Chapter 27: Margasirsha Mahatmya

While addressing a group of Munis, Sage Sutha narrated that Lord Brahma asked Bhagavan Narayana about  the significance of Margasirsha Month and the reply was that in His earlier incarnation as Krishna, He advised thousands of Gopikas and Gopas to observe austerities during that month by performing ‘Snaans’, ‘Pujas’, fastings and total dedication to Him to attain Salvation.

Thus Gopikas and Gopas adopted a daily routine of waking up early; taking bath with Tulasi roots of earth on head by reciting the Mula Mantra of ‘Om Namo Narayanaya’ and Gayatri Mantra; praying to Ganga saying

‘Vishnupaada prasuthaasi Vaishnavi Vishnu devatha,

Thrahi naha thvam aghaatthasmaat aajanma maranaanthikat’

(Hey Gangey, You were materialised from Vishnu’s feet, thus known as Vaishnavi, Vishnu is your Devata, please save me of my sins from birth to death); and applying mritthika (earth) on the body by reciting

‘Ashvakraanthey Rathakraanthey Vishnu kraanthey Vasundharey,

Mrittikey hara mey Paapam yanmayaa dushkrutam krutam/

Uddhrutasi Varaahena Krishnena Shata baahunaa,

Namasthey Sarva bhutaanam prabhavarani Suvrathey’

( Hey Vasundharey, Bhagavan Vishnu rides horses and chariots over your physique, I request your Mrittika to wash off my sins like the fire from the pit, you are the creator and tolerator of all beings and the Supreme Lord Varaha lifted you with His thousand hands from deep waters, I salute you!). After the former bath and wearing clean clothes, the routine continues with applying ‘Vibhudi’ (ash of homa or of cow dung), perform ‘Sandhya Vandan’/ Gayatri Japa followed by Vishnu Puja with ‘Ghantanaad’ (ringing bell), Chandana, Pushpa, Tulasidal, dhoop, deepa and other ‘Shodasopacharas’, ‘Stutipaath’ (Extolling hymns) of Vishnu Sahasranaam, Bhishmastavaraj, Gajendra Moksha, Anusmriti and Bhagavad Gita, Mantrajap viz. ‘Om Namo Damodaraya Namah’ and ‘Saashtanga Pranaam’ (prostration or lying on the ground by putting both the hands, both the feet, both the knees together, as also chest, forehead, heart, mouth, and vision) and finally recite the Mantra:

Mantra heenam, Kriya heenam, Bhakti heenam Janaardana,

Yat pujitam maya Deva Paripurnam tha dasthu the/

Anaya Dhyaanaa vaahanaadi Shodasopachaaraaya Bhagavaan Sarvaatmakah-

Supreeta Suparasanno varado bhavatu-

so saying-

Devataa Prasaadam Sirasa grihnnami,

ye that phalam Parameswar-arpanamasthu.

(Hey Janaardana, my worship to You is without Mantras, without rituals, and without devotion; kindly accept my worship without these qualities; also without meditation, ‘Vahanas’ or Carriers, and such other Sixteen Services, I am concluding my worship; kindly be pleased with my worship and ignore all my limitations).