Devotees of North and East regions perform Pooja of Shree Hari.
Devotees of North and East regions perform Pooja of Shree Hari.
Suvrat said:-
O King, then the people from eastern and northern regions of India, who were very energetic, well -built, had long eyes and strong arms came before Hari. 1
They gifted costly clothes, garlands of their favorite flowers and thousands of pearl necklace to Hari. 2
Then, thus, their women folk, holding vessels with filled sugar and other material in their hands worshipped Shri Hari. 3
After offering gifts to Him when they were leaving that place, Shri Hari took off the garlands from his neck and gave them back with love. 4
Heaps of various kinds of fruits and sweets, lying before Shri Hari, looked like high mountains. 5
Pooja by devotees of South region. Then the residents of South India, wearing round turbans and there ladies with saris, tied up in a peculiar way and hence, swift in movements, arrived there. 6
They worshipped Shri Hari in proper manner with sixteen service courses. Shri Hari was fully satisfied on seeing their worshipping skills. They dressed him in white, yellow and red coloured clothes and bedecked with costly ornaments in proper places. They put gold chains on Hari’s wrists, rings studded with precious stones on his fingers, gold armlets on his upper-arms and pearl strings around his neck, a divine crown, as lustrous as the sun on his head, earrings glistening with rows of diamonds on His ears. They also tied a strand of pearls around His forehead. 7-11
They made Him wear a girdle studded with precious stones around His waist and anklets on his feet etc. Then put forth many gifts before him. 12
They offered Him various types of eatables, thousands of bananas, fresh grapes fruits and sugarcane. 13
They waved lighted lamps before Him, accompanied with songs and music, offered a handful of flowers, bowed down before Him and then move aside. 14
Shri Hari gladly gave them some fruits as a token of His grace. He also distributed heaps of flowers to the sages. 15
Shri Hari then suddenly stood up on the pedestal. O, Be victorious, Be victorious, these words spread all over the three worlds. 16
His face like the orb of full moon was shining due to His crown that competed with the lustre of the sun. His body-limbs looked lovely due to being decorated with various ornaments. He has put both his hands on his waist, put on floral strings of pearls, right from His neck upto His feet, in proper sequence. Thus attracting the hearts of His devotees, He looked at, all His adherents around. 17
Pooja by devotees of West region.
Meanwhile, Shri Hari’s ardent devotees, from the western regions, who had covered their heads with thick turbans, came around. They included Brahmins imbued with all the twelve virtues enumerated by Sanatsujat. 18
Then the members of the warrior race, who were very firm in their resolve, and expert in the skill of archery, as well as missiles, worshipped Shri Hari. There upon Shri Hari sat down and acccepted their worship. 19
Though ignorant of the proper procedure of the worship, still they were trying to perform it correctly. Seeing this, Shri Hari, laughed repeatedly and made other sages laugh too. 20
Thus having worshipped Shri Hari they offered him clothes, ornaments, as well as various types of gifts. They bowed down before Him and went away. 21
Thus thousands of ladies, who had come from the same region went up towards Shri Hari, and greeting Him with sweet words, pleased Shri Hari, too. 22
Those ladies were slim-bodied due to the observance of penance and vows were also adept in hospitality, towards the devotees of Shri Hari; and had full control over their senses. 23
The came there, carrying attractive and decorative vessels full of fresh as well as dried dates, betel nuts and coconuts in their hands, and worshipped Shri Hari. 24
Some of them had brought with them containers filled with sugar, or sweets like (Batasa), etc. Some brought large plates filled with silver coins, and worshipped Him. All of them came forward (one by one) and placed their gifts before Him. 25 - 26
Thus all those people worshipped Shri Hari, with deep devotion and offerings as per their individual capacity. 27
Since He was attainable by one’s ardent emotions of devotion, He accepted everything, even leaves, flowers or fruits offered by poor persons. 28
Whether they are rulers or of very low social stratus, whether they are rich or poor, all are equal to Him, as He loves His devotees basically by their degree of devotion. 29
Whether it be a single leaf, or a flower, or a fruit, mere water, or just a song of praise or Durva grass etc. whatever the devotees offer with love, God accepts it with love and feels satisfied with that. 30
Then knowing that the sages too, were also eager to worship Him, He permitted them to do so and fulfil their desire. 31
Those sages, having penance as their wealth, worshipped the Shri Hari, with whatever material was available to them, leaf, flower, fruit and other things, and bowed down before Him. 32
In this manner, Shri Hari, who had become a wish-yeilding tree for His devotees, who were associated with good people only, fulfilled all their desires. 33
At the end of the session, there were mounds of ornaments and heaps of fine clothes, flowers and other gifts collected around Shri Hari. 34.
Seated on a golden pedestal in the midst of those mounds, Shri Hari shone like a full moon, on the Meru mountain amidst the peaks of the Kesara mountain range. 35
Then, that Lord of the world, immediately distributed the clothes and the costly ornaments amongst the Brahmins. 36
He gave away profuse wealth to other mendicants, especially to poor and needy family heads. 37
Like the black clouds pouring down water, Shri Hari pleasingly showered lot of things even on the well-to-do house holders. 38
He thus amazed everyone, by performing a superhuman deed, feeling no conceit at giving away everything in a moment. 39
O King, that noble minded generous Shri Hari, whose wealth in form of generosity was thus shinning and was determined to give away all his wealth, found everything worth giving up except the pair of clothes He had put on. 40
Thus ends the fifty fourth chapter entitled, ‘Narration of description of Vruttalaya festival and worship performed by devotees,’ in the third prakaran of Satsangi Jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra. (the rules of the code of conduct). 54