COMMUNICATION WITH GOD

Contents Preface vii Abbreviation xix 1. The Sthala-mahatmyas 1 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Purusottama-mahatmya of the Skanda-Purana 1 1.2 Purusottama-mahatmya of the Brahma-Purana 20 1.3 Purusottama-mahatmya of the Narada-Purana 23 1.4 The Mahapurusavidya 25 1.5 Purusottama-mahatmya of the Padma-Purana 40 2. Manuscripts Bearing on the Puja of Jagannatha 42 2.1 Gopalarcana-vidhi (GAV) 42 2.2 Niladrinathasya Pujavidhi (NNP) 49 2.3 Gopalarcana-paddhati of Vasudeva (GAP) 73 2.4 Niladrimahodaya (NM) 77 2.5 Vamadeva-samhita (VS) 88 2.6 Surisarvasva (SS) 99 2.7 Nilacalesarcana-candrika (NAC) of Sadasiva 110 2.8 The Astadasaksaramantra-paddhatis (AMP) 115 3. Preparations and Preliminaries 120 3.1 The Deities 120 3.2 Nature and Frequency of Puja 122 3.3 Offerings of Food During the Puja 124 3.4 Rites Preceding the Puja 125 3.5 The Worshippers 127 3.6 Qualifications of a Temple Worshipper 128 3.7 Purificatory Rites of a Temple Worshipper 129 3.8 Purificatory Rites at the Temple Gate 139 3.9 Entrance into the Temple and the Worship of Kalaratri 140 3.10 Taking Seat on the 'Jewel-Platform' 142 3.11 Removal of Obstacles (Vighnotsarana) 143 3.12 Seeking Permission from Bhairava 144 3.13 Ringing of Bell and the Beginning of Puja 145 3.14 Arrangement of the Articles to be Used in Puja 145 4. Ritual Purification of the Self 146 4.1 Samanyarghya-vidhi 146 4.2 Asana-suddhi (Purification of the Seat) 147 4.3 Bhutasuddhi (Purification of the Elements of the Body) 150 4.4 Pranapratistha (Establishment of the Vital Breaths) 173 4.5 Karasuddhi 177 4.6 Pranayama 178 4.7 Matrkanyasa 182 5. Deification of the Self 196 5.1 Kesavadinyasa 196 5.2 Tattvanyasa 205 5.3 Pranayama 214 5.4 Bhavanacatustaya 216 5.5 Mantranyasa 223 5.6 Murtipanjaranyasa 248 6. Internal Worship (Antaryaga) of the Deity 258 6.1 Karanyasa/Anganyasa with the Astra-mantra and Digbandhana 258 6.2 Meditation Upon the Deity 258 6.3 Feeling of Oneness with the Deity 261 6.4 Abstract Offerings of Arghya and Upacaras, etc. of the Deity 261 6.5 Abstract Fire-sacrifice 262 6.6 Concluding Rites of the Internal Worship 263 6.7 Arghya-samskara (Visesarghya-vidhi) 264 6.8 Upacara-samskara (Sanctification of the Upacaras) 276 6.9 Atmapuja (Worship of the Self) 282 6.10 Suddhitraya (The Purification of the Worshipper, the Mantra and the Deity) 287 7. Realisation of the Deity and Her External Worship 293 7.1 Seeking Permission from the Deity to Start with Her External Worship 293 7.2 Devatapithapuja 293 7.3 Invocation of the Deity 296 7.4 Rites Following the Invocation : The 'Establishment', etc. of the Deity 299 7.5 Pranapratistha : Investing the Deity with Vital Breaths 303 7.6 Nyasas on the 'Body' of the Deity 303 7.7 Showing of the Sixteen "Nija-mudras" of the Deity 304 7.8 Offering of Upacaras 310 7.9 Offering of Flowers to the Deity with the Mantra-syllables : The Five Puspanjalis 325 7.10 Avaranapuja 326 7.11 Continuation of the Offering of Upacaras 334 7.12 Candanaivedya (or the Bahyabali) 351 8. Concluding Rites and Bidding Farewell to the Deity 354 8.1 Prasannarca 354 8.2 Aratrikam : Main Lustration 355 8.3 Vandana (Obeisance) : The Last of the Upacaras 358 8.4 Rajopacaras : The Upacaras Symbolising Royal Power 359 8.5 Brahmarpana (and Atmasamarpana) 364 8.6 Hinapuranaka : Making Good of Shortcomings 365 8.7 Udvasana : 'Displacement', i.e. Bidding Farewell to the Deity 366 8.8 Nirmalyagrahana and Prasadasevana, etc. 367 8.9 Rajasirvada : Benediction to the King 369 8.10 Pradaksina and Pranama : Circumambulation and Prostration 370 373 I. The Mode of Worship of Balabhadra, Subhadra and other Minor Deities 375 II. Special Features of the Puja of Jagannatha 401 III. Philosophical Background of the Puja 407 IV. The Sanskrit Text of the Gapalarcanapaddhati of Vasudeva 413 Line Drawings of the Mudras Described in the Text 455 Bibliography 467 Index 497