Chapter summary
पूजापद्धति: Pūjā Paddhati:
The Method of Worship
**The Sadguru said:**
Having thus heard the words of Śrī Raṅganātha, Brahmā, with hands folded in reverence, joyfully questioned Hari once more (v.1).
**Brahmā said:**
"O Lord, O wish-fulfilling Mandāra tree for Your devotees, O ocean of compassion! Please instruct me on how Your worship is to be performed" (v.2).
**The Lord said:**
"O Aja [the Unborn One], know that the worship offered to Me by humans is of three kinds: Vedic, Tāntric, and that which is expounded in the Purāṇas. The twice-born, the *dvījas*, should always perform My worship with the Puruṣasūkta. However, women and *śūdras* are not eligible for this particular form of worship. The Tantra, O preceptor of the gods, was initially declared by Me to be of two kinds: Vaikhānasa and Pāñcarātra, each with its specific rules of worship. In all temples, one should worship through the Tāntric path; then, O Lotus-Seated One [Brahmā], I shall be exceedingly pleased. Whichever Āgama [scriptural tradition] was followed for My installation, that very Āgama should be adhered to for worship in that particular temple" (v.3-7).
"Śabarī, Vidura, and others offered Me fruits and similar simple gifts. In this manner, women and *śūdras* should always worship Me with love. Steadfastness in one's own prescribed duty (*svadharma*) is declared a virtue; transgressing one's own boundary would be harmful, much like an improper diet taken with medicine" (v.8-9).
"O Caturmukha [Four-Faced One], it is out of compassion for the upliftment of *brāhmaṇas*, *kṣatriyas*, *vaiśyas*, and *śūdras*, as well as women, the fifth group (*pañcamas*), the fallen, and sinners, that I have indeed taken an incarnation. By performing service to Me in any way whatsoever, O master, people on earth shall be delivered from the dreadful ocean of worldly existence. In My deity incarnation (*arcāvatāra*) [the consecrated image in a temple], O Caturānana [Four-Faced One], I become easily accessible" (v.10-12).
"Brāhmaṇas should worship Me, and temple priests, the *devalas*, should perform service. Kṣatriyas should build many grand temples for Me. Doorkeepers, the *kṣattāras*, should guard the gates everywhere for Me, and *vaiśyas* should procure supplies for the great kitchen. Śūdras should perform various kinds of service in My temple. Women should undertake cleaning and plastering in My house, as well as the drawing of *maṇḍalas*, with faith and love. The fashioning of flower garlands, the cleaning of vessels in the temple, and also the lighting of lamps—these, women should perform day after day" (v.13-16).
"Carpenters and chariot-makers should craft vehicles and chariots. Blacksmiths should make ornaments, and potters should make pots. Weavers should perform the making of cloth, and washermen the cleaning of cloth. Dyers should apply colour for Me in My temple. Having made these, they should offer them with faith and devotion in My temple. In this way, humans, *gandharvas*, and also courtesans should, day after day, perform singing and dancing, and also the playing of musical instruments" (v.17-19).
"During the chariot festival, even *caṇḍālas*, outcastes, and heretics, if they behold Me with devotion, they too become purified. Farmers should, according to rule, grow crops in My fields and gather the grains for My sake, O Caturānana. Cowherds, too, should protect the cows in My cattle-pen and shall provide the *pañcagavya* for the rites of My worship. In My temple, barbers should perform service for My worshipping priests, the *vipras*, and also the tonsure of pilgrims and children" (v.20-23).
"My temple is the very livelihood for everyone in this world. What mortal would not serve Me? For I am the father of all. By worshipping Me, the Lord of the Universe, daily according to their eligibility, O Caturānana, all people become happy-living. Performing service here and thus accomplishing their life's journey, they will also go hereafter to My supreme abode" (v.24-26).
"Service to the deity incarnation (*arcāvatāra*) is indeed easily available to people in this world; it is obtained only through merit acquired in a previous birth. Those yogis who are self-controlled and capable of meditation, let them retire to a mountain cave and perform meditation constantly. But My temple, O best of beings, is for daily festival. Therefore, one should perform a daily festival, a spectacle of song and dance" (v.27-29).
"With various ornaments and decorations that delight the eyes, and with various instruments and songs that delight the ears; with various incenses and fragrances that delight the nose, and with various great food offerings (*mahāprasāda*) that delight the tongue—one should attract all the ignorant, the lowly, and the sense-uncontrolled, and by any means whatsoever, make them see Me, the ocean of mercy" (v.30-32).
"I am the saviour of the lowly people from the ocean of worldly existence; having taken this deity form, I thus remain, O Caturānana. Having obtained My service by some means or other, even by chance, ignorant people shall certainly attain welfare" (v.33-34).
"Through My worship, there will surely be rain in season and water in the rivers, and there will be an abundance of crops on the earth. All people shall be happy and free from illness. They will obtain wealth, longevity, health, riches, and progeny, as well as spouses and homes, and always contentment. When I am well-pleased, all people obtain these, and the supreme goal as well" (v.35-37).
"Therefore, O Caturānana, in the sacred Divya Deśas [the 108 holy abodes of Viṣṇu], you should conduct great festivals with great joy and filled with wonder" (v.38).
Thus the seventh chapter, named "The Method of Worship," in the Fourth Part of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
