21 - Method of worshipping Vishnu and other gods 

Nārada said:

1. I will (now) describe the general method of worshipping Vishnu and others as well as the mantras (mystic formulae) which yield good to all. One has to worship (him by saying) "Salutations to Achyuta (Vishnu) and to (his) entire family (of gods). 

2-4. (Salutation to) Dhātri, Vidhåtri,¹ Gangā, Yamuna, the two nidhis (treasures), the fortune of Dvāra (ka), the Västudeity (the presiding deity of the housesite), Sakti (female divinity), Kūrma (tortoise), Ananta (the serpent), the Earth, righteous knowledge, detachment from the world, the omnipotence (of the lord), the unrighteousness etc. the root, stalk, filament and pericarp of the lotus, Rgveda and other (Vedas), Krta and other (yugas), sattva and other (qualities), the solar and other regions, the pure and elevating union of knowledge and action. One has to worship these. 

1. Dhåtri and Vidhatri are the two sons of Brahmå. 

5. Joy, truth, the goddess benevolently placed, Durga (Pärvati), speech, goblins, field and Väsudeva and others are worshipped. 

6. The heart, head, coat of mail, eye and weapons, conch, disc, mace, lotus, Śrīvatsa (sacred mark on Lord Krishņa's chest) and the Kaustubha gem are worshipped. 

7. The garland of wood-flowers (worn by Krishņa), Sri (Lakshmi), Pusti (nourishment), Garuda (vehicle of Vishņu), and the preceptor are worshipped. Indra, Agni, Yama, Raksha (Nairshta), water, wind, lord of wealth (Kubera) (are also worshipped). 

8. That Iśäna, the unborn, and weapons, vehicles, Kumuda and others (are worshipped next). By the worship of Vishvaksena (all-pervasive) (Vishņu) in a circle first, one gets his desires accomplished. 

9. Then the general worship of Siva (is described). One has to worship Nandin at first. (Then) Mahäkāla (Śhiva), Ganga, Yamuna, Gaņas, and others (are worshipped). 

10-11. (Then) the speech, the goddess of prosperity, the preceptor, the Vastu (deity), the different female energies and Dharma (the lord of death) and other gods (are worshipped). (The female energies) Vama, Jyeshthå, Raudrī, Kali, Kalavikariņi, Balavikariņi, Balapramathini, Sarvabhūtadamani, Manomani and Siva (are worshipped) in the due order. 

12. (Saying) Håm, Hum, Ham (salutation) to the form of Śhiva, Siva is worshipped along with his limbs and mouth. Haum, (salutation) to Siva, Haum and Hām (salutations) to Iśāna (one of the Panchabrahman forms of Śhiva) and other faced (forms of Siva). 

13. Hrim (salutation) to Gauri (Pärvati), Gam (salutation) to Gaņa, face of Sakra (Indra), Caņda, heart and others. The mystic syllables in the worship of the sun (are described now). The tawny-coloured Daņdin is to be worshipped. 

14. Oneshould adore Ucchaiḥśravas (the horse of Indra), the very much pure Aruņa (younger brother of the Sun-god). The moon and the twilight, the other faces and Skanda (progeny of Siva) in the middle are worshipped. 

15. Then (the female divinities) Dipta, Sükshma, Jaya, Bhadrā, Vibhūti, Vimalā, Amoghå, Vidyuta and Sarvatomukhi are worshipped. 

16. Then the mantra Ham, Kham, Kham for the firebrand (is used for the worship) of the seat of the sun and (his) form. Hråm, Hrim, salutation to the sun, Am, salutation to the heart.

 17. (Salutation) to the (rays of the) sun, to his head, and similarly to the flames reaching up the regions of demons, wind, earth, ether, and heavens. Hum is remembered as the mystic amulet. 

18-19. (Salutations are made to the lustre, eye, Hraḥ, to the weapons of Sun, Räji, Śakti, and Nishkubha. Then Soma (Moon), Angåraka (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Jiva (Jupiter), Sukra (Venus) and Sani (Saturn) as well as Rāhu, Ketu, tejas, Canda are worshipped in order in brief. Then the worshipper (should worship) the seat of the image (of the deity) and the heart etc. 

20. (The mantra) for the seat of Vishnu for the image of Vishnu (is) “Ram, Srim, Srim, Sridhara, Hari.” Hrim (is) the mystic syllable for the images (of all deities) which is capable of captivating the three worlds. 

21. Hrim, Hrushikeśa (master of the senses) (Vishnu), Klim, Vishņu. With long vowels (oneshould adore) the heart and other things. (The performance) of worship on the fifth day (panchami) with all these (mystic syllables) yields victory in battles. 

22-23. Worship of the disc, mace, conch, pestle, sword, Śärniga (the bow), noose, goad, Śrīvatsa (mark on the chest of the lord), with the garland of wood-flowers and with the mantra Srim, worship of Śri, Mahalakṣmi, Tärkshya (vehicle of Vishnu), the preceptor, Indra etc. (are made) in order. With the (mystic) syllable Aum, Hrim, Devi (goddess) Sarasvati (one has to worship) the seat of (Goddess) Sarasvati. 

24. The Heart etc., Lakshmi, Medha, Kala, Tushti, Pushtika, Gauri, Prabhåvati, (and) Durgā (the different female divinities), goblins, preceptor and the presiding deity of the field (are worshipped). 

25. Then (one has to say) Gam, (salutation) to the lord of the gañas, Hrim to Gauri, Śrím to Sri, Hrím to Tvarita, Aim, Klim, Saum to Tripurā using the fourth declensional endings and ending with salutations. 

26. All the mystic syllables are pronounced preceded by the Praņava (syllable Om), adding bindu (the nasal sound marked by a dot), either while offering adorations or the performance of repetition. 

27. By the offer of a homa (offer unto the fire) with sesamum and ghee and other things, (these mantras) become bestowers of dharma, kāma, artha and mokṣha (four principal objects of human life). Whoever reads these syllables of adoration reaches heaven after enjoying pleasures.