Text 335] Explanations of the Atmarama Verse 281

types of prayers and hymns at the Lord’s lotus feet. (56) One should touch the
lotus feet of the Lord with one’s head. This may not be possible for everyone, but
at least the pujari should do this. (57) The flowers offered on the previous day
should touch one’s head. (58) One should take the remnants of the Lord’s food.
(59) One should sit before the Lord and think that he is massaging the Lord’s legs.
(60) One should decorate the Lord’s bed with flowers before the Lord takes His
rest. (61) One should offer one’s hand to the Lord. (62) One should take the
Deity to His bed. (63) One should wash the feet of the Lord and then sit Him on
the bed. (64) One should place the Lord on the bed and then massage His feet.

Arati should be offered to the Deities five times daily—early in the morning
before sunrise, later in the morning, at noon, in the evening and at night. This
means that there should be worship and a change of dress and flowers. As far as
the eatables are concerned, all items should be first-class preparations. There
should be first-class rice, dahl, fruit, sweet rice, vegetables and a variety of foods
to be sucked, drunk and chewed. All the eatables offered to the Deities should be
extraordinarily excellent. In Europe and America there is presently no monetary
scarcity. People are not poor, and if they follow these principles of Deity worship,
they will advance in spiritual life. As far as placing the Deity in the bed is con-
cerned, if the Deity is large and heavy, it is not possible to move Him daily. It is
better that a small Deity, which is also worshiped, be taken to the bed. This
mantra should be chanted: agaccha sayana-sthanam priydbhih saha kesava. “O
KeSava, kindly come to Your bed along with Srimati Radharani.” (Hari-bhakti-vilasa
11.40)

The Deity should be placed in bed with Srimati Radharani, and this should be
indicated by bringing the wooden slippers from the altar to the bedside. When
the Deity is laid down, His legs should be massaged. Before laying the Deity
down, a pot of milk and sugar should be offered to Him. After taking this thick
milk, the Deity should lie down and should be offered betel nuts and spices to
chew.

TEXT 335
Gafsawe, ata “yeraitaerse| |
FWBE-WH), FHILS-TAa |) O0¢ |

sri-marti -laksana, ara salagrama-laksana
krsna-ksetra-yatra, krsna-mdrti-darasana

SYNONYMS

$ri-mdarti-laksana—characteristics of the Deity; dra—and; sdlagrama-laksana—
characteristics of the salagrama-sila; krsna-ksetra-yatra—visiting places like
