Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 744

MEDITATING ON VISHNU
704
If any one places little flags of various colours in Vishnu's
temple he will eventually be born again king of a fine country.
And if any one allows the cloths and flags that have been
offered to Vishnu to flutter freely in the wind, he will receive
pardon for all his sins, however heinous they may have been.
Any one who places an umbrella over Vishnu's head will be
reborn rich and powerful, and will himself have the right to
use one.
oneself during this same night in making a
house of flowers for Vishnu is as meritorious a work as
And if
if one had sacrificed a horse a hundred times over.
any one should make this house in cloth, he will himself have
a house of bricks in Vaikuntha.
On the salagrama stone or on the image of Vishnu must
then be poured some pancha-amrita, that is to say milk,
melted butter, curds, honey, and sugar mixed together.
The image must then be adorned with rich stuffs and precious
Having per-
jewels, and a fan must be placed before it.
formed the sam-kalpa, and purified by the santi-yoga the
five elements of which man is composed, the worshippers
must fix their thoughts on Vishnu, and, holding flowers in
their hands, must meditate for some time on the perfections
They must picture him to themselves in their
of the deity.
mind's eye as seated on a golden throne with his daughter
by his side, casting around the effulgent light that encircles
him, having sometimes two and sometimes four arms. To
this Supreme Lord of the Universe must their homage be
To employ
little
'
addressed.
This act of meditation ended, the worshippers must offer
him puja. beginning with the Swagata that is to say, they
must ask the god whether he is in good health, and has ac-
;
complished his journey safely.
They will then present to him water to wash his
feet, and
him after the fatigues of his journey. They must
say
God of Gods, receive this water to wash your feet
it is pure and sweet, and will refresh you, and it will remove
the dust which has covered you on your way.'
They will then give him water for rinsing out his mouth,
and more water and flowers to put on his head some milk,
honey, and sugar, mixed together, to quench his thirst
to refresh
'
:
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1
See the description in the chapter on the Sandhya.