Vaishnava Ettiquete

A Manual of Basic Vaiñëava Etiquettes & Prayers For Äçraya (Level-1)

International Society for Kåñëa Consciousness Founder-Äcärya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda

Çré Çré Rädhä-Pärthasärathi Mandir Hare Kåñëa Hill, Sant Nagar Main Road, East of Kailash, New Delhi-110065 Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; Website: www.iskcondelhi.com Ph.: +91-11-26235133-37; Fax: +91-11-46563557

Basic Vaisnava Ettiquettes & Prayers for Asraya (Level-1)

Contents PAR PART 1 Month

Week

BASI C VAISNAV A ETTIQUETTES BASIC VAISNAVA Top o Cov Topic icss tto Cover

Pag Page

1st Week 2nd Week 3rd Week 4th Week

Offering Obeisance Sitting Dress & Appearance Dress & Appearance – Tilaka, Hair

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5th Week

Dress & Appearance - Kanthi Mala Dress & Appearance - Moustache & Beard Attending Class Honoring Mahaprasadam/ Nirmalya Flowers Garlands Caranamrta Honoring Mahaprasadam/ Nirmalya Ghee Lamp Deities’ Clothing Maha-Prasadam

8 10 10 11 11 11

Personal Habits Kirtan Prasadam Honoring and Serving Prasadam Rules for Eating & for Drinking Water

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Dealing with Spiritual Master Dealing with Seniors Dealing with God Brothers Dealing with Guests Addressing Vaisnavas Dealings with other Vaisnavas Loving exchanges between Vaisnavas

24 25 26 27 28 28 29

Chanting the Holy Name (Japa) Four Regulatory Principles Associating with Devotees Avoiding Non-Devotees Reading Devotional Service Austerity Favorable & Unfavorable Principles

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Basic Vaisnava Ettiquettes & Prayers for Asraya (Level-1) 6th Month 21st Week 22nd Week 23rd Week 24th Week 25th Week

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Pranam Mantras** Offering Obeisances Applying Tilaka Prema Dhvani Prayers** Prayers for Offering Bhoga** Prasadam Prayers** Significance of Panca-Tattva Mantra Ten Offenses against the Holy Name** Obeserving Ekadasi-Vrata Visiting Holy Places Ten Offenses against the Holy Dhama BASI C VAISNAV A PR BASIC VAISNAVA PRAYERS Topic/ Name of the Song or Prayer Sri Guru Pranama Srila Prabhupada Pranati Sri Pancha Tattva Pranama Prema-Dhvani Prayers Sri Nrisimha Pranama and Arati The Ten Offences to the Holy Names Vaisnava Pranama Sri Sri Siksastaka Govindam Prayers Jaya Radha Madhava Prayers for Offering Prasadam Prayers for Honoring Prasadam Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu

** These Topics are also discussed in Part-2 of this Manual: Basic Vaisnava Prayers Section

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PART- 1 Basic Vaiñëava Etiquettes For Äçraya (Level-1)

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Srila Prabhupada says that we should pray to Krishna as follows, “My dear Krishna, please do not put me into forgetfulness…even if you send me to hell it doesn’t matter, so long as I can always chant Hare Krishna.”

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PART- 2 Basic Vaiñëava Prayers For Äçraya (Level-1)

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Çré Guru praëäma om ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù 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.

Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa on this earth, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.

namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.

Çré Païca-tattva praëäma çré-kåñëa-caitanya prabhu nityänanda çré-advaita gadädhara çréväsädi-gaura-bhakta-vånda I offer my obeisances to Çré Kåñëa Caitanya, Prabhu Nityänanda, Çré Advaita, Gadädhara, Çréväsa and all others in the line of devotion.

Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, 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.

Prema-dhvani Prayers • jaya oà viñëu-päda paramahaàsa parivräjakäcärya añöottara-çata çré çrémad a. c. bhaktivedänta svämé mahäräja prabhupäda-ké jaya.

All glories to the äcärya Oà Viñëu-päda 108 Tridaëòé Gosvämé A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who travels everywhere, preaching the glories of Hari, and who is situated on the highest platform of sannyäsa.

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Basic Vaisnava Ettiquettes & Prayers for Asraya (Level-1) • ISKCON-Founder-Äcärya Çréla Prabhupäda-ké jaya.

All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, the Founder-Äcärya of the International Society for Kåñëa Consciousness.

• jaya oà viñëu-päda paramahaàsa parivräjakäcärya añöottara-çata çré çrémad bhaktisiddhänta sarasvaté gosvämé mahäräja prabhupäda-ké jaya.

All glories to the äcärya Oà Viñëu-päda 108 Tridaëòé Gosvämé Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Prabhupäda, who travels across the earth, preaching the glories of Hari, and who is situated on the highest platform of sannyäsa.

• jaya om viñëu-päda çréla gaurakiçora däsa bäbäjé mahäräja-ké jaya. All glories to Çréla Gaurakiçora däsa Bäbäjé.

• jaya oà viñëu-päda çréla saccidänanda bhaktivinoda öhäkura-ké jaya. All glories to Çréla Sac-cid-änanda Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura.

• jaya oà viñëu-päda vaiñëava-särvabhauma çréla jagannätha däsa bäbäjé mahäräja-ké jaya. All glories to Vaiñëava-Särvabhauma Çréla Jagannätha däsa Bäbäjé.

• jaya çré rüpa sanätana bhaööa-raghunätha çré jéva gopäla bhaööa däsa raghunätha ñaògosvämé prabhu-ké jaya.

All glories to the six Gosvämés, namely, Çré Rüpa, Sanatäna, Raghunätha Bhaööa, Jéva, Gopäla Bhaööa and Raghunätha Däsa.

• nämäcärya çréla haridäsa öhäkura-ké jaya.

All glories to the Nämäcärya Çréla Haridäsa Öhäkura.

• prem-se kaho çré-kåñëa-caitanya prabhu nityänanda çré advaita, gadädhara, çréväsädi gaura-bhakta-vånda-ké jaya.

Call out with love the names Çré Kåñëa Caitanya, Prabhu Nityänanda, Çré Advaita, Çré Gadädhara, Çréväsa and all the devotees of Lord Caitanya.

• çré çré rädha-kåñëa, gopa-gopénatha, çyäma-kuëòa, rädhä-kuëòa giri-govardhana-ké jaya. All glories to Rädhä and Kåñëa, the cowherd boys and girls, the cows, Çyäma-kuëòa, Rädhä-kuëòa and Govardhana Hill. (One may glorify the Deities of the temple at this time.)

• çré mäyäpur dhäma-ké jaya.

All glories to Çré Mäyäpur-dhäma.

• çré våndävana dhäma-ké jaya.

All glories to Çré Våndävana-dhäma.

• gaìgä-mayé-ké jaya.

All glories to Gaìgä-devé.

• yamunä-mayé-ké jaya.

All glories to Yamunä-devé.

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Basic Vaisnava Ettiquettes & Prayers for Asraya (Level-1) • bhakti-devé-ké jaya.

All glories to Bhakti-devé.

• tulasé-devé-ké jaya.

All glories to Tulasé-devé.

• ananta koöi vaiñëava-vånda-ké jaya.

All glories to the unlimited millions of Vaiñëavas.

• çré hari-näma saìkértana-ké jaya.

All glories to the congregational chanting of the holy name of Hari.

• grantha-räja çrémad-bhägavatam-ké jaya.

All glories to the king of books, Çrémad-Bhägavatam.

• ISKCON-vartmäna-guru-vånda-ké jaya. All glories to the present gurus of ISKCON.

• samäveta bhakta-vånda-ké jaya.

All glories to the assembled devotees.

• gaura-premänande hari-haribol.

Chant the names Hari! Hari! in the ecstasy of Caitanya-prema.

• All glories to the assembled devotees. [three times] • All glories to Çré Guru and Çré Gauräìga. • All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda.

Çré Nåsiàha Praëäma namas te narasiàhäya prahlädähläda-däyine hiraëyakaçipor vakñaù-çilä-öaìka-nakhälaye I offer my obeisances to Lord Narasiàha who gives joy to Prahläda Mahäräja and whose nails are like chisels on the stonelike chest of the demon Hiraëyakaçipu.

ito nåsiàhaù parato nåsiàho yato yato yämi tato nåsiàhaù bahir nåsiàho hådaye nåsiàho nåsiàham ädià çaraëaà prapadye Lord Nåsiàha is here and also there. Wherever I go Lord Nåsiàha is there. He is in the heart and is outside as well. I surrender to Lord Nåsiàha, the origin of all things and the supreme refuge.

tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-çåìgaà dalita-hiraëyakaçipu-tanu-bhåìgam keçava dhåta-narahari-rüpa jaya jagadéça hare O Keçava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of half-man, halflion! All glories to You! Just as one can easily crush a wasp between one's fingernails, so in the

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Basic Vaisnava Ettiquettes & Prayers for Asraya (Level-1) same way the body of the wasplike demon Hiraëyakaçipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful pointed nails on Your beautiful lotus hands.

The Ten Offenses to the Holy Name The ten offenses to the holy name are listed as follows in the Padma Puräëa, as quoted in the Caitanya-caritämåta (Ädi 8.24, purport): satäà nindä nämnaù paramam aparädhaà vitanute yataù khyätià yätaà katham u sahate tad-vigarhäm 1. To blaspheme the great saintly persons who are preaching the glories of the Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra is the worst offense at the lotus feet of the holy name. The Näma-prabhu, who is identical with Kåñëa, will never tolerate such blasphemous activities, even from one who passes as a great devotee. çivasya çré-viñëor ya iha guëa-nämädi-sakalaà dhiyä bhinnaà paçyet sa khalu hari-nämähita-karaù 2. In this material world the holy name of Viñëu is all-auspicious. Viñëu'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 Çiva are as good as the name of Lord Viñëu is also blasphemous. guror avajïä 3. It is offensive to consider the spiritual master material and therefore to envy his exalted position. çruti-çästra-nindanam 4. It is offensive to blaspheme the Vedic literature such as the four Vedas and the Puräëas. artha-vädaù 5. It is offensive to consider the glories of the holy name exaggerations. hari-nämni kalpanam 6. It is offensive to consider the holy name of the Lord imaginary. nämno baläd yasya hi päpa-buddhir na vidyate tasya yamair hi çuddhiù

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Basic Vaisnava Ettiquettes & Prayers for Asraya (Level-1) 7. 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 Yamaräja. dharma-vrata-tyäga-hutädi-sarvaçubha-kriyä-sämyam api pramädaù 8. 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. açraddadhäne vimukhe 'py açåëvati yaç copadeçaù çiva-nämäparädhaù 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. çrutväpi näma-mähätmyaà yaù préti-rahito 'dhamaù ahaà-mamädi-paramo nämni so 'py aparädha-kåt 10. 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 pramädaù It is also an offense to be inattentive while chanting. Every devotee who claims to be a Vaiñëava must carefully guard against these ten offenses in order to quickly achieve the desired success, Kåñëa-prema

Vaiñëava-praëäma väïchä-kalpa-tarubhyaç ca kåpä-sindhubhya eva ca patitänäà pävanebhyo vaiñëavebhyo namo namaù I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaiñëava devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees who can fulfill the desires of everyone. They are oceans of mercy and are the purifiers of the fallen souls.

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Çré Çré Çikñäñöaka Eight Instructions by Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu instructed His disciples to write books on the science of Kåñëa, 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 Çikñäñöaka. These eight verses clearly reveal His mission and precepts. These supremely valuable prayers are translated herein. (1) ceto-darpaëa-märjanaà bhava-mahä-dävägni-nirväpaëaà çreyaù-kairava-candrikä-vitaraëaà vidyä-vadhü-jévanam änandämbudhi-vardhanaà prati-padaà pürëämåtäsvädanaà sarvätma-snapanaà paraà vijayate çré-kåñëa-saëkértanam 1) Glory to the çré-kåñëa-saìkértana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This saìkértana 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) nämnäm akäri bahudhä nija-sarva-çaktis taträrpitä niyamitaù smaraëe na kälaù etädåçé tava kåpä bhagavan mamäpi durdaivam édåçam ihäjani nänurägaù 2) O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names, like Kåñëa 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) tåëäd api sunécena taror api sahiñëunä amäninä mänadena kértanéyaù sadä hariù 3) 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.

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(4) na dhanaà na janaà na sundaréà kavitäà vä jagad-éça kämaye mama janmani janmanéçvare bhavatäd bhaktir ahaituké tvayi 4) 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 kiìkaraà patitaà mäà viñame bhavämbudhau kåpayä tava päda-paìkajasthita-dhülé-sadåçaà vicintaya 5) O son of Mahäräja Nanda [Kåñëa], 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) nayanaà galad-açru-dhärayä vadanaà gadgada-ruddhayä girä pulakair nicitaà vapuù kadä tava-näma-grahaëe bhaviñyati 6) 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) yugäyitaà nimeñeëa cakñuñä prävåñäyitam çünyäyitaà jagat sarvaà govinda-viraheëa me 7) 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) äçliñya vä päda-ratäà pinañöu mäm adarçanän marma-hatäà karotu vä yathä tathä vä vidadhätu lampaöo mat-präëa-näthas tu sa eva näparaù

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Basic Vaisnava Ettiquettes & Prayers for Asraya (Level-1) 8) I know no one but Kåñëa 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 (Govindam Prayers) govindam ädi-puruñaà tam ahaà bhajämi govindam ädi-puruñaà tam ahaà bhajämi govindam ädi-puruñaà tam ahaà bhajämi veëuà kvaëantam aravinda-daläyatäkñaà barhävataàsam asitämbuda-sundaräìgam kandarpa-koöi-kaminéya-viçeña-çobhaà govindam ädi-puruñaà tam ahaà bhajämi 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-saàhitä 5.30] aìgäni yasya sakalendriya-våtti-manti paçyanti pänti kalayanti ciraà jaganti änanda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala-vigrahasya govindam ädi-puruñaà tam ahaà bhajämi 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-saàhitä 5.32]

Jaya Rädhä-Mädhava Çréla Prabhupäda was very fond of this song and sang it just before his lectures. In Allahabad and Gorakhpur Çréla Prabhupäda 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 Kåñëa." Çréla Prabhupäda said that this song is "a picture of Våndävana. Everything is there-Çrématé Rädhäräëé, Våndävana, Govardhana, Yaçodä, and all the cowherd boys." (jaya) rädhä-mädhava (jaya) kuïja-bihäré (jaya) gopé-jana-vallabha (jaya) giri-vara-dhäré (jaya) jaçodä-nandana, (jaya) braja-jana-raïjana, (jaya) jämuna-téra-vana-cäré 66


Kåñëa is the lover of Rädhä. He displays many amorous pastimes in the groves of Våndävana, He is the lover of the cowherd maidens of Vraja, the holder of the great hill named Govardhana, the beloved son of mother Yaçod ä, the delighter of the inhabitants of Vraja, and He wanders in the forests along the banks of the River Yamunä.

Prayers for offering Prasädam In the beginning, we may offer our food to Lord Kåñëa by chanting the Hare Kåñëa Mantra three times and praying to Lord Kåñëa to accept our humble offering and give us His prasadam. But, gradually, to come to the standard, we should chant the following prayers 3 times each: nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. 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-chaitanyanamne gaura-tvishe namaha 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 Kåñëa. namo-brahmanya-devaya go brahmana hitaya cha jagad-hitaya krishnaya govindaya namo namaha I offer my respectful obeisances to the Supreme Absolute Truth, Krishna, who is the wellwisher 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.

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Prayers for honoring Prasädam mahä-prasäde govinde näma-brahmaëi vaiñëave svalpa-puëya-vatäà räjan viçväso naiva jäyate O king, for those with little pious credit, faith in mahä-prasäda, Çré Govinda, the holy name, and the Vaiñëavas never arises. [Mahäbhärata] çaréra avidyä-jäl, joòendriya tähe käl, jéve phele viñaya-sägore tä'ra madhye jihvä ati, lobhamoy sudurmati, tä'ke jetä kaöhina saàsäre kåñëa baòo doyämay, karibäre jihvä jay, sva-prasäd-anna dila bhäi sei annämåta päo, rädhä-kåñëa-guëa gäo, preme òäko caitanya-nitäi 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 Kåñëa, are very kind to us and have given us such nice prasädam just to control the tongue. Now we take this prasädam to our full satisfaction and glorify You-Çré Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa-and in love call for the help of Lord Caitanya and Nityänanda.

Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Prabhu A Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Çré Gauräìga Text One çré-kåñëa-caitanya prabhu doyä koro more tomä binä ke doyälu jagat-saàsäre My dear Lord Caitanya, please be merciful to me, because who can be more merciful than Your Lordship within these three worlds? Text Two patita-pävana-hetu tava avatära mo sama patita prabhu nä päibe ära 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. Text Three

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Basic Vaisnava Ettiquettes & Prayers for Asraya (Level-1) hä hä prabhu nityänanda, premänanda sukhé kåpäbalokana koro ämi boro duùkhé My dear Lord Nityänanda, 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. Text Four doyä koro sétä-pati adwaita gosäi tava kåpä-bale päi caitanya-nitäi My dear Advaita Prabhu, husband of Sétä, You are so kind. Please be merciful to me. If You are kind to me, naturally Lord Caitanya and Nityänanda will also be kind to me. Text Five hä hä swarüp, sanätana, rüpa, raghunätha bhaööa-juga, çré-jéva hä prabhu lokanätha O Svarüpa Dämodara, personal secretary of Lord Caitanya, O six Gosvämés; Çré Rupa Gosvämé, Çré Sanätana Gosvämé, Çré Raghunätha Bhaööa Gosvämé, Çré Gopäla Bhaööa Gosvämé, Sré Jéva Gosvämé, and Çré Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé! O Lokanätha Gosvämé, my beloved spiritual master! Narottama däsa also prays for your mercy. Text Six doyä koro çré-äcärya prabhu çréniväsa rämacandra-saìga mäge narottama-däsa O Çréniväsa Äcärya, successor to the six Gosvämés! Please be merciful to me. Narottama däsa always desires the company of Rämacandra Cakravarté. Purport to the above song by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda This is a song composed by Narottama däsa Öhäkura. He prays to Lord Caitanya, "My dear Lord, please be merciful to me, because who can be more merciful than Your Lordship within these three worlds?" Actually, this is a fact. Not only Narottama däsa Öhäkura, but Rüpa Gosvämé also prayed to Lord Caitanya in this way. At the time of the first meeting of Lord Caitanya and Rüpa Gosvämé at Prayäga (Allahabad), Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé said, "My dear Lord, You are the most munificent of all incarnations, because You are distributing love of Kåñëa, Kåñëa consciousness." When Kåñëa was personally present He simply asked us to surrender, but He did not distribute Himself so easily. He made conditions-"First of all you surrender." But this incarnation, Lord Caitanya, although Kåñëa Himself, makes no such condition. He simply distributes: "Take love of Kåñëa." Therefore Lord Caitanya is approved as the most munificent incarnation. Narottama däsa Öhäkura says, "Please be merciful to me. You are so magnanimous, because You have seen the fallen souls of this age, and You are very much compassionate to them, but You should know also that I am the most fallen. No one is more greatly fallen than me." Patita-pävana-hetu tava avatära: "Your incarnation is just to reclaim the

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Basic Vaisnava Ettiquettes & Prayers for Asraya (Level-1) conditioned, fallen souls, but I assure You that You will not find a greater fallen soul than me. Therefore, my claim is first." Then he prays to Lord Nityänanda. He says, hä hä prabhu nityänanda premänanda-sukhé: "My dear Lord Nityänanda, 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, I may also become happy." Then he prays to Advaita Prabhu. Doyä koro sétä-pati adwaita gosäi. Advaita Prabhu's wife's name was Sétä. Therefore He is sometimes addressed as sétä-pati. Thus Narottama däsa Öhäkura prays, "My dear Advaita Prabhu, husband of Sétä, You are so kind. Please be kind to me. If You are kind to me, naturally Lord Caitanya and Nityänanda will also be kind to me." Actually, Advaita Prabhu invited Lord Caitanya to come down. When Advaita Prabhu saw that the fallen souls were all engaged simply in sense gratificatory processes, not understanding Kåñëa consciousness, He felt very much compassionate toward the fallen souls, and He also felt Himself incapable of claiming them all. He therefore prayed to Lord Kåñëa, "Please come Yourself. Without Your personal presence it is not possible to deliver these fallen souls." Thus by His invitation Lord Caitanya appeared. Naturally, Narottama däsa Öhäkura prays to Advaita Prabhu, "If You will be kind to me, naturally Lord Caitanya and Nityänanda also will be kind to me." Then he prays to the Gosvämés. Hä hä swarüp, sanätana, rüpa, raghunätha. Swarüp refers to Svarüpa Dämodara, the personal secretary of Lord Caitanya. He was always with Caitanya Mahäprabhu and immediately arranged for whatever Caitanya Mahäprabhu wanted. Two personal attendants, Svarüpa Dämodara and Govinda, were always constantly with Lord Caitanya. Therefore, Narottama däsa Öhäkura also prays to Svarüpa Dämodara and then to the six Gosvämés, the next disciples of Lord Caitanya-Çré Rüpa Gosvämé, Çré Sanätana Gosvämé, Çré Bhaööa Raghunätha Gosvämé, Çré Gopäla Bhaööa Gosvämé, Çré Jéva Gosvämé, and Çré Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé. These six Gosvämés were directly instructed by Lord Caitanya to spread this movement of Kåñëa consciousness. Narottama däsa Thäkura also prays for their mercy. After the six Gosvämés, the next äcärya was Çréniväsa Äcärya. Actually, Narottama däsa Öhäkura was in the disciplic succession after Çréniväsa Äcärya and was almost his contemporary, and Narottama däsa's personal friend was Rämacandra Cakravarté. Therefore he prays, "I always desire the company of Rämacandra." He desires a devotee's company. The whole process is that we should always pray for the mercy of the superior äcäryas and keep company with pure devotees. Then it will be easier for us to advance in Kåñëa consciousness and receive the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Lord Kåñëa. This is the sum and substance of this song sung by Narottama däsa Öhäkura.

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Vaishnava Ettiquete

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