Prayer to the Citrapaṭa

Citrapaṭa Prārthanā · citra-paṭa prārthanā, “the prayer to the painted cloth”

The prayer to the citrapaṭa is the two-verse prayer with which the yajamāna honours the citrapaṭa, a painted cloth showing all fourteen bhuvanas, in the Bhuvana-pratishṭhā. Bhagavān Śrī Kṛshṇa gives it in the Uttara Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa, in the chapter on the glory of the Bhuvana-pratishṭhā and the account of the dharmātmā Raji.

The setting

A strong, pure white cloth seven hastas long and wide is taken, and a skilled painter, honoured with cloth and ornaments, draws on it all fourteen bhuvanas while the brāhmaṇas do puṇyāha-vācana to the sound of the Veda. In the middle is Jambūdvīpa with Meru and the devatās above it; in the eight directions the cities of the dikpālas; the earth with seven dvīpas, seven kulācalas, seven oceans, the rivers and lakes, the seven pātālas and the seven lokas; the lokas of Brahmā and the devatās, the path of Dhruva, Sūrya with the grahas and stars, dānavas, yakshas, rākshasas, ṛshis, cows, the deva-mātā Aditi, Suparṇa and the birds, the nāgas and the eight diggajas; and, pervading all, the five tattvas, ahaṃkāra, manas, buddhi, the three guṇas, prakṛti and purusha. On Kārttika Pūrṇimā, an ayana-saṅkrānti, the vishuva yoga or an eclipse the citrapaṭa is set in a maṇḍapa, homa is done in four kuṇḍas with the name-mantras of the devatās painted on it, and the yajamāna worships it and prays.

The prayer

ब्रह्माण्डोदरवर्तीनि भुवनानि चतुर्दश।
तानि संनिहितान्यत्र पूजितानि भवन्तु मे।

brahmāṇḍodaravartīni bhuvanāni caturdaśa|
tāni saṃnihitānyatra pūjitāni bhavantu me|

May the fourteen bhuvanas within the brahmāṇḍa be present in this citrapaṭa, and be honoured by me.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 191

The second verse, as the Hindi gives it: “O Brahmā, Vishṇu, Rudra, Ādityas and Vasus, honoured by me, may you all be established in it.”

After the prayer

The yajamāna goes round the citrapaṭa, offers naivedya, and keeps jāgaraṇa at night with the sound of the Veda, song and dance. At dawn cows, sandals and an umbrella are given to the ṛtvijas, and the citrapaṭa is set on an adorned chariot, carried with the brāhmaṇas, installed in a devamandira and honoured with a mahotsava. Śrī Kṛshṇa closes: by this Bhuvana-pratishṭhā come growth of dharma, attainment of what is desired, destruction of pāpa and success of all undertakings.

Sources

• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 191