Early History of the Vaishnava Faith and Movement in Bengal, from Sanskrit and Bengali Sources c10.s1.59

c10.s1.59

The bathing of the image (Snāna) is then dealt with. After soliciting permission and offering a pair of footwear, the worshipper should take the image to the bathing place, and exhibit the Amṛtikaraṇa-Mudrā after placing Āsana, Pādya, Ācamanīya etc. The image is then placed on a copper-plate (for the purpose of collecting the sacred water after washing), or on the leaf of lotus, banyan or plantain, besmeared with unctuous substances (Abhyaṅga-dravya) and bathed with five nectars (Pañcāmṛta), namely, milk, curd, ghee, honey and candied sugar (Śarkarā). During the bath of the deity, incense is to be burnt. After removal of oil and dirt by means of powdered wheat, barley, Kūrca (bundle of Kuśa grass) or other cleansing substances, the image is to be bathed with the citation of proper formulas, first in warm and then in cold water, purified with Tulasi, camphor and various herbs and scented with Aguru (the fragrant Aloe), sandal and perfumes. A bath with the holy water from a conch-shell is said to be very desirable. Those who bathe the deity in the above manner become free from all sins and earn the merit of heavenly bliss. Incense is then to be burnt, and bells, conch-shells and musical instruments are to be sounded with the pronouncing of appropriate Mantras. Singing and dancing should also accompany the performance. The thousand blessed names of the deity and famous hymns should be recited; and the Bhagavad-gītā and the Vaiṣṇava Purāṇas should be read. Then, with the exhibition of the Snāna-Mudrā, the body of the image should be dried by means of a piece of fresh fine cloth. With the Vastrārpaṇa-Mudrā, it should then be dressed in a pair of garments or with special dress for special images or occasions, and invested with the sacred thread. Blue garment is forbidden. After offering ornaments and besmearing the image with sandal and other scented pastes (the forbidden pastes being Padmaka, Rakta-candana and Uśīra), the image should be fanned with Cāmara (chowry) or with a fan made of palm leaf. The merit accruing from all these acts is also described elaborately.