Pancanga Worship – 4. Sri Yamuna-Patala & 5. Sri Yamuna-Paddhati (The Names and Worship of Sri Yamuna)
Before reading this article, I would like to request my viewers to read my other article first “The Story of the Women of Barhishmati-Pura, the Apsaras, and the Women of Sutala and Nagendra”
Sri Mandhata said: “O tiger among sages, you are filled with transcendental knowledge. Please describe to me the Yamuna-Patala and the Yamuna-Paddhati, which fulfill all desires.”
Sri Saubhari said: “I will now describe to you the Yamuna-Patala and the Yamuna-Paddhati. One who performs them, hears them, or chants them becomes liberated even in this life.”
First one says Om, then the Maya-bija, then the Rama-bija, and then the Kama-bija. Then one takes the word Kalindi, places the word devi after it, places these words in the dative case, and then adds the word namah. This is the mantra that one chants.
The mantra then becomes, “Om hrim shrim klim kalindyai devyai namah”.
They who chant this eleven-syllable mantra attain perfection. They attain all their desires.
In a sacred circle, one should draw a sixteen-petal lotus flower. In the whorl of the lotus one should write the words Sri Krishna and Kalindi.
On the petals, one should write the names Jahnavi, Viraja, Krishna, Candrabhaga, Sarasvati, Gomati, Kauciki, Veni, Sindhu, Godavari, Vedasmrti, Vetravati, Satadru, Sarayu, Rsi-kulya, and Kakudmini. Then an exalted person should worship the lotus flower.
Then one should write the names Vrndavana, Govardhana, Vrnda, and Tulasi in the four directions. Then one should worship the lotus with these names.
Then one should chant the mantra:-
“om namo bhagavatyai kalinda-nandinyai surya-kanyakayai yama-bhaginyai shri-krishna-priyayai yuthi-bhutayai svaha”
(Obeisances to goddess Yamuna, the daughter of Mount Kalinda, the daughter of the sun-god, the sister of Yamaraja, the gopi-beloved of Sri Krishna).
Then, offering sixteen articles one should carefully offer worship.
Please know that what I have just spoken is the Patala. Now I will speak to you the Paddhati.
One should live as a brahmacari brahmana, keeping a vow of silence, eating leaves and barley, sleeping on the ground, controlling one’s mind, and chanting mantras.
One should free oneself from lust, anger, bewilderment, and hatred, and with great devotion, one should chant mantras.
During Brahma-Muhurta one should meditate on goddess Yamuna and at sunrise one should bathe in the Yamuna.
At midday and sunset, one should again offer obeisances to the Yamuna. When this vow of worshiping the Yamuna is completed, one should stand at the Yamuna’s shore.
Then one should worship one million exalted Brahmanas along with their sons. One should offer them fragrant flowers and delicious foods.
Then one should offer them garments, ornaments, and golden cups. In this way, one should offer them daksina. Then one’s observance of this vow is properly completed.
O noble-hearted king, in this way I have described to you the Yamuna-Paddhati. Please follow this vow in all respects.