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Instructions For Disciples Taking First Initiation: Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math
Instructions For Disciples Taking First Initiation: Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math
Purification rituals
1. The disciple should wake up early in the morning, before sunrise, and take
bath, or at least change into fresh clothing (men should wear dhotis and
women saris).
2. The disciple should then sit down on a woolen or cotton mat (sana) that
is reserved exclusively for the purpose of meditation on his or her personal
mantra. A disciple should not use the mat for eating, nor allow anyone else
to use it for any purpose. While seated on this asana, one should face to the
east in the morning and midday, or to the north in the evening.
3. After sitting comfortable on the asana, the disciple should take a copper or
silver pot, called a paca-ptra, filled with holy water (i.e., water from the
Ganges, Yamuna or another holy river). If water from these rivers is not
available, then one should fill the paca-ptra with fresh water, place a tulasi
leaf in it, and. chant the following mantra to summon the seven holy rivers
gage ca yamune caiva
godvari sarasvati
narmade sindhu kveri
jalesmin sannidhi kuru
After chanting this mantra, the disciple should touch the water with the ring
finger of the right hand. The fresh water will then be transformed into holy
water.
4. The disciple should next take the spoon in his or her right hand and put
one or two spoonfuls of water in the left palm. They should then take gopi
chandan or Radha Kund clay and mix it with the water on the palm to make a
creamy paste. Using the right hand ring finger, the disciple should make the
tilaka markings on the body in the following order, reciting the given mantra
with each mark:
1. Forehead o kl keavya nama.
2. Above the navel o kl nryaya nama.
3. Chest o kl mdhavya nama.
4. The throat o kl govindya nama.
5. Right side, above the waist o kl viave nama.
6. Right bicep o kl madhusdanya nama.
7. Right shoulder o kl trivikramya nama.
8. Left side, above the waist o kl vmanya nama.
9. Left arm o kl rdharya nama.
10.
Left shoulder o kl hkeya nama.
11.
The upper back o kl padmanbhya nama.
12.
The base of the back o kl dmodarya nama
The gopi chandan paste remaining in the palm of the hand should be wiped
on the crown of the head, and if any is still left, it can be wiped off with a
special cloth used only for this purpose.
5. After finishing the tilaka ritual, disciples should chant the following mantra
for the purification of the mind and body
apavitra pavitro v
sarvvasth gatopi v
ya smaret puarkka
sa bhybhyantara uci
om uci, om uci, om uci.
:
Whoever remembers the lotus-eyed Lord in all circumstances,
pure or impure, will always remain pure and holy, both internally
and externally.
Meditation
After completing these purification rituals, the disciple is now ready to chant
the mantras given by the spiritual master.
paca-tattvtmaka ka
bhakta-pa-svarupakam
bhaktvatra bhaktkhya
nammi bhakta-aktikam
I offer obeisance unto Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in His five
features as Bhakta Rupa (Mahaprabhu), Bhakta Svarupa (Nityananda
Prabhu), Bhakta Avatar (Advaita Acharya), Bhakta (Srivasa Pandit) and
Bhakta Shakti (Gadadhar Pandit). (CC 1.1.14)
3. Next, the disciple should chant the Maha Mantra twelve times mentally,
not aloud, counting in the manner described above.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
4. Then, with palms folded, the disciple should recite the following verse in
obeisance to the Maha Mantra.
sditrita-janrti-raye
ramya-cid-ghana-sukha-svarpie
nma gokula-mahotsavya te
ka-pra-vapue namo nama
nama om viu-pdya
gaura-prehya bhtale
rmate bhakti-pramodya
pur-gosvmin iti nmine
I worship with deep adoration my gracious beloved divine master, Sri
Srimad Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Vishnupada, the most dear
associate of his Lordship, Sri Gaurasundara.
divya-jna-pradtre ca
prabhave janma janmani
jna-vairgya-dehya
stra-siddhnta-savide
I humbly offer my prostrated obeisances unto the lotus feet of Srila Bhakti
Pramoda Puri Maharaj, who perpetually illuminates this dark world with the
radiance of transcendental knowledge, who is the dearly beloved sovereign
of my life, birth after birth, who is the veritable embodiment of sacred
knowledge and renunciation, and the personification of all scriptural
testimony.
patitn samuddhre
yati-vea-dharya vai
pracrcra-krye ca
jgarkya sarvad
I offer obeisances to Srila Bhakti Pramoda Puri Maharaj, who has adorned
himself in the august robes of a mendicant to kindly redeem the fallen souls;
and who is forever vigilant in both the practice and preaching of the
Bhagavata Dharma.
yathoddhavasykumrd
bhagavad-arcane rati
vaiavn sarva-ktye
dakat param tath
namo gaura-kiorya
skd-vairgya-mrtaye
vipralambha-rasmbodhe
pdmbhujya te nama
I bow down to Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj, who is the very
embodiment of renunciation. O Maharaj ! You are the ocean of love in the
mood of separation! I bow down to your lotus feet.
5. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur
namo bhaktivinodya
saccidnanda-mrtaye
gaura-akti-svarpya
rpnuga-varya te
I offer my obeisance to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, who possesses a form of
eternity, knowledge and bliss. He is the manifestation of Gaurangas
potency and the best of Srila Rupa Goswamis followers.
6. Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj
gaurga-janma-bhmes tva
nirde sajjana-priya
vaiava-srvabhauma rjagannthya te nama
O Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj ! You are most dear to the pious, for you
were the one who indicated the exact spot where Sri Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu was born. You are the king of all the Vaishnavas and I offer my
prostrated obeisances to you.
Jaya dhvani
1. Jai r-gopntha-gauya-maha vartamncrya o viupda paramahasa
parivrjakcrya Sri Srimad Bhakti Bibudh Bodhayan Goswami Maharaj k jai.
2. nitya-ll-pravia o viupda aottara-ata-r Srimad Bhakti Pramode Puri
Goswami Maharaj k jai.
3. nitya-ll-pravia o viupda aottara-ata-r Srila Prabhupada
Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur k jai.
4. nitya-ll-pravia o viupda Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj k jai.
5. nitya-ll-pravia o viupda Satchidananda Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur k jai.
6. nitya-ll-pravia o viupda Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj k jai.
7. Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Acharya Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushan Prabhu k jai.
nikhila-ruti-mauli-ratna-mldyuti-nrjita-pda-pankajnta
ayi mukta-kulair upsyamna
paritas tvam harinma! saraymi
The disciple should then mindfully chant the minimum number of rounds
selected by the spiritual master.
When disciples have finished chanting their rounds, they should once again
touch their bead bag to the crown of the head and chant the Maha Mantra
pranam..
sditrita-janrti-raye
ramya-cid-ghana-sukha-svarpie
nma gokula-mahotsavya te
ka-pra-vapue namo nama
Worshiping Tulasi
As far as possible, all disciples should serve the Tulasi plant each morning by
watering her as needed, and offering her a ghee lamp and incense. The
same should also be done in the evening, if possible. Tulasi Devi should be
respectfully kept in a place where others cannot touch her with their dirty
hands.
The following are the benefits of serving Tulasi Devi:
Lord Krishna becomes very happy with anyone who plants Tulasi;
Lord Krishna will take anyone who offers Tulasi to his lotus feet to
Goloka;
All ones sins are removed by simply seeing Tulasi;
Ones body becomes holy simply by touching Tulasi Devi with
faith;
By offering water to Tulasi Devi, one is freed from the fear of
Yamaraj, the Lord of Death.
vndyai tulas-devyai
priyyai keavasya ca
viu-bhakti-prade devi
satyavatyai namo nama
I offer pranams again and again to Tulasi Devi, who is also renowned
as Vrinda Devi and Satyavati (the embodiment of pure truth). She
is most dear to Lord Sri Krishna and is the bestower of Krishna
bhakti.
Vaishnava vandana
The disciple should always pay obeisances to the Vaishnavas with the
following prayer (r-vaiava-vandan):
vch-kalpa-tarubhya ca
kp-sindhubhya eva ca
patitn pvanebhyo
vaiavebhyo namo nama
I offer pranams unto the Vaishnavas, who are just like wish-fulfilling
desire trees, who are oceans of mercy, and who deliver the fallen,
conditioned souls.
Regulative Principles
All disciples should follow the following principles in order to get the full
benefit of their devotional practices:
1
The following six principles help to keep the mind focused on the
lotus feet of Lord Krishna
no gambling
no intoxication
no illicit sex
no violence (no eating meat, fish, or eggs)
no gossip
no criticism
Always keep your mind, body and clothing clean. Your residence
should always be kept clean and nicely decorated, as Krishna likes
decorations. Krishna particularly likes natural decorations (ex.
Flowers and fragrance, especially sandalwood, rose, lotus, etc.).