The following procedure
assumes the deities are in beds. If they are not sleeping in beds then skip the
part of the procedure that asks you to take the Lord out of bed and while
touching the deity’s lotus feet chant the prayers for waking. You may chant the
prayes in English, or your own language, if you do not want to chant the
Sanskrit prayers.
If you are worshiping
Gaura-Nitai deities then first wake your spiritual master then Gaura-Nitai.
If you are worshiping
Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra as well as Gaura-Nitai then first wake your
spiritual master, then Gaura-Nitai then Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra.
If you are worshiping
Radha-Krsna and Gaura-Nitai, first wake your spiritual master, then Gaura-Nitai
then Radha-Krsna.
If you are worshiping all
three sets of deities, first wake your spiritual master, then Gaura-Nitai, then
Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra, and then Radha-Krsna.
·
You will need
the following items:
·
a small bell
on a plate
·
an acamana cup
containing fresh water and a spoon
·
a mat (asana)
for you to sit on
·
Before
beginning perform simple acamana (see description), then
·
Offer
obeisances to your spiritual master, reciting his pranama prayer(s), and pray for his blessings to assist him
in the worship of the Lord:
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate [spiritual master’s name] iti namine
I offer my respectful
obeisances unto [spiritual master’s name], who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus
feet.
·
Before
entering the room (or the altar area), make a sound, either ringing a bell,
clapping your hands, or knocking on the door.
·
Open the door
(or enter the area), turn on the lights, and, chant the names of the deities in
a festive mood:
jaya sri sri guru-gauranga,
jagannatha-baladeva-subhadra,
radha-krsna-ki jaya!
If you are worshiping other
deities, then chant Their names instead of these names. If you are worshiping
additional deities, chant Their names also.
·
If there are
ghee or oil lamps on or near the altar you may light them now.
·
Wash your
hands with a few drops of water from the acamana cup.
·
While ringing
a small bell with the left hand, approach your spiritual master’s picture,
gently touch his feet with the fingertips of your right hand, and request him
to rise from bed by chanting:
uttisthottistha sri-guro tyaja nidram krpa-maya
O all-merciful
spiritual master, please rise from bed.
·
Meditate that
he is rising from bed.
·
Next approach
the bed of Lord Nityananda touch His lotus feet, and request Him to rise:
uttistha jahnavesvara yoga-nidram tyaja prabho
namno hatte divya-namam su-sraddhartham vitarasi
O Nityananda, Lord of
Jahnava, please arise and give up Your divine sleep. At the marketplace of the
holy name You distribute the divine name, asking only for one’s faith as
payment.
·
Then approach
the bed of Lord Caitanya touch His lotus feet, and request Him to rise:
uttisthottistha gauranga jahi nidram mahaprabho
subha-drsti-pradanena trailokya-mangalam kuru
O Lord Gauranga, please rise
from sleep and bless the three worlds with Your auspicious glance.
Next approach the bed of
Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balarama, and Srimati Subhadra, touch Their lotus feet,
first Jagannatha, then Balarama and then Srimati Subhadra, and chant:
tyaja nidram jagan-natha sri-baladevottistha ca
jagan-matar ca subhadre uttisthottistha subha-de
O Lord Jagannatha and
Lord Baladeva, please give up your sleep and arise. O Srimati Subhadra, dear
mother of the universe, please arise and bestow good fortune upon us.
Then approach Radha's and
Krsna's bed, touch Their lotus feet, first Krsna, and then Radharani, and
chant:
go-gopa-gokulananda yasoda-nanda-vardhana
uttistha radhaya sardham pratar asij jagat-pate
O master of the
universes, O bliss of Gokula, the cowherds, and the cows, O You who gladden the
hearts of Yasoda and Nanda, please rise from bed with Sri Radhika, for morning
has come.
·
Place any
small deities that are in bed back on the altar. If there are only large
deities, meditate on waking Them and leading Them from Their beds to the altar.
·
At this time
replace any crowns, turbans, or chadars, or veils that are part of the deities’
night dress.
·
After removing
any remaining flowers and
garlands
from the previous day, clean the deity room floor and then wash your hands.
Now that the deities have been awakened, offer obeisances to Them outside the altar area.