64 angas of Sadhana-vaidhi-bhakti

The sixty-four angas of sadhana-vaidhi-bhakti

In 7 chapters (6-12), the 64 items of sadhana-vaidhi-bhakti will be explained. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī states that his elder brother (Sanātana Gosvāmī) has compiled Hari-bhakti-vilāsa for the guidance of the Vaiṣṇavas and therein has mentioned many rules and regulations to be followed by the Vaiṣṇavas. Some of them are very important and prominent, and Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī will now mention these very important items for our benefit. The purport of this statement is that Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī proposes to mention only following basic principles, not details.

1-10: Preliminary necessities for beginning the discharge of devotional service in regulative principles

These first ten items are preliminary necessities for beginning the discharge of devotional service in regulative principles. In the beginning, if a neophyte devotee observes the above-mentioned ten principles surely, he will quickly make good advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The next ten items are prohibitions that should be avoided:

1. Accepting the shelter of the lotus feet of a bona fide spiritual master (guru-padasraya)
2. Becoming initiated by the spiritual master and learning how to discharge devotional service from him (Sri-krsna-diksadi-siksanam)
3. Obeying the orders of the spiritual master with faith and devotion (visrambhena guroh seva)
4. Following in the footsteps of great ācāryas under the direction of the spiritual master (sadhu-vartmanu vartanam)
5. Inquiring from the spiritual master how to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness (sad-dharma-prccha)
6. Being prepared to give up anything material for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa (krsnarthe b.ogadi tyago)
7. Residing in a sacred place of pilgrimage like Dvārakā or Vṛndāvana (dvarakadi nivaso yatha)
8. Accepting only what is necessary, or dealing with the material world only as far as necessary (yavad-arthanu-vartita)
9. Observing the fasting day on Ekādaśī (hari vasara-sammano: Respecting the days of Lord Hari)
10. Worshiping sacred trees like the banyan tree (dhatry asvatthadi gauravam)

Without following the above-mentioned ten principles of pravritti, one cannot properly elevate himself to the platform of sādhana-bhakti, or devotional service in practice. Out of the ten, the most important ones are:

• accepting the shelter of a bona fide spiritual master
• taking initiation from him
• serving him with respect and reverence – are the most important.

11-20: Next 10 prohibitions

The next set of prohibitions are listed as follows: 11. One should rigidly give up the company of non-devotees (vimukha jana samtyago yatha)

12-14: sisya ananubanddhitvadi trayam

12. One should not instruct a person who is not desirous of accepting devotional service.
13. One should not be very enthusiastic about constructing costly temples or monasteries.
14. One should not try to read too many books or a professional reciter
15. One should not be neglectful in ordinary dealings. (vyavahare ‘py akarpanyam)
16. One should not be under the spell of lamentation in loss or jubilation in gain (sokady avasa vartita yatha)
17. One should not disrespect the demigods (anya devanajsa)
18. One should not give unnecessary trouble to any living entity (bhutanudvega dayitay)
19. One should carefully avoid the various offenses in chanting the holy name of the Lord or in worshiping the Deity in the temple. (seva namapara-dhanam varjanam)
20. One should be very intolerant toward the blasphemy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, or His devotees (tan nindady sahisnuta)

21-59: Further considerations of items related to devotional service

21. One should decorate the body with tilaka, which is the sign of the Vaiṣṇavas (vaisnava cihna dhritih)
22. In marking such tilaka, sometimes one may write Hare Kṛṣṇa on the body (namaksara dhritih)
23. One should accept flowers and garlands that have been offered to the Deity and the spiritual master and put them on one’s body (nirmalya dhritih)
24. One should learn to dance before the Deity (agre tandavam)
25. One should learn to bow down immediately upon seeing the Deity or the spiritual master (dandavan natih)
26. As soon as one visits a temple of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one must stand up (abhyutthanam)
27. When the Deity is being borne for a stroll in the street, a devotee should immediately follow the procession (anuvrajya)
28. A devotee must visit a Viṣṇu temple at least once or twice every day, morning and evening (sthane gatih)
29. One must circumambulate the temple building at least three times (In every temple there is an arrangement to go around the temple at least three times (parikramo ytatraiva)
30. One must worship the Deity in the temple according to the regulative principles (arcanam)
31. One must render personal service to the Deities (paricarya)
32. One must sing (gitam)
33. One must perform saṅkīrtana (samkirtanam)
34. One must chant (japah)
35. One must offer prayers (vijnaptih)
36. One must recite notable prayers (stava pathah)
37. One must taste mahā-prasāda (food from the very plate offered before the Deities) (naivedyasvado)
38. One must drink caraṇāmṛta (water from the bathing of the Deities, which is offered to guests) (padyasvado)
39. One must smell the incense and flowers offered to the Deity (dhupa sairabhyam)
40. One must touch the lotus feet of the Deity (sri murteh sparsanam)
41. One must see the Deity with great devotion (sri murter darsanam)
42. One must offer ārati (ārātrika) at different times (aratrika darsanam)
43. One must hear about the Lord and His pastimes from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā and similar books (sravanam)
44. One must pray to the Deity for His mercy (tat kripeksanam)
45. One should remember the Deity (smritih)
46. One should meditate upon the Deity (dhyanam)
47. One should render some voluntary service (dasyam)
48. One should think of the Lord as one’s friend (sakhyam)
49. One should offer everything to the Lord (atmanivedanam)
50. One should offer a favorite article (such as food or a garment) (nija priyopaharanam)
51. One should take all kinds of risks and perform all endeavors for Kṛṣṇa’s benefit (tad arthe ‘khila cestitam)
52. In every condition, one should be a surrendered soul (saranapattih)
53. One should pour water on the tulasī tree (tadyanam sevanam tulasyah)
54. One should regularly hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and similar literature (sastrasya)
55. One should live in a sacred place like Mathurā, Vṛndāvana or Dvārakā (mathurayah)
56. One should offer service to Vaiṣṇavas (devotees) (vaisnavanam sevanam)
57. One should arrange one’s devotional service according to one’s means (yvaibhava mahotsavo)
58. In the month of Kārttika (October and November), one should make arrangements for special services (urjadaro)
59. During Janmāṣṭamī (time of Kṛṣṇa’s appearance in this world) one should observe a special service (sri janma-dina-yatra)

60-64: Five most effective elements

60. One should do whatever is done with great care and devotion for the Deity (sri murter anghri sevane pritah)
61. One should relish the pleasure of Bhāgavatam reading among devotees and not among outsiders (sri bhagavatarthasvado)
62. One should associate with devotees who are considered more advanced (sa-jatiyasaya-snigdha sri bhagavad bhakta sango)
63. One should chant the holy name of the Lord (sri nama samkirtanam)
64. One should live in the jurisdiction of Mathurā (sri mathura mandale sthitih)

The sixty-four items of devotional service should include all of our activities of

• Body
• Mind
• Speech

As stated in the beginning, the regulative principle of devotional service enjoins that all of our senses must be employed in the service of the Lord. Exactly how they can be thus employed is described in the above sixty-four items. Now Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī will give evidence from different scriptures supporting the authenticity of many of these points.