Tag Archive for: Archanam

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

There are twenty amazing and intimate ways to express your devotion, dependence and attachment to your Priya Thakuraji i.e. beloved transcendental murti form of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. Of Sri Rupa Goswamipada’s sixty-four limbs of bhakti sadhana, ten forms of bhakti (#23-42) directly involve Sri Thakuraji and His worshipers—us!

Upon reading this description you will discover that our beautiful, sweet, charming and playful master, Sri Krishna, not only likes formal worship, but Syama also likes the wild frantic dancing of His bhaktas.

The term Sri -Thakuraji means one’s favorite and beloved murti or Deity (Devata) of Sri Krishna i.e. Bankebihari, Radha-Vallabha, Radha-Syama or Radha Ramana.

By citing Srimad -Bhagavatam and other Puranas, Sri Rupa Goswamipada reveals twenty different ways to please and personally interact with Radha and Krishna in their most beautiful, merciful, and accessible transcendental forms.

After listing each item, Sri -Rupa mentions the benefits attained by these loving exchanges with Bhagavan Sri Krishna. The benefits and their sources from Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu are in brackets. By engaging in these ways with Sri -Thakuraji, you will: conquer maya, and become free from disease, sin and rebirth (1.2.125-6, 129); attain liberation to Vaikuntha (1.2.139); and fulfil all your desires (1.2.165).

20 WAYS TO LOVE KRISHNA

1 Accept Sri Thakuraji’s -Nirmalya (1.2.125)

Eating, smelling, touching and wearing Krishna’s divine food, perfumes, flower malas and celestial clothing.

2 Dance Frantically Before Sri Thakuraji (agre- tandavam: (1.2.128)

3 Dandavats -To Sri Thakuraji (1.2.129)

4 Stand Up To Greet Sri Thakuraji (1.2.130)

5 Follow Sri -Thakuraji In Procession (1.2.131)

6 Visit Sri -Thakuraji’s Sacred Places (1.2.132)

(i.e. mandira, Vrndavana, Navadvipa etc.)

7 Parikrama (1.2.135)

(Sri -Thakuraji’s -murti or temple four times)

8 Worship Sri Thakuraji “Deity Worship” (1.2.137)

(bathing, dressing, feeding)

9 Paricarya -Seva to Sri -Thakuraji (1.2.140)

(wave camara, ring bell, blow conch)

10 Gita, Solo Singing Bhajans for Sri -Thakuraji (1.2.144)

11 Sankirtana, Singing Loudly (1.2.145)

(Krishna’s names, qualities, pastimes)

12 Japa, Silently Utter Diksa -Mantras (1.2.149)

(before Sri -Thakuraji)

13 Vijnapti, Submissive Prayers (1.2.151)

(express your worthlessness, and submit your inner feelings towards Sri -Thakuraji while ever yearning for His personal service)

14 Stava -Patha (1.2.157-9)

(before Sri -Thakuraji, recite Bhagavad-gita; prayers of acaryas and mahajanas; and your spontaneous outpourings and heart’s compositions)

15 Naivedyam -Svado, Relish Maha -Prasada (1.2.160)

(honoring Sri -Thakuraji’s tulasi, grains, fruits etc.)

16 Padya -Svado, Drink Sri -Thakuraji’s -Caranamrta (1.2.161)

17 Dhupa -Saurabhyam (1.2.162)

(smelling Sri -Thakuraji’s incense, flowers, malas, perfumes)

18 Sri -Murti -Sparsanam (1.2.165)

(touching Sri -Thakuraji if one is qualified)

19 Sri -Murti -Darsanam (1.2.166)

(looking at your Priya -Sri -Thakuraji, and being overwhelmed by feelings of love)

20 Aratrika -Darsanam (1.2.167)

(seeing Sri -Thakuraji’s -arati, festivals, and puja—bathing, dressing etc.)

Love your Thakuraji -ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

Mahanidhi Swami

Every day, Krishna bhaktas offer their Thakurajis love-soaked bhoga; colorful hand-stitched clothes and turbans; dhoop, deep, scents, perfumes and fragrant flowers.

When describing the bhakti-anga of archanam (Deity puja), Narada Muni said, “Vishnu/Krishna is PLEASED ONLY WHEN worshiped with the following eight flowers. Of course, the offering of external flowers also pleases Vishnu/Krishna.”

“What is the offering of eight flowers that especially pleases Vishnu/Krishna?

The Eight Flowers

  1. Harmlessness
  2. Control of the senses
  3. Compassion to all living entities
  4. Forgiveness
  5. Tranquility
  6. Discipline
  7. Meditation
  8. Truth

External flowers are relatively easy to procure, to offer singly or to string into garlands for Thakuraji’s pleasure. According to Narada Muni presentation here it seems that Krishna accepts external flowers to uphold His Gita proclamation—“I accept/eat leaves, flowers and fruits, patram pushpam, phalam ashnami”. (Bg. 9.26)

However, Naradji STRESSES HERE that “Vishnu/Krishna is ONLY PLEASED WHEN worshiped with the eight flowers above which are basically sattvic qualities of the mind and heart.

We should all try to become pure by being established in sattva-guna. And we should all cultivate these “eight flower qualities” along with meditation upon Radha Govinda. Then we can TRULY PLEASE KRISHNA with our eight flower offerings. (praman:Padma Purana, Patala-khanda 84.56-60)

Narada Muni ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!