Early History of the Vaishnava Faith and Movement in Bengal, from Sanskrit and Bengali Sources c10.s1.48

c10.s1.48

The chapter begins with the worship of the Attendants (Pārṣadas) of Kṛṣṇa, namely, Garuḍa, Dvāra-lakṣmī, Caṇḍa and Pracaṇḍa, Dhātṛ and Vidhātṛ, Jaya and Vijaya, Bala and Prabala, Vāstu-puruṣa, Gaṅgā and Yamunā, Śaṅkhanidhi and Padmanidhi, Gaṇapati, Durgā, Sarasvatī, and Kṣetrapālas at the door and at different parts of the temple. The worshipper should then enter by putting his right foot forward, and without touching the threshold with his feet. He should then worship Brahmā and the Vāstu-puruṣa, as well as the special Pārṣadas of Kṛṣṇa inside the room. He should throw some rice and flower with appropriate Tāntric Mantra before the image, and take his seat in the Padmāsana or Svastikāsana posture after greeting (Āmantraṇa) and worshipping (Arcanā) the deity with proper formulas. If there is an image he must sit facing it; otherwise, he should turn his face towards the east in the day-time and towards the north in the evening. The seat (Āsana) may be made of various materials, e.g. bamboo, stone, wood, earth, Kuśa-grass, leaves etc., of which the skin of antelopes and tigers, woollen blankets, or mats of Kuśa grass are preferable. Thus seated, he should place the requisites of worship, such as conch-shell, the plates and pots for Arghya, Pādya, Ācamanīya and Madhuparka, the basin for Tulasi leaves, sandal and flowers, the pitcher filled with water, ghee, oil, lamps etc. in their respective places. The utensils may be made of gold, silver, earth and bell-metal, but copper is the most desirable material. In this connexion Gopāla Bhaṭṭa refers to the view of some people who prefer other metals to copper for holding the Madhuparka, on the ground that copper wares are spoiled by the products of cow's milk. Some like to use the conch-shell as the receptacle.