The Rules of External Worship

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.7.40.1)

श्री देव्युवाच । प्रातरुत्थाय शिरसि संस्मरेत्पद्ममुज्ज्वलम् । कर्पूराभं स्मरेत्तत्र श्रीगुरुं निजरूपिणम्

śrī devyuvāca | prātarutthāya śirasi saṁsmaretpadmamujjvalam | karpūrābhaṁ smarettatra śrīguruṁ nijarūpiṇam

The Devi said: Rising in the morning, one should call to mind a radiant lotus in the crown of the head; there one should remember one's revered guru, white as camphor, one's own true self.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.7.40.2)

सुप्रसन्नं लसद्भूषाभूषितं शक्तिसंयुतम् । नमस्कृत्य ततो देवीं कुण्डलीं संस्मरेद्बुधः

suprasannaṁ lasadbhūṣābhūṣitaṁ śaktisaṁyutam | namaskṛtya tato devīṁ kuṇḍalīṁ saṁsmaredbudhaḥ

Having bowed to him — most gracious, adorned with gleaming ornaments, joined with his Shakti — the wise one should then call to mind the Devi Kundalini.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.7.40.3)

प्रकाशमानां प्रथमे प्रयाणे प्रतिप्रयाणेऽप्यमृतायमानाम् । अन्तः पदव्यामनुसञ्चरन्तीमानन्दरूपामबलां प्रपद्ये

prakāśamānāṁ prathame prayāṇe pratiprayāṇe'pyamṛtāyamānām | antaḥ padavyāmanusañcarantīmānandarūpāmabalāṁ prapadye

Radiant in her upward course, nectarous too as she returns, moving ever within the inner pathway — I take refuge in that goddess of blissful form.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.7.40.4)

ध्यात्वैवं तच्छिखामध्ये सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणीम् । मां ध्यायेदथ शौचादिक्रियाः सर्वाः समापयेत्

dhyātvaivaṁ tacchikhāmadhye saccidānandarūpiṇīm | māṁ dhyāyedatha śaucādikriyāḥ sarvāḥ samāpayet

Having thus meditated on me, being-consciousness-bliss itself, in the crown of that flame, one should then complete all the acts of purification and the rest.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.7.40.5)

अग्निहोत्रं ततो हूत्वा मत्प्रीत्यर्थं द्विजोत्तमः । होमान्ते स्वासने स्थित्वा पूजासङ्कल्पमाचरेत्

agnihotraṁ tato hūtvā matprītyarthaṁ dvijottamaḥ | homānte svāsane sthitvā pūjāsaṅkalpamācaret

Then the excellent twice-born should perform the fire offering to please me; at the end of the oblation, seated in one's own place, one should make the resolve to worship.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.7.40.6)

भूतशुद्धिं पुरा कृत्वा मातृकान्यासमेव च । हृल्लेखामातृकान्यासं नित्यमेव समाचरेत्

bhūtaśuddhiṁ purā kṛtvā mātṛkānyāsameva ca | hṛllekhāmātṛkānyāsaṁ nityameva samācaret

Having first performed the purification of the elements, and the placement of the Matrikas, one should always likewise perform the placement of the Hrillekha-Matrika.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.7.40.7)

मूलाधारे हकारं च हृदये च रकारकम् । भ्रूमध्ये तद्वदीकारं ह्रीङ्कारं मस्तके न्यसेत्

mūlādhāre hakāraṁ ca hṛdaye ca rakārakam | bhrūmadhye tadvadīkāraṁ hrīṅkāraṁ mastake nyaset

One should place the syllable Ha at the Muladhara, Ra at the heart, I between the brows, and the complete syllable Hrim at the crown of the head.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.7.40.8)

तत्तन्मन्त्रोदितानन्यान्न्यासान्सर्वान्समाचरेत् । कल्पयेत्स्वात्मनो देहे पीठं धर्मादिभिः पुनः

tattanmantroditānanyānnyāsānsarvānsamācaret | kalpayetsvātmano dehe pīṭhaṁ dharmādibhiḥ punaḥ

One should also perform all the other placements enjoined by that particular mantra; and then, within one's own body, one should visualize a sacred seat, formed of righteousness and the rest.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.7.40.9)

ततो ध्यायेन्महादेवीं प्राणायामैर्विजृम्भिते । हृदम्भोजे मम स्थाने पञ्चप्रेतासने बुधः

tato dhyāyenmahādevīṁ prāṇāyāmairvijṛmbhite | hṛdambhoje mama sthāne pañcapretāsane budhaḥ

Then, in the lotus of the heart opened by pranayama, in that very place of mine, the wise one should meditate upon the Great Goddess, seated upon her throne of five corpses.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.7.40.10)

ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्च ईश्वरश्च सदाशिवः । एते पञ्च महाप्रेताः पादमूले मम स्थिताः

brahmā viṣṇuśca rudraśca īśvaraśca sadāśivaḥ | ete pañca mahāpretāḥ pādamūle mama sthitāḥ

Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Ishvara, and Sadashiva — these five great corpse-deities lie beneath, at the very root of my feet.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.7.40.11)

पञ्चभूतात्मका ह्येते पञ्चावस्थात्मका अपि । अहं त्वव्यक्तचिद्रूपा तदतीतास्ति सर्वथा

pañcabhūtātmakā hyete pañcāvasthātmakā api | ahaṁ tvavyaktacidrūpā tadatītāsti sarvathā

These five are of the nature of the five elements, and likewise of the five states of being; but I am the unmanifest form of consciousness, altogether beyond them.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.7.40.12)

ततो विष्टरतां याताः शक्तितन्त्रेषु सर्वदा । ध्यात्वैवं मानसैर्भोगैः पूजयेन्मां जपेदपि

tato viṣṭaratāṁ yātāḥ śaktitantreṣu sarvadā | dhyātvaivaṁ mānasairbhogaiḥ pūjayenmāṁ japedapi

For this reason, in the Shakta Tantras, they always take on the form of my very seat. Having thus meditated, one should worship me with offerings conceived in the mind, and recite my mantra as well.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.7.40.13)

जपं समर्प्य श्रीदेव्यै ततोऽर्घ्यस्थापनं चरेत् । पात्रासादनकं कृत्वा पूजाद्रव्याणि शोधयेत्

japaṁ samarpya śrīdevyai tato'rghyasthāpanaṁ caret | pātrāsādanakaṁ kṛtvā pūjādravyāṇi śodhayet

Having offered the recitation to the glorious Devi, one should then set out the offering of arghya. Having arranged the vessels, one should purify the materials of worship.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.7.40.14)

जलेन तेन मनुना चास्त्रमन्त्रेण देशिकः । दिग्बन्धं च पुरा कृत्वा गुरून्नत्वा ततः परम्

jalena tena manunā cāstramantreṇa deśikaḥ | digbandhaṁ ca purā kṛtvā gurūnnatvā tataḥ param

The practitioner, having purified that water with that same mantra and the weapon-mantra, having first secured the directions, and then having bowed to the gurus —

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.7.40.15)

तदनुज्ञां समादाय बाह्यपीठे ततः परम् । हृदिस्थां भवितां मूर्तिं मम दिव्यां मनोहराम्

tadanujñāṁ samādāya bāhyapīṭhe tataḥ param | hṛdisthāṁ bhavitāṁ mūrtiṁ mama divyāṁ manoharām

having taken their permission, should then, upon the outer seat, that divine, captivating form of mine, dwelling within the heart —

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.7.40.16)

आवाहयेत्ततः पीठे प्राणस्थापनविद्यया । असनावाहने चार्घ्यं पाद्याद्याचमनं तथा

āvāhayettataḥ pīṭhe prāṇasthāpanavidyayā | asanāvāhane cārghyaṁ pādyādyācamanaṁ tathā

invoke there upon that seat, through the method of establishing the life-breath; with the seat and invocation, arghya, water for the feet, and sipping water for purification —

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.7.40.17)

स्नानं वासोद्वयं चैव भूषणानि च सर्वशः । गन्धपुष्पं यथायोग्यं दत्त्वा देव्यै स्वभक्तितः

snānaṁ vāsodvayaṁ caiva bhūṣaṇāni ca sarvaśaḥ | gandhapuṣpaṁ yathāyogyaṁ dattvā devyai svabhaktitaḥ

a bathing, the pair of garments, and all the ornaments; and, offering fragrance and flowers as befits the occasion, according to one's own devotion, to the Devi —

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.7.40.18)

यन्त्रस्थानामावृतीनां पूजनं सम्यगाचरेत् । प्रतिवारमशक्तानां शुक्रवारो नियम्यते

yantrasthānāmāvṛtīnāṁ pūjanaṁ samyagācaret | prativāramaśaktānāṁ śukravāro niyamyate

one should properly worship the surrounding circles of deities present in the yantra. For those unable to do this every single day, Friday is the day fixed for it.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.7.40.19)

मूलदेवीप्रभारूपाः स्मर्तव्या अङ्गदेवताः । तत्प्रभापटलव्याप्तं त्रैलोक्यं च विचिन्तयेत्

mūladevīprabhārūpāḥ smartavyā aṅgadevatāḥ | tatprabhāpaṭalavyāptaṁ trailokyaṁ ca vicintayet

The subordinate deities should be remembered as themselves radiant forms of the root Devi; and one should visualize the three worlds as wholly pervaded by that mass of radiance.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.7.40.20)

पुनरावृत्तिसहितां मूलदेवीं च पूजयेत् । गन्धादिभिः सुगन्धैस्तु तथा पुष्पैः सुवासितैः

punarāvṛttisahitāṁ mūladevīṁ ca pūjayet | gandhādibhiḥ sugandhaistu tathā puṣpaiḥ suvāsitaiḥ

One should then worship the root Devi once more, together with her circle of attendant deities, with fragrant sandal paste and the like, and with sweetly-scented flowers —

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.7.40.21)

नैवेद्यैस्तर्पणैश्चैव ताम्बूलैर्दक्षिणादिभिः । तोषयेन्मां त्वत्कृतेन नाम्नां साहस्रकेण च

naivedyaistarpaṇaiścaiva tāmbūlairdakṣiṇādibhiḥ | toṣayenmāṁ tvatkṛtena nāmnāṁ sāhasrakeṇa ca

with food offerings, libations, betel, priestly fees and the rest, and with the thousand names of mine you yourself have composed, one should please me.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.7.40.22)

कवचेन च सूक्तेनाहं रुद्रेभिरिति प्रभो । देव्यथर्वशिरोमन्त्रैर्हृल्लेखोपनिषद्भवैः

kavacena ca sūktenāhaṁ rudrebhiriti prabho | devyatharvaśiromantrairhṛllekhopaniṣadbhavaiḥ

O Lord, with the protective armor-hymn, with the sukta beginning 'I with the Rudras', with the mantras of the Devi Atharvashirsha, and with those arising from the Hrillekhopanishad —

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.7.40.23)

महाविद्यामहामन्त्रैस्तोषयेन्मां मुहुर्मुहुः । क्षमापयेज्जगद्धात्रीं प्रेमार्द्रहृदयो नरः

mahāvidyāmahāmantraistoṣayenmāṁ muhurmuhuḥ | kṣamāpayejjagaddhātrīṁ premārdrahṛdayo naraḥ

and with the great mantras of the Mahavidyas too, one should please me again and again. With a heart melted by love, one should ask forgiveness of the Nurse of the world —

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.7.40.24)

पुलकाङ्कितसर्वाङ्गैर्बाष्परुद्धाक्षिनिःस्वनः । नृत्यगीतादिघोषेण तोषयेन्मां मुहुर्मुहुः

pulakāṅkitasarvāṅgairbāṣparuddhākṣiniḥsvanaḥ | nṛtyagītādighoṣeṇa toṣayenmāṁ muhurmuhuḥ

every limb thrilling with rapture, eyes and voice choked with tears — through the resounding of dance and song and the like, one should please me again and again.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.7.40.25)

वेदपारायणैश्चैव पुराणैः सकलैरपि । प्रतिपाद्या यतोऽहं वै तस्मात्तैस्तोषयेत्तु माम्

vedapārāyaṇaiścaiva purāṇaiḥ sakalairapi | pratipādyā yato'haṁ vai tasmāttaistoṣayettu mām

Through the recitation of the Vedas, and through all the Puranas as well — since I am, in truth, what they establish and expound — through these too one should please me.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.7.40.26)

निजं सर्वस्वमपि मे सदेहं नित्यशोऽर्पयेत् । नित्यहोमं ततः कुर्याद्ब्राह्मणांश्च सुवासिनीः

nijaṁ sarvasvamapi me sadehaṁ nityaśo'rpayet | nityahomaṁ tataḥ kuryādbrāhmaṇāṁśca suvāsinīḥ

One should offer to me, always, everything one has, including one's very body. One should then perform the daily fire offering, and brahmins, married women,

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.7.40.27)

बटुकान्पामरानन्यान्देवीबुद्।ह्ध्या तु भोजयेत् । नत्वा पुनः स्वहृदये व्युत्क्रमेण विसर्जयेत्

baṭukānpāmarānanyāndevībud|hdhyā tu bhojayet | natvā punaḥ svahṛdaye vyutkrameṇa visarjayet

young boys, and other ordinary people besides should be fed, regarding them as the Devi herself. Then, having bowed, one should dismiss the Devi, in reverse order, back into one's own heart.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.7.40.28)

सर्वं हृल्लेखया कुर्यात् पूजनं मम सुब्रत । हृल्लेखा सर्वमन्त्राणां नायिका परमा स्मृता

sarvaṁ hṛllekhayā kuryāt pūjanaṁ mama subrata | hṛllekhā sarvamantrāṇāṁ nāyikā paramā smṛtā

One should perform all worship of me, O one of excellent vows, through the Hrillekha alone; the Hrillekha is remembered as the supreme mistress of every mantra there is.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.7.40.29)

हृल्लेखादर्पणे नित्यमहं तत्प्रतिबिम्बिता । तस्माद्धृल्लेखया दत्तं सर्वमन्त्रैः समर्पितम्

hṛllekhādarpaṇe nityamahaṁ tatpratibimbitā | tasmāddhṛllekhayā dattaṁ sarvamantraiḥ samarpitam

In the mirror of the Hrillekha, I am forever reflected; therefore, whatever is offered through the Hrillekha is, in effect, offered through every mantra at once.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.7.40.30)

गुरुं सम्पूज्य भूषाद्यैः कृतकृत्यत्वमावहेत् । य एवं पूजयेद्देवीं श्रीमद्भुवनसुन्दरीम्

guruṁ sampūjya bhūṣādyaiḥ kṛtakṛtyatvamāvahet | ya evaṁ pūjayeddevīṁ śrīmadbhuvanasundarīm

One should attain fulfillment by duly honoring the guru with ornaments and the like. Whoever worships the Devi, glorious Bhuvanasundari, in this manner —

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.7.40.31)

न तस्य दुर्लभं किञ्चित्कदाचित्क्वचिदस्ति हि । देहान्ते तु मणिद्वीपं मम यात्येव सर्वथा

na tasya durlabhaṁ kiñcitkadācitkvacidasti hi | dehānte tu maṇidvīpaṁ mama yātyeva sarvathā

for him nothing at all, anywhere, at any time, remains hard to attain; and at the end of the body, he goes, in every case, to my own island of Manidvipa.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.7.40.32)

ज्ञेयो देवीस्वरूपोऽसौ देवा नित्यं नमन्ति तम् । इति ते कथितं राजन् महादेव्याः प्रपूजनम्

jñeyo devīsvarūpo'sau devā nityaṁ namanti tam | iti te kathitaṁ rājan mahādevyāḥ prapūjanam

He should be known as the very form of the Devi herself, and the gods themselves forever bow to him. Thus, O King, has the worship of the Great Goddess been told to you.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.7.40.33)

विमृश्यैतदशेषेणाप्यधिकारानुरूपतः । कुरु मे पूजनं तेन कृतार्थस्त्वं भविष्यसि

vimṛśyaitadaśeṣeṇāpyadhikārānurūpataḥ | kuru me pūjanaṁ tena kṛtārthastvaṁ bhaviṣyasi

Having reflected on all this in full, worship me according to what befits your own capacity; through that you will become truly fulfilled.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.7.40.34)

इदं तु गीताशास्त्रं मे नाशिष्याय वदेत् क्वचित् । नाभक्ताय प्रदातव्यं न धूर्ताय च दुर्हृदे

idaṁ tu gītāśāstraṁ me nāśiṣyāya vadet kvacit | nābhaktāya pradātavyaṁ na dhūrtāya ca durhṛde

This scripture of mine, the Gita, should never be spoken to one who is not a disciple; it should never be given to one lacking devotion, nor to a scoundrel, nor to one of wicked heart.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.7.40.35)

एतत्प्रकाशनं मातुरुद्घाटनमुरोजयोः । तस्मादवश्यं यत्नेन गोपनीयमिदं सदा

etatprakāśanaṁ māturudghāṭanamurojayoḥ | tasmādavaśyaṁ yatnena gopanīyamidaṁ sadā

To reveal this carelessly is like baring the Mother's own breast; therefore it must, without fail, always be guarded with the utmost care.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.7.40.36)

देयं भक्ताय शिष्याय ज्येष्ठपुत्राय चैव हि । सुशीलाय सुवेषाय देवीभक्तियुताय च

deyaṁ bhaktāya śiṣyāya jyeṣṭhaputrāya caiva hi | suśīlāya suveṣāya devībhaktiyutāya ca

It should be given only to a devotee, to a disciple, or to one's eldest son; it should be given only to one of good character, of worthy demeanor, and possessed of devotion to the Devi.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.7.40.37)

श्राद्धकाले पठेदेतद्ब्राह्मणानां समीपतः । तृप्तास्तत्पितरः सर्वे प्रयान्ति परमं पदम्

śrāddhakāle paṭhedetadbrāhmaṇānāṁ samīpataḥ | tṛptāstatpitaraḥ sarve prayānti paramaṁ padam

At the time of ancestral rites, this should be recited before brahmins; satisfied by it, all of one's ancestors attain the highest state.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.7.40.38)

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा सा भगवती तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । देवाश्च मुदिताः सर्वे देवीदर्शनतोऽभवन्

vyāsa uvāca | ityuktvā sā bhagavatī tatraivāntaradhīyata | devāśca muditāḥ sarve devīdarśanato'bhavan

Vyasa said: Having said this, that Goddess vanished then and there, and all the gods rejoiced at having beheld the Devi.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.7.40.39)

ततो हिमालये जज्ञे देवी हैमवती तु सा । या गौरीति प्रसिद्धासीद्दत्ता सा शङ्कराय च

tato himālaye jajñe devī haimavatī tu sā | yā gaurīti prasiddhāsīddattā sā śaṅkarāya ca

Then that goddess was born in the house of Himalaya as Haimavati, who became renowned by the name Gauri, and who was given in marriage to Shankara.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.7.40.40)

ततः स्कन्दः समुद्भूतस्तारकस्तेन पातितः । समुद्रमन्थने पूर्वं रत्नान्यासुर्नराधिप

tataḥ skandaḥ samudbhūtastārakastena pātitaḥ | samudramanthane pūrvaṁ ratnānyāsurnarādhipa

Then Skanda was born, and by him Taraka was struck down. Long before this, O King, in the churning of the ocean, many jewels had arisen.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.7.40.41)

तत्र देवैः स्तुता देवी लक्ष्मीप्राप्त्यर्थमादरात् । तेषामनुग्रहार्थाय निर्गता तु रमा ततः

tatra devaiḥ stutā devī lakṣmīprāptyarthamādarāt | teṣāmanugrahārthāya nirgatā tu ramā tataḥ

There, in order to obtain Lakshmi, the gods had reverently praised the Devi; and it was for the sake of showing them grace that Rama, Lakshmi, had then emerged from that ocean.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.7.40.42)

वैकुण्ठाय सुरैर्दत्ता तेन तस्य शमोऽभवत् । इति ते कथितं राजन् देवीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्

vaikuṇṭhāya surairdattā tena tasya śamo'bhavat | iti te kathitaṁ rājan devīmāhātmyamuttamam

The gods gave her to the Lord of Vaikuntha, and through this his own well-being was secured. Thus, O King, have I told you this supreme glory of the Devi.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.7.40.43)

गौरीलक्ष्म्योः समुद्भूतिविषयं सर्वकामदम् । न वाच्यं त्वेतदन्यस्मै रहस्यं कथितं यतः

gaurīlakṣmyoḥ samudbhūtiviṣayaṁ sarvakāmadam | na vācyaṁ tvetadanyasmai rahasyaṁ kathitaṁ yataḥ

This account of the origin of Gauri and Lakshmi grants every desire; it should not be told to anyone else, since it has been related here as a hidden mystery.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.7.40.44)

गीता रहस्यभूतेयं गोपनीया प्रयत्नतः । सर्वमुक्तं स्मसेन यत्पृष्टं तत्त्वयानघ

gītā rahasyabhūteyaṁ gopanīyā prayatnataḥ | sarvamuktaṁ smasena yatpṛṣṭaṁ tattvayānagha

This Gita is itself a hidden mystery, to be guarded with the utmost care. O sinless one, whatever you had asked, all of it I have now told, in brief.

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.7.40.45)

पवित्रं पावनं दिव्यं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि

pavitraṁ pāvanaṁ divyaṁ kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi

It is pure, purifying, and divine — what more do you wish to hear?