Early History of the Vaishnava Faith and Movement in Bengal, from Sanskrit and Bengali Sources c10.s1.35

c10.s1.35

Waking up in the Brāhma-muhūrta (early dawn, between the 4th and 2nd Ghaṭikā before sunrise) with the name of Kṛṣṇa on his lips, the Vaiṣṇava devotee should wash his face, hands and feet, cleanse his teeth and change his clothes. He should then contemplate the feet of his spiritual preceptor and think of Kṛṣṇa. This meditation is called mental bath (Mānasa Snāna); it produces the merit of bathing in all the places of pilgrimage, and is, therefore, the best of all holy baths. He should utter verses from *Śrīmad-bhāgavata* (such as x. 90, 24; x. 46, 35 etc.) in praise of Kṛṣṇa. These verses are said to be very efficacious; but our author adds that although this is the prevailing custom, one may contemplate the deity in his own way in the form most desirable. Then he should perform morning obeisance (Prātaḥ-Praṇāma) no less than four times to the deity. This mode of morning prayer and contemplation (Prātar-Dhyāna) and its effects are described in detail by means of quotations from the Pañcarātra and other scriptures. The form of the deity to be contemplated should, according to one's inclination, be such as is described in the *Gopāla-tāpanī*, the *Śāradā-tilaka* and other sectarian and Tāntric works.