Method of worship (of parampara and others):

Starting
with ones spiritual master one should worship him with five or more
upacaras, mentioning the upacara, then om, followed by the acarya in
the dative case, followed by namah.

eg esa gandhah om sri gurave namah
om sri madhvacaryaya namah

In this way one should proceed to the worship of Krsna.

Five upacaras are:

esa gandhah
esa puspa
esa dhupah
esa dipah
idam naivedyam

Then
the qualified candidate should be initiated with the five samskaras:
the person should be shaved and bathed, dressed, and decorated with
vertical tilaka (urdhva pundra); gopi candana stamps of conch, cakra
etc. should decorate his body (mudra); he should then be given a name
of Visnu or Krsna (nama karana); and then the particular Krsna mantra
that the guru chooses should be given (mantra dana). By this process of
pancaratrika diksa the person attains second birth (dvija). Then after
having received all the vaidic samskaras ending with upanayanam, the
person should undergo the sannyasa samskara.

(The idea here is
that when a person is internally qualified he is given pancaratrika
diksa consisting of five samskaras, by which he is formally recognised
as a Vaisnava. He is considered qualified as a dvija, or twice born,
regardless of his background, and may therefore also accept the
external signs of that by taking of upanayanam, the vaidika samskara
signifying spiritual initiation as a dvija. I a person has both
internal and external qualification as a brahmana, and exhibits the
qualities necessary for the sannyasa asrama, he may then adopt that
asrama in accordance with the scriptural rules.)

Suitable Time for taking Sannyasa:

yad ahareva virajet
tad ahar eva pravrajet

When one becomes detached from material desires one should give up household life and become a sannyasi.

He should pray to a sannyasi guru:

bho guro sampradaya sadhya sadhananusthana prajna
asmin bharate samsaran mam trahi sannyasam dehi

Oh
spiritual master, most knowledgeable in the process and goal of
perfecting human life according to the bona fide sampradaya, please
deliver me from the material ocean by granting me the order of sannyasa.

A
grhastha cannot bestow a person sannyasa, since a householder has no
experience of the renounced life, its methods, goals an samskara rites.
Both the qualification of the guru and disciple must be examined before
granting sannyasa.

*The Vaisnava Samskaras:

The ten samskaras are as follows:

1. mundana shaving
2. tirtha snana bathing in a holy river
3. tilaka dharana putting on tilaka*
4. mudra dharana placing the symbols of the Lord an the body*
5. kaupina suddhi purification of the kaupina
6. kaupina pranapratistha calling the Deities into the kaupina
7. nama grahana taking a name of the Lord Visnu*
8. mantra grahana to receive a Vaisnava mantra*
9. acyuta gotra grahana taking acyuta gotra
10. salagrama arcana worship of salagrama sila*

If
a person has already been initiated as a Vaisnava with panca samskara
(those starred) then the guru will perform the remaining five:

1. mundana (shaving)
2. tirtha snana
3. kaupina suddhi
4. kaupina prana pratistha
5. acyuta gotra grahana

In addition Visnu homa and arcana (yaga) may also be performed in this case. The last five samskaras are now described.

Shaving:

The candidate should approach a barber and pray to him:

mastakam mundaya mundin sikham samsthapya yatnatah
sraddha me krsna caitanya padabje vikrayah sthirah
matra pitra samah sarve bandhava me hitaisinah
asih kuruta tatpade bhaktih syad bhava krntanhi
sri caitanya dayasindho bhaktanugraha karaka
daso bhavami grhnatu patitam mam samuddhara

(Oh
barber please shave my head leaving a sikha. I have faith that I will
attain steadiness at the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya. May my well
wishers and friends who are like my mother and mother to me, bless me.
May I gain pure bhakti to the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya, which will
destroy all my material attachments. Oh Lord Caitanya, ocean of mercy,
most merciful to the devotees, I am your servant, please accept me.
Please deliver this most fallen soul.)

Tirtha snana:

The
guru should instruct the candidate how to perform acamana, kara nyasa,
anga nyasa, pranayama and snana, after the candidate has shaved.

Acamana:

om kesavaya namah sip water and discard remainder
om narayana namahsip water and discard remainder
om madhavaya namahsip water and discard remainder
om govindaya namahwash hands
om visnave namahwash hands
om madhusudanaya namah om trivikramaya namah clean the mouth
om vamanaya namah om sridharaya namah wipe upper and lower lips
om hrsikesaya namahwash both hands
om padmanabhaya namah sprinkle water on feet
om damodaraya namahsprinkle water on head
om vasudevaya namahtouch mouth with tips of fingers
om sankarsanaya namah touch right nostril with fore finger and thumb
om pradyumnaya namah touch left nostril with fore finger and thumb
om aniruddhaya namahtouch right eye with ring finger and thumb
om purusottamaya namah touch left eye with ring finger and thumb
om adhoksajaya namahtouch right ear with little finger and thumb
om nrimhaya namahtouch left ear with little finger and thumb
om acyutaya namahtouch navel with palm of hand
om janardanaya namahtouch heart with tips of fingers
om upendraya namahtouch top of head with tips of fingers
om haraye namahtouch right arm
om krsnaya namahtouch left arm

Kara Nyasa:

klim krsnaya angusthabhyam namahtouch thumbs with fore fingers of both hands
govindaya tarjanibhyam svahatouch fore fingers with thumbs
gopi jana madhyambhyam vasattouch middle fingers with thumbs
vallabhaya anamikabhyam humtouch ring fingers with thumbs
svaha kanisthabhyam phattouch little fingers with thumbs

Anga Nayasa:

klim hrdayaya namah
krsnaya sirase svaha
govindaya sikhayai vasat
gopi jana kavacaya hum
vallabhaya netraya vausat
svaha straya phat

Pranayama:

om kama bi jasya prajapati rsih
devi gayatri chandhah
sri krsna caitanya devata
ka karo bi jam
la kara kilakam
i karah saktih
pranayame viniyogah

om kama bi jaya namah
prajapatyrsaye namah touch head
devi gayatri chandase namah touch sikha
sri krsna caitanya devatayai namah touch face
ka karabi jatmane namah touch heart
la kara kilakaya namah touch right nipple
i kara saktaye namah touch left nipple
pranayama viniyogaya namah touch heart

Chanting
the kama bi ja sixteen times one should inhale; chanting the kama bi ja
sixty four times one should hold the breath; chanting the kama bi ja
thirty two times one should exhale.
Counting in this manner one
should begin by inhaling through the left nostril, blocking the right
nostril, holding the breath, and then exhaling through the right
nostril, blocking the left nostril. Then one should inhale through the
right nostril, hold the breath, an exhale through the left nostril,
using the same count. According to some this should be repeat three
times.

After bathing one should dress and put on tilaka.

Tilaka Dharana:

om kesavaya namahon forehead
om narayana namahon belly
om madhavaya namahon heart
om govindaya namahon throat
om visnave namahon right side
om madhusudanaya namah on right arm
om trivikramaya namahon right shoulder
am vamanaya namahon left side
om sridharaya namahon left arm
am hrisikesaya namahon left shoulder
om padmanabhaya namah on back
om damodaraya namahat the waist
om vasudevaya namahwashing hands touch head

or:
om am dhatr sahitaya kesavaya namahon forehead
om am aryama sahitaya narayanaya namahon belly
om im mitra sahitaya madhavaya namahon chest
om im varuna sahitaya govindaya namahon throat
om um amsu sahitaya visnave namahon right side
om um bhaga sahitaya madhusudanaya namah on right arm
om rm vivasvat sahitaya trivikramaya namah on right shoulder
om rm indra sahitaya vamanaya namahon left side
om lm pusa sahitaya sridharaya namahon left arm
om lm parjanya sahitaya hrsikesaya namahon left shoulder
om em trastr sahitaya padmanabhaya namah on back
om aim visnu sahitaya damodaraya namahon waist


om kirita keyura hara makara kundala cakra sankha gada padma
hasta pitambaradharam srivatsankita vaksah sthala sri bhumi
sahita svatma jyotir diptikaraya sahastraditya tejase namo namah

sprinkle water on the head.

Mudra dharana:

One
should apply stamps with the holy name by means of gopi candana on the
body. Some Vaisnavas apply hot stamps to the body on the sayana dvadasi
tithi, but the worshippers of Krsna usually apply cold stamps using
gipi candana. Sri Caitanya has decided that this is more suitable for
the people of Kali Yuga.

Kaupina suddhi:

Kaupina should
be two pieces of cloth. The width should be equal to the distance
between the two nipples and the length should be equal to the girth of
the waist plus tow fists.
Or the length may be fourteen fists and the width one pradesa.

The
presiding Deity of the kaupina, which restrains ones desire and helps
one cross over the ocean of material enjoyment is the consort of the
Lord embodying shyness. It is also considered prthivi, earth. The
presiding Deity of the belt, which supports the kaupina, is ananta.
Knot will be placed on the right side. According to some authorities,
Brahma, Visnu, Siva, Vasuki, Pavana, Agni, Candra, Sukra and Brhaspati
are situated in the kaupina, while others say that only Brahma, Visnu
and Siva reside there. Visnu is present in the knot and Brahma and Siva
are at the sides. Ones outer cloth, which should cover the kaupina, is
considered the consort or energy of Visnu.

One should smear
sandalwood over the kaupina and belt and then purify them again by
sprinkling sandalwood paste and reciting the mantra:

gangadi sarva tirthani yani loka gatani tu
kaupinam parisudhyantu sarva siddhi kani bhoh

Along
with the kaupina should be two pieces of cloth for covering the body, a
blanket (kantha) for protection from the cold, sack, head cloth etc.
and shoes. There should also be a trdanda of palasa, bamboo and vilva
poles, or three poles of one of the three types of trees. One should
also have a water pot made of tumbi gourd, earth or wood. (some manuals
also include a water strainer made of cloth and an asana.) They should
all be purified along with the kaupina.
One should chant the following mantra ten times over the kaupina etc.

om kaupina suddhi mantrasya
brahme rsih
anustup chandah
hamso tevata
brahma bi jam
Vaisnava saktih
kaupina suddhi vidhanartham jape viniyogah

om kaupinadhisthatr lajjanantaraupaya namah

One should worship the kaupina etc. with sandalwood and flowers:

ete gancha puspe om kaupinadhisthatr lajjananta rupaya namah

Kaupina Pratistha:

om kaupinadhisthatr devate ihagaccha ihagaccha
iha sannidhehi iha sannidhehi
ihavaruntsva ihavaruntsva
iha parami kuru iha paramikuru
iha kaupine4dhisthanam kuru svaha

om asya kaupina prana pratistha mantrasya
pulastya rsih
gayatri chandah
savitri devata
kama bi jam
varahi sakih
kaupina pratistha jape viniyogah

One should chant the following eighteen times over the items

om am hrim kraum hrim sarve pranah sarvanindriyani ca mahatmana
sukham pratisthantu svaha

One should worship the kaupina (and other items) with sandalwood and flowers:

om am kraum hrim susiddhaya kaupinaya (or the name of another item being worshipped) etad gandha puspadikam namo4stu svaha

Qualification for the Kaupina:

One
qualified to wear a kaupina should be free from the six forces of
hunger, thirst, lamentation, illusion, old age and death free from
pride, violence, and lust, filled with friendliness and mercy,
initiated with Visnu mantra, sense controlled, skilful at practising
devotional service. One who is qualified may possess the qualities
naturally (vidvat sannyasi) or may attain the qualities through
initiation and the process of regulated devotional service (vivatsa
sannyasi).

Those who are proud, duplicitous, aggressive, and
devoid of devotion, cannot be given the kaupina. If that is done, the
guru4s own spiritual position will be devastated.

As a person of
bad qualities should be rejected for sannyasa, so a kaupina of bad
quality should be rejected. Ugly, stained or dirty cloth, sewn cloth,
or cloth not died reddish colour, and fancy cloth for exterior covering
are to be rejected.

Siva received the kaupina made by Brahma
from Ananta. Narada Muni received it and became a great yogi. In this
way rsis such as Saunaka received it, and finally Kesava Bharati. Gaura
sundara received it from Kesava Bharati, and he gave it to his
devotees. Receiving the kaupina in this way one can certainly also
become a great yogi.

Thinking of the kaupina in this way the candidate should pray:

maya tarange samsare patitam ma samuddhara
kaupinam dehi duddhyartham bhava tapa nibaranam
kaupina grahanenaham puto4smity acirad iha

Please
deliver this fallen soul from the waves of the material world. Bestow
upon me the kaupina to purify me and extinguish the suffering of
material existence. Receiving this kaupina I shall very quickly become
pure.

The candidate should beg the guru:

bho guro bhiksupayogam yoga pattadikam mam grahaya

Oh spiritual Master, please give me the cloth and other items which are characteristic of a sannyasi.

The guru should say:

yady evam tarhi praisa itit bara trayam pathasva bhadra

Oh fortunate one, if you so desire this, then say praisa (may the function commence) three times.

The
candidate should say praiso4smi with his hands folded in prayer. The
guru should then show the candidate how to worship guru parampara up to
Krsna (yaga), if he has already received Vaisnava mantra. Then he
should make the candidate offer the cloth etc. previously purified to
the Deity, and then make him pray to the Deity to receive it. The cloth
etc. should be touched by any sannyasis present, and then the candidate
should be dressed in his new cloth.

Nama karana:

If the
candidate has not already had panca samskara, he should be given a name
of the Lord with the word dasa after it to signify his servitude to the
Lord.

nityananda pada dvandvam yesam hrt karnikalaye
tesam dasanudaso4ham prasidantu sadaiva hi

I
am the servant of the servant of the devotees in whose hearts reside
the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu. May they be pleased with me always.

Some
scholars say that this is the designation given to qualified brahmanas.
The root word is dasr, which means to give in charity and accept in
charity. One who is qualified to do so is titled dasr. But the devotees
of Krsna take the designation because it is directed thus in the Sanat
Kumara Tantra. Actually all jivas are constitutionally the servants of
Krsna, and by the process of devotional service anyone can revive that
status. That is also the goal of taking sannyasa.

Visnu Mantra Dharana:

If
the candidate has not had panca samskara the qualified guru,
knowledgeable of the rules of sannyasa, should then give the candidate
Krsna mantra, in the left ear.

The candidate should then receive the suitable sannyasa mantra.

The candidate should then repeat three times:

sri krsna tosa matrartham gopi bhava samanvitam
tad dharmam samasrito4 ham

(I
take complete shelter of sannyasa dharma, which means complete
surrender to the Lord in the manner of the gopis, for the sole purpose
of pleasing Krsna.

Acyuta gotra Svikara:

Acceptance of
acyuta gotra is characterised by the Vaisnava marking such as tilaka,
tulasi beads etc. Even though, according to the scriptural injunctions,
at the perfection of sannyasa dharma a person should gives up all
markings of varna and asrama and wander about transcendental to all
rules as a paramahamsa. But the paramahamsa does not give up the
markings of the Vaisnava (tilaka, mala etc.) except in extraordinary
circumstances, for according the scriptures, the neck beads of tulasi
wood, tilaka and mudra should always be worn, for they are the markings
of the Vaisnava, one who is the servant of the Lord. That designation
is never given up.

One is also advised to wear during the
daytime panca mala, composed of gunja, amalaki, lotus seeds, tulasi
wood and rope from Jaganatha cart.

Acceptance of acyuta gotra
means full surrender to the authority of the Lord, and is therefore
particularly meant to signify the devotee of the Lord. Just as a girl
gives up her previous gotra and accepts her husband4s gotra on
completion of the marriage ceremony, the sannyasi should understand
that he is giving up all material designations of family etc. and
simply identifying himself as the servant of Krsna, Acyuta, in Krsna4s
family (gotra).

The candidate should say:

om acyuta gotraya svaha
om acyuta gotro4ham asmi

Yaga:

This
consists of Salagrama Sila Arcana, worship of the salagrama. This is
common to all the asramas, and is performed according to pancaratric
rules.

He should then go and beg from three, five or seven houses, saying:

bho matar bhagavati bhiksam dehi

Whatever he has begged he should offer to the guru.

*Antyesthi:

When the sannyasi passes from this world the following mantra should be written on his body:

om klim srim hrim srim lavana mrd yuji bhuvi svabhre svaha

Let me pay my respects to the pit, to the earth composed of salt and dirt.

The
body may be placed in tirtha water or in a hole in the earth, which
should be one step larger that the height of the person. If the ody has
been burnt, the ashes or bones should be taken to a holy tirtha and
there placed in earth.

This manual concerning sannyasa as
approved by the acaryas has been compiled so that one may achieve the
pure devotion to the Lord in the manner of the followers of Lord
Caitanya.

Antyesthi (Further Notes):

According to the
induction that a sannyasi should not touch fire, some maintain that the
body of a sannyasi should not be burned. Others state different rules
for the different types (kuticaka, bahudaka, hamsa and paramahamsa).
Some additional rites (Mainly from Vaikhanasa Dharma Sutra) are as
follows:

One should dig a sufficiently deep hole on a river bank which flows to the ocean, or an the sea shore.
One should sprinkle the hole with pancagavya.
One should sprinkle the body uiTh pajcagavya chanting gayatri and purusa sukta.
One should bathe the body with conch water 108 times chanting om .
One should worship the body with 16 upacaras.
One should offer puspanjali to the body.
One should place the body in the pit chanting gayatri.
The body should be in a sitting or lying posture.
The
danda should be placed in his right hand, his upavita (gayatri thread)
should be placed in his left hand, and his cloth for straining water
should be placed on his belly, and his bowl for begging over his groin.
His cloth and begging bowl should also be buried with him.
He should be covered with sand.

The rites may be performed by his son or any other person.
There is no period of impurity for performing rites for a sannyasi.
No
sraddha rites are performed, only an offering to Narayana, to be
performed on the eleventh day from the decease. In that case, one
should establish a fire and worship a murti of Visnu with 16 upacaras,
and offer boiled rice mixed with guda, ghee and fruits to the Deity and
the fire. One should present twelve brahmanas with cloth and ornaments
and worship them with upacaras. One should feed the brahmanas and give
them gold. One should chant Purusa sukta and utter twelve names of
Visnu.

Vesasraya Vidhih (Rules for assuming the role of a renounced Vaisnava)
by Gopilal Goswami of Radha Ramana temple

Adhikara:

yad ahar eva virajet tad ahar eva pravrajed iti
Sruti

When one becomes detached from enjoying material life one should take to the renounced order of life.

atmarpanam karisyan yo grahisyan vesam eva ca
sa siksa guru padabjam dhritva samprarthayet tatah
kimva diksa gurh saksad vidyamano4st ced bhavet
tada tac caranam bhoje siro dhrtva nivedayet

One
who has decided to surrender himself fully to the Lord and take to the
renounced order of life should approach his siksa guru and holding his
lotus feet, should make his request. If the diksa guru is present
however, he should make his request to him (if he is also of the
renounced order).

Prayer:

samsarambhodhi magno4ham
krsna seva bahirmukhah
guroh svapada naukayam
samaropyaiva taraya

Though
I opposed to the service of Krsna and I am drowning in the ocean of
material existence, I have now climbed aboard the boat of the lotus
feet of my spiritual master. Please deliver me.

Dasa samskara (ten purificatory rites):

upavasa
mundana (shaving)
tirtha jala snana (bathing in sacred water)
tuloasi mala dharan (wearing tulasi beads araound the neck)
pundra, mudra (tilaka and marks of cakra etc.)
nama karana (Giving of name)
mantra dana (giving krsna mantras)
kaupina dharana (wearing the kaupina)
krsna puja (worship of the Deity)
sri krsne atmasamarpanam (full surrender to Krsna)

(Comparing
this to Srila Gopala Bhatta4s list of ten samskaras, one should note
that here upavasa, tulasi mala dharana and atma samarpana are separate
headings, while mudra and punra are merged under one heading, and
kaupina prana pratistha and acyuta gotra grahana are omitted.)

The
day before the ceremony one should fast, and sleep on the ground (net
in a bed). The next morning, the person should carry out his daily
rituals until sauca. After sauca he should be shaved except for the
armpits and genital.
Panca gavya should be purified with mantras and
sprinkled over the person. Mrttika snana should be performed with
mantra. The person should then take a bath in a holy tirtha according
to the rules.

He should be dressed in two pieces of clean cloth,
and should drink caranamrta. The spiritual master, after affirming the
tulasi beads to the Lord according to the rules, should put them around
the candidates neck with mantra.

Tilaka should be applied saying
the twelve names of Visnu. Mudras may be applied, saying sudarsanaya
namah putting the cakra on the right arm, pancanayaya namah putting the
sankha of the left arm, and bhagavan nama mudrayai namah, putting the
names of the Lord on other parts of the body.

Putting his hand
on the candidates head, the spiritual master should pronounce the new
name of the person, using the first syllable of his old name and adding
Caitanya dasa at the end.

The spiritual master will then give
him kaupina and tie the knot on the right side, and then give him a
bottom cloth (bahir vasa).

The spiritual master will then give
him pobal mantra, but if he has it already he should give him kama
gayatri. If the candidate has kama gayatri already he should give him
Hare Krsna mantra. If he has all of them he should give them again.

The
guru should sit facing the Deity, with the candidate beside him holding
flowers and tulasi in his hands. He should make the candidate surrender
his body mind and soul to Krsna by having him say:

sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah

I
am confident of your promise. Being full of miseries and negligent of
all good conduct, I approach you, my spiritual master. I would like to
offer myself and everything I have to Krsna. Oh Krsna, I am yours.

The
guru should offer the flowers and tulasi to the lotus feet of Krsna,
offering up the candidate to Krsna4s service. He should then give the
prasada nirmalya to the candidate.

The guru should then instruct
the disciple on proper conduct of the renounced Vaisnava: constant
meditation and worship of the Lord, without seva or nama aparadha,
worship of the guru and the guru parampara, and Sri Caitanya and his
followers; chanting of the holy name, hearing Bhagavat; japa of mantras
given by guru; to avoid the association of non devotees; to observe the
vratas of Ekadasi and janmastami; following of sadacara, i.e. all the
rules encumbent upon the Vaisnava, respect for Vaisnavas, taking of
Krsna prasadam only, thinking of Krsna4s pastimes. He may wear the
panca mala (tulasi, amlaki, lotus seeds (or Radha kunda mud), gunja and
pavitra (or rope from Jagannatha cart).
He should not tie his
sikha, being free from injunctions of karma vidhi. If he has a
yajnopavita he should give it up he is going to live by begging.
Whether he is buried, burned or thrown in water when he dies should not
be his concern. After his passing instead of sraddha nama kirtana can
be performed and the Vaisnavas may be fed.

After hearing the
instructions of the spiritual master, the disciple should drink guru
foot water and perform worship of the guru with as many upacaras as
possible. He should then feed the Vaisnavas and then take Krsna
prasadam himself.

According to this text, women can also take all samskaras except the kaupina.

Tridandi:

vaga dando4tha mano dandah kaya dandas tathaive ca
yasyaite nihita buddhau tridanditi sa ucyate
Manu

One is called tridandi who controls speech, mind and body.

damanam dandah yasya van manah kayanam dandah nisiddhabhidhanah
sat sankalpa pratisiddha vyapara tyagena buddhavavasthitah sa
tridandityucyate na tu danda traya dharana matrena
Kallukabhatta Commentary

The
meaning of danda is control. It refers to restrictions on words, mind
and body. A person who can restrict the words, mind and body, or who,
by intelligence, is able to give up all attraction to those things
which are unfavourable to spiritual advancement is called a tridandi. A
person cannot be called a tridandi just by holding three sticks in his
hand.







The guru should offer the flowers and tulasi to the lotus feet of Krsna, offering up the candidate to Krsna4s service.