Śrīḥ
Śrīmathē śatakōpāya namaḥ
Śrīmathē rāmānujāya namaḥ
Śrīmath varavaramunayē namaḥ
Śrī vānāchala mahāmunayē namaḥ
This article uses diacritical marks. A reference table that shows Sanskrit letters, diacritics and the standard koyil.org transliteration is available at http://koyil.org/index.php/transliteration-pronunciation-guide/ .
General remarks
This article describes a simple Thiruvārādhanam (worship of one’s home deities) based on a very comprehensive article we posted earlier: http://ponnadi.blogspot.de/2012/07/srivaishnava-thiruvaaraadhanam.html . Based on the general nature of this article, the practitioner had (ideally with the help of his Āchārya or senior devotees) to compile “his own” practise from it.
As this was not always found to be easy, hence we created this article as a “cookbook” for a simple Thiruvārādhanam which states the steps and a basic set of ślōkas / mantras and which can be done by everybody. That is, we removed all vaidika mantras (including praṇava) given in the underlying article so that people without Yajñopavītam (sacred tread, given to twice-born) and even interested mlecchas (foreigners) may worship their deities in a proper manner.
People with Yajñopavītam should consult the underlying article in order to use the proper vaidika mantras in their Thiruvārādhanam. Note that the two rahasya mantras given by the Āchārya during Pañcha Saṃskāram (initiation) should only be recited by practitioners who underwent Pañcha Saṃskāram. This is indicated as we are giving just the name of these mantras, not the mantras themselves. Initiated practitioners must also then add the thaniyan of their Āchārya to the recitation at the place we indicate.
Preparations
To practise Thiruvārādhanam, the following articles are required:
- 2 large pots (vattils), one to store fresh water and one to store water we already used in the process.
- 6 small pots
- Two small spoons, one to offer to Emperumān and one to offer to Āḻvārs and Āchāryas.
- A small plate to offer food to the deities.
- A plate to keep 5 small pots as visible below.
- A small lamp (ghee / oil) to offer light to the deities.
- A large (standing) lamp, ideally a ghee / oil lamp as visible in back of the picture below.
- A large spatula to offer camphor. If you look on the web with the search term “arati deepak holder” you will find specialized utilities for this purpose.
Articles 1 to 4 should be made of silver or copper or brass; of course it is preferrable to have all articles made from these materials.
In general, the deities (either śālagrāmas or figurines) should be kept inside Kōyil Āḻvār (Tamil term) / Sannidhi (Sanskrit term), a box or a shrine which is opened only for Thiruvārādhanam to assure that the deities are not disturbed otherwise. A low cost solution would be a shelf where the deities are located, which is then covered with a beautiful piece of cloth to create a Sannidhi.
- Sacred water (thīrtham) can be prepared by adding small quantities of tulasī, ēlaicī (cardamon), karpūram (food variety camphor) and kēsarī (saffron) to the water.
- We may also sanctify the water simply by adding a few leaves of thulasi (holy basil, outside India sometimes available at ISKCON temples) to the water.
- arghyam – water for cleansing emperumān’s divine hands
- pādhyam – water for cleansing emperumān’s divine lotus feet
- āchamanīyam – water for cleansing emperumān’s divine mouth
- snānīyam – water for bathing. Further pots should be added for madhuvargam (honey etc) or pānīyam (water for drinking) when offered, too.
- śudhdha udhakam – water for purifying anything to be offered to emperumān
- padikkam – vessel to receive water offered to emperumān
- water for āchārya
- thirukkāvēri (kāvēri is the holy river flowing around the island where the śrīrangam temple is located) – utensil to hold fresh water (to be used in thiruvārādhanam)
After bath, put on ūrdhva puṇḍram
Location on the body – we first give śrī viṣṇu mantram (for thirumaṇ, the white mark) and then śrī mahālakṣmi mantram (for śrīchūrṇam, the red line).
-
Forehead – kēśavāya namaḥ – śrīyai namaḥ
-
Stomach (middle) – nārāyaṇāya namaḥ – amṛthōdhbavāyai namaḥ
-
Chest (middle) – mādhavāya namaḥ – kamalāyai namaḥ
-
Neck (middle) – gōvindhāya namaḥ – chandhra-sōbinyai namaḥ
-
Stomach (right) – viṣṇavē namaḥ – viṣṇupathnyai namaḥ
-
Shoulder (right) – madhusūdhanāya namaḥ – vaiṣṇavyai namaḥ
-
Neck (right) – thrivikramāya namaḥ – varārōhāyai namaḥ
-
Stomach (left) – vāmanāya namaḥ – hari-vallabhāyai namaḥ
-
Shoulder (left) – śrīdharāya namaḥ – śārnginyai namaḥ
-
Neck (left) – hṛṣīkēśāya namaḥ – dēva dēvyai namaḥ
-
Lower Spine (back) – padmanābhāya namaḥ – mahālakṣmyai namaḥ
-
Upper Spine (back) – dāmōdharāya namaḥ – lōkasundharyai namaḥ
Guru Paraṃparā Dhyānam
(meditating on the guru paraṃparā)
After applying ūrdhva puṇḍram, we recite the guru paraṃparā in mantra format as well as (a simple to remember) ślōka format.
vākya guruparaṃparai
asmath gurubhyō namaḥ
asmadh parama gurubhyō namaḥ
asmadh sarva gurubhyō namaḥ
śrīmathē rāmānujāya namaḥ
śrī parānkusa dāsāya namaḥ
śrīmadh yāmunamuṇayē namaḥ
śrī rāma misrāya namaḥ
śrī puṇḍarikākshāya namaḥ
śrīman nāthamunayē namaḥ
śrīmathē satakopāya namaḥ
śrīmathē viṣvaksēṇāya namaḥ
śrīyai namaḥ
śrīdharāya namaḥ
ślōka guruparaṃparai
asmad dēśikam asmadhīya param āchāryān aśēṣān gurūn,
śrīmal-lakṣmaṇa yogi punṅgava mahā-pūrṅau muniṃ yāmunam |
rāmaṃ vilocanaṃ muni varaṃ nāthaṃ śaṭa dvēṣiṇam,
sēnēśaṃ śriyam indhirā saha caraṃ nārāyaṇam saṃśrayē ||
Meditation on rahasya thrayam
(Thirumantra)
(Dvaya Mantra)
śrī kṛṣṇa charama ślōkam
sarvadharmān parithyajya mām ēkaṁ śaraṇam vraja |
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva pāpēbhyō mōkṣayiṣyāmi mā śuchaḥ ||
śrī varahā charama ślōkam
sthithē manasi susvasthē sarīrē sathiyō naraḥ
dhāthusāmyē sthithē smarththā visvarūpancha māmajam
thathastham mriyamāṇanthu kāshtapāshāṇa sannibham
aham smarāmi madh bhaktham nayāmi paramām gathim
śrī rāma charama ślōkam
sakrudēva prapannāya thavāsmīthi cha yāchathē |
abhayam sarva bhūthēbyō dhadhāmi yēthad vratham mama ||
- Add thīrtham to the main thīrtham utensil
- Chant uththara vākyam of Dvaya Mantra (śrīmathē nārāyaṇāya namaḥ) with thīrtham and thulasi, and purify all materials (pots, flowers, etc) by sprinkling thīrtham on them.
- Add thīrtham to the utensils.
Light the thiruviḷakku (lamp)
Chanting of thaniyans
periya perumāḷ (emperumān)
śrī sthanābharaṇam thējaḥ śrīrangēsayam āsrayē
chinthāmaṇi mivōthvāntham uthsangē ananthabhōginaḥ
periya pirātti (mahālakṣmi)
namaḥ śrīranga nāyakyai yath brū vibhrama bhēthathaḥ
īsēsithavya vaiśamya nimnōnnatham itham jagath
sēnai mudhaliār (viṣvakśēna)
śrīrangachandhramasam indhirayā viharthum
vinyasya viśvachidha chinnayanādhikāram
yō nirvahathya nisamanguli mudhrayaiva
śēnānyam anya vimukās thamasi sriyāma
nammāḻvār
māthā pithā yuvadhayas thanayā vibhūtiḥ
sarvam yadh-ēva niyamēna madh anvayānām
ādhyasyanaḥ kula-pathēr vakulābhirāmam
śrīmath thadhangri yugalaṃ praṇamāmi mūrdhnā
nāthamunigal (nāthamuni)
namaḥ achinthya adhbudha aklishta jñāna vairāgya rāsayē
nāthāya munayē agādha bhagavadh bhakthi sindhavē
uyyakkondār (puṇdarīkāksha)
namaḥ pankaja nēthrāya nāthaḥ śrī pādha pankajē
nyastha sarva bharāya asmath kula nāthāya dhīmathē
maṇakkāl nambi (rāma miśra)
ayathnathō yāmunam āthma dhāsam alarkka pathrārppaṇa niṣkrayēṇa
yaḥ krīthvānāsthitha yauvarājyam namāmitham rāmamēya sathvam
ālavandhār (yāmunāchārya)
yat padāmbhōruhadhyāna vidhvasthāśēṣa kalmaṣaḥ
vastutāmupayā thō’haṃ yāmunēyaṃ namāmi tam
periya nambi
kamalāpathi kalyāṇa guṇāmrutha niṣēvayā
pụrṇa kāmāya sathatham pụrṇāya mahathē namaḥ
emperumānār (rāmānuja)
yōnithyam achyutha padhāmbhuja yugma rukma
vyāmōhathas thadhitharāṇi thruṇāya mēnē
asmadh gurōr bhagavathōsya dhayaika sindhōḥ
rāmānujasya charaṇau śaraṇam prapadhyē
embār (gōvinda)
rāmānuja padha chāyā gōvindhāhva anapāyinī
thadhā yaththa svarūpā sā jīyān madh visramasthalē
bhattar (parāsara bhattar)
śrī parāsara bhattārya śrīrangēsa purōhithaḥ
śrīvathsānga suthaḥ śrīmān shrēyasē mēsthu bhūyasē
nanjīyar
namō vēdhāntha vēdhyāya jagan mangala hēthavē
yasya vāgāmruthāsāra bhūritham bhuvana thrayam
nampiḷḷai (lōkāchārya)
vēdhāntha vēdhya amrutha vārirāsēr
vēdhārtha sāra amrutha pūramagryam
ādhāya varṣantham aham prapadhyē
kāruṇya pūrṇam kalivairidhāsam
vadakku thiruvīdhi piḷḷai
śrī krṣṇa pādha pādhābjē namāmi sirasā sadhā
yath prasādha prabhāvēna sarva sidhdhirabhūnmama
piḷḷai lōkāchārya
lōkāchārya guravē krṣṇa pādhasya sūnavē
samsāra bhōgi santhashta jīva jīvāthavē namaḥ
thiruvāimoḻi piḷḷai
nama śrīsailanāthāya kunthī nagara janmanē
prasādhalabdha parama prāpya kainkaryasAlinē
manavāḷa māmunigaḷ
śrīśailēśa dhayā pātraṃ dhībhakthyādhi guṇārṇavam
yathīndhra pravaṇaṃ vandhē ramya jāmātharam munim
thaniyan of your āchārya
Chant common thaniyans
manavāḷa māmunigaḷ
śrīśailēśa dhayā pātraṃ dhībhaktyādhi guṇārṇavam
yathīndhra pravaṇaṃ vandhē ramya jāmātharam munim
our guruparamparai
lakṣmīnātha samārambhāṃ nāthayāmuna madhyamām
asmadhāchārya paryanthāṃ vandē guruparaṃparām
emperumānār
yōnithyam achyutha padhāmbhuja yugma rukma
vyāmōhathas thadhitharāṇi tṛṇāya mēnē
asmadh gurōr bhagavathōsya dhayaika sindhōḥ
rāmānujasya charaṇau śaraṇam prapadhyē
nammāḻvār
māthā pithā yuvadhayas thanayā vibhūthiḥ
sarvam yadh-ēva niyamēna madh anvayānām
ādhyasyanaḥ kula-pathēr vakulābhirāmam
śrīmath thadhangri yugalaṃ praṇamāmi mūrdhnā
thaniyan glorifying āḻvārs and emperumānār
bhūtham saraścha mahadāhvaya bhaṭṭa-nātha
śrī-bhakthi-sāra kulaśēkara yōgi-vāhān
bhaktāṅghri rēṇu parakāla yathīndra miśrān
śrīmath parāṅkusa muniṃ praṇathō’smi nityam
Offer full praṇāmams
(stōtra rathnam 48)
aparādha sahasra bhājanaṃ
pathithaṃ bhīma bhavārṇavō dharē|
agathiṃ śaraṇāgatham harē
kṛpayā kēvalamāthmasāth kuru ||
(stōtra rathnam 22)
na dharmaniṣṭhō’smi na chāthmāvēdhī
na bhakthimān thvach-charaṇāravindhē |
akiñcho’nānya gathiḥ-śaraṇya
thvāthpadhā-mūlam śaraṇaṃ prapadhyē ||
(jitanthē stōtram 1)
jithanthē puṇdarīkākṣa namastē viśvabhāvana |
namasthē’stu hṛṣīkēśa mahāpuruṣa pūrvaja ||
(jitanthē stōtram 2)
dēvānām dānavānām cha sāmānyam adhidhaivatham |
sarvadhā charaṇadhvandhvaṃ vrajāmi śaraṇaṃ thava ||
(śrī rāmāyaṇam, śrī vēnkatēsa suprabātham)
kausalyā suprajā rāma! pūrvā sandhyā pravarthathē |
uththishtta narasārdhūla karthavyam dhaivamāhnikam ||
(śrī rāmāyaṇam, śrī vēnkatēsa suprabātham)
uththiṣttōththishtta gōvindha! uththiṣtta garudadhvaja! |
uththiṣtta kamalā kāntha! thrailōkyam mangaḷam kuru ||
(from the purānas)
kurmādhīṇ dhivyalōkāṇ thadhanu maṇimayam maṇdapam thathra sēṣam
thasmim dharmādhipītam thadhupari kamalam chāmaragrāhiṇīch cha |
viṣṇum dhēvīr vibhūṣāyudhagaṇam urakam pādhukē vainathēyam
sēnēsam dhvārabhālān kumudhamukagaṇān viṣṇubakthān prapadhyē ||
Open the doors of the sannidhi clapping the hands 3 times
savyam pādham prasārya śrithadhurithaharam dhakṣiṇam kunjayithvā
jānunyādhāya savyētharam itharabhujam nāgabhōgē nidhāya |
paSchāth bhāhudhvayēna prathipataSamanē dhārayan sangachakrē
dhēvibhūshādhi jushtō vitharathu bhagavān (jagathām) śarma vaikuṇtanāthaḥ ||
offer arghyam (water to cleanse hands)
āḻvārs/ āchāryas first (if present) then emperumān & pirātti
arghyam samarpayāmi
offer pādhyam (water to cleanse lotus feet)
āḻvārs/ āchāryas first (if present) then emperumān & pirātti
pādhyam samarpayāmi
offer āchamanam (water to rinse mouth)
āḻvārs/ āchāryas first (if present) then emperumān & pirātti
āchamaniyam samarpayāmi
Invite all emperumāns (108 divya dēśa emperumāns) to accept the thiruvārādhanam
If you are initiated, emphasise that the thiruvārādhanam is done by your āchārya and you are representing the hands of the āchārya.
Place the emperumāns into a suitable place (ideally a specialized desk called thirumanjana vēdhi as used in temples or a suitable plate) for abhiṣēka.
Offer arghyam (water to cleanse his hands)
āḻvārs/ āchāryas first (if present) then emperumān & pirātti
arghyam samarpayāmi
offer pādhyam (water to cleanse his lotus feet)
āḻvārs/ āchāryas first (if present) then emperumān & pirātti
pādhyam samarpayāmi
offer āchamanam (water to rinse his mouth)
āḻvārs/ āchāryas first (if present) then emperumān & pirātti
āchamaniyam samarpayāmi
perform thirumanjanam (abhiṣēka)
first emperumān & pirātti, then āḻvārs / āchāryas (if present)
snānīyam samarpayāmi
while doing this, chant of āchārya stotrams (vedic sūktams for people with Yajñopavītam)
place the emperumāns at their original place and pat them dry
plota vastram samarpayāmi
Chant common thaniyans starting from “śrī śailēśa dhayā pāthraṃ”
offer incense
first emperumān & pirātti, then āḻvārs / āchāryas (if present)
dhūpam samarpayāmi
offer lamp
first emperumān & pirātti, then āḻvārs / āchāryas (if present)
dhīpam samarpayāmi
offer warm milk and / or fruits (whatever possible)
first emperumān & pirātti, then āḻvārs / āchāryas (if present)
naivēdhyam samarpayāmi
chant dhivya prabhandam (as much as possible)
empty all the thīrtham into the padikkam (utensil to collect all offered water).
mangaḷāsāsanam – do camphor āraththi
mangaḷa ślōkas
śrīranga mangaḷa muṇim karuṇā nivāsam
śrī vēnkatādhri śikarālaya kāla mēkam
śrī hasthiśaila śikarōjvala pārijātham
śrīśam namāmi śirasā yadhuSaila dhīpam
mangalāsāsana parair mathāchārya purōgamaiḥ
sarvaiś-cha pūrvair āchāryaiḥ sathkruthāyāsthu mangalam
Close the doors of the sannidhi
pannagādhīsa paryankē ramā hasthōpa thānakē |
sukham śēsha giriśāya sarvā jāgratha jāgratha ||
(mukundha mālā)
kṣīrasāgara tharanka sīkarā, sāra thārakitha chāru mūrththayē |
bhōgi bhōgi sayanīya sāyinē mādhavāya madhu vidhvishē namaḥ ||
Offer full praṇāmams
upachārāpadhēsēna kruthānaha raharmayā |
apachārān imān sarvān kshamasva purushōththama ||
Adiyen Mādhava Rāmānuja Dasan
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