129 - Further Rituals in Worship

In the text the title is given as Chaturvanadiksha.

1. After bowing to the lord, Earth said again.

Earth said:

2. “I wish to know this, namely the mode of worship of the sandhyä in your system”.

3. Hearing these words of Earth, the great lord in the form of boar said:

Varäha said:

4-5. O Earth, I shall tell you this secret which you have asked, by which all devotees are able to get liberation from samsära.

6. The worship of sandhyä is laid down in this way.

7. Holding water in the joined palms with great reverence, and meditating for a while, the following mantra is to be uttered:

8. “The source of the worlds, the primordial indistinct form, all the gods, Brahmä, Rudra, all in dhyänayoga bow to Väsudeva in Sandhyä; we too every day in the sevenday week for release from Samsara; O Väsudeva, I bow to you”.

9. He who recites this mantra of mantras and penance of penances, reaches my world.  

10. He who recites this secret of secrets, never gets stained by sins.

 11. This should not be imparted to any one other than an initiated person.

12. O goddess, I shall tell you another matter, namely the offering of lamp by devotees.

13. After performing the due rites, the lighted lamp should be taken and holding it between the shanks, the following mantra should be recited:

14. “Om, bow to the blessing light Vishnu, all the gods remain in this flame which shines because of your effulgence. By your lustre and by the lustre of mantra this lamp shines. May you receive it offered with mantra for the sake of removing my samsära, as otherwise this action of mine will be fruitless”,

15. He who does this liberates all his manes.

Varäha said:¹

1. This portion within brackets is given in parenthesis in the text, probably indicating that this is perhaps an interpolated part.

1-2. The person ritualistically worshipping me should, after the decoration, adorn me with yajñopavita of nine threads. Then the tilaka of sandalpaste should be put on my forehead.

3. I shall tell you of another act to be done for the good of the world, namely the uttering of the mantra for this, namely.

4. “This decoration of your face, O Väsudeva, is done by me. This makes it more attractive. O god, snap my samsära”.

5. O Earth, by this mantra should the tilaka be applied in beautiful design on my face. Then taking flowers, this mantra should be uttered, namely.

6. ''These flowers are for your magnanimity, O lord; make everything happy; these are created by you for that purpose, Svähã”

7. After flowers, offer incense. Holding the fragrant and beautiful smoke-emitting receptacle,

8. Utter Om Näräyanäya and then recite the mantra:

9-10. “O Kešhava, your body is sweet-smelling by nature. By this smoke it is made further sweet. By the fragrance of your body make everything smell sweet. Accept this incense for my release from samsära”.

11. I shall now tell you about the offering of lamp which I accept for the welfare of my devotees.

12. In doing the duties by me, the devotee should take a lamp with flame, hold it between the legs and utter the mantra:

13. “O lord, I bow to you Vishnu. All gods reside in fire. Fire shines because of your effulgence and fire is the self itself.

14. O lord, receive this bright lamp for my release from samsära. Let not this action of mine be in vain”.

15. He who offers me the lamp like this, liberates all his manes”.

16. Hearing these words of lord Näräyana, Earth was wonderstruck and she asked again:

17. “I have now known about the devotees who are dedicated to your service. My mind is eager to know another matter, namely,

18. Of what material should be the vessels used in your service as to be pleasing to you”.

19. At these words of Earth, the lord of the worlds said:

20. “O Earth, I shall tell you what you have sought to know, namely what vessels please me.

21. Leaving out vessels of gold, silver and bronze, what pleases me most is vessels made of copper.

22. Thus, told by   Earth devoted to dharma asked him again: “It appears strange to me that copper pleases you most. Why is it so to you?”

23. Then that primordial and invincible Being, the greatest in the world, replied to Earth:

24. “O sinless Earth, listen intently to what I say about my partiality for copper,

25. Which arose seven thousand aeons ago and which is pleasing to look at.

26. O lotus-eyed one, there was a great asura named Gudäkešha. He had a cupreous form and was absorbed in my worship.

27. I was worshipped by him for fourteen thousand years, being desirous of acquiring dharma.

28. I was pleased by his determination and penance and seeing his hermitage where (later on) arose copper (1 appeared there).

29. Then kneeling down, he meditated on me and seeing me in my four-armed form, he prostrated with folded hands.

30. I was immensely pleased, and I spoke to him.

31. “O glorious Gudäkešha, tell me what I may do for you. I am very much pleased with your devotion, although it is difficult to please me.

32. Ask me the boon which you desire through your thoughts, words or deeds.

33. Then with supplicant hand and pure mind, Gudäkesha said:

34. “If you are indeed pleased with me, O lord, may I have constant devotion for you for a thousand lives.

35. (Finally) may I have death by the hurling of your disc

on me.

36. Killed by the disc, may my marrow and flesh become the holy material called copper.

37. Making vessels out of it and using them in your ritualistic worship, may that be for your pleasure.

38. If you are pleased, O lord, may I have this boon”.

39. I then said, “In view of your severe penance I grant you the boon you seek. May it be so as long as the world lasts. You become mine in cupreous form”.

40. From then onwards Gudäkešha was transformed into the nature of copper.

41. Therefore, O virtuous one, know that whatever is offered to me in copper vessel, gives me immense pleasure.

42. The auspicious and holy copper is dear to me. You will see it when the sun is at the zenith.¹

1. The proper place of verses 41-42, which are obviously spoken to Earth is after verse 49.

43. On the Dvädašhï day of the bright half in the month of Vaišhäkha, my disc will fall on you.

44. You will then reach my world. “Telling thus to Gudäkešha, I disappeared.

45. Awaiting death by the fall of the disc, he was continuing his admirable penance, thinking all the while as to when he would go to the world of Vishnu.

46. In due course, Dvädašhi of the bright half of the Vaišhäkha month arrived, and

47. Performing the worship of in due form, he implored:

48. “Let loose on me your disc glowing like fire and take away my soul quickly cutting to pieces my body”.

49. Then cut by my disc; the great devotee reached me. But his flesh became copper, blood became gold and the bones became silver and other metals like zinc, tin and iron.

50. Now listen to the result of offerings made in copper vessels.

51. My real devotees should know that it is in this way that copper arose and that it pleases me.

52. The Dikshitas among the devotees should offer Pãdya, arghya etc., in this such is the origin of copper, such its prescription.

53. I have thus told you this. What else do you wish to ask? Earth said:

Tell me how the Dikshita performs worship of Sandhyä and by what mantra. 

Varãha said:

54. O Earth, listen to the mantra of Sandhyä of morning and evening.

  55-57. Holding water in the palms held together and meditating on me with full devotion, the following mantra should be recited, by which one delights in my world for as many thousands of years as he uses copper vessels.

58. “All gods, Brahma, Rudra and Indra, all in dhyana yoga contemplate on Lord Väsudeva, the source of the world, the primordial effulgence.

59. O Väsudeva, the primordial being, bearing you in our souls, we bow to you again and again, during Sandhyä, for emancipation”.

60. May the Dikshita worship Sandhyä with this mantra.