The Damanaka Festival

Verse 1 (padma.6.84.1)

महादेव उवाच । अस्मिन्वै चैत्रमासे तु कार्यो दमनकोत्सवः । द्वादश्यां तु तथा सम्यग्विधिः कार्यो विशेषतः

mahādeva uvāca asminvai caitramāse tu kāryo damanakotsavaḥ dvādaśyāṁ tu tathā samyagvidhiḥ kāryo viśeṣataḥ

Mahadeva said: In this very month of Chaitra, the Damanaka festival should be held. On the twelfth day especially, its rite should be properly performed.

Verse 2 (padma.6.84.2)

वैष्णवैः श्रद्धया पुण्यो जनतानंदवर्द्धनः । देवानंदसमुद्भूता दिव्या दमनमंजरी

vaiṣṇavaiḥ śraddhayā puṇyo janatānaṁdavarddhanaḥ devānaṁdasamudbhūtā divyā damanamaṁjarī

This meritorious festival, performed with faith by Vaishnavas, increases the joy of the people. That divine sprig of Damanaka, born of the gods' own delight —

Verse 3 (padma.6.84.3)

निवेद्या वैष्णवैर्भक्तैः सर्वपूजाफलेप्सुभिः । चैत्रे तु शुक्लपक्षे तु द्वादश्यां नगनंदिनि

nivedyā vaiṣṇavairbhaktaiḥ sarvapūjāphalepsubhiḥ caitre tu śuklapakṣe tu dvādaśyāṁ naganaṁdini

— should be offered by Vaishnava devotees who desire the fruit of all worship. O daughter of the mountain, on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra —

Verse 4 (padma.6.84.4)

कारयेत्परया भक्त्या महोत्सवमनास्तथा । तत्रादौ च स्वयं गत्वा आरामं प्रति चानघे

kārayetparayā bhaktyā mahotsavamanāstathā tatrādau ca svayaṁ gatvā ārāmaṁ prati cānaghe

— the great festival should be performed with supreme devotion and a whole heart. O sinless one, first going oneself to the garden —

Verse 5 (padma.6.84.5)

गुर्वाज्ञया प्रकर्त्तव्यं पूजनं रतिना सह । कामदेव नमस्तेऽस्तु विश्वमोहनकारक

gurvājñayā prakarttavyaṁ pūjanaṁ ratinā saha kāmadeva namaste'stu viśvamohanakāraka

— by the guru's permission, one should worship Kamadeva together with Rati. 'O Kamadeva, O enchanter of the universe, salutation to you.'

Verse 6 (padma.6.84.6)

विष्णोरर्थे विचेष्यामि कृपां कुरु ममोपरि । गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषैरानेतव्यो गृहं प्रति

viṣṇorarthe viceṣyāmi kṛpāṁ kuru mamopari gītavāditranirghoṣairānetavyo gṛhaṁ prati

'I shall seek this for the sake of Vishnu; be gracious to me.' Then, amid the resounding of song and instruments, it should be brought toward the house.

Verse 7 (padma.6.84.7)

एकादश्यां सुरश्रेष्ठि ह्यधिवासनपूर्वकम् । कर्त्तव्यं पूजनं तत्र रात्रौ भक्त्या तु वैष्णवैः

ekādaśyāṁ suraśreṣṭhi hyadhivāsanapūrvakam karttavyaṁ pūjanaṁ tatra rātrau bhaktyā tu vaiṣṇavaiḥ

O foremost of goddesses, on the eleventh day, together with the rite of overnight ceremonial placement, worship should there be performed at night by the Vaishnavas with devotion.

Verse 8 (padma.6.84.8)

कर्त्तव्यमग्रतस्तस्य सर्वतोभद्र मंडलम् । स्थापयित्वा तु देवेशं रतिना सह तत्र वै

karttavyamagratastasya sarvatobhadra maṁḍalam sthāpayitvā tu deveśaṁ ratinā saha tatra vai

In front of it, the Sarvatobhadra mandala, an auspicious diagram, should be made. There the Lord of the gods should be installed together with Rati.

Verse 9 (padma.6.84.9)

आच्छाद्य श्वेतवस्त्रेण दमनं स्थापयेद्बुधः । तत्र वै पूजनं कार्यं वैष्णवैर्द्विजसत्तमैः

ācchādya śvetavastreṇa damanaṁ sthāpayedbudhaḥ tatra vai pūjanaṁ kāryaṁ vaiṣṇavairdvijasattamaiḥ

The wise should install the Damanaka sprig, covering it with a white cloth. There, worship should be performed by excellent Vaishnava brahmins.

Verse 10 (padma.6.84.10)

क्लीं कामदेवाय नमो ह्रीं रत्यै च तथा नमः । एंद्र्यादि दिशि संस्थाप्य कंदर्प्पं पूजयेद्बुधः

klīṁ kāmadevāya namo hrīṁ ratyai ca tathā namaḥ eṁdryādi diśi saṁsthāpya kaṁdarppaṁ pūjayedbudhaḥ

'Klim, salutation to Kamadeva; Hrim, salutation to Rati' — with this mantra, having installed him in the eastern and other directions, the wise should worship Kandarpa.

Verse 11 (padma.6.84.11)

गंधं पुष्पं तथा धूपं दीपमारार्तिकं तथा । रात्रौ भक्त्या प्रकर्त्तव्यं विधिनात्र सुरेश्वरि

gaṁdhaṁ puṣpaṁ tathā dhūpaṁ dīpamārārtikaṁ tathā rātrau bhaktyā prakarttavyaṁ vidhinātra sureśvari

O queen of gods, at night, with devotion and according to rite, sandal-paste, flowers, incense, a lamp, and the waving of lights should here be offered.

Verse 12 (padma.6.84.12)

मदनाय नम इति प्राच्याम् । मन्मथाय नम इति आग्न्येय्याम् । कंदर्पाय नम इति याम्ये । अनंगाय नम इति रक्षोदिशि । भस्मशरीराय नमः इति वारुण्याम् । स्मराय नम इति वायव्याम् । ईश्वराय नमः इति कौबेर्याम् । पुष्पबाणाय नमः इति ईशान्याम् । चतुर्दिक्षु च सर्वासु पूजनं तत्र कारयेत् । पूजिते केशवे चात्र सर्वे देवाः सुपूजिताः

madanāya nama iti prācyām manmathāya nama iti āgnyeyyām kaṁdarpāya nama iti yāmye anaṁgāya nama iti rakṣodiśi bhasmaśarīrāya namaḥ iti vāruṇyām smarāya nama iti vāyavyām īśvarāya namaḥ iti kauberyām puṣpabāṇāya namaḥ iti īśānyām caturdikṣu ca sarvāsu pūjanaṁ tatra kārayet pūjite keśave cātra sarve devāḥ supūjitāḥ

In the east, 'Salutation to Madana'; in the southeast, 'Salutation to Manmatha'; in the south, 'Salutation to Kandarpa'; in the southwest, 'Salutation to Ananga'; in the west, 'Salutation to the Ash-Bodied One'; in the northwest, 'Salutation to Smara'; in the north, 'Salutation to Ishvara'; and in the northeast, 'Salutation to the Flower-Arrowed One' — thus worship should be conducted in all directions. When Keshava is worshipped, all the gods are thereby duly worshipped.

Verse 13 (padma.6.84.13)

अक्षतगंध धूपदीपैर्नैवेद्यैस्तांबूलैश्च दमनकं पूजयित्वा तु । तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे कामदेवाय धीमहि । तन्नोऽनंगः प्रचोदयात् । इति वै कामगायत्र्या अष्टोत्तरशतवारं तं दमनकं अभिमंत्र्य नमस्कुर्यात् । नमोस्तु पुष्पबाणाय जगदाह्लादकारिणे । मन्मथाय जगन्नेत्रे रतिप्रीतिकराय च

akṣatagaṁdha dhūpadīpairnaivedyaistāṁbūlaiśca damanakaṁ pūjayitvā tu tatpuruṣāya vidmahe kāmadevāya dhīmahi tanno'naṁgaḥ pracodayāt iti vai kāmagāyatryā aṣṭottaraśatavāraṁ taṁ damanakaṁ abhimaṁtrya namaskuryāt namostu puṣpabāṇāya jagadāhlādakāriṇe manmathāya jagannetre ratiprītikarāya ca

Having worshipped the Damanaka with unbroken rice, sandal-paste, incense, a lamp, food-offerings, and betel, one should consecrate it one hundred and eight times with the Kama-Gayatri mantra, and then offer salutation. 'Salutation to the flower-arrowed one, who delights the world; to Manmatha, the very eye of the world, who brings joy to Rati.'

Verse 14 (padma.6.84.14)

देवदेव नमस्तेऽस्तु श्रीविश्वेश नमोस्तु ते । रतिपते नमस्तेस्तु नमस्ते विश्वमंडन

devadeva namaste'stu śrīviśveśa namostu te ratipate namastestu namaste viśvamaṁḍana

'O God of gods, salutation to you. O glorious Lord of the universe, salutation to you. O Lord of Rati, salutation to you. O ornament of the universe, salutation to you.'

Verse 15 (padma.6.84.15)

नमस्तेस्तु जगन्नाथ सर्वबीज नमोस्तु ते । एतैर्नानाविधैर्मंत्रैरागमोक्तैर्विशेषतः

namastestu jagannātha sarvabīja namostu te etairnānāvidhairmaṁtrairāgamoktairviśeṣataḥ

'Salutation to you, O Lord of the universe. Salutation to you, the seed of all.' With these various mantras prescribed specifically in the scriptures —

Verse 16 (padma.6.84.16)

पूजनीयः प्रयत्नेन लक्ष्म्या सह जनार्दनः । ततो निवेद्य तत्कर्म जागरं कारयेद्बुधः

pūjanīyaḥ prayatnena lakṣmyā saha janārdanaḥ tato nivedya tatkarma jāgaraṁ kārayedbudhaḥ

— Janardana, together with Lakshmi, should be diligently worshipped. Then, having dedicated that act, the wise should keep a night-vigil.

Verse 17 (padma.6.84.17)

देवदेव जगन्नाथ वांच्छितार्थप्रदायक । हृत्स्थान्पूरय मे विष्णो कामान्कामेश्वरीप्रिय

devadeva jagannātha vāṁcchitārthapradāyaka hṛtsthānpūraya me viṣṇo kāmānkāmeśvarīpriya

'O God of gods, O Lord of the universe, granter of desired things! O Vishnu, O beloved of Kameshvari, fulfill the desires that dwell in my heart.'

Verse 18 (padma.6.84.18)

इत्येतैर्बहुभिर्मंत्रैः पूजनीयः प्रयत्नतः । श्रीनिवासो जगन्नाथो भक्तानां शमभीप्सकः

ityetairbahubhirmaṁtraiḥ pūjanīyaḥ prayatnataḥ śrīnivāso jagannātho bhaktānāṁ śamabhīpsakaḥ

Thus, with these many mantras, Shrinivasa, the Lord of the universe, who desires the peace of his devotees, should be diligently worshipped.

Verse 19 (padma.6.84.19)

ततो दमनकमुष्टिं गृहीत्वा तत्र मूलमंत्रेण । श्रीश्रीविष्ण्वादिदेवेभ्यो दमनकं निवेदयेत् । ततो गंधादिभिर्महतीपूजागीतवाद्यनृत्यैश्च महोत्सवः कार्यः । देवाग्रेस्थापितः कलशोदकं देवस्य पादयोर्निक्षिप्य जलक्रीडा तस्मिन्दिने कर्त्तव्या । ततः स्वगुरुं वस्त्रालंकारद्रविणैः श्रद्धया प्रपूजयेत् । ततः स्वयं वैष्णवैर्बंधुभिः सह अश्नीयात्

tato damanakamuṣṭiṁ gṛhītvā tatra mūlamaṁtreṇa śrīśrīviṣṇvādidevebhyo damanakaṁ nivedayet tato gaṁdhādibhirmahatīpūjāgītavādyanṛtyaiśca mahotsavaḥ kāryaḥ devāgresthāpitaḥ kalaśodakaṁ devasya pādayornikṣipya jalakrīḍā tasmindine karttavyā tataḥ svaguruṁ vastrālaṁkāradraviṇaiḥ śraddhayā prapūjayet tataḥ svayaṁ vaiṣṇavairbaṁdhubhiḥ saha aśnīyāt

Then, taking a handful of Damanaka along with the root mantra, one should offer it to Shri Vishnu and the other deities. Then, with sandal-paste and the like, a grand worship, song, music, and dance, the great festival should be held. The water from the vessel placed before the deity should be sprinkled on the deity's feet, and water-sport should be performed that day. Then one's own guru should be worshipped with faith through garments, ornaments, and wealth. Then one should oneself eat together with fellow Vaishnavas.

Verse 20 (padma.6.84.20)

महादेव उवाच । ततो दमनकमंजर्या यो वै विष्णुं प्रपूजयेत् । पूजिते वै जगन्नाथे ह्यहं वै पूजितः सदा

mahādeva uvāca tato damanakamaṁjaryā yo vai viṣṇuṁ prapūjayet pūjite vai jagannāthe hyahaṁ vai pūjitaḥ sadā

Mahadeva said: Whoever thus worships Vishnu with a sprig of Damanaka — when Jagannatha is worshipped thereby, I myself am ever worshipped as well.

Verse 21 (padma.6.84.21)

ब्रह्महा हेमहारी च मद्यपो मांसभक्षकः । मुच्यते पातकाद्देवि दृष्ट्वा दमनकोत्सवम्

brahmahā hemahārī ca madyapo māṁsabhakṣakaḥ mucyate pātakāddevi dṛṣṭvā damanakotsavam

Even the killer of a brahmin, the thief of gold, the drinker of liquor, or the eater of meat, O goddess, becomes freed from sin merely by beholding the Damanaka festival.

Verse 22 (padma.6.84.22)

एवं दमनको देवि पूजितो यैः सुवैष्णवैः । सर्वं तीर्थं कृतं तैस्तु मंजर्या पूजनं कृतम्

evaṁ damanako devi pūjito yaiḥ suvaiṣṇavaiḥ sarvaṁ tīrthaṁ kṛtaṁ taistu maṁjaryā pūjanaṁ kṛtam

O goddess, thus those excellent Vaishnavas who have worshipped Damanaka, by that worship with the sprig, have accomplished, as it were, every pilgrimage.

Verse 23 (padma.6.84.23)

वेदाध्ययनं कृतं तेन शास्त्राध्ययनमेव च । अग्निहोत्रं कृतं तेन मंजर्या पूजितो हरिः

vedādhyayanaṁ kṛtaṁ tena śāstrādhyayanameva ca agnihotraṁ kṛtaṁ tena maṁjaryā pūjito hariḥ

Whoever has worshipped Hari with the sprig has thereby, as it were, accomplished the study of the Vedas, the study of the scriptures, and the performance of the fire-sacrifice as well.

Verse 24 (padma.6.84.24)

तत्कुलं तु महज्ज्ञेयं ब्राह्मं वा चाथ क्षात्रियम् । शौद्रं वैश्यं च यच्चान्यद्धन्यं धन्यतरं स्मृतम्

tatkulaṁ tu mahajjñeyaṁ brāhmaṁ vā cātha kṣātriyam śaudraṁ vaiśyaṁ ca yaccānyaddhanyaṁ dhanyataraṁ smṛtam

His lineage should be known as great — whether brahmin, kshatriya, shudra, vaishya, or any other — it is declared blessed, most blessed indeed.

Verse 25 (padma.6.84.25)

यस्मिन्कुलेऽवतीर्याथोत्सवो दमनकः कृतः । स च धन्यस्तु धन्यो वै येन विष्णुः प्रपूजितः

yasminkule'vatīryāthotsavo damanakaḥ kṛtaḥ sa ca dhanyastu dhanyo vai yena viṣṇuḥ prapūjitaḥ

The lineage into which one is born and in which the Damanaka festival is performed is blessed, and blessed too is that man by whom Vishnu has been worshipped.

Verse 26 (padma.6.84.26)

दमनकेन तु तथा संप्राप्ते मधुमाधवे । संपूज्य गोसहस्रस्य देवि संलभते फलम्

damanakena tu tathā saṁprāpte madhumādhave saṁpūjya gosahasrasya devi saṁlabhate phalam

O goddess, when the month of Madhu-Madhava arrives, by worshipping with Damanaka, one obtains the fruit of donating a thousand cows.

Verse 27 (padma.6.84.27)

मल्लिकाकुसुमैर्देवं वसंते गरुडध्वजम् । योऽर्चयेत्परया भक्त्या मुक्तिभागी भवेत्तु सः

mallikākusumairdevaṁ vasaṁte garuḍadhvajam yo'rcayetparayā bhaktyā muktibhāgī bhavettu saḥ

Whoever, in the spring season, worships the deity bearing the Garuda-banner with jasmine flowers, with supreme devotion, becomes a sharer in liberation.

Verse 28 (padma.6.84.28)

मरुकोदमनकश्चैव सद्यस्तुष्टिकरो हरेः । अतः पूजा प्रकर्त्तव्या वैष्णवैर्नरसत्तमैः

marukodamanakaścaiva sadyastuṣṭikaro hareḥ ataḥ pūjā prakarttavyā vaiṣṇavairnarasattamaiḥ

Marjoram and Damanaka bring instant satisfaction to Hari; therefore this worship should be performed by excellent Vaishnava men.

Verse 29 (padma.6.84.29)

गोसहस्रं कृतं तेन कन्यादानं तथैव च । पृथ्वीदानं कृतं तेन विष्णोर्वै पूजने कृते

gosahasraṁ kṛtaṁ tena kanyādānaṁ tathaiva ca pṛthvīdānaṁ kṛtaṁ tena viṣṇorvai pūjane kṛte

By performing this worship of Vishnu, one has, as it were, accomplished the gift of a thousand cows, the gift of a daughter in marriage, and the gift of the whole earth.

Verse 30 (padma.6.84.30)

एकामेकां गृहीत्वा तु मंजरीं दमनस्य तु । यः पूजयति देवेशं संप्राप्ते मधुमाधवे

ekāmekāṁ gṛhītvā tu maṁjarīṁ damanasya tu yaḥ pūjayati deveśaṁ saṁprāpte madhumādhave

Whoever, when the month of Madhu-Madhava arrives, takes the sprigs of Damanaka one by one and worships the Lord of the gods —

Verse 31 (padma.6.84.31)

पुण्यसंख्यां न जाने वै तस्याहं नगनंदिनि । स वै चतुर्भुजो भूत्वा इह लोके परत्र च । धर्मानर्थांश्च कामांश्च प्रभुंक्ते वैष्णवं पदम्

puṇyasaṁkhyāṁ na jāne vai tasyāhaṁ naganaṁdini sa vai caturbhujo bhūtvā iha loke paratra ca dharmānarthāṁśca kāmāṁśca prabhuṁkte vaiṣṇavaṁ padam

— O daughter of the mountain, even I do not know the measure of his merit. Becoming four-armed both in this world and the next, he enjoys dharma, artha, and kama, and attains the Vaishnava abode.