Description of ritual of Maha Diksha to be given to householders of three Varnas.
Description of ritual of Maha Diksha to be given to householders of three Varnas.
Shri Narayan muni said:-
Now, I shall tell you about ritual of the Mahadiksha to be given to house-holders (Grihasthas), belonging to the three Varnas: Brahmin, Ksatriya and Vaisya, worthy and desirous of having the same. 1.
One who firmly observes the rules of common initiation as mentioned earlier, should surrender to his preceptor with folded hands. 2.
The Guru, after confirming the credibility of the disciple, who has surrendered modestly, firstly should advise him proper atonement. 3.
If he is a house-holder, he should observe complete fast for a day and if he is a widower he should observe it for two days. 4.
Then after taking instruction from the preceptor, he should get his head shaved and then observe fast accordingly. Before the rise of star Mercury (Rauhinat) (i.e. before the ninth Muhurta of the day), he should recite the eight lettered Mantra (got in common initiation) with deep devotion, for two thousand and five-hundred times, in front of the image of the Lord Vasudev, in order to get himself prepared for Maha-diksha. 5-6.
The preceptor should also on the previous day of initiation, having purified himself, worship Lord Keshava and recite the Mantra which is to be given, for thousand times to purify the same. 7.
Then after inviting a Brahmin, who is a follower of Uddhav tradition and is also well-versed in ritual-procedure, the preceptor belonging to Uddhav tradition should make the disciple to perform worship of Vishnu, with the help of the Brahmin. 8.
That Brahmin should make the disciple to carry on all the ritual according to the Shastra, time and place in a day or two; and the initial rites like Nandimukha-(Shraddha), Svastivachana as prescribed by scriptures, on the previous or the same day of initiation. 9-10.
He should draw a decorative Sarvatobhadra Mandala, and install a golden or a copper pot in its center. 11.
Then, he should place eight auspicious pots made of either copper or clay, in eight directions; filled with water, jewels, leaves and fruits; and put plates (Purnapatra) on those pots, covered by piece of cloth, and install deities on each of those as followed -
The idol of Shri Krishna with Radha should be installed on the central pot, Durga on the eastern pot, the Sun on the southern pot;
Ganesa on the western, Shiva on the northern, Vishvaksena is to be place in the south-east, Garuda in the south-west, Hanuman in the north-west and Shri Dama (Sudama) in the north-east dire- ctions respectively, according to the prescribed rituals. 12-16.
Then a Brahmin should ask a disciple who has taken bath, to perform the Vriddhi-shraddha after duly carrying out Swastivachana. Then, he should make him perform the worship of Shri Hari. 17.
Later, the disciple should be made to perform the Bhoot Shuddhi rite and Prana-pratistha according to (Panchratra) system and Matruka-Nyasa and invoke the Lord. 18.
The learned Brahmin should ask the disciple to invoke the Lord with Mantras ‘O Shri Krishna! O Radha pati! O promoter and sustainer of Dharma! O Nar-Narayan! I bow down with respect to You’ and then worship the Lord with associating deities (Anga- devatas). 19-20.
With the recitation of Vedic Mantras and with sixteen forms of worship (Shodashopachara), He (disciple) should be made to perform the worship of Vishnu, then, the Brahmin should install sacred fire to the right side of Shri Hari (image). 21.
After the installation of sacred fire with all the rituals, he should cook rice (Charu) and then meditate on Lord Shri Hari and worship Him. 22.
Then that Brahmin should take Samidha (sacrificial sticks), clarified butter (particularly made from cow milk), Charu (rice) and utter the eight lettered Mantra of Narayan, and offer each of them (separately) in the sacred fire twenty-eight times. 23.
Then that Brahmin should offer one Ahuti of clarified butter, to each associating deities and conclude the sacrificial ritual after performing the Poornahuti and Homa ritual. 24.
The disciple, then waves a lamp before the Lord, offers handful of flowers, prostrates before Him, and prays Lord with deep respect and faith, chanting the Mantra ‘Vani gunanu kathane’ etc. i.e. ‘Let my speech be engaged in narrating Your noble deeds, ears hear Your stories of your glory, hands and legs be engaged in Your services, mind always meditate on Your feet, head always bow down before You, Who stay pervading the whole world, my eyes always be looking at the sages who are the manifestation of Your divinity. 25-26.
Thus the disciple should stand and pray Lord with folded hands and with deep concentration, and chant the following song of praise. 27.
Navinjimut… Stotra.
‘I bow down to Shri Radhika Krishna . . .
having the complexion of the newly born cloud. Whose ears are adorned with beautiful earrings studded with gems, the wearing beautiful crown with the peacock quill; 28.
‘resounding the whole atmosphere with the notes of flute, that You are holding with both hands, putting it on Your lips; spreading fragrance of the pollens fallen from the flowers in the tuft on Your head, Your gait is like an elephant. O Lord! Shri Radhika-Krishna! I bow down before You. 29.
‘wearing pure, bright golden yellow robe; You are the One who have rendered useless the countless missiles of enemies of the Gods; You have destroyed the multitude of those Asuras without any weapon. O Lord! Shri Radhika-Krishna! I bow down before You. 30.
‘O Lord! Protector and savior of the good and the Sadhus who are tortured by non-religious forces empowered by Kali, You, the destroyer of the bands of demons who are the real enemies of religious people, O you, the bearer of flower garlands, son of the king of cowherds (Nanda), O Lord! Shri Radhika-Krishna, I bow down before You. 31.
O Lord! O! The pioneer of ‘Rasa’, which is very dear to the Gopis; giving delight to Rasesvari (goddess of Rasa-Radhika), stimulator of the erotic feelings of the Gopis; whose shoulders, are adorned with beautiful charming costume bearing Kumkum marks! O Lord! Shri Radhika Krishna, I bow down before You. 32.
You take delight in staying at Vridavan. To those who surrender, You help to lift them up during their difficult times. O Lord! You are greeted by the cows, Gopas and the Gopis, O Lord! Shri Radhika-Krishna! I bow down before You. 33.
You have suppressed the arrogance of Manmatha (Cupid), who is the enemy of the whole world. You are the only source of shelter to the worldly beings. You bestow happiness to the righteous people. O Lord! Shri Radhika-Krishna, I bow down before You. 34. O
Lord Krishna! You have made happy all the children of the Vraj community. You have put to an end all the worries, calamities and sorrows of Your followers, who come to His shelter, Who has displayed Divyaloka (Divine abode) to Nanda and others; O Lord! Shri Radhika-Krishna, I bow down before You.’ 35.
Then, the preceptor and the disciple both should sit at the place situated between the Devapitha (seat of the idol of Krishna) and Agnivedi (the fire altar). 36.
At first, the preceptor, after taking bath, and purifying himself, should perform the daily rituals. He should then sit on a deer skin or Darbha-seat or a woollen blanket that is considered as sacred. 37.
Then the disciple should wear a white dress, apply sandal- paste, etc. and then sit beside the preceptor, after saluting him. 38.
The preceptor should then give him (disciple) a pair of new, washed white cloths to wear, and should put the two strings of auspicious Tulsi mala around his neck. 39.
He (the preceptor) should then make him apply four Urdhvapundra marks with the fragrant saffron and sandal paste that is left over after worship of Lord Krishna. 40.
Then the preceptor should apply Gopichandana marks of conch, chakra and mace on the left and right arms of the disciple. 41.
Then the preceptor should sit facing the north direction and whisper the Mantra in the right ear of the disciple who sits facing the east. 42.
The preceptor concentrating on Shrikrishna in his heart should tell the disciple who is sitting with folded palms, the eight lettered Maha-mantra in his ear, uttering (the four aspects of Mantra as) Rishi (sage), Chanda (metre), etc. of the Mantra. The Shri Krishna Mantra is in the Anushtup metre, Narada is the Sage, the deity is Shri Krishna and it is ment for (Viniyoga) the love of Krishna. 43-44.
After uttering the above Mantra three times in the disciple’s ear, while making him to sit in the same position, the preceptor should tell him about the duties and norms of the sect to be followed. 45.
Instructions about Urdhva-pundra marks, Tulsi strings and other do s and don’ts. O sons! Always wear the Tulsi mala and Urdhva-pundra, worship Krishna, three times or once every day. 46.
O sons! You must apply Urdhva-pundra before you perform ‘Sandhya’ and worship, etc. (if you do not have sandal-paste) you can use white clay named - Gopichandana. 47.
You should mark a broad straight line with your (index) finger and then you can make a round hole on the forehead, from the upper end of nose reaching to the edge of hair.
So also, on the chest and both arms; thus the four marks of Urdhva-pundra are prescribed for those belonging to three castes (of twice born). 48-49.
After worshipping Shri Hari, looking in the mirror, a moonlike mark should be made with sandal-paste which is left over after using it in worship of Lord Krishna (as Prasad). 50.
O disciple! you should meditate Vasudev in your mind and make Urdhava pundra with a round moon-like mark on your forehead, meditate Sankarsana in the same way, make a the mark on chest, meditate Pradyumna, Aniruddha and make a Pundra with moon like mark on both the arms. 51-52.
O son! You should wear two strings of small beads of Tulsi wood, round your neck and always wear it like a sacred thread (Yajnopavita). 53.
While wearing the new string of Tulsi beads as a symbol of the Prasad of Shri Hari, you should chant the following Mantra…54.
‘O string made of Tulsi wood!, you are loved by the followers of Krishna. I am wearing you round my neck, please make me worthy of Krishna’s love.’55.
You should worship Lord Vishnu with whatever material is available to you. If it is not available you may perform the worship with the Mantra, without deceit. 56.
Only a Brahmin initiate should worship Shaligrama stone. Others should worship Idol of Shrikrishna, alone. 57.
At the end of performing the worship, you should chant the Maha Mantra that you have received from me, which is a wish fulfilling one, as per your capacity. 58.
At the end of the repetition of Mantra, you should read the tenth chapter (Dashamskandha) of the holy Bhagavata. But it need not be followed as rule, during difficult times. 59.
In case there is some kind of fear from (mean deities like) Kali, Bhairava and other evil spirits, you should chant the Narayan Varma after getting purified yourself, concentratedly. 60.
You should, according to your ability and strength, repeatedly chant the Maha-mantra in the evening, and should not waste time without being engaged in some devotional activity in regard to Shri Hari. 61.
You should always engage yourself in listening and singing the glories of the Lord and do worship, meditate on Him being disinterested in all worldly activities. 62.
You should never touch a woman even if she is married unless you are in adverse situation. So also you should not eat even a single leaf without offering Lord Vishnu. 63.
You should offer food etc. to forefathers and other deities, on proper occasions, whatever food etc. is already offered to Lord Vasudeva. 64.
During the four months from Asadha to Kartik Ekadashi (Chaturmasa), Kartik and Magha, you should observe some special vows and avoid taking salt in food directly. 65.
You should always take waist-bath after excretion of urine and stools, except during illness. You should use water for purification after urination, and not otherwise. 66. You should never sleep over, and always get up at early dawn (Brahmamuhurta). You should sleep after the first phase of night. 67.
You should avoid sleeping during daytime on Dashami (tenth tithi), and on all the days of Paranas (i.e. on the concluding days of vows) and also days of vows and Festivals in the name of Lord Vishnu (like Ekadashi, Janmastami etc.). 68.
You should take food once a day and once a night only, and never twice a day or twice at night. But there is no fault in case you are ill, or in difficulty or you are dependant (on somebody). 69.
You should never eat food prepared for manes on (Shraddha day), and also on concecration rituals (Samskaras). There is of course, no harm if you accept food on such days in the house of your near relative. 70.
Regularly performing all the duties Prescribed for you by the righteous scriptures, you should develop devotion to Lord Krishna. 71.
You should know your Self (Atma) as the witness of the three states of consciousness and as the One Who enkindles the body, organs, mind, breath and intelligence. 72.
It is neither born nor does it die. Coming into being and ceasing to be, do not take place in his case. Unborn, eternal, constant and ancient, it is not killed when the body is slain.
Weapons do not cleave the Atman, fire does not burn it. Water does not wet it. Wind does not dry it.
This Self is uncleaveble, incombustible, and neither wetted by water nor dried by air.
It is eternal, all pervading, stable, immovable and everlasting.
This Atman is said to be unmanifest, unthinkable, and immutable. So, you should know this as Brahman Itself. It is charectarised as ‘Sat-chit- and Anand’. 73-76.
In your lotus heart, you should contemplate on your Self in the form of Brahman, pure ‘Akshara’ the imperishable One; and on Lord Krishna, as the supreme Brahman. 77.
You should always serve the saints; and strictly follow the rules of conduct advised by them, in respect of celibacy: Brahmacharya etc. 78.
Now as you have by all means, surrendered to Lord Shri Krishna; like king Ambarish, you be known and become famous in this world as one fully dedicated his own self to the Lord’. 79.
(O sons!) After listening this carefully, the disciple should worship the preceptor, with clothes, sandal paste and flowers and offer Dakshina in the form of money, according to his capacity. 80.
He (the disciple), should as per his financial status offer his Guru: land, cows, gold, horse, house or a large premises, mango grove etc. He should also offer food, clothes etc. as per his ability and without any grievance. 81.
Then he should worship and honor the sadhus, Brahmins, saints and others, with flowers, sandal paste, food and Dakshina and should salute them all. 82.
Then the Brahmin priest, skilled in ritualistic matters (who has made the disciple to perform worship etc.) addresses him (the initiated disciple) – ‘O you Noble one! You are the blessed one and your family also! 83.
‘Due to your teacher’s blessings, all your wishes in the form of the tree will bear fruit. You will certainly attain highest happiness. 84.
Actual experience (Vijana) is the origin of all happiness. It is obtained only from the noble preceptor. Being of controlled senses and desirous of liberation, you should serve him. 85.
By not nursing any ideas about sexual happiness, you should win lust, and thereby anger; greed by thought of worthlessness of money and anxiety it causes; and fear, by reasoning on Truth of the world, the Self etc.
You should, win over sorrow and confusion with logical thinking (Anviksiki); Hypocrisy, by serving noble persons; tendency towards indecent chat which is the obstacle to Yoga, by observing silence; violence, by controlling bodily actions. 86-87.
In order to overcome sorrow caused by other living beings, you should do favor and show mercy to all beings; those caused by natural adversities or calamities (Daiva) should be overcome by taking recourse to contemplation (Samadhi: on the Atman which is above all worldly entities); worries, bodily diseases (Atmaja) etc. should be overcome by Yogic practices like Pranayam; sloth, by adhering to sattvik food etc. 88.
You should overcome Rajas (tendency to outward activity) and Tamas (dullness) by increasing Sattva, and that also by calming the same; all these above, could be wined over by having faith and devotion towards the preceptor, easily.
To that great soul who is sincerely devoted to the God (Lord Narayan) as well as the preceptor, the purport of the above mentioned facts will be enkindled to him, easily. 89-90.
You should worship and be devoted to your Guru with extreme faith in him as the Lord Himself’. Then, saying this, the Brahmin should immerse the idols of the deities (Shri Krishna and others) (in water). 91.
Then (with the consent of the preceptor) the disciple should give to the officiating Brahmin priest, Dakshina (in the form of money), food, clothes etc. along with the golden image worshiped in the initiation ritual. 92.
On the day of conferring Diksha (Initiation), neither Guru nor his disciple should fast. They should only take fruits on the Ekadashi day or day of vow. 93.
One who receives common or particular Diksha, of the Uddhava sect, he should serve dinner to Sadhus and Brahmins as per his capacity. 94.
A householder, who receives common or great Dikhsha in the said manner, should being in his own position always follow the instructions given to him, being steady in single minded devotion to the Lord. He should visit pilgrim’s places on holy occasions. 95.
Holy pilgrimages are of two types: immovable, like river Ganga, Yamuna, the city of Dwarika etc., and moving: the Sadhus. 96.
He should serve the immovable pilgrimage by bathing, worshipping and taking Darshana etc. and (serve) the movable by listening to their religious discourses, offering worship and dinner, taking their Darshan in person etc. 97.
So far, I have explained about the Diksha ritual meant for the people belonging to the householders of three Varnas i.e. Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaisyas. Now I tell you about some special rules for the Diksha ritual for Shudras. 98.
A Shudra, who desires to receive Mahadiksha, should be a well-behaved and religious man. Acharyas should tell him to observe fast on the previous day and make him to worship Lord Krishna. 99.
He (the preceptor) should tell him to chant Pauranika Mantras instead of Vedic Mantras. He should only chant the six lettered Mantra… ‘Shri Krishnay Namah’ during the performance of Homa (Swahakara), the word ‘Swaha’ should not be uttered as the Shudra is not entitled to it. The preceptor should stamp the marks of conch and disc (of Gopichandan) on his body and preach eight lettered Mantra. 100-101.
He (the preceptor) should preach the religious duties of a house-holder to the well-behaved Shudra. So far, I have described the Diksha ritual meant for the well-behaved Shudras. Now, I shall explain the ritual meant for those who do not belong to any Ashrama. 102.
Result of obtaining Maha Diksha.
(O sons!) Those householders, who receive this Diksha (the great initiation), observing their own religious duties, worship and meditate Lord Krishna regularly, should be considered equal to the renunciates or Sadhus and they attain extreme happiness, in this world and also in the celestial abode. 103.
Thus ends the forty-eighth chapter entitled, ‘Description of the ritual of Mahadiksha for householders in the topic of Diksha’ in the fourth Prakarana of Satsangi jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra. (the rules of the code of conduct). 48
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