31 - Worship of Vishnu 

Rudra Said: 

1. O! Lord of the Universe! Please explain further the worship of the deity whereby I shall cross the ocean of worldly existence which is very difficult to cross. 

Hari said: 

2. O Vrushabhadhvaja (Shiva)! I shall explain to you the adoration of Lord Vişhnu. O Fortunate Shiva! Hear it which is auspicious and which yields worldly pleasure and salvation. 

3-4. The devotee shall take bath, perform Sandhya (prayers) and enter the room for sacrifice. After washing the hands and feet and performing Achamana particularly he shall assign the Mulamantra (the root mantra) to his hand. O Rudra! I shall tell you the Mula Mantra. 

5-6. Om Shrim Hrim obeisance to Shridhara, Vişhnu (Him- self). This mantra is of Vişhnu expressing him as the lord of deities, dispelling all sickness, all defects in planets, all sins and giving enjoyment and salvation. 

7. O skilful Shiva, the devotee shall then perform the Anganyasa with these mantras. Om Häm obeisance to the heart; Om Him Svähä to the head; Om Hüm Vashat to the tuft; Om Haim Hum to the Kavacha, Om Haum Vaushat to the eyes; Om Hah Phat to the Astra. 

8. Powerful that I am I have explained the mantra to you. The devotee having conquered his soul shall show the Mudra of the Atman after performing the Nyasa. 

9. Then the devotee shall meditate on the supreme lord Vişhnu residing in the hollow of the heart, holding conch and discus and white as the Kunda1 flower and the moon. 

1. Jasminum multiflorum (GYDB, p. 105). 

10. After performing the purificatory rite the devotee shall meditate I am Vişhnu'-Vişhnu with Shrivatsa and Kaustubha, bedecked with garlands of wild flowers, wearing coronet and diamond necklace and the great Lord. 

11. With the Bijas (mystic seeds) Yam Ksham Ram and the names he shall (in imagination) prepare an egg and harden it and then pierce it with Pranava itself. 

12-14. Then, o Vruşhabhadhvaja, thinking of the form as mentioned before, the devotee shall perform the Atmapuja with auspicious fragrant flowers. All the deities of the seat shall be invoked with these mantras. O Shankara! Hear those mantras. O ye deities of the seat of Vişhņu! Come. 

15. Om obeisance to Achyuta with all attendents; Om obeisance to Dhatru; Om obeisance to Vidhatru; Om obeisance to Ganga; Om obeisance to Yamuna. Om obeisance to the treasure Shankha; Om obeisance to the treasure Padma; Om obeisance to Chanda; Om obeisance to Prachanda; Om obeisance to the splendour of gate; Om obeisance to the Adhāra Shakti; Om obeisance to Kūrma; Om obeisance to Ananta; Om obeisance to Shri; Om obeisance to Dharma; Om obeisance to jñana; Om obeisance to Vairagya (non-attachment); Om obeisance to Aišhvarya (prosperity);Om obeisance to Adharma (evil); Om obeisance to Ajñana (ignorance); Om obeisance to Avairagya (attachment); Om obeisance to Anaishvarya (impoverished state); Om Sam obeisance to Sattva; Om Ram obeisance to Rajas; Om Tam obeisance to Tamas; Om Kam obeisance to Skanda; Om Nam obeisance to Nila; Om Lam obeisance to Padma; Om Am obeisance to the solar zone; Om Sam obeisance to the lunar zone; Om Vam obeisance to the fiery zone; Om obeisance to Vimala; Om obeisance to Vikarshini. Om obeisance to the Power of knowledge; Om obeisance to Kriya (Action); Om obeisance to Roga (deity of diseases); Om obeisance to Prahvi (the humble); Om obeisance to Satt; Om obeisance to Ishänã; Om obeisance to Anugraha (the blessed one). 

16-17. With these mantras and fragrant flowers, the devotee shall worship these deities. After that he shall invoke into the Mandala and worship Vişhnu the great lord, the creator and destroyer, Hari the remover of all sins. 

18. Just as in the Atman, so in the lord too, the Nyasa shall be performed from the beginning and afterwards show of Mudra and then Arghya etc. shall be given. 

19-20. Then in order shall be performed bathing, offering of garment, Achamana, fragrant flowers, incense, light, food offering and circular peregrination. The Japas shall be recited and dedicated to the deity. With their own respective mantras, the worship of the Angas (parts) shall be performed by the Sadhaka (devotee). 

21. O Vrushadhvaja know this to be with the root-mantra alone. Please listen, O Three-eyed Shiva, to the mantras being recited by me. 

22. Om Hän obeisance to the heart. Om Him obeisance to the head. Om Ham obeisance to the tuft. Om Haim obeisance to the Kavacha; Om Haum obeisance to the three eyes: Om Hah obeisance to the Astra; Om obeisance to Shri; Om obeisance to the Shankha; Om obeisance to Padma, Om obeisance to Chakra; Om obeisance to Gada; Om obeisance to Shrivatsa. Om obeisance to Kaustubha; Om obeisance to Vanamala (garland of wild flowers); Om obeisance to Pitambara (the yellow-robed); Om obeisance to Khadga (sword). Om obeisance to Musala (Pestle); Om obeisance to the noose; Om obeisance to the goad. Om obeisance to Sharnga (the bow) Om obeisance to Shara (arrow); Om obeisance to Brahman; Om obeisance to Narada; Om obeisance to all Siddhas (yogins). Om obeisance to all Bhagavatas (devotees); Om obeisance to all preceptors; Om obeisance to all great preceptors; Om obeisance to Indra, the lord of gods seated in his vehicle and attended by followers; Om obeisance to Agni (Fire-god) lord of lustres seated in his vehicle and attended by his followers; Om obeisance to Yama, the lord of the dead, seated in his vehicle and attended by his followers. Om obeisance to Nirruti lord of demons seated in his vehicle and attended by followers; Om obeisance to Varuna lord of waters seated in his vehicle, attended by his followers; Om obeisance to Vāyu lord of vital airs seated in his vehicle and attended by his followers; Om obeisance to Soma1 lord of the stars, seated in his vehicle and attended by followers; Om obeisance to Ishana2 lord of learning seated in his vehicle and attended by his followers; Om obeisance to Ananta3 the lord of serpents seated in his vehicle attended by his followers; Om obeisance to Brahman the lord of worlds seated in his vehicle, attended by his followers; Om Hum Phat obeisance to Vajra; Om Hum Phat obeisance to Shakti; Om Hum Phal obeisance to Danda (baton); Om Hum Phat obeisance to sword; Om Hun Phat obeisance to the noose; Om Hum Phat obeisance to the banner; Om Hum Phat obeisance to Gada; Om Hum Phat obeisance to the trident; On Hum Phaf obeisance to the Chakra; Om Huh Phat obeisance to Padma; Om Vaum obeisance to Vishvaksena. 

            1. The moon. 

2. A name of Shiva or Rudra, or of one of his manifestations. (Vide CDHM P. 128). 

3. Popularly known as Sheshandga. 

23. O Mahadeva! Anga etc. shall be worshipped with these mantras. After worshipping Vishnu, the great soul of the form of Brahman. 

24. The supreme Soul shall be sung in praise by this hymn. Obeisance to Vishnu the god of gods; obeisance to Prabha-Vishnu (the powerful). 

25. Obeisance to Vasudeva the sustainer; obeisance to the grasping; obeisance to the Pralayashayin (lying in the waters of deluge). 

26. Obeisance to the lord of gods; obeisance to the lord of sacrifices. Obeisance to the lord of sages. Obeisance to the lord of Yakshas. 

27. Obeisance to the conqueror of all gods; obeisance to the omnipresent of great soul. Obeisance to the lord of all, honoured by Brahmā, Indra and Rudra. 

28. Obeisance to the beneficiary of all worlds; obeisance to the presiding deity of the Universe; Obeisance to the protector of all; doer of all, destroyer of all. 

29. Obeisance to the giver of boons; the quiet; the foremost. Obeisance, obeisance, to the refuge, to the self-formed and the giver of Virtue, love and wealth. 

30. After singing the hymn, the devotee shall meditate in his heart on the imperishable in the form of Brahman, let him worship Vişhnu with the root mantra, O Shankara. 

31. Or, let him recite the Müla mantra. He shall attain Hari. O Rudra, thus I have narrated the excellent worship of Vişhnu. 

32. This is to be kept as a great secret. It gives enjoyment and salvation. The scholar who reads this becomes a great devotee of Vişhnu. He who hears or recites to others attains the world of Vişhņu.