīyā
tatrāti-dākṣyād ati-vallabhasya
The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopīs,
who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of
Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa’s conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vṛndāvana. I
offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
(7)
sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair
uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ
kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya
The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he
is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all
revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my
respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a
bona fide representative of Śrī Hari [Kṛṣṇa].
(8)
yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ’pi
dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ
By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kṛṣṇa.
Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement.
Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least
three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of
my spiritual master.
Prema-dhvani Prayers
Prema-dhvani Prayers
• jaya oṁ viṣṇu-pāda paramahaṁsa parivrājakācārya aṣṭottara-śata śrī

śrīmad a.c. bhaktivedānta svāmī mahārāja prabhupāda—kī jaya.
All glories to the ācārya Oṁ Viṣṇu-pāda 108 Tridaṇḍī Gosvāmī A. C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, who travels everywhere, preaching the
glories of Hari, and who is situated on the highest platform of sannyāsa .
• ISKCON-Founder-Ācārya Śrīla Prabhupāda—kī jaya.

All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda, the Founder-Ācārya of the International Society
for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness.
• jaya oṁ viṣṇu-pāda paramahaṁsa parivrājakācārya aṣṭottara-śata śrī

śrīmad bhaktisiddhānta sarasvatī gosvāmī mahārāja prabhupāda—kī
jaya.
All glories to the ācārya Oṁ Viṣṇu-pāda 108 Tridaṇḍī Gosvāmī
Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupāda, who travels across the earth, preaching
the glories of Hari, and who is situated on the highest platform of sannyāsa .
• jaya om viṣṇu-pāda śrīla gaurakiśora dāsa bābājī mahārāja—kī jaya.

All glories to Śrīla Gaurakiśora dāsa Bābājī.
• jaya oṁ viṣṇu-pāda śrīla saccidānanda bhaktivinoda ṭhākura—kī jaya.

All glories to Śrīla Sac-cid-ānanda Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.
• jaya oṁ viṣṇu-pāda vaiṣṇava-sārvabhauma śrīla jagannātha dāsa bābājī

mahārāja—kī jaya.
All glories to Vaiṣṇava-Sārvabhauma Śrīla Jagannātha dāsa Bābājī.
• jaya śrī rūpa sanātana bhaṭṭa-raghunātha śrī jīva gopāla bhaṭṭa dāsa
raghunātha ṣaḍ-gosvāmī prabhu—kī jaya.
All glories to the six Gosvāmīs, namely, Śrī Rūpa, Sanatāna, Raghunātha
Bhaṭṭa, Jīva, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa and Raghunātha Dāsa.
• nāmācārya śrīla haridāsa ṭhākura—kī jaya.

All glories to the Nāmācārya Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura.
• prem-se kaho śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda śrī advaita,

gadādhara, śrīvāsādi gaura-bhakta-vṛnda—kī jaya.
Call out with love the names Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Prabhu Nityānanda, Śrī
Advaita, Śrī Gadādhara, Śrīvāsa and all the devotees of Lord Caitanya.
• śrī śrī rādha-kṛṣṇa, gopa-gopīnatha, śyāma-kuṇḍa, rādhā-kuṇḍa giri-

govardhana—kī jaya.
All glories to Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, the cowherd boys and girls, the cows, Śyāma-
kuṇḍa, Rādhā-kuṇḍa and Govardhana Hill.
(One may glorify the Deities of the temple at this time.)
• śrī māyāpur dhāma—kī jaya.

All glories to Śrī Māyāpur-dhāma.
• śrī vṛndāvana dhāma—kī jaya.

All glories to Śrī Vṛndāvana-dhāma.
• gaṅgā-mayī—kī jaya.
All glories to Gaṅgā-devī.
• yamunā-mayī—kī jaya.
All glories to Yamunā-devī.
• bhakti-devī—kī jaya.
All glories to Bhakti-devī.
• tulasī-devī—kī jaya.
All glories to Tulasī-devī.
• ananta koṭi vaiṣṇava-vṛnda—kī jaya.

All glories to the unlimited millions of Vaiṣṇavas.
• śrī hari-nāma saṅkīrtana—kī jaya.

All glories to the congregational chanting of the holy name of Hari.
• grantha-rāja śrīmad-bhāgavatam —kī jaya.

All glories to the king of books, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam .
• ISKCON-vartmāna-guru-vṛnda—kī jaya.
All glories to the present gurus of ISKCON.
• samāveta bhakta-vṛnda—kī jaya.

All glories to the assembled devotees.
• gaura-premānande hari-haribol.
Chant the names Hari! Hari! in the ecstasy of Caitanya-prema.
• All glories to the assembled devotees. [three times]

• All glories to Śrī Guru and Śrī Gaurāṅga.
• All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Śrī Nṛsiṁha Praṇāma
Śrī Nṛsiṁha Praṇāma
namas te narasiṁhāya prahlādāhlāda-dāyine

hiraṇyakaśipor vakṣaḥ-śilā-ṭaṅka-nakhālaye
I offer my obeisances to Lord Narasiṁha who gives joy to Prahlāda Mahārāja

and whose nails are like chisels on the stonelike chest of the demon
Hiraṇyakaśipu.
ito nṛsiṁhaḥ parato nṛsiṁho

yato yato yāmi tato nṛsiṁhaḥ
bahir nṛsiṁho hṛdaye nṛsiṁho
nṛsiṁham ādiṁ śaraṇaṁ prapadye
Lord Nṛsiṁha is here and also there. Wherever I go Lord Nṛsiṁha is there. He
is in the heart and is outside as well. I surrender to Lord Nṛsiṁha, the origin of
all things and the supreme refuge.
tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-śṛṅgaṁ

dalita-hiraṇyakaśipu-tanu-bhṛṅgam
keśava dhṛta-narahari-rūpa jaya jagadīśa hare
O Keśava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of
half-man, half-lion! All glories to You! Just as one can easily crush a wasp
between one’s fingernails, so in the same way the body of the wasplike demon
Hiraṇyakaśipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful pointed nails on Your
beautiful lotus hands.
Śrī Tulasī-praṇāma
Śrī Tulasī-praṇāma
In the morning, after maṅgala-āratī (and preferably also in the evening, before
sandhyā-āratī ), all the assembled devotees should attend tulasī worship and
circumambulate Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī. First we offer obeisances to Tulasī-devī
with the tulasī-praṇāma-mantra, chanted three times:
(oṁ) vṛndāyai tulasī-devyai priyāyai keśavasya ca

kṛṣṇa-bhakti-prade devi satyavatyai namo namaḥ
I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vṛndā, Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī, who is very

dear to Lord Keśava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Kṛṣṇa and
you possess the highest truth.
Then we sing the tulasī-pūjā-kīrtana while one devotee offers āratī to Tulasī-
devi with incense, a ghee lamp and flowers. While offering the articles, the
devotee offering tulasī-āratī should stand on a mat and ring a bell with his left
hand. Each of the items may be distributed to the assembled devotees after they
have been offered to Tulasī-devī.
Śrī Tulasī-pūjā-kīrtana
Śrī Tulasī-pūjā-kīrtana
namo namaḥ tulasī kṛṣṇa-preyasi namo namaḥ

rādhā-kṛṣṇa-sevā pābo ei abilāṣī
O Tulasī, beloved of Kṛṣṇa, I bow before you again and again. My desire is to
obtain the service of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
ye tomāra śaraṇa loy, tara vāñchā pūrṇa hoy

kṛpā kori’ koro tāre vṛndāvana-vāsi
Whoever takes shelter of you has his wishes fulfilled. Bestowing your mercy on
him, you make him a resident of Vṛndāvana.
mora ei abhilāṣa, vilāsa kuñje dio vāsa

nayana heribo sadā yugala-rūpa-rāśi
My desire is that you will also give me a residence in the pleasure groves of Śrī
Vṛndāvana-dhāma. Thus within my vision I will always behold the beautiful
pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
ei nivedana dhara, sakhīra anugata koro

sevā-adhikāra diye koro nīja dāsī
I beg you to make me a follower of the cowherd damsels of Vraja. Please give
me the privilege of devotional service and make me your own maidservant.
dīna kṛṣṇa-dāse koy, ei yena mora hoy

śrī-rādhā-govinda-preme sadā yena bhāsi
This very fallen and lowly servant of Kṛṣṇa prays, “May I always swim in the
love of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Govinda.”
Śrī Tulasī Pradakṣiṇa Mantra
Śrī Tulasī Pradakṣiṇa Mantra
When the song is finished, the assembled Vaiṣṇavas should circumambulate

Tulasī-devī at least four times and offer her water by pouring some drops at her
root (only during morning worship, not in the evening). While
circumambulating, we chant,
yāni kāni ca pāpāni brahma-hatyādikāni ca

tāni tāni praṇaśyanti pradakṣiṇaḥ pade pade
When a person circumambulates Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī, all the sins he may have
committed are destroyed at every step, even the sin of killing a brāhmaṇa .
The Ten Offences to the Holy Name
The Ten Offences to the

Holy Name
The ten offenses to the holy name are listed as follows in the Padma Purāṇa, as
quoted in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Ādi 8.24, purport):
satāṁ nindā nāmnaḥ paramam

aparādhaṁ vitanute
yataḥ khyātiṁ yātaṁ katham
u sahate tad-vigarhām
1. To blaspheme the devotee who have dedicated their lives to propagating the
Holy Names of the Lord.
This is the worst offense at the lotus feet of the holy name. The Nāma-prabhu,
who is identical with Kṛṣṇa, will never tolerate such blasphemous activities,
even from one who passes as a great devotee.
śivasya śrī-viṣṇor ya iha

guṇa-nāmādi-sakalaṁ
dhiyā bhinnaṁ paśyet sa
khalu hari-nāmāhita-karaḥ
2. To consider the holy Name of demigods such as Lord Shiva or Lord Brahma
to be equal to or independent of the Names of Visnu.
In this material world the holy name of Viṣṇu is all-auspicious. Viṣṇu’s name,
form, qualities, and pastimes are all transcendental, absolute knowledge.
Therefore, if one tries to separate the Absolute Personality of Godhead from His
holy name or His transcendental form, qualities, and pastimes, thinking them
material, that is offensive. Similarly, to think that the names of demigods such
as Lord Śiva are as good as the name of Lord Viṣṇu is also blasphemous.
guror avajñā
3. To disobey the orders of the spiritual master.
It is offensive to consider the spiritual master material and therefore to envy his
exalted position.
śruti-śāstra-nindanam
4. It is offensive to blaspheme the Vedic literature such as the four Vedas and
the Purāṇas or literatures in pursuance of the Vedic version.
hari-nāmni kalpanam
5. It is offensive to consider the glories of the holy name to be imagination or

exaggerations.
artha-vādaḥ
6. To give some mundane interpretation on the Holy Name of the Lord.
nāmno balād yasya hi pāpa-buddhir

na vidyate tasya yamair hi śuddhiḥ
7. To commit sinful activities on the strength of the Holy Names of the Lord.
The greatest offense at the lotus feet of the holy name is to think that since
chanting the holy name can counteract all sinful reactions one may therefore go
on sinning and at the same time chant the holy name to neutralize the reactions.
One who thinks in this way cannot be purified by any program of sense restraint
and severe austerities, nor by the various punishments of Yamarāja.
dharma-vrata-tyāga-hutādi-sarva-
śubha-kriyā-sāmyam api pramādaḥ
8. To consider the chanting of Hare Krishna as one of the auspicious ritualistic

activities offered in the Vedas as fruitive activities (karma-kanda).
It is offensive to consider the chanting of the holy name equal to the

performance of ordinary religious ceremonies or fire sacrifices, the observance
of austere vows, or the practice of renunciation, all of which are materialistic
auspicious activities.
aśraddadhāne vimukhe ’py aśṛṇvati

yaś copadeśaḥ śiva-nāmāparādhaḥ
9. It is an offense to preach the glories of the holy name to those unwilling to

hear, to atheists, or to those who have no faith in chanting the holy name.
Anyone can take part in the chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord, but in the
beginning one should not be instructed about the transcendental potency of the
Lord. Those who are too sinful cannot appreciate the transcendental glories of
the Lord and therefore it is better not to instruct them in this matter.
śrutvāpi nāma-māhātmyaṁ
yaḥ prīti-rahito ’dhamaḥ
ahaṁ-mamādi-paramo
nāmni so ’py aparādha-kṛt
10. Not to have complete faith in the chanting the Holy Name and to maintain
material attachment even after understanding so may instructions on the matter.
If a person has heard the glories of the transcendental holy name of the Lord but
nevertheless continues in the materialistic concept of life, thinking, “I am this
body and everything belonging to this body is mine,” and if he thus shows no
respect or love for the chanting of the holy name, that is an offense.
api pramādaḥ
It is also an offense to be inattentive while chanting.
Every devotee who claims to be a Vaiṣṇava must carefully guard against these
ten offenses in order to quickly achieve the desired success Kṛṣṇa-prema
Vaiṣṇava-praṇāma
Vaiṣṇava-praṇāma
vāñchā-kalpa-tarubhyaś ca
kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca
patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo
vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ
I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaiṣṇava devotees of the Lord
Who are just like desire trees who can fulfill the desires of everyone. They are
full of compassion and can deliver all the fallen souls.
Śrī Śrī Śikṣāṣṭaka
Śrī Śrī Śikṣāṣṭaka

Eight verses written by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
Himself.
Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu instructed His disciples to write books on the

science of Kṛṣṇa, a task which His followers have continued to carry out down
to the present day. The elaborations and expositions on the philosophy taught
by Lord Caitanya are, in fact, the most voluminous, exacting, and consistent,
due to the system of disciplic succession. Although Lord Caitanya was widely
renowned as a scholar in His youth, He left only eight verses, called Śikṣāṣṭaka.
These eight verses clearly reveal His mission and precepts. These supremely
valuable prayers are translated herein.
(1)
ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ
bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ
śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ
vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ
pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ
sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate
śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṇkīrtanam
Glory to the śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust
accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated
birth and death. This saṅkīrtana movement is the prime benediction for
humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the
life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental
bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.
(2)
nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis
tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ
etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi
durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgaḥ
O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings,
and thus You have hundreds and millions of names, like Kṛṣṇa and Govinda. In
these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies.
There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out
of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by Your holy names, but I
am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them.
(3)
tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking
oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a
tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all
respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the
Lord constantly.
(4)
na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ
kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye
mama janmani janmanīśvare
bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi
O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire

beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your
causeless devotional service, birth after birth.
(5)
ayi nanda-tanuja kiṅkaraṁ
patitaṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau
kṛpayā tava pāda-paṅkaja-
sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaṁ vicintaya
O son of Mahārāja Nanda [Kṛṣṇa], I am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or

other I have fallen into the ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this
ocean of death and place me as one of the atoms at Your lotus feet.
(6)
nayanaṁ galad-aśru-dhārayā
vadanaṁ gadgada-ruddhayā girā
pulakair nicitaṁ vapuḥ kadā
tava-nāma-grahaṇe bhaviṣyati
O my Lord, when will my eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing

constantly when I chant Your holy name? When will my voice choke up, and
when will the hairs of my body stand on end at the recitation of Your name?
(7)
yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa
cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam
śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ
govinda-viraheṇa me
O Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering a moment to be like

twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain, and
I am feeling all vacant in the world in Your absence.
(8)
āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu mām
adarśanān marma-hatām-hatāṁ karotu vā
yathā tathā vā vidadhātu lampaṭo
mat-prāṇa-nāthas tu sa eva nāparaḥ
I know no one but Kṛṣṇa as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles
me roughly by His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not being present
before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is
always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally.
Greeting the Deities
Greeting the Deities
veṇuṁ kvaṇantam aravinda-dalāyatākṣaṁ

barhāvataṁsam asitāmbuda-sundarāṅgam
kandarpa-koṭi-kaminīya-viśeṣa-śobhaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept in playing on His flute,
with blooming eyes like lotus petals with head decked with peacock’s feather,
with the figure of beauty tinged with the hue of blue clouds, and His unique
loveliness charming millions of Cupids. [Brahma-saṁhitā Text 5.30]
aṅgāni yasya sakalendriya-vṛtti-manti

paśyanti pānti kalayanti ciraṁ jaganti
ānanda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala-vigrahasya
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, whose transcendental form is full of

bliss, truth, substantiality and is thus full of the most dazzling splendor. Each of
the limbs of that transcendental figure possesses in Himself, the full-fledged
functions of all the organs, and eternally sees, maintains and manifests the
infinite universes, both spiritual and mundane. [Brahma-saṁhitā Text 5.32]
Śrī Guru-vandanā
Śrī Guru-vandanā
The Worship of Śrī Guru
(from Prema-bhakti-candrikā)
(1)
śrī-guru-caraṇa-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma,
bando mui sāvadhāna mate
jāhāra prasāde bhāi, e bhava toriyā jāi,
kṛṣṇa-prāpti hoy jāhā ha’te
The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain
pure devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence.
By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy
of Kṛṣṇa.
(2)
guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koriyā aikya,
ār nā koriho mane āśā
śrī-guru-caraṇe rati, ei se uttama-gati,
je prasāde pūre sarva āśā
My only wish is to have my consciousness purified by the words emanating

from his lotus mouth. Attachment to his lotus feet is the perfection that fulfills
all desires.
(3)
cakhu-dān dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei,
divya jñān hṛde prokāśito
prema-bhakti jāhā hoite, avidyā vināśa jāte,
vede gāy jāhāra carito
He opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge.

He is my Lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic prema emanates; by him
ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.
(4)
śrī-guru karuṇā-sindhu, adhama janāra bandhu,
lokanāth lokera jīvana
hā hā prabhu koro doyā, deho more pada-chāyā,
ebe jaśa ghuṣuk tribhuvana
Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord
and master of the devotees. O master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade
of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.
Jaya Rādhā-Mādhava
Jaya Rādhā-Mādhava
by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura
Śrīla Prabhupāda was very fond of this song and sang it just before his lectures.
In Allahabad and Gorakhpur Śrīla Prabhupāda fell into a trance after singing the
first two lines, and after some time he came back into external consciousness
and said, “Now just chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.” Śrīla Prabhupāda said that this song is
“a picture of Vṛndāvana. Everything is there—Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Vṛndāvana,
Govardhana, Yaśodā, and all the cowherd boys.”
(jaya) rādhā-mādhava (jaya) kuñja-bihārī

(jaya) gopī-jana-vallabha (jaya) giri-vara-dhārī
(jaya) jaśodā-nandana, (jaya) braja-jana-rañjana,
(jaya) jāmuna-tīra-vana-cārī
Kṛṣṇa is the lover of Rādhā. He displays many amorous pastimes in the groves
of Vṛndāvana, He is the lover of the cowherd maidens of Vraja, the holder of
the great hill named Govardhana, the beloved son of mother Yaśodā, the
delighter of the inhabitants of Vraja, and He wanders in the forests along the
banks of the River Yamunā.
Verses Recited Before Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Class
Verses Recited Before Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Class
nārāyaṇaṁ namaskṛtya
naraṁ caiva narottamam
devīṁ sarasvatīṁ vyāsaṁ
tato jayam udīrayet
Before reciting this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is the very means of conquest,

one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead,
Nārāyaṇa, unto Nara-nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, the supermost human being, unto mother
Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning, and unto Śrīla Vyāsadeva, the author. [SB
1.2.4]
śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ

puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ
hṛdy antaḥ stho hy abhadrāṇi
vidhunoti suhṛt satām
Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramātmā [Supersoul] in

everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for
material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to
hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and
chanted. [SB 1.2.17]
naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu
nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā
bhagavaty uttama-śloke
bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikī
By regular attendance in classes on the Bhāgavatam and by rendering of service

to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely
destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised
with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact. [SB 1.2.18]
Śrī Śrī Ṣaḍ-gosvāmy-aṣṭaka
Śrī Śrī Ṣaḍ-gosvāmy-aṣṭaka

Eight Prayers to the Six Gosvamis
by Śrīnivāsa Ācārya
(1)
kṛṣṇotkīrtana-gāna-nartana-parau
premāmṛtāmbho-nidhī
dhīrādhīra-jana-priyau priya-karau
nirmatsarau pūjitau
śrī-caitanya-kṛpā-bharau bhuvi bhuvo
bhārāvahantārakau
vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau
śrī-jīva-gopālakau
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvāmīs, namely Śrī Rūpa
Gosvāmī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī
Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī, and Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī,
who are always engaged in chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and dancing. They
are just like the ocean of love of God, and they are popular both with the gentle
and with the ruffians, because they are not envious of anyone. Whatever they
do, they are all-pleasing to everyone, and they are fully blessed by Lord
Caitanya. Thus they are engaged in missionary activities meant to deliver all the
conditioned souls in the material universe.
(2)
nānā-śāstra-vicāraṇaika-nipuṇau
sad-dharma-saṁsthāpakau
lokānāṁ hita-kāriṇau tri-bhuvane
mānyau śaraṇyākarau
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-padāravinda-bhajanānandena
mattālikau
who are very expert in scrutinizingly studying all the revealed scriptures with
the aim of establishing eternal religious principles for the benefit of all human
beings. Thus they are honored all over the three worlds and they are worth
taking shelter of because they are absorbed in the mood of the gopis and are
engaged in the transcendental loving service of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
(3)
śrī-gaurāṇga-guṇānuvarṇana-vidhau
śraddhā-samṛddhy-anvitau
pāpottāpa-nikṛntanau tanu-bhṛtāṁ
govinda-gānāmṛtaiḥ
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaika-nipuṇau
kaivalya-nistārakau
who are very much enriched in understanding of Lord Caitanya and who are
thus expert in narrating His transcendental qualities. They can purify all
conditioned souls from the reactions of their sinful activities by pouring upon
them transcendental songs about Govinda. As such, they are very expert in
increasing the limits of the ocean of transcendental bliss, and they are the
saviors of the living entities from the devouring mouth of liberation.
(4)
tyaktvā tūrṇam aśeṣa-maṇḍala-pati-
śreṇīṁ sadā tuccha-vat
bhūtvā dīna-gaṇeśakau karuṇayā
kaupīna-kanthāśritau
gopī-bhāva-rasāmṛtābdhi-laharī-
kallola-magnau muhur
who kicked off all association of aristocracy as insignificant. In order to deliver
the poor conditioned souls, they accepted loincloths, treating themselves as
mendicants, but they are always merged in the ecstatic ocean of the gopis’ love
for Kṛṣṇa and bathe always and repeatedly in the waves of that ocean.
(5)
kūjat-kokila-haṁsa-sārasa-
gaṇākīrṇe mayūrākule
nānā-ratna-nibaddha-mūla-viṭapa-
śrī-yukta-vṛndāvane
rādhā-kṛṣṇam ahar-niśaṁ prabhajatau
jīvārthadau yau mudā
who were always engaged in worshiping Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa in the transcendental
land of Vṛndāvana where there are beautiful trees full of fruits and flowers
which have under their roots all valuable jewels. The Gosvāmīs are perfectly
competent to bestow upon the living entities the greatest boon of the goal of
life.
(6)
saṅkhyā-pūrvaka-nāma-gāna-natibhiḥ
kālāvasānī-kṛtau
nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau
cātyanta-dīnau ca yau
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-guṇa-smṛter
madhurimānandena sammohitau
who were engaged in chanting the holy names of the Lord and bowing down in
a scheduled measurement. In this way they utilized their valuable lives and in
executing these devotional activities they conquered over eating and sleeping
and were always meek and humble enchanted by remembering the
transcendental qualities of the Lord.
(7)
rādhā-kuṇḍa-taṭe kalinda-tanayā-
tīre ca vaṁśīvaṭe
premonmāda-vaśād aśeṣa-daśayā
grastau pramattau sadā
gāyantau ca kadā harer guṇa-varaṁ
bhāvābhibhūtau mudā
who were sometimes on the bank of the Rādhā-kunda lake or the shores of the
Yamuna and sometimes at Vaṁśīvaṭa. There they appeared just like madmen in
the full ecstasy of love for Kṛṣṇa, exhibiting different transcendental symptoms
in their bodies, and they were merged in the ecstasy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
(8)
he rādhe vraja-devīke ca lalite
he nanda-sūno kutaḥ
śrī-govardhana-kalpa-pādapa-tale
kālindī-vane kutaḥ
ghoṣantāv iti sarvato vraja-pure
khedair mahā-vihvalau
who were chanting very loudly everywhere in Vṛndāvana, shouting, “Queen of
Vṛndāvana, Rādhārāṇī! O Lalita! O son of Nanda Mahārāja! Where are you all
now? Are you just on the hill of Govardhana, or are you under the trees on the
bank of the Yamunā? Where are you?” These were their moods in executing
Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Verse Recited Before Reading Kṛṣṇa Book Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (12.3.51):

kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ. Caitanya Mahāprabhu has also taught us
this. While passing on the road, He used to chant:
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa he

kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa he
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa rakṣa mām
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa pāhi mām
rāma rāghava rāma rāghava rāma rāghava rakṣa mām
kṛṣṇa keśava kṛṣṇa keśava kṛṣṇa keśava pāhi mām
"O Lord Kṛṣṇa, please protect Me and maintain Me. O Lord Rāma, descendant
of King Raghu, please protect Me. O Kṛṣṇa, O Keśava, killer of the Keśī
demon, please maintain Me."
If one always chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, gradually one is freed from all
reactions of sinful life, provided he chants offenselessly and does not commit
more sinful activities on the strength of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. In this
way one is purified, and his devotional service causes the arousal of his
dormant love of God. If one simply chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and does not
commit sinful activities and offenses, one’s life is purified, and thus one comes
to the fifth stage of perfection, or engagement in the loving service of the Lord
(premā pum-artho mahān).
Other Kīrtana prayers
Other Kīrtana prayers

Prayer to Lord Jagannātha
Jagannātha-svāmī nayana paṭhagami bhavatu me
May that Jagannātha-svāmī be the object of my vision

Prayer to Lord Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda
nitāi gaurāṅga, nitāi gaurāṅga

Jaya śacīnandana, gaura-hari
All glories to Lord Nityānanda and Lord Caitanya, the son of Śacī-devī, who is
Kṛṣṇa Himself in golden hue.
Prayer to Lord Govinda

govinda jaya jaya, gopāla jaya jaya
Rādhā-Ramaṇa hari, govinda jaya jaya
All glories to Lord Śrī Govinda! All glories to Lord Śrī Gopala! All glories to
Lord Śrī Hari, the husband of Rādhārāṇī.
Nāma-saṅkīrtana
Nāma-saṅkīrtana
(hari haraye nama krishna)
(1)
hari haraye namaḥ kṛṣṇa yādavāya namaḥ
yādavāya mādhavāya keśavāya namaḥ
O Lord Hari, O Lord Kṛṣṇa, I offer my obeisances to You, who are known as
Hari, Yādava, Mādhava, and Keśava.
(2)
gopāla govinda rāma śrī-madhusūdana
giridhārī gopīnātha madana-mohana
O Gopāla, Govinda, Rāma, Śrī Madhusūdana, Giridhārī Gopīnātha, and

Madana-mohana!
(3)
śrī-caitanya-nityānanda śrī-advaita-sītā
hari guru vaiṣṇaba bhāgavata gītā
All glories to Śrī Caitanya and Nityānanda! All glories to Śrī Advaita Ācārya
and His consort, Śrī Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī. All glories to Lord Hari, to the spiritual
master, the Vaiṣṇavas, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and Śrīmad Bhagavad-Gītā.
(4)
śrī-rūpa sanātana bhaṭṭa-raghunātha
śrī-jīva gopāla-bhaṭṭa dāsa-raghunātha
All glories to Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa

Gosvāmī, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, and Raghunātha dāsa
Gosvāmī.
(5)
ei chay gosāir kori caraṇa vandan
jāhā hoite bighna-nāś abhīṣṭa-pūraṇ
I offer my obeisances to the feet of these six Gosvāmīs. By bowing to them, all
obstacles to devotion are destroyed and all spiritual desires are fulfilled.
(6)
ei chay gosāi jār—mui tār dās
tā-sabāra pada-reṇu mora pañca-grās
I am the servant of that person who is a servant of these six Gosvāmīs. The dust
of their lotus feet is my five kinds of foodstuffs.
(7)
tādera caraṇa-sebi-bhakta-sane bās
janame janame hoy ei abhilāṣ
This is my desire: that birth after birth I may live with those devotees who serve
the lotus feet of these six Gosvāmīs.
(8)
ei chay gosāi jabe braje koilā bās
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-nitya-līlā korilā prakāś
When these six Gosvāmīs lived in Vraja they revealed the lost holy places and
explained the eternal pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
(9)
ānande bolo hari bhaja bṛndāban
śrī-guru-vaiṣṇaba-pade majāiyā man
Just shout the names of Lord Hari in great ecstasy and worship the
transcendental realm of Vṛndāvana while absorbing your mind in meditation
upon the divine feet of the spiritual master and the Vaiṣṇavas.
(10)
śrī-guru-vaiṣṇaba-pada-padma kori āś
narottama dāsa kohe nāma-saṅkīrtana
Desiring to serve the lotus feet of Śrī Guru and the Vaiṣṇavas, Narottama dāsa
sings this saṅkīrtana of the holy names of Lord Hari.
Śrī Nāma-kīrtana
Śrī Nāma-kīrtana
(Yashomati Nandana)
Chanting of the Holy Names

(from Gītāvalī)
(1)
yaśomatī-nandana, braja-baro-nāgara,
gokula-rañjana kāna
gopī-parāṇa-dhana, madana-manohara,
kāliya-damana-vidhāna
Lord Kṛṣṇa is the beloved son of mother Yaśodā; the transcendental lover in the
land of Vraja; the delight of Gokula; Kāna [a nickname of Kṛṣṇa]; the wealth of
the lives of the gopīs. He steals the mind of even Cupid and punishes the Kāliya
serpent.
(2)
amala harinām amiya-vilāsā
vipina-purandara, navīna nāgara-bora,
baṁśī-badana suvāsā
These pure, holy names of Lord Hari are full of sweet, nectarean pastimes.
Kṛṣṇa is the Lord of the twelve forests of Vraja, He is ever-youthful and is the
best of lovers. He is always playing on a flute, and He is an excellent dresser.
(3)
braja-jana-pālana, asura-kula-nāśana
nanda-godhana-rākhowālā
govinda mādhava, navanīta-taskara,
sundara nanda-gopālā
Kṛṣṇa is the protector of the inhabitants of Vraja; the destroyer of various

demoniac dynasties; the keeper and tender of Nanda Mahārāja’s cows; the giver
of pleasure to the cows, land, and spiritual senses; the husband of the goddess
of fortune; the butter thief; and the beautiful cowherd boy of Nanda Mahārāja.
(4)
yāmuna-taṭa-cara, gopī-basana-hara,
rāsa-rasika, kṛpāmoya
śrī-rādhā-vallabha, bṛndābana-naṭabara,
bhakativinod-āśraya
Kṛṣṇa wanders along the banks of the River Yamunā. He stole the garments of
the young damsels of Vraja who were bathing there. He delights in the mellows
of the rāsa dance; He is very merciful; the lover and beloved of Śrīmatī
Rādhārāṇī; the great dancer of Vṛndāvana; and the shelter and only refuge of
Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda.
Gaura-ārati
Gaura-ārati
(from Gītāvalī)
(1)
(kiba) jaya jaya gorācānder āratiko śobhā
jāhnavī-taṭa-vane jaga-mana-lobhā
(First Refrain)
gaurāṅger ārotik śobhā
jaga-jana-mana-lobhā
All glories, all glories to the beautiful ārati ceremony of Lord Caitanya. This
Gaura-ārati is taking place in a grove on the banks of the Jāhnavī [Ganges] and
is attracting the minds of all living entities in the universe.
(2)
dakhiṇe nitāicānd, bāme gadādhara
nikaṭe adwaita, śrīnivāsa chatra-dhara
On Lord Caitanya’s right side is Lord Nityānanda, and on His left is Śrī
Gadādhara. Nearby stands Śrī Advaita, and Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura is holding an
umbrella over Lord Caitanya’s head.
(3)
bosiyāche gorācānd ratna-siṁhāsane
ārati koren brahmā-ādi deva-gaṇe
Lord Caitanya has sat down on a jeweled throne, and the demigods, headed by
Lord Brahmā, perform the ārati ceremony.
(4)
narahari-ādi kori’ cāmara dhulāya
sañjaya-mukunda-bāsu-ghoṣ-ādi gāya
Narahari Sarakāra and other associates of Lord Caitanya fan Him with cāmaras,
and devotees headed by Sañjaya Paṇḍita, Mukunda Datta, and Vāsu Ghoṣa sing
sweet kīrtana.
(5)
śaṅkha bāje ghaṇṭā bāje bāje karatāla
madhura mṛdaṅga bāje parama rasāla
(Second Refrain)
śankha bāje ghaṇṭā bāje
madhur madhur madhur bāje
Conchshells, bells, and karatālas resound, and the mṛdaṅgas play very sweetly.
This kīrtana music is supremely sweet and relishable to hear.
(6)
bahu-koṭi candra jini’ vadana ujjvala
gala-deśe bana-mālā kore jhalamala
The brilliance of Lord Caitanya’s face conquers millions upon millions of

moons, and the garland of forest flowers around His neck shines.
(7)
śiva-śuka-nārada preme gada-gada
bhakativinoda dekhe gorāra sampada
Lord Śiva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and Nārada Muni are all there, and their voices
are choked with the ecstasy of transcendental love. Thus Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda
envisions the glory of Lord Śrī Caitanya.
Sapārṣada-bhagavad-viraha-janita-vilāpa
Sapārṣada-bhagavad-viraha-
janita-vilāpa
Lamentation Due to Separation
from the Lord and His Associates
(from Prārthanā)
(1)
je ānilo prema-dhana koruṇā pracur
heno prabhu kothā gelā ācārya-ṭhākur
He who brought the treasure of divine love and who was filled with compassion
and mercy—where has such a personality as Śrīnivāsa Ācārya gone?
(2)
kāhā mora swarūp rūpa kāhā sanātan
kāhā dāsa raghunātha patita-pāvan
Where are my Svarūpa Dāmodara and Rūpa Gosvāmī? Where is Sanātana?

Where is Raghunātha dāsa, the savior of the fallen?
(3)
kāhā mora bhaṭṭa-juga kāhā kavirāj
eka-kāle kothā gelā gorā naṭa-rāj
Where are my Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa and Gopāla Bhaṭṭa, and where is Kṛṣṇadāsa
Kavirāja? Where did Lord Gaurāṅga, the great dancer, suddenly go?
(4)
pāṣāṇe kuṭibo māthā anale paśibo
gaurāṅga guṇera nidhi kothā gele pābo
I will smash my head against the rock and enter into the fire. Where will I find
Lord Gaurāṅga, the reservoir of all wonderful qualities?
(5)
se-saba saṅgīra saṅge je koilo bilās
se-saṅga nā pāiyā kānde narottama dās
Being unable to obtain the association of Lord Gaurāṅga accompanied by all of

these devotees in whose association He performed His pastimes, Narottama
dāsa simply weeps.
Śrī Dāmodarāṣṭaka
Śrī Dāmodarāṣṭaka
(found in the Padma Purāṇa of Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa,

spoken by Satyavrata Muni in a conversation with Nārada Muni and
Śaunaka Ṛṣi)
“In the month of Kārtika one should worship Lord Dāmodara and daily recite
the prayer known as Dāmodarāṣṭaka, which has been spoken by the sage
Satyavrata and which attracts Lord Dāmodara.”
( Śrī Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 2.16.198)
(1)
namāmīśvaraṁ sac-cid-ānanda-rūpaṁ
lasat-kuṇḍalaṁ gokule bhrājamanam
yaśodā-bhiyolūkhalād dhāvamānaṁ
parāmṛṣṭam atyantato drutya gopyā
To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence,

knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro,
who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who [due to the
offense of breaking the pot of yogurt that His mother was churning into butter
and then stealing the butter that was kept hanging from a swing] is quickly
running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of mother Yaśodā, but who
has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed—to
that Supreme Lord, Śrī Dāmodara, I offer my humble obeisances.
(2)
rudantaṁ muhur netra-yugmaṁ mṛjantam
karāmbhoja-yugmena sātaṅka-netram
muhuḥ śvāsa-kampa-trirekhāṅka-kaṇṭha-
sthita-graivaṁ dāmodaraṁ bhakti-baddham
[Seeing the whipping stick in His mother’s hand,] He is crying and rubbing His
eyes again and again with His two lotus hands. His eyes are filled with fear, and
the necklace of pearls around His neck, which is marked with three lines like a
conchshell, is shaking because of His quick breathing due to crying. To this
Supreme Lord, Śrī Dāmodara, whose belly is bound not with ropes but with His
mother’s pure love, I offer my humble obeisances.
(3)
itīdṛk sva-līlābhir ānanda-kuṇḍe
sva-ghoṣaṁ nimajjantam ākhyāpayantam
tadīyeṣita-jñeṣu bhaktair jitatvaṁ
punaḥ prematas taṁ śatāvṛtti vande
By such childhood pastimes as this He is drowning the inhabitants of Gokula in

pools of ecstasy, and is revealing to those devotees who are absorbed in
knowledge of His supreme majesty and opulence that He is only conquered by
devotees whose pure love is imbued with intimacy and is free from all
conceptions of awe and reverence. With great love I again offer my obeisances
to Lord Dāmodara hundreds and hundreds of times.
(4)
varaṁ deva mokṣaṁ na mokṣāvadhiṁ vā
na canyaṁ vṛṇe ’haṁ vareṣād apīha
idaṁ te vapur nātha gopāla-bālaṁ
sadā me manasy āvirāstāṁ kim anyaiḥ
0 Lord, although You are able to give all kinds of benedictions, I do not pray to
You for the boon of impersonal liberation, nor the highest liberation of eternal
life in Vaikuṇṭha, nor any other boon [which may be obtained by executing the
nine processes of bhakti]. O Lord, I simply wish that this form of Yours as Bāla
Gopāla in Vṛndāvana may ever be manifest in my heart, for what is the use to
me of any other boon besides this?
(5)
idaṁ te mukhāmbhojam atyanta-nīlair
vṛtaṁ kuntalaiḥ snigdha-raktaiś ca gopyā
muhuś cumbitaṁ bimba-raktādharaṁ me
manasy āvirāstām alaṁ lakṣa-lābhaiḥ
0 Lord, Your lotus face, which is encircled by locks of soft black hair tinged
with red, is kissed again and again by mother Yaśodā, and Your lips are reddish
like the bimba fruit. May this beautiful vision of Your lotus face be ever
manifest in my heart. Thousands and thousands of other benedictions are of no
use to me.
(6)
namo deva dāmodarānanta viṣṇo
prasīda prabho duḥkha-jālābdhi-magnam
kṛpā-dṛṣṭi-vṛṣṭyāti-dīnaṁ batānu
gṛhāṇeṣa mām ajñam edhy akṣi-dṛśyaḥ
0 Supreme Godhead, I offer my obeisances unto You. O Dāmodara! O Ananta!

O Viṣṇu! O master! O my Lord, be pleased upon me. By showering Your
glance of mercy upon me, deliver this poor ignorant fool who is immersed in an
ocean of worldly sorrows, and become visible to my eyes.
(7)
kuverātmajau baddha-mūrtyaiva yadvat
tvayā mocitau bhakti-bhājau kṛtau ca
tathā prema-bhaktiṁ svakāṁ me prayaccha
na mokṣe graho me ‘sti dāmodareha
0 Lord Dāmodara, just as the two sons of Kuvera—Manigrīva and Nalakūvara

—were delivered from the curse of Nārada and made into great devotees by
You in Your form as a baby tied with rope to a wooden grinding mortar, in the
same way, please give to me Your own prema-bhakti. I only long for this and
have no desire for any kind of liberation.
(8)
namas te ’stu dāmne sphurad-dīpti-dhāmne
tvadīyodarāyātha viśvasya dhāmne
namo rādhikāyai tvadīya-priyāyai
namo ’nanta-līlāya devāya tubhyam
0 Lord Dāmodara, I first of all offer my obeisances to the brilliantly effulgent

rope which binds Your belly. I then offer my obeisances to Your belly, which is
the abode of the entire universe. I humbly bow down to Your most beloved
Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, and I offer all obeisances to You, the Supreme Lord, who
displays unlimited pastimes.
Śrī Jagannāthāṣṭaka
Śrī Jagannāthāṣṭaka
(1)
kadācit kālindī-taṭa-vipina-saṅgītaka-ravo
mudābhīrī-nārī-vadana-kamalāsvāda-madhupaḥ
ramā-śambhu-brahmāmara-pati-gaṇeśārcita-pado
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
Sometimes in great happiness Lord Jagannātha makes a loud concert with His
flute in the groves on the banks of the Yamunā. He is like a bumblebee tasting
the beautiful lotuslike faces of the cowherd damsels of Vraja, and great
personalities such as Lakṣmī, Śiva, Brahmā, Indra, and Gaṇeśa worship His
lotus feet. May that Jagannātha Svāmī be the object of my vision.
(2)
bhuje savye veṇuṁ śirasi śikhi-puccham kaṭi-taṭe
dukūlaṁ netrānte sahacara-kaṭākṣaṁ vidadhate
sadā śrīmad-vṛndāvana-vasati-līlā-paricayo
In His left hand Lord Jagannātha holds a flute, on His head He wears peacock
feathers, and on His hips He wears fine yellow silken cloth. From the corners of
His eyes He bestows sidelong glances upon His loving devotees, and He always
reveals Himself through His pastimes in His divine abode of Vṛndāvana. May
that Jagannātha Svāmī be the object of my vision.
(3)
mahāmbhodhes tīre kanaka-rucire nīla-śikhare
vasan prāsādāntaḥ sahaja-balabhadreṇa balinā
subhadrā-madhya-sthaḥ sakala-sura-sevāvasara-do
On the shore of the great ocean, within a large palace atop the brilliant, golden
Nīlācala Hill, Lord Jagannātha resides with His powerful brother Balabhadra
and His sister Subhadrā, who sits between Them. May that Jagannātha Svāmī,
who bestows the opportunity for devotional service upon all godly souls, be the
object of my vision.
(4)
kṛpā-pārāvāraḥ sajala-jalada-śreṇi-ruciro
ramā-vāṇī-rāmaḥ sphurad-amala-paṅkeruha-mukhaḥ
surendrair ārādhyaḥ śruti-gaṇa-śikhā-gīta-carito
Lord Jagannātha is an ocean of mercy and as beautiful as a row of blackish rain

clouds. He is the storehouse of bliss for Lakṣmī and Sarasvatī, and His face
resembles a spotless fullblown lotus. The best of demigods and sages worship
Him, and the Upaniṣads sing His glories. May that Jagannātha Svāmī be the
object of my vision.
(5)
rathārūḍho gacchan pathi milita-bhūdeva-paṭalaiḥ
stuti-prādurbhāvam prati-padam upākarṇya sadayaḥ
dayā-sindhur bandhuḥ sakala jagatāṁ sindhu-sutayā
jagannāthah svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
When Lord Jagannātha moves along the road on His Rathayātrā car, at every
step large assemblies of brāhmaṇas loudly chant prayers and sing songs for His
pleasure. Hearing their hymns, Lord Jagannātha becomes very favorably
disposed toward them. He is the ocean of mercy and the true friend of all the
worlds. May that Jagannātha Svāmī, along with His consort Lakṣmī, who was
born from the ocean of nectar, be the object of my vision.
(6)
para-brahmāpīḍaḥ kuvalaya-dalotphulla-nayano
nivāsī nīlādrau nihita-caraṇo 'nanta-śirasi
rasānando rādhā-sarasa-vapur-āliṅgana-sukho
Lord Jagannātha, whose eyes resemble full-blown lotus petals, is the ornament
on Lord Brahmā's head. He resides on Nīlācala Hill with His lotus feet placed
on the heads of Anantadeva. Overwhelmed by the mellows of love, He joyfully
embraces Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's body, which is like a cool pond. May that
Jagannātha Svāmī be the object of my vision.
(7)
na vai yāce rājyaṁ na ca kanaka-māṇikya-vibhavaṁ
na yāce 'haṁ ramyāṁ sakala jana-kāmyāṁ vara-vadhūm
sadā kāle kāle pramatha-patinā gīta-carito
I do not pray for a kingdom? nor for gold, rubies, or wealth. I do not ask for a
beautiful wife. as desired by all men. I simply pray that Jagannātha Svāmī,
whose glories Lord Śiva always sings, may be the constant object of my vision.
(8)
hara tvaṁ saṁsāraṁ druta-taram asāraṁ sura-pate
hara tvaṁ pāpānāṁ vitatiṁ aparāṁ yādava-pate
aho dīne 'nāthe nihita-caraṇo niścitam idarṅ
0 Lord of the demigods, please quickly remove this useless material existence I
am undergoing. O Lord of the Yadus, please destroy this vast, shoreless ocean
of sins. Alas, this is certain: Lord Jagannātha bestows His lotus feet upon those
who feel themselves fallen and have no shelter in this world but Him. May that
Jagannātha Svāmī be the object of my vision.
(9)
jagannāthāṣṭakaṁ punyaṁ yaḥ paṭhet prayataḥ śuciḥ
sarva-pāpa-viśuddhātmā viṣṇu-lokaṁ sa gacchati
The self-retrained, virtuous soul who recites these eight verses glorifying Lord
Jagannātha becomes cleansed of all sins and duly proceeds to Lord Viṣṇu's
abode.
Bhajahū Re Mana Śrī Nanda-nandana
Bhajahū Re Mana
Śrī Nanda-nandana
by Govinda Dāsa Kavirāja
(1)
bhajahū re mana śrī-nanda-nandana
abhaya-caraṇāravinda re
durlabha mānava-janama sat-sańge
taroho e bhava-sindhu re
O mind, just worship the lotus feet of the son of Nanda, which make one
fearless. Having obtained this rare human birth, cross over this ocean of worldly
existence through the association of saintly persons.
(2)
śīta ātapa bāta bariṣaṇa
e dina jāminī jāgi re
biphale sevinu kṛpaṇa durajana
capala sukha-laba lāgi' re
My dear brother, I request that you just worship Lord Caitanya and Nityananda
with firm conviction and faith. If one wants to be Kṛṣṇa conscious by this
process, one has to give up his engagement in sense gratification. One simply
has to chant, "Hare Kṛṣṇa! Hari Hari!" without any motive.
(3)
e dhana, yaubana, putra, parijana
ithe ki āche paratīti re
kamala-dala-jala, jīvana ṭalamala
bhajahū hari-pada nīti re
What assurance of real happiness is there in all of one's wealth, youthfulness,

sons, and family members? This life is tottering like a drop of water on a lotus
petal; therefore you should always serve and worship the divine feet of Lord
Hari.
(4)
śravaṇa, kīrtana, smaraṇa, vandana,
pāda-sevana, dāsya re
pūjana, sakhī-jana, ātma-nivedana
govinda-dāsa-abhilāṣa re
It is the desire and great longing of Govinda Dasa to engage himself in the nine
processes of bhakti, namely hearing the glories of Lord Hari and chanting those
glories, constantly remembering Him and offering prayers to Him, serving the
Lord's lotus feet, serving the Supreme Lord as a servant, worshiping Him with
flowers and incense and so forth, serving Him as a friend, and completely
offering the Lord one's very self.
Kṛṣṇa Jinakā
Kṛṣṇa Jinakā
Traditional Hindi Song
(1)
kṛṣṇa jinakā nāma hai,
gokula jinakā dhāma hai
aise śrī bhagavāna ko (mere)
barāmbāra praṇāma hai
He whose name is Krsna, and whose abode is Gokula–unto such a Supreme

Personality of Godhead, I offer my most humble obeisances again and again.
(2)
yaśodā jinakī maiyā hai,
nandajī bapaiyā hai
aise śrī gopāla ko (mere)
bārambāra praṇāma hai
He whose mother is Yaśodā, and whose father is Nandajī–unto such a cowherd

boy named Gopāla, I offer my most humble obeisances again and again.
(3)
rādhā jinakī jāyā hai,
adbhuta jinakī māyā hai
aise śrī ghana-śyāma ko (mere)
He whose Beloved if Rādhā, and whose illusory energy is very amazing–unto

He whose splendrous complexion is the color of the fresh raincloud, I offer my
most humble obeisances again and again.
(4)
lūṭa lūṭa dadhi mākhana khāyo,
gvāla-bāla sańga dhenu carāyo
aise līlā-dhāma ko (mere)
He who sneaks around to steal yogurt and butter, then hides to eat it, and who
tends the cows in the company of His cowherd boyfriends–unto He who is the
reservoir of playful pastimes, I offer my most humble obeisances, again and
again.
(5)
drupada sutā ko lāja bacāyo,
grāha se gaja ko phanda chuḍāyo
aise kṛpā-dhāma ko (mere)
barāmbāra praṇāma hai
He who prevented the dishonoring of the daughter of Drupada, and who

delivered the elephant Gajendra from the grasp of the alligator–unto He who is
the abode of all compassion, I offer my most humble obeisances, again and
again.
(6)
kuru pāṇḍava ko yuddha macāyo,
arjuna ko upadeśa sunāyo,
aise dīnā-nātha ko (mere)
He who caused the great war between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas, and who
spoke divine instructions to Arjuna on the battlefield–unto He who is the Lord
of all helpless fallen souls, I offer my most humble obeisances, again and again.
bhaja re! bhaja govinda gopāla hare

rādhe govinda, rādhe govinda, rādhe govinda
rādhe gopāla, rādhe gopāla, rādhe gopāla
aise śrī bhagavāna ko (mere)
bārambāra praṇāma hai *
Jaya Mādhava Madana Murārī
Jaya Mādhava Madana Murārī

Traditional Hindi Song
(refrain)jaya mādhava madana murārī rādhe-

śyāma śyāmā-śyāma
jaya keśava kali-mala-hārī rādhe-śyāma śyāmā-
śyāma
Glories to the husband of the goddess of fortune, who is the transcendental

Cupid and the enemy of the demon Mura. Glories to the divine couple Rādhe-
Śyāma, also known as Śyāma-Śyāma! Glories to Lord Keśava, who has fine
hair, who removes the miseries of the age of Kali—Rādhe-Śyāma Śyāma-
Śyāma!
(1)
sundara kuṇḍala naina viśāla,
gale sohe vaijantī-mālā
yā chavi kī balihārī rādhe-śyāma śyāmā-śyāma
O Kṛṣṇa, You wear beautiful earrings, and You have lovely widened eyes.
Around Your neck hangs the splendorous vaijantī flower garland. Your
complexion is most excellent—Rādhe-Śyāma, Śyāma-Śyāma!
(2)
kabahūń luṭa luṭa dadhi khāyo,
kabahūṅ madhu-vana rāsa racāyo
nācata vipina-vihārī rādhe-śyāma śyāmā-śyāma
Sometimes You secretly plunder yogurt and eat it, and sometimes You design a
rāsa-dance performance with the young gopīs in the forest of Madhuvana.
There dances Vipina-Vihārī, You who love to sport in the forest—Rādhe-
Śyāma, Śyāma-Śyāma!
(3)
gvāla-bāla saṅga dhenu carāi,
vana-vana bhramata phire yadu-rāi
kāṅdhe kāmara kārī rādhe-śyāma śyāmā-śyāma
You herd the cows in the company of the cowherd boys. You, the monarch of
the Yadu dynasty, thus wander from forest to forest, carrying a blanket draped
over Your shoulder—Rādhe-Śyāma, Śyāma-Śyāma!
(4)
curā curā nava-nīta jo khāyo,
vraja-vanitana pai nāma dharāyo
mākhana-cora murārī rādhe-śyāma śyāmā-śyāma
Because You, O Murāri, repeatedly steal fresh butter from the homes of the
women of Vraja and secretly eat it, they have named You ‘Mākhan-Chor’ (the
butter thief)—Rādhe-Śyāma, Śyāma-Śyāma!
(5)
eka-dina māna indra ko māryo,
nakha upara govardhana dhāryo
nāma paḍāyo giridhārī rādhe-śyāma śyāmā-śyāma
One day You curbed the pride of Indra by lifting the great mountain
Govardhana upon the tip of Your fingernail, thus winning for Yourself the
name Giridhārī—Rādhe-Śyāma, Śyāma-Śyāma!
(6)
duryodhana ko bhoga na khāyo,
rūkho sāga vidura ghara khāyo
aise prema pujārī rādhe-śyāma śyāmā-śyāma
You did not accept the sumptuous feast of the wicked Duryodhana, but took the
coarse food offered by Your devotee Vidura. Therefore You are worshipped by
love and not by mere rituals—Rādhe-Śyāma, Śyāma-Śyāma!
(7)
karuṇā kara draupadī pukārī,
paṭa lipaṭa gaye vana-vārī
nirakha rahe nara nārī rādhe-śyāma śyāmā-śyāma
To bestow mercy upon Draupadī, You, the Lord of the forest, supplied
unlimited cloth to protect her from shame, while the assembly of men and
women looked on—Rādhe-Śyāma, Śyāma-Śyāma!
(8)
bhakta-bhakta saba tumane tāre,
binā bhakti hama ṭhāḍe dvāre
lījo khabara hamārī rādhe-śyāma śyāmā-śyāma
You deliver each of Your devotees in unique ways. Alas, we who are bereft of
devotion are standing here outside Your door. Please favorably receive the
news of our presence—Rādhe-Śyāma, Śyāma-Śyāma!
(9)
arjuna ke ratha hāṅkana hāre,
gītā ke upadeśa tumhāre
cakra-sudarśana-dhārī rādhe-śyāma śyāmā-śyāma
You were the driver of Arjuna’s chariot, and on the battlefield You gave Arjuna
the instructions of the Bhagavad-Gita. During the fight You exhibited Your
form as the wielder of the discus Sudarśana—Rādhe-Śyāma, Śyāma-Śyāma!
Vande Kṛṣṇa Nanda Kumāra
Vande Kṛṣṇa Nanda Kumāra

Traditional Bengali Bhajan
govinda hari gopāla hari

jaya jaya deva hari
jaya jaya deva hari
All glories to Govinda Hari, and to Gopāla Hari! All glories, All glories, all
glories to the Supreme Lord Hari!
vande kṛṣṇa nanda-kumāra

nanda-kumāra madana-gopāla
madana-gopāla mohana-rūpa
mohana-rūpa nanda-kumāra
I praise the all-alternative Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is the youthful son of Nanda
Mahārāja. The youthfulson of the Nanda Mahārāja is the cupid among the
cowherdesses. The cupid among the cowherdesses possesses an enchantingly
beautiful form. He of enchanting beautiful form is the youthful son of Nanda
Mahārāja.
jaya jaya deva hari

jaya jaya deva hari
jaya prabhu dīna-doyāla hari
I praise Lord Hari, who is most compassionate to the fallen souls.

jaya jaya deva hari
jaya jaya deva hari
All glories, all glories to the Supreme Lord Hari! Glory to Govinda Hari who
please the cows, to Gopāla Hari who tends the cows!
jaya rāma hari jaya kṛṣṇa hari

jaya jaya-śacī-nandana gaura-hari
All glories to Rāma Hari, and to Kṛṣṇa Hari! All glories, all glories to the son of
Mother Śacī, who is the fair Gaura Hari!
jaya jaya deva hari
jaya jaya deva hari
All glories to Govinda Hari, and to Gopāla Hari! All glories, all glories to the
Supreme Lord Hari!
Lālasāmayī Prārthanā
Lālasāmayī Prārthanā
(Gauranga Bolite Habe)
(from Prārthanā)
(1)
'gaurāṅga' bolite habe pulaka-śarīra
'hari hari' bolite nayane ba' be nīra
When will that opportune moment come to me, when there will be shivering of
the body as soon as I chant Lord Gaurāṅga's name? And after the shivering,
While chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, when will there be tears pouring down from my
eyes?
(2)
āra kabe nitāi-cānder koruṇā hoibe
saḿsāra-bāsanā mora kabe tuccha ha'be
When will that day come when Lord Nityānanda's causeless mercy is bestowed
upon me so that my desire for material enjoyment become very insignificant?
(3)
viṣaya chāriyā kabe śuddha ha 'be mana
kabe hāma herabo śrī-bṛndābana
When my mind is completely purified, being freed from material anxieties and
desires, then I shall be able to understand Vṛndāvana and the conjugal love of
Rādha and Kṛṣṇa, and then my spiritual life will be successful.
(4)
rūpa-raghunātha-pade hoibe ākuti
kabe hāma bujhabo se jugala-pīriti
When shall I be very much eager to study the books left by the six Gosvāmī's?
One has to learn of the conjugal loving affairs of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa through the
teachings of these six Gosvāmīs.
(5)
rūpa-raghunātha-pade rahu mora āśa
prārthanā koroye sadā narottama-dāsa
Narottama dāsa always wishes to understand this conjugal love under the
direction of the six Gosvāmis.
Sāvarana-śrī-gaura-pāda-padme
Sāvarana-śrī-gaura-pāda-padme
(Sri Krishna Caitanya Prabhu)
A prayer to the Lotus Feet of Śrī Gaurāṅga
(from prārthanā)
(1)
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu doyā koro more
tomā binā ke doyālu jagat-saḿsāre
My dear Lord Caitanya, please be merciful to me, because who can be more
merciful than Your Lordship within these three worlds?
(2)
patita-pāvana-hetu tava avatāra
mo sama patita prabhu nā pāibe āra
Your incarnation is just to reclaim the conditioned, fallen souls, but I assure
You that You will not find a greater fallen soul than me. Therefore, my claim is
first.
(3)
hā hā prabhu nityānanda, premānanda sukhī
kṛpābalokana koro āmi boro duḥkhī
My dear Lord Nityānanda, You are always joyful in spiritual bliss. Since You
always appear very happy, I have come to You because I am most unhappy. If
You kindly put Your glance over me, then I may also become happy.
(4)
doyā koro sītā-pati adwaita gosāi
tava kṛpā-bale pāi caitanya-nitāi
My dear Advaita Prabhu, husband of Sītā, You are so kind. Please be merciful
to me. If You are kind to me, naturally Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda will also
be kind to me.
(5)
hā hā swarūp, sanātana, rūpa, raghunātha
bhaṭṭa-juga, śrī-jīva hā prabhu lokanātha
O Svarūpa Dāmodara, personal secretary of Lord Caitanya, O six Gosvāmīs O

Śrī Rupa Gosvāmī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī
Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī Jiva Gosvāmī, and Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī!
O Lokanātha Gosvāmī, my beloved spiritual master! Narottama dāsa also prays
for your mercy.
(6)
doyā koro śrī-ācārya prabhu śrīnivāsa
rāmacandra-saṅga māge narottama-dāsa
O Śrīnivāsa Ācārya, successor to the six Gosvāmīs! Please be merciful to me.

Narottama dāsa always desires the company of Rāmacandra Cakravartī.
Offering Food
Offering Food
If acceptable vegetarian food is offered to Krsna with love and devotion, it

becomes prasadam (see Bg. 9:26 & 3:13). The procedure for offering food to
Krsna is as follows:
Keep a plate, a spoon, a glass and several small bowls solely for offering your
food to Krsna. If they are made of stainless steel, this is very nice. These
utensils should not be used for any other purpose.
The food should be prepared in a clean kitchen and should contain no meat,
fish, eggs, onions, garlic, vinegar or mushrooms. (Hing may be used instead of
onions and garlic, lemon juice or tamarind instead of vinegar. Also Chikree and
herbal tea may be substituted for coffee and ordinary tea.) The food must not be
tasted before offering as Krsna should be the first to relish the offering. Also
while cooking one should meditate on how one is trying his best to please
Krishna. When the preparations are ready, portions are placed on the plate kept
for Krsna and then placed before pictures of the spiritual master, Srila
Prabhupada, Lord Caitanya accompanied by His associates and Sri Sri Radha
Krsna. You can also light a stick of incense at this time.
Bow down on the left side of the altar with your left side to the pictures and
proceed as follows:
1. Chant the pranam mantra to your spiritual master, if you have accepted one,
otherwise proceed to the following prayers:
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya
kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-
svāmin iti nāmine
I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta

Swami Prabhupāda, who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa, having taken shelter at His
lotus feet..
namas te sārasvate deve

gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-
pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvatī
Gosvāmī. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and
delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and
voidism.
namo maha-vadanyaya
krishna-prema-pradaya te
krishnaya krishna-chaitanya-
namne gaura-tvishe namaha
2. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna

Chaitanya, who is more magnanimous than any other incarnation, even Krishna
Himself, because He is bestowing freely what no one else has ever given pure
love of Kṛṣṇa.
namo-brahmanya-devaya
go brahmana hitaya cha
jagad-hitaya krishnaya
govindaya namo namaha
3. I offer my respectful obeisances to the Supreme Absolute Truth, Krishna,

who is the well-wisher of the cows and the brahmanas as well as the living
entities in general. I offer my repeated obeisances to Govinda [Krishna], who is
the pleasure reservoir for all the senses.
Allow time for the Lord to eat and remove the offering plate. The offering plate
is now prasadam. The portions on the offering plate may be either put on a
separate plate and distributed as maha-prasadam or returned to the original
containers.
Prayers for honouring Prasadam
Prayers for honouring Prasadam

Prasāda-sevāya
From Gītāvalī
śarīra avidyā-jāl, joḍendriya tāhe kāl,

jīve phele viṣaya-sāgore
tā’ra madhye jihvā ati, lobhamoy sudurmati,
tā’ke jetā kaṭhina saṁsāre
kṛṣṇa baḍo doyāmay, karibāre jihvā jay,
sva-prasād-anna dila bhāi
sei annāmṛta pāo, rādhā-kṛṣṇa-guṇa gāo,
preme ḍāko caitanya-nitāi
O Lord, this material body is a place of ignorance, and the senses are a network
of paths leading to death. Somehow we have fallen into this ocean of material
sense enjoyment, and of all the senses the tongue is the most voracious and
uncontrollable. It is very difficult to conquer the tongue in this world. But You,
dear Kṛṣṇa, are very kind to us and have given us such nice prasādam just to
control the tongue. Now we take this prasādam to our full satisfaction and
glorify You—Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa—and in love call for the help of Lord
Caitanya and Nityānanda.
mahā-prasāde govinde nāma-brahmaṇi vaiṣṇave

svalpa-puṇya-vatāṁ rājan viśvāso naiva jāyate
O king, for those with little pious credit, faith in mahā-prasāda, Śrī Govinda, the
holy name, and the Vaiṣṇavas never arises. [Mahābhārata]
Offering Arati
Offering Arati
The following is the recommended procedure by which our congregational

members may offer arati in their homes if they so desire:
To do arati you require the following items:
A small bell; acamana cup and spoon; a conch for blowing; incense holder with
an odd number of incense sticks; ghee lamp with 5 wicks; a small water conch
with stand; a handkerchief(cloth); fragrant fresh flowers on a small plate;
camara fan; peacock fan.
1) Offer obeisances to the spiritual master.

2) Perform acamana as follows:
Holding the acamana spoon in the right hand, purify the left hand with three
drops of water from the acamana cup; then change the spoon to the left hand,
and put three drops of water in the right hand. After saying om kesavaya
namah, sip the water from the base of the palm. Repeat this process two more
times using the mantras om narayanaya namah and om madhavaya namah.
Then put three more drops of water in the right hand and throw it to the side.
3) Before offering each article, one should purify his right hand with three
drops (not spoonfuls) of water, then purify each article in the same way.
Offering procedure
Offering procedure
While standing on an asana and ringing a bell, present the incense first to your
spiritual master (or Srila Prabhupada) by waving it in three or seven graceful
circles, and then present it to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya in the same
manner.
Arati 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 view but also not distracting by your presence.
For devotees who are not direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada: along with the
worship of one's own spiritual master, devotees in ISKCON worship His Divine
Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as both the Founder-Acarya of
ISKCON and the siksa-guru for all devotees of ISKCON. In addition to the
worship of Srila Prabhupada in his guru-puja, one should also honor him when
performing arati by presenting the arati items to Srila Prabhupada after
presenting them to one's own spiritual master.
Then, with the consciousness that you are offering it on behalf of your spiritual
master and with the blessings of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya, offer it
with the full number of circles (listed below) to the main Deity.
After offering the incense to the main Deity, offer it as prasada to the Lord's
associates in descending order, and to the guru-parampara - senior to junior.
This may be done with seven or three circles for each personality, depending on
time allowance. (Some manuals say that when offering items as prasada in arati;
one should not offer below the waist.)
Then offer it (with one or three circles) to the assembled Vaisnavas as the
prasada of the Lord and His associates.
When offering each item say to each personality, "Please accept this offering
(of incense, lamps, etc.)".
Offered items should not be mixed with unoffered items. You may place
offered items back on the plate that was used to bring in the paraphernalia,
provided no unoffered paraphernalia remains on it.
How to offer each item
How to offer each item
Offer all the items, except the camara 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.
Incense: Offer seven circles around the whole body of the Lord.
Lamp (s): Offer four circles to the lotus feet, two circles to the navel, and three
circles to the Lord's face; then offer seven circles to the Lord's whole body.
Water 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 water into a
small throw-out pot before proceeding to offer water to the next personality.
Cloth: Offer seven times around the Lord's body.
Flowers: Offer seven times around the Lord's body.
Camara: Wave before the Lord a suitable number of times.
Fan: Wave before the Lord a suitable number of times.
You may give out the lamp to the assembled devotees immediately after
offering them to the Deities.
Completing the Arati
Completing the Arati
Full aratis, including the fanning and blowing of conch before and after the
arati, may last up to twenty-five minutes; the duration of short aratis (in which
incense, flowers and camara are offered) if from five to eight minutes.
After completing the arati, blow the conch three times outside the Deity room,
as at the beginning of the arati. Then distribute the water and flower prasada to
the assembled devotees.
Chant the prema-dhvani mantras if the kirtana leader or another devotee in the
temple does not chant them. Then with joined palms offer prayers softly to your
spiritual master and Their Lordships. Remove the used articles and wipe the
altar.
N.B The altar and pictures should always be kept clean. Garlands may be made
for the pictures or flowers may be placed before them.
Ekadasi
Ekadasi
Ekadasi is a day of fasting observed by all devotees. Lord Krishna is very

pleased with devotees who observe Ekadasi. There are two Ekadasi in a month:
on the eleventh day after the new moon, and on the eleventh day after the full
moon. Ekadasi literally means the "eleventh day".
Srila Prabhupada usually observed Ekadasi fast in the simplest manner

prescribed in scripture: by refraining from eating grains, beans, peas and dahl.
Some devotees eat only fruit on ekadasi, some take only water and some fully
fast. All devotees must avoid the following foods on Ekadasi: all grains (wheat,
rice, etc.), dahl, peas, bean type vegetables, mustard seeds and their derivatives
(wheat flour, mustard oil, soybean oil, etc.) and food items containing these
products.
Ekadasi fast is broken the next day (Dvadasi), by taking prasada prepared with
grains. The fast must be broken within a specific time. For the dates of Ekadasi
and the times of breaking the fast, consult the Vaisnava calendar (available
from any ISKCON centre). The specific calendar used by ISKCON should be
used, as calculation of dates for Ekadasi and other important festivals may vary
according to the system of calculation used by panditas in other sampradayas.
The real purpose of Ekadasi observance is, however, not simply to fast, but to
increase our time for hearing and chanting about Govinda. Srila Prabhupada
recommended that devotees with sufficient time chant twenty-five or more
rounds of japa on Ekadasi ( unless one has other preaching activities ) .
Once a year, on the occasion of Pandava Nirjala (Bhima) Ekadasi, devotees

who have accidentally not observed Ekadasi properly during the year, keep a
complete fast (no food, no water) on that day. This is the recommended
atonement for this offense. On this occasion some ISKCON temples organize
an all night program of devotional activities. The fast is broken the next
morning.
Applying Tilak
Applying Tilak
Tilaka is sometimes called the ornamentation of the spirit soul. The decoration,
made by applying wet clay mixture, marks the body as a temple of Viṣṇu, the
Supreme Lord. The Vaiṣṇava devotee marks his body in twelve places for
sanctification and protection, and one who is wearing tilaka can at once be
identified as a devotee of the Lord. Just as one can recognize that the strength of
the government is behind a uniformed policeman, one can understand that the
strength of God is behind a devotee marked with tilaka.
One should pour a little water into the palm of his/her left hand and rub gopī-
candana (mud from Dvārakā) into it. When making tilaka the following mantra
from the Uttara Khaṇḍa of the Padma Purāṇa should be chanted:
In Accordance with the avove mentioned mantra one should now apply gopī-
candana with the ball of the finger tip of the right ring finger, to make the tilaka
markings on the twelve parts of the body. According to the brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa
one should not use the fingernail to make the space in the middle of the tilaka.
One should place a damp cloth over the finger and make the space with that.
lalāte Keśavaṁ dhyāyen nārāyaṇam athodare

vakṣaḥ-sthale mādhavaṁ tu govindaṁ kaṇṭha-kūpake
viṣṇuṁ ca dakṣiṇe kusau bāhau ca madhusūdanam
trivikramaṁ kandhare tu vāmanaṁ vāma-pārśvake
śrīdharaṁ vāma-bāhau tu hṛṣīkeśaṁ tu kandhare
pṛṣṭhe ca padmanābhaṁ ca kaṭyāṁ dāmodaraṁ nyaset
When one marks the forehead with tilaka, he must remember Keśava . When
one marks the lower abdomen, he must remember Nārāyaṇa. For the chest, one
should remember Mādhava, and when marking the hollow of the neck one
should remember Govinda. Lord Viṣṇu should be remembered while marking
the right side of the belly, and Madhusūdana should be remembered when
marking the right arm. Trivikrama should remembered when marking the right
shoulder, and Vāmana should be remembered when marking the left side of the
belly. Śrīdhara should be remembered while marking the left arm, and Hṛṣīkeśa
should be remembered when marking the left shoulder. Padmanābha and
Dāmodara should be remembered when marking the back. [Caitanya-caritāmṛta,
Madhya 20.202, purport]
The śikhā area is not marked with tilaka : rather, after washing the right hand,
wipe the remaining water on your śikhā while chanting om vāsudevāya namaḥ.
Tilaka Marking List
Tilaka Marking List
• Forehead : Śrī Keśavāya namaḥ

• Abdomen : Śrī Nārāyṇāya namaḥ
• Chest : Śrī Mādhavāyā namaḥ
• Throat : Śrī Govindāya namaḥ
• Right waist : Śrī Viṣṇave namaḥ
• Right forearm : Śrī Madhusūdanāya namaḥ
• Right shoulder : Śrī Trivikramāya namaḥ
• Left waist : Śrī Vāmanāya namaḥ
• Left forearm : Śrī Śrīdharāya namaḥ
• Left shoulder : Śrī Hṛṣkeśāya namaḥ
• Nape of neck : Śrī Padmanābhāya namaḥ
• Lower back : Śrī Dāmodarāya namaḥ
• Head : Śrī Vāsudevāya namaḥ
Temple Etiquette
Temple Etiquette
I. One should remove shoes before entering the temple room.
2. One should wear clean attire, clean socks and have clean feet. One must also
shower with soap after evacuating, before coming before the Deities. One
should also rinse the mouth, wash hands and if possible, feet, after eating.
3. One should offer obeisances with the left side to the deities as well as to the
spiritual master and never with one's feet towards the Deities or the spiritual
master.
4. One should not be intoxicated while coming to the temple.
5. One should not cause a disturbance by arguing, raising one's voice, dancing
crazily or passing air in the temple. One should also avoid speaking
unnecessarily about undevotional topics before the Deities. ·
6. One should not step over, or touch one's feet to sacred paraphernalia such as
prasadam, flowers, scriptures, Hare Krsna shawls, or devotees offering
obeisances.
7. One should not touch chanting beads, bead bag, or any other sacred
paraphernalia to the ground. These should also not be taken into the bathroom.
8. One should be very respectful to other devotees.
9. One should bring some gift for the Deities, such as fruit, flowers,
contribution, etc.
10. Read the Nectar of Devotion, Ch.8, entitled "offenses to be Avoided" for
futher guidance, as well as Ch.6, "How to Discharge Devotional Service".
Drinking Caranamrta
Drinking Caranamrta
Caranamrta is obtained in the morning while the Lord is being bathed before
dressing. Scented with perfumes and flowers, the water comes gliding down
through His lotus feet and is collected and mixed with yoghurt. In this way this
caranamrta not only becomes very tastefully flavored, but also has tremendous
spiritual value. As described in the Padma Purana, even a person who has never
been able to give in charity, who has never been able to perform a great
sacrifice, who has never been able to study the Vedas, who has never been able
to worship the Lord - or, in other words, even one who has never done any
pious activities - will become eligible to enter the kingdom of God if he simply
drinks the caranamrta which is kept in the temple. In the temple it is the custom
that the caranamrta be kept in a big pot. The devotees who come to visit and
offer respects to the Deity take three drops of caranamrta very submissively and
feel themselves happy in transcendental bliss.
Circumbulating the temple of Visnu
Circumbulating the temple of Visnu
It is said in the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya, "A person who is circumbulating the

Deity of Visnu can counteract the circumbulation of repeated birth and death in
this material world." The conditioned soul is circumbulating through repeated
births and deaths on account of his material existence, and this can be
counteracted simply by circumbulating the Deity in the temple at least three
times.
Japa Meditation on the Maha-mantra
Japa
Meditation on the Maha-mantra
Srila Prabhupada has indicated that those desirous of taking initiation must
follow the four regulative principles and chant each day on beads a minimum of
sixteen rounds.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the incarnation of Ksna who popularized the

chanting of the holy names five hundred years ago in West Bengal, India,
introduced the system of chanting a fixed number of rounds each day, known as
Japa. Careful completion of sixteen rounds daily will help the disciple to
remember Krsna always.
That, in essence, is what Krsna consciousness in all about - remembering Krsna

and never forgetting Him. And chanting is the simplest way of maintaining this
constant state of God consciousness, for the mystical potency contained in the
mantra's vibration will always keep you in touch with God and your own
original. spiritual nature. All of God's innumerable spiritual potencies, including
His transcendental pleasure principal, are contained in His holy names.
Therefore, the pleasure you will feel as you begin to chant will be far greater
than any material happiness you have ever experienced. And the more you
chant Hare Krsna, the happier you will feel.
Note: For more information about Japa Meditation, read "Chant and Be
Happy."
Setting up a Temple at Home
Setting up a Temple at Home
It is essential for householder devotees (especially those who live away from a
temple community) to have a temple in their home. Having a temple at home
and making it the centre of family life transforms an ordinary house into a
sacred place.
Those who have sufficient means and space sometimes construct a temple
building separate from their house. But most devotees set aside a room in their
residence as the temple room or puja room. Those with very limited space can
simply set up an altar within their residential quarters.
The temple room is where the family members assemble for kirtana, arati and
readings from scripture. This is where offerings of food are made to Krishna,
and where the family members can come individually to chant japa, study the
scriptures and pray to Krishna.
A separate room is much better than the "cupboard-in-the corner" set-up,

because in a separate room, an atmosphere of sanctity may be preserved. In
other rooms the children can play and the adults can relax, socialize and
perform their household chores; but the temple room can be kept strictly for
spiritual practices only. The temple room is divided into the deity hall and the
prayer hall. The Deity room is one section at the end of the temple room. It is
separated from the prayer hall by a curtain. Even where it is not possible to
have a separate temple room, the Deities should be screened by a curtain.
In the household temple, the Lord and His pure devotees may be worshipped in
their picture forms. Later, when the worshipping devotees become more
advanced and experienced, Deities may be installed. In fact, householder
devotees who come up to the level of accepting initiation are expected to
conduct Deity worship at home. Advanced Deity worship should be undertaken
under the guidance of a Vaisnava guru.
Therefore such worship has not been described in detail in this book. If the
worshipper actually has a spirit of devotion, worship of the Lord in His picture
form is not inferior, to the Worship of the Lord in His Deity form, composed of
wood, stone or metal. But because such worship is detailed and complex, the
facility for such worship is generally offered to devotees who have proved their
dedication over a period of time.
A standard home altar should have the following pictures (see diagram above-
the numbers correspond to the position of the pictures):
(I) The sampradaya acarya - (a) ISKCON Founder-Acarya, A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, (b) Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, (c)
Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji, and (d) Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Some devotees also
keep a picture of jagannatha Dasa Babaji on their altars.
(2) The six Goswamis of Vrndavana: Rupa Goswami, Sanatana Goswami,

Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami, Raghunatha Dasa Goswami, Gopala bhatta
Goswami and Jiva Goswami. These prominent disciples of Lord Caitanya
presented the teachings and practices of Gaudiya Vaisnavism to the world.
(3) The Panca-tattva (Lord Caitanya and His four principle associates).
(4) Lord Nrsimhadeva. Devotees especially worship this form of the Lord
because (a) He protects them from demons and disturbances - both very
prominent in this dark age of Kali, and (b) He particularly helps the devotees to
uproot the demoniac desires from within their hearts.
(5) Radha-Krishna
(6) After taking initiation, or from the time one has formally accepted shelter of
an ISKCON guru, a picture of one's guru is placed on the altar. It is important to
note that the pictures of those who are superior in the spiritual hierarchy not to
be placed below those whom they are worshipped by. For example, the picture
of the guru is never to be placed above that of Krishna. The Panca-tattva
worship Radha-Krishna and are worshipped by the sampradaya acaryas.
In the pure Vaisnava sampradaya, Krishna, the original Personality of Godhead,

is worshipped along with his expansions, internal energies, and pure devotees
acaryas. Lesser forms of worship, such as that of demigods, is not encouraged.
Therefore Vaisnavas are selective about which pictures to place on their altar.
Although such respectable personalities as demigods and one's parents are
certainly to be honored, they are not to be worshipped in the same place as
Krishna.
As for pseudo-incarnations and bogus sadhus, they have no place at all.
It is best to have an altar specially made from wood, or other materials big
enough to place all the pictures properly and nicely on it. A small table about
three feet high. for placing the arati plate on, is kept to the front and left of the
altar (on the left side of someone facing the altar). Another small table, about
one foot high, is required for food offering, and a mat (preferably of kusa or
other grass or of cloth) is also required (for the devotee to sit on while
performing puja or offering food).
There are many rules and regulations to be observed in the temple room. These
are listed in The Nectar of Devotion. In family situations, it is usually not
possible to enforce all the regulations, but as high a standard as is practical
should be aimed for. The temple room is where we invite Krishna, the master of
multi-universes, to personally come and preside over our home; we have to
maintain a reverential attitude in the temple room.
Tulasi Devi
Tulasi Devi
Worship of the Tulasi tree is very important in devotional service. Tulasi is

Krishna's favourite plant. Krishna is very fond of Tulasi leaves and buds. Every
devotee keeps at least one or two Tulasi plants at home, waters them daily,
offers obeisances and looks after them carefully. Wherever Tulasi flourishes is a
sign of bhakti at that place.
Tulasi arati
Tulasi arati
Tulasi arati is performed in the temple room. The Deity curtain should be
closed, while offering arati to Tulasi. Tulasi's pot should be decorated with a
nice cloth. Tulasi-devi, thus decorated, is placed on a stand or table in the
middle of the temple room. Then the Tulasi-pranam mantra is recited three
times. As the pujari offers the arati with incense, ghee lamp and flowers the
Tulasi-kirtan is sung. When the Tulasi-arati is completed, the devotees start
circumbulating Tulasi-devi while chanting the Tulasi circumbulating mantra.
While doing this each devotee offers a few drops of water from the acamana
cup to Tulasi devi. After all the devotees have watered Tulasi, at the end of the
arati, the Tulasi pranam mantra is again recited three times.
More about Tulasi
More about Tulasi
Tulasi leaves are essential for worshipping Krishna. The leaves should be
collected in the morning after sunrise. While approaching Tulasi devi to pluck
her leaves, you should have taken bath, put on tilak and have performed your
morning sandhya. Chant the Sri Tulasi Pranam mantra and with your right hand
carefully pick the Tulasi leaves or soft Tulasi buds along with their stems - one
at a time - while repeatedly chanting the following mantra:
Oṁ tulasy amrta janmasi sada tvam kesava priya

Kesavartham cinomi tvam vara-da bhava sobhane
"0 Tulasi, you are born from nectar. You are always very dear to Lord Kesava. I
am collecting your leaves and buds. Please bless me".
Do not use scissors or knife and be careful not to hurt Tulasi while plucking her
leaves. When finished recite the mantra for begging her pardon:
cayanod bhava-duhkam ca yad hrdi tava vartate

tad ksamasva jagan-matah vrnda-devi namo stu te "
"O Tulasi-devi, I offer my respectful obeisances unto you. Kindly forgive me if

I have caused you pain by picking your leaves and buds, O mother of the
universe".
Do not pluck Tulasi leaves in the morning before daylight or in the evening
after dark, not at any time on Dvadasi-tithi, the day following Ekadasi. Even if
the Tulasi leaves have become dry because they were cut on the previous day
they may still be used in Deity worship.
Tulasi leaves are offered only at the lotus feet of Visnu-tattva Deities and
pictures and to no one else. This means that Tulasi is offered only to Lord
Krishna, Nrsimhadeva, Lord Caitanya, Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Acarya, but
not to Radharani, Gadadhara Pandita, Srivasa Pandita or the sampradaya
acaryas. Tulasi leaves are also necessary for offering bhoga to the Lord.
Tulasi should be planted in such a way and in such a place that animals don't
disturb her. Dogs urinate on Tulasi and goats eat her. She should be placed in
such a way that people don't brush past her. Children (and adults, too) should be
trained to treat her respectfully. Devotees do not think of tulasi-devi as a
medicine, even though she has reputed medicinal qualities. She is a pure
devotee and worshippable by us. For devotees, cultivation of Tulasi is for
cultivation of devotion and nothing else.
Concluding words
Concluding words
Devotional service to the Supreme Lord is the natural instinct of every living
entity. When we wish to develop our innate capacity for devotional service,
there are certain procedures which, by our accepting and executing them, will
cause that dormant capacity to be invoked.
"Always remember Krsna and never forget Him", this is the most basic of all
regulative principles. All other rules and regulations should be treated as
assistants or servants to this one basic principle. If somebody regularly executes
devotional service to the Supreme Lord, then gradually he rises to the platform
of pure love of God.
If one cannot live as a full-time devotee in a Hare Krsna Ashram, still one can
practice the same principles of bhakti-yoga at home and thus turn one's home
into a temple or ashram.
At the present moment the human society teaches one to love his country or
family or his personal self, but there is no information where to repose that
loving propensity so that everyone can become happy, if we learn how to love
Krishna, then it is very easy to immediately and simultaneously love every
living being. When one is fully aware that he is eternally related to Krishna, he
realizes that his energy should be employed not in the interests of so-called
family, society or country, but in the interests of Krishna. This purity of purpose
on the platform of pure devotional service is Krishna consciousness.
The Nectar of Devotion

By His Divine Grace A. C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Temple Songs - His - Divine - Grace - A. - C. - Bhaktivedanta - Swami

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4:10 A.M. : Srila Prabhupada's Samadhi

4:30 A.M. : Temple Mangala-arati

5:00 A.M. : Tulasi-arati

Obeisances to the Vaisnavas

5:10 A.M. : Chanting Hare Krsna on japa mala

7:15 A.M. : Sringara-arati

7:20 A.M. : Guru Puja to Srila Prabhupada

8:00 A.M. : Srimad Bhagavatam Class

8:30 A.M. : Dhupa-arati

12:00 P.M. : Raj Bhoga-arati

4:00/4:30 P.M. : Dhupa-arati

6:30/7:00 P.M. : Sandhya-arati

8:00/8:30 P.M. : Sayana-arati

Śrī Guru praṇāma

I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my

Śrīla Prabhupāda praṇati

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale

I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta

namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe

Śrī Pañca-tattva praṇāma

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda

I offer my obeisances to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Prabhu Nityānanda, Śrī Advaita,

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is always accompanied by His plenary expansion Śrī

As preachers of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, we first offer our

Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahā-mantra

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa,

harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam

Śrī Śrī Gurv-aṣṭaka

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, who appeared in the middle of the

• jaya oṁ viṣṇu-pāda paramahaṁsa parivrājakācārya aṣṭottara-śata śrī

• ISKCON-Founder-Ācārya Śrīla Prabhupāda—kī jaya.

• jaya oṁ viṣṇu-pāda paramahaṁsa parivrājakācārya aṣṭottara-śata śrī

• jaya om viṣṇu-pāda śrīla gaurakiśora dāsa bābājī mahārāja—kī jaya.

• jaya oṁ viṣṇu-pāda śrīla saccidānanda bhaktivinoda ṭhākura—kī jaya.

• jaya oṁ viṣṇu-pāda vaiṣṇava-sārvabhauma śrīla jagannātha dāsa bābājī

• nāmācārya śrīla haridāsa ṭhākura—kī jaya.

• prem-se kaho śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda śrī advaita,

• śrī śrī rādha-kṛṣṇa, gopa-gopīnatha, śyāma-kuṇḍa, rādhā-kuṇḍa giri-

• śrī māyāpur dhāma—kī jaya.

• śrī vṛndāvana dhāma—kī jaya.

• ananta koṭi vaiṣṇava-vṛnda—kī jaya.

• śrī hari-nāma saṅkīrtana—kī jaya.

• grantha-rāja śrīmad-bhāgavatam —kī jaya.

• samāveta bhakta-vṛnda—kī jaya.

• All glories to the assembled devotees. [three times]

• All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Śrī Nṛsiṁha Praṇāma

namas te narasiṁhāya prahlādāhlāda-dāyine

I offer my obeisances to Lord Narasiṁha who gives joy to Prahlāda Mahārāja

ito nṛsiṁhaḥ parato nṛsiṁho

tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-śṛṅgaṁ

(oṁ) vṛndāyai tulasī-devyai priyāyai keśavasya ca

I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vṛndā, Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī, who is very

namo namaḥ tulasī kṛṣṇa-preyasi namo namaḥ

ye tomāra śaraṇa loy, tara vāñchā pūrṇa hoy

mora ei abhilāṣa, vilāsa kuñje dio vāsa

ei nivedana dhara, sakhīra anugata koro

dīna kṛṣṇa-dāse koy, ei yena mora hoy

Śrī Tulasī Pradakṣiṇa Mantra