The Offering Of Floral Garlands to
Deities in Ritualistic Worship – Part -2

Sri Anantasayanam Padmanabha Swami
with his eternal consort , Sri Lakshmi devi

Shanta Karam Bhujaga Shayanam
Padmanabham Suresham
Vishvadharam Gagana Sadrsham
Megha Varam Shubhangam
Lakshmi Kantam Kamala Nayanam
Yogibhir Dhyana Gamyam
Vande Vishnum Bhava Bhaya Haram
Sarva Lokaiaka Natham

I worship that Lord Vishnu who has a peaceful body (postures); who rests on Sheshanaga (the mighty serpant – cobra); who has a lotus in his navel, who is the base of the world, who is like the sky; who has a colour like cloud, who is the lord of Lakshmi (wealth); who has eyes like lotus; who is seen by yogis in their meditation; who is the remover of all the differences and who is the only Lord of all the three Lokas (Worlds), I worship such Lord Vishnu.
Listen to this slokam at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6OtCervaAs

Puja to Lord Vishnu

Lord Vishnu is fond of Alankaram – being dressed in resplendent silks and wearing  Gold Ornaments . Thus , the popular saying – Alankara Priyo Vishnoh and Abhisekha Priyo Shambuh! So Lord Shiva is pleased with simple Abisekha  and  Sri Maha Vishnu is fond of ostentatious pageantry.

Here is a picture of Lord Vishnu dressed in the best of Silks , wearing Gold Ornaments and wearing  flower garlands. Sri Vishnu is fond of Lotus Garlands  but is equally pleased if offered Tulasi Garlands.  For Tulasi Devi is none other than Sri Lakshmi Devi.  Sri Lakshmi Devi lives in the heart of Sri Vishnu. That is why one of the names of Sri Vishnu is “Sree Nivasa” ( In whose heart Sree Devi resides )

The Four- Armed Shriman Narayana

Why is the best of the best offered to Lord Vishnu?  This is because Sri Vishnu is called ‘Bhagwan’ – the root word Bhaga means Fortune,   Prosperity etc .

Vishnu Purana (6.5.79)describes Bhagvan thus :
aiśvaryasya samagrasya vīryasya yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ
jñāna-vairāgyayoś caiva ṣannāḥ bhaga itīṇganā

Maha Vishnu has six opulences – Riches, Potency, Fame, Beauty,  Knowledge, and  Detachment!  The meaning of offering everything to Lord Vishnu is that nothing really belongs to us. What we offer to Bhagwan is what really is His to begin with.

The very first verse of Isa Upanishad emphasizes this:

Om Isavasyam-Idam Sarvam
yat-kimcha Jagatyam-Jagat
Tena Tyaktena Bhunjeethha
ma Gridhah Kasyasvid-dhaman

The Lord inhabits all this (that is perceivable)–whatever moves in this moving universe. Therefore by renunciation, you can enjoy all things. Do not covet any one’s wealth. So, Hindus always say ‘offer Tan, Man and Dhan – Body, Mind and Wealth to the Lord!

Viraat Rupa – The Cosmic Manifestation of Lord Vishnu

sahasra SIrshA Purusha:  |  sahasrAksha: sahasra pAt  |
sa bhUmim vishvato vRtvA  | atyatishTad daSAngulam  ||
Thousand head has Purusha
Thousands of  eyes has he
Thousands of legs has He
He is manifested in the earth and all through the universe.He stands beyond the count of ten fingers.

In Sri Vaishnavism , nine modes of Worship are highly recommended !
They are called Nava Vidhis

• 1) Sravanam- Listening to the names of Lord Vishnu and reading Vishnu Purana , Srimad Bbhagvatam , Padma puranas etc.
  2) Kirtanam – Singing God’s praise and reciting His name. Reciting the 1000 names of Lord Vishnu. (Vishnu Sahasaranama )
  3) Vishnum smaranam- Always Meditaing on the name and form of Lord Vishnu.
  4) Pada Sevanam -. To do service at Lord Vishnu’s Feet
  5) Archanam -Archana or offering flowers to Lord Vishnu
  6)Vandanam – To do namaskar or paying obeisance to Lord Vishnu
  7) Dasyam- To do service to Lord Vishnu
  8. Sakhyam -To Look Upon Lord Vishnu as A friend
  9) Atma Nivedanam – To surrender everything to Sri Vishnu including one’s Self .
  ..

Worshipping  The Lotus Feet of Sri Vishnu

Sage Narada

yallabdhva pumaan siddho bhavathi amritho bhavathi triptho bhavathi

That by attaining which a person attains perfection, immortality and contentment, that is pure devotion or bhakthi. (Narada bhakthi sutra , chapter 1 , verse 4)

Bhakta Dhruva,
meditating on Shri Vasudeva

“Om Namo Bhagvate Vasudevaya”

Bhakta Prahlada  garlanding Lord Narasimha deva
( an avatar of Lord Vishnu)  after the lord killed
the demon king  Hiranyakashyapu , a  Non-believer

Prahlada varadam, srresam, daithyeswara vidharinam,
Sri nrusimham mahaveeram namami runa mukthaye.

God who was kind to Prahlada,
The lord of Lakshmi and he who ripped apart the king of demons,
Oh Narasimha who is a great warrior,
I salute you to get rid of my debts

geyam gItA nAma sahasram
dhyeyam shrIpati rUpamajashram
neyam sajjana sange cittam
deyam dInajanAya ca vittam

The Bhagavatgita and the Vishnu  Sahasranama should be sung;
the form of the lord of Lakshmi ( Vishnu) should be always
meditated on;
the mind should be led to the company of the good;
and wealth should be distributed among the indigent.

Please listen to the recitation of 1000 names of Sri Vishnu at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61oLpfSywSk&feature=related&pos=0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61oLpfSywSk&feature=related&pos=0

Dasa Avataara of Sri Maha Vishnu

• vedan uddharate jaganti vahate bhu-golam udbibhrate
  daityam darayate balim chalayate ksatra-ksayam kurvate
  paulastyam jayate halam kalayate karunyam atanvate
  mlecchan murchayate dasakrti-krte krsnaya tubhyam namah

  O Lord Krsna, I offer my obeisances unto You, who appear in the forms of these ten incarnations. In the form of Matsya You rescue the Vedas, and as Kurma You bear the Mandara Mountain on Your back. As Varaha You lift the earth with Your tusk, and in the form of Narasimha You tear open the chest of the daitya Hiranyakasipu. In the form of Vamana You trick the daitya king Bali by asking him for only three steps of land, and then You take away the whole universe from him by expanding Your steps. As Parasurama You slay all of thewicked kshatriyas, and as Ramachandra You conquer the rakshasa king Ravana. In the form of Balarama You carry a plow with which You subdue the wicked and draw toward You the River Yamuna. As Lord Buddha You show compassion toward all the living beings suffering in this world and a the end of the Kali-yuga You appear as Kalki to bewilder the mlecchas

OM Namo Narayana