Vaishnava Etiquette & Vaishnava Etiquette & Nectar of DevotionNectar of Devotion

Part IPart I

Etiquette within templeEtiquette within templeCharacteristics of pure devotional serviceCharacteristics of pure devotional service

Mangalacharan verse 1Mangalacharan verse 1

oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayäoà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayäcakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaùcakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù

SYNONYMSSYNONYMSoà—address; ajïäna-(of) ignorance; timira-(by) the oà—address; ajïäna-(of) ignorance; timira-(by) the

darkness; andhasya—of one who was blinded; jïäna-darkness; andhasya—of one who was blinded; jïäna-aïjana—(by) the ointment of spiritual knowledge; aïjana—(by) the ointment of spiritual knowledge; çaläkayä—by a medical instrument called a çaläkä, çaläkayä—by a medical instrument called a çaläkä, which is used to apply medical ointment to eyes which is used to apply medical ointment to eyes afflicted with cataracts; cakñuù—eyes; unmé1itam—afflicted with cataracts; cakñuù—eyes; unmé1itam—were opened; yena—by whom; tasmai—unto him; were opened; yena—by whom; tasmai—unto him; çré-gurave—unto my spiritual master; namaù—çré-gurave—unto my spiritual master; namaù—obeisances.obeisances.

TRANSLATIONTRANSLATIONI offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual

master, who has opened my eyes, which were master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.torchlight of knowledge.

Etiquette within templeEtiquette within temple Being Humble :

Give up the mentality of being Lord and Master regardless of whatever once qualification, abilities or social position may be.

Only identity is to be “Servant of the servant of Krsna”.

Meditate on this while entering the temple.

Etiquette within templeEtiquette within temple Offering obeisances:Offering obeisances:

upon entering temple offer pancanga pranam upon entering temple offer pancanga pranam and chant the prayer,and chant the prayer,väïchä-kalpatarubhyaç ca kåpä-väïchä-kalpatarubhyaç ca kåpä-sindhubhya eva ca patitänäà sindhubhya eva ca patitänäà pävanebhyo vaiñëavebhyo namo pävanebhyo vaiñëavebhyo namo namaùnamaùI offer my respectful obeisances

unto all the Vaiñëava devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees who can fulfill the desires of everyone, and they are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.

Etiquette within templeEtiquette within temple Then one should offer pranam to Srila Prabhupada (full dandavat Then one should offer pranam to Srila Prabhupada (full dandavat

for men only) and chant Prabhupada Pranam mantra,for men only) and chant Prabhupada Pranam mantra,nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine namas te çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe nirviçeña-särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëeçünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëeI offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa on this earth, having is very dear to Lord Kåñëa on this earth, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. Our respectful taken shelter at His lotus feet. Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.with impersonalism and voidism.

While chanting prayers meditate on meaning and While chanting prayers meditate on meaning and be in mood of praying in this way.be in mood of praying in this way.

Etiquette within templeEtiquette within temple Then one should proceed to deities and offer Then one should proceed to deities and offer

obeisances in sequence, obeisances in sequence, In New Vrindavan, that means first to In New Vrindavan, that means first to Jagannath Baladeva Subadra and then to Jagannath Baladeva Subadra and then to Gaura-Nitai, Radha-Vrindavan Chandra, Sri Gaura-Nitai, Radha-Vrindavan Chandra, Sri Gopal and finally to Prahlad-Narasimhadev.Gopal and finally to Prahlad-Narasimhadev.

One can chant deities pranam mantras while One can chant deities pranam mantras while offering obeisances.offering obeisances.

Deities Pranam MantraDeities Pranam Mantra

For Jagannath AltarFor Jagannath Altarnamo brahmaëya-deväya go-brähmaëa-hitäya canamo brahmaëya-deväya go-brähmaëa-hitäya cajagad-dhitäya kåñëäya govindäya namo namaùjagad-dhitäya kåñëäya govindäya namo namaù

"My Lord, You are the well-wisher of the cows and the "My Lord, You are the well-wisher of the cows and the brähmaëas, and You are the well-wisher of the brähmaëas, and You are the well-wisher of the entire human society and world." entire human society and world."

For Gaura-NitaiFor Gaura-Nitaipaïca-tattvätmakaà kåñëaà bhakta-rüpa-svarüpakampaïca-tattvätmakaà kåñëaà bhakta-rüpa-svarüpakambhaktävatäraà bhaktäkhyaà namämi bhakta-çaktikambhaktävatäraà bhaktäkhyaà namämi bhakta-çaktikamI offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Kåñëa, I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Kåñëa,

who is nondifferent from His features as a devotee, who is nondifferent from His features as a devotee, devotional incarnation, devotional manifestation, devotional incarnation, devotional manifestation, pure devotee, and devotional energy.pure devotee, and devotional energy.

Radha & Krsna Pranam MantraRadha & Krsna Pranam Mantra

tapta-käïcana-gauräìgi rädhe våndävaneçvaritapta-käïcana-gauräìgi rädhe våndävaneçvarivåñabhänu-sute devé praëamämi hari-priyevåñabhänu-sute devé praëamämi hari-priye

I offer my respects to Rädhäräëé, whose bodily I offer my respects to Rädhäräëé, whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Våndävana. You are the daughter of King of Våndävana. You are the daughter of King Våñabhänu, and You are very dear to Lord Kåñëa.Våñabhänu, and You are very dear to Lord Kåñëa.he kåñëa karuëä-sindho déna-bandho jagat-patehe kåñëa karuëä-sindho déna-bandho jagat-pategopeça gopikä-känta rädhä-känta namo 'stu tegopeça gopikä-känta rädhä-känta namo 'stu te

O my dear Kåñëa, ocean of mercy, You are the friend O my dear Kåñëa, ocean of mercy, You are the friend of the distressed and the source of creation. You are of the distressed and the source of creation. You are the master of the cowherdmen and the lover of the the master of the cowherdmen and the lover of the gopés, especially Rädhäräëé. I offer my respectful gopés, especially Rädhäräëé. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.obeisances unto You.

Narasimha Deva Pranati MantraNarasimha Deva Pranati Mantra

ugro ’py anugra eväyaà sva-bhaktänäà nå-ugro ’py anugra eväyaà sva-bhaktänäà nå-keçarékeçaré

keçaréva sva-potänäm anyeñäà ugra-vikramaùkeçaréva sva-potänäm anyeñäà ugra-vikramaù“‘“‘Although very ferocious, the lioness is very Although very ferocious, the lioness is very

kind to her cubs. Similarly, although very kind to her cubs. Similarly, although very ferocious to nondevotees like Hiraëyakaçipu, ferocious to nondevotees like Hiraëyakaçipu, Lord Nåsiàhadeva is very, very soft and kind Lord Nåsiàhadeva is very, very soft and kind to devotees like Prahläda Mahäräja.’”to devotees like Prahläda Mahäräja.’”

If difficulty in remembering any of the If difficulty in remembering any of the mantras, just replace it with Hare Krsna mantras, just replace it with Hare Krsna Mahamanta.Mahamanta.

Nectar of Devotion – Ch.1Nectar of Devotion – Ch.1

Characteristics of pure devotional service: "My Characteristics of pure devotional service: "My dear mother, those who are My pure devotees, dear mother, those who are My pure devotees, and who have no desire for material benefit or and who have no desire for material benefit or philosophical speculation, have their minds so philosophical speculation, have their minds so much engaged in My service that they are much engaged in My service that they are never interested in asking Me for anything—never interested in asking Me for anything—except to be engaged in that service. They do except to be engaged in that service. They do not even beg to live in My abode with Me.“not even beg to live in My abode with Me.“ [S.B.3.29.12-13] [S.B.3.29.12-13]

Rejecting five kinds of liberationRejecting five kinds of liberation There are five kinds of liberation, There are five kinds of liberation,

Sayujya or ekatvamSayujya or ekatvam - to become one with the - to become one with the Lord, Lord, sälokyasälokya - to live with the Supreme Lord on the - to live with the Supreme Lord on the same planet, same planet, särüpyasärüpya - to have the same features as the Lord, - to have the same features as the Lord, särñöisärñöi - to enjoy the same opulences as the Lord - to enjoy the same opulences as the Lord sämépya sämépya - to live as a companion of the Lord. - to live as a companion of the Lord.

A devotee, what to speak of rejecting material sense A devotee, what to speak of rejecting material sense gratification, does not even want any of the five kinds gratification, does not even want any of the five kinds of liberation. of liberation.

He is satisfied simply by discharging loving service He is satisfied simply by discharging loving service to the Lord. That is the characteristic of pure to the Lord. That is the characteristic of pure devotion.devotion.

Characteristics of pure Characteristics of pure devotional servicedevotional service

Further characteristics of devotional service are Further characteristics of devotional service are described by described by Rüpa Gosvämé Rüpa Gosvämé with evidences from with evidences from different scriptures. different scriptures. (1) Pure devotional service brings immediate relief (1) Pure devotional service brings immediate relief from all kinds of material distress. from all kinds of material distress. (2) Pure devotional service is the beginning of all (2) Pure devotional service is the beginning of all auspiciousness. auspiciousness. (3) Pure devotional service automatically puts one in (3) Pure devotional service automatically puts one in transcendental pleasure.transcendental pleasure.(4) Pure devotional service is rarely achieved.(4) Pure devotional service is rarely achieved.(5) Those in pure devotional service deride even the (5) Those in pure devotional service deride even the conception of liberation.conception of liberation.(6) Pure devotional service is the only means to (6) Pure devotional service is the only means to attract attract KåñëaKåñëa..

Pure Devotional servicePure Devotional service

Kåñëa is all-attractive, but Kåñëa is all-attractive, but pure devotional service pure devotional service attracts even Him. This means attracts even Him. This means that pure devotional service is that pure devotional service is even transcendentally stronger even transcendentally stronger than Kåñëa Himself, because it than Kåñëa Himself, because it is Kåñëa's internal potency.is Kåñëa's internal potency.