Ritual of initiation .. common and special for female devotees.
Ritual of initiation .. common and special for female devotees.
O Sons, now I shall describe the initiation-rite for women. After listening to this, you preach the same to your own wives, separately. 1.
Women migrating through many births, as a bitch and other beings, being tortured by polyandry, take birth as a female human being. The Lord Shri Krishna is the only refuge to such women. 2.
Gopis like Radha, Laksmi accepted Lord Shri Krishna as their Master, with deep devotion and became free from this worldly cycle, obtained the happiness they had desired. 3.
An intelligent women should surrender the lady preceptor belonging to the family of Dharmadeva and having initiation from her, should devotedly worship Lord Krishna, with deep respect and faith.
A woman who fears that she may trespass the limit of chastity to her husband (by taking initiation form a male Guru), should not accept initiation, from Guru even belonging to the family of Dharma.
In this Kali age, thousands of women, having taken initiation from male teachers, are seen deviated from the path of righteousness and behave like animals. 4-7.
Visual interaction between man and woman causes mental agitation.
So a woman should never accept initiation from a man, in this Kali age. I shall now describe ritual of Diksha for a woman, as told by my Guru. 8.
A woman of good character, afraid of the cycle of birth and death and the god of death, who wishes to follow the path of Dharma and to attain spiritual bliss (Shreyas), having faith and able to distinguish between good and bad;
And aspiring for liberation may surrender to preceptor’s wife, adherent of Uddhav cult and steadfast on that path. 9-10.
Qualification of the wife of Guru to grant Diksha to women disciples.
She should be the devotee of Vasudeva and must be free from speech and touch with any man except her husband and close relatives. 11.
She should be observing fast on Ekadashi etc, and celebrate festivals of Hari. Then, such wife of Guru should confer initiation on a woman who has surrendered to her. 12.
She should take bath, wear white clothing and perform adoration of Shri Hari and then confer initiation, before taking any food, to the woman who has also not taken any food. 13.
She should perform her initiation ritual only after seeking consent of her husband and then confer the Mantropadesha; but never independently. 14.
There are no such rules in common initiation, such as auspicious day, Tithi and others. Whenever any woman has urge for liberation, should be conferred initiation. 15.
The woman willing to accept initiation, should take bath, wear white clothes; should take a fruit in her hand, and approaching Guru’s wife, offer the fruit to her. 16.
She should then join her palms offering Namaskara and say, ‘O mistress, please protect me from the sin of approaching a hieratic Guru. 17.
Then, Guru’s wife should assure her and tell not to be afraid and say, ‘be fearless, Vasudev will protect you in every way. 18.
After saying this, she should ask her to sit before her; and give water in her right palm. Then, she should perform the (Sankalpa) volition - by chanting Mantra: Kala-maya-Papakarma… meaning: ‘I am surrendering to Lord Krishna; He may protect me from the clutches of mortality, illusory power of the lord, sinful acts and the messengers of Yama.’ 19-20.
Then, the preceptor’s wife should put a Tulasi string of small bids, round the neck of the disciple woman and apply Kumkum mark on her forehead. 21.
If she is a widow, the moon like mark should be made on her neck (kanth). Then she should utter the eight syllable chant: Ashta- varna-mantra, in her left ear, three times. 22.
Then, she should tell her the three lettered word: ‘Shri- Krishna’, to repeat all the time. The initiated woman should mutter the name constantly for all the time. 23.
This is the ritual of Diksha for the women of three Varnas (Brahmin, Kshatriya,Vaishya) and also for pious Shudra women. I shall now tell about initiation of other women, as advised. 24.
To women other than these, who have taken bath, Acharya’s wife should, instruct the three lettered word: ‘Shri Krishna’ and also confer Nama-mantra: ‘Swaminarayana’, at hands of other initiated woman. This is the convention. 25.
Convention for the wife of Guru, to preach her disciples.
She (Guru’s wife) should explain the woman who has accepted the Mantra, the following regulations, which she should listen with concentrated mind and retain at heart: 26.
You should not eat meat, drink wine or any other intoxicants. You should never commit any violent deed: killing others or oneself. 27.
You should not commit any thing which would be derogatory to your society and also keep away from theft. You should never come in contact with any man, other than your husband.
You should never listen to the stories even of God from a corrupt and sinful man. So also, you should not harm or ridicule any other deity.
You should never eat any intoxicant, Tamakhu leaf or impure food. You should never drink, unfiltered water or milk. 28-30.
You should never utter words of abuse and address others in ridiculous language. You should always perform mental worship of Lord Krishna, without being indolent. You should worship the idol of ‘Radha Krishna,’ as per rituals and constantly repeat their names regularly, as per your capacity.
You should cover the rosary with a cloth and sit sanctified on a stable seat and constantly mutter Lord Krishna’s chant, ceaselessly, with eyes closed and being silent, unhastily. 31-33.
You should observe Ekadashi and the birthday of Lord Krishna (Janmastami) and other vows. You should never keep contact with irreligious men and women. You should perform nine fold devotion of Shri Hari and never be away from it. Even a widow may worship Lord Shri Hari, by getting rid of eightfold contact with men. 34-35.
O honorable woman, you have now joined the noble path of Bhagavatas. Hereafter you will be known as ‘Satsangini’ in this world. 36.
You have now become fearless; Now worship Lord Krishna devotedly, being firm in your duties, you will attain the celestial abode - Golok, hereafter. Lord Vasudeva will become your husband, the ocean of mercy, will shower all the happiness on you, that you wish to have, surely. 37-38.
(O sons) saying thus, she should hand over the image of Radha Krishna, to the women of four Varnas; and instruct other women not to touch the image at all. Instead, they should have Darshan, of image of Lord Krishna in the temple of Uddhava sect in their village. 39-40
In absence of image in any of the Satsangi’s house, you may keep any auspicious thing like flowers or cloth etc. got as Prasad of Krishna and have Darshan of the same, regularly.
You should always perform mental worship of the Lord, with devotion and deep respect. Thereby, you would attain all the fruit of actual worship. 41-42.
Then, the woman belonging to any of the four Varnas should adore Guru’s wife, by offering flowers, Kumkum; pious rice-grains (Aksata); clothes and money, according to their own status. 43.
Then she should bow down with respect before the Guru’ wife and go home while recalling her teachings. 44.
This is the ritual of common Diksha that I have told you. Now, I shall tell you, the ritual of special Diksha, with all details. 45.
Ritual of special i.e Maha Diksa to women.
Woman belonging to any of the three Varnas, and also a pious Shudra woman, who has already received common Diksa and who strictly follows the rules of the same, is deemed eligible, for this kind of initiation. 46.
Such a woman willing to have special initiation should be physically fit; and she should not be - disfigured i.e. having excess or deficient limb, speaking untruth, laughing loudly, committing mistakes and glutton.
Having defective limbs, suffering from disease like leprosy, bearing beard or moustaches, and rough in voice.
Speaking disgracefully, a wandering wench, spreading news of politics or interested in secretive affairs. 47- 49.
The qualities of a woman eligible for Maha Diksha are as - one who is used to have her own food every day, only after feeding the dependents. She should be shy, not over smart, modest, kind hearted and carefully looking after her husband. 50.
She should not have craze for purchase and sale and marketing and should not have inclination for company with irreligious women.
She should have enthusiasm in following piety. She should be obedient to her husband, and should be well dressed. A widow who is permitted by her father, sons etc. is also eligible for initiation. 52.
The Guru i.e. wife of the preceptor should confer specialinitiation, on such eligible woman, after examining her well. The Guru lady should give initiation, on the eleventh or twelfth lunar day (Ekadashi or Dwadashi) and the disciple woman should observe fast on previous day. 53.
Now about the Mahadiksha: Great initiation ceremony: A Pendal, decorated with plantain-stems and archways and colourful festoons, should be erected on previous day. 54.
At the centre of the Pendal, a Sarvato-bhadra mandala-diagram should be sketched, with different colours or colured rice-grains. Songs of Krishna’s glories should be sung by women folks. 55.
In the morning of the initiation day, the lady Guru should take bath, thus being clean, wear white cloths. She should make other women to bring the material of worship and sit before the Mandala. 56.
Then small seat covered with white cloth should be installed, in the centre of the Mandal. It should be decorated by drawing graceful eight-petaled lotus along with carpet, with different colours or colured rice-grains; 57.
Then an Image of Vasudav along with Radha and Laxmi, should be installed there over. 58.
At that time, women should sing songs of Krishna. Various instrumental music and drums should be played on festive occasion of the worship. 59.
Then the disciple woman after taking bath should wear silk or a cotton clothes. She should then, with great respect, be seated near the lady Guru. 60.
Then, the wife of the preceptor should make the disciple, sit facing east and make her perform the worship of Hari with chanting the Radha Krishna Mantra - ‘Shri Radha Krishnaya namaha’. 61.
Then, the wife of Acharya should herself be seated, facing east and make the disciple to sit facing the north, she (the wife of Acharya) should give her a pair of fine strings of small beads of Tulasi to wear around neck. 62.
Then, she should apply a moonlike mark of saffron, on the forehead of one having her husband alive. If she is a widow, the remains (Prasad) of sandal paste or Gopichandan should be applied on her neck (kantha) Then, the woman-disciple should stand up and sing praises of Lord Krishna with folded hands, as follows -63-64.
Prarthna to be performed to Shri Hari by the female devotees who have obtained Diksha.
‘O Shri Krishna! Narayan! Bearing a flute in hand! O moon, the delight of the Chakora-bird in the form of Radha’s eyes! O the delightful friend of cow-herd women and boys (Gop-Gopis) of the Vrindavan! O Lord of the Gokula! O Shri Hari! bless me.
O Devaki’s son! O Lord of Lords! O Lord of Dwaraka! O Arjuna’s charioteer! O the sweet smiling Lord, the joy of Lakshmi! the Suprime Being, I bow to Thee, with respect. . 65-66.
O Lord, I bear Diksha in the path of your devotion. Kindly, protect the same from lust, anger, greed, temptations, irreligious men and so on.
Thou deserved to bestow such favour on me, as my love becomes quite stable and stationed like a mountain, on your sacred lotus like feet. Thou art the only One in whom I can rely for my shelter, O Lord I am yours. 67- 68.
As a chaste wife’s loyalty to her husband never shatters, even a spec; so O Lord, the merciful One, my servant-ship, at your feet, should remain unstained; and also your compassion on me. 69.
Instructions to be given by Guru lady after granting Mantra-Diksha.
O sons, the disciple woman should bow with respect to Vasudev and also to Acharya’s wife, and at the command of Acharya’s wife she should sit facing north; and the Guru’s wife facing the east. 70.
Then the Guru’s wife remembering Lord Vasudeva in heart, should softly utter the (eight lettered) Krishna mantra in the disciple’s left ear; three times.
Then, tell her to behave according to the teachings of the sect. and then say, ‘O good lady, now you have become my daughter.
Now I have determined Lord Krishna as your husband; hence forth you should worship Him sincerely with the feeling of oneness in Him. 71- 73.
The great Lord Krishna will protect you from the sin of polyandry through many births. He will protect your loyalty. 74.
You should serve the Lord regularly, day and night. You should take the food offered to Shri Hari, as Prasad, twice a day at noon and at night. 75.
You should not take meal more than once a day or night, except in emergency. If you are a widow, you should take food only once a day or night. 76.
If one, whose husband is alive may take food, thrice in case of illness or while travelling or in delivery time or in the company of her caste mates, it will not spoil her vow.
In case illness etc, you may worship and offer the food to Lord Shri Hari, mentally; remembering Lord Krishna in the heart. 77-78.
Regularly, you should get up early in the morning on auspicious hour; and remember Lord Krishna. You should sleep at night after the first phase of night and not before. 79.
On all the days of vows and of tenth or twelfth lunar day, you should not sleep by day. Otherwise, it will be against the rule. 80.
A widow should never sleep during day time, like a renunciate. In case of illness, there is no harm, to eat twice and have sleep during daytime, for her. 81.
All of them (initiated women) should develop nine fold devotion to Lord Krishna – Ramapati; while doing the same, they should avoid pride, jealousy, anger and argumentation with other devotees. 82.
The initiated woman should always recite the praises (Stotra) of Krishna every day and as long as she is alive and possesses memory, she should follow the prescribed rules, this is the teaching of (Uddhava) sect. 83.
Now you have dedicated yourself to Lord Krishna; Who is the Lord of all beings, hence you will be famous in this world as ‘Atmanivedini’ ( the dedicated one). 84.
Always being firm in your own duties, at the end of your life, O good lady, you will attain Golok, where you will enjoy the desired happiness like Radhika, certainly. 85.
Your husband will also be a ‘Punyatma’- a sacred holy soul due to your devotion to Lord Shri Hari. He (your husband) will become attendant (Parshada) of Lord Shri Hari. Your maternal and paternal ancestors will also attain the same status and enjoy supreme bliss. 86.
After the teacher’s wife has said thus, the initiated one, being mindful of her commands should bow down to her and the lady preceptor also should bless her with the words -87.
(She should say) ‘You should always be faithful and loyal to your husband, and may you be the servant of Vasudev, as Godess Kamala. 88.
Then the disciple woman according to her economic status should worship her teacher as advised before; and stand by her teachings, and should bow down with respect to other women devotees. 89.
A woman who has received a common or great initiation in the Uddhava sect, should offer delicious food to the devotees of Shri Hari, according to her economic status. 90.
O sons, I have thus explained the twofold initiation-ritual for women wishing to be the devotee of Shri Krihsna within the path of Uddhav sect. 91.
So you may preach these, to your own wives separately; and also they should initiate other women following the same procedure. 92.
O king, after telling this way Bhagavan Narayanmuni blessed those two sons and delighted by the blessings, they bowed down before the Lord and went to their own places, contemplating on the same (teachings). 93.
Thus ends the fifty-third chapter entitled, ‘Description of the ritual of twofold Diksa’ in the fourth Prakarana of Satsangi jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra. (the rules of the code of conduct). 53
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