Devanagari
अभ्यङ्गोन्मर्दनादर्शदन्तधावाभिषेचनम् ।
अन्नाद्यगीतनृत्यानि पर्वणि स्युरुतान्वहम् ॥ ३५ ॥
Verse text
abhyaṅgonmardanādarśa-
danta-dhāvābhiṣecanam
annādya-gīta-nṛtyāni
parvaṇi syur utānv-aham
Synonyms
abhyaṅga
—
with ointment
;
unmardana
—
massaging
;
ādarśa
—
offering a mirror
;
danta
—
dhāva — washing the teeth
;
abhiṣecanam
—
bathing
;
anna
—
offering food that can be eaten without chewing
;
ādya
—
offering food that is chewed
;
gītā
—
singing
;
nṛtyāni
—
and dancing
;
parvaṇi
—
on special holidays
;
syuḥ
—
these offerings should be made
;
uta
—
or else (if it is within one’s means)
;
anu
—
aham — every day .
Translation
On special occasions, and daily if possible, the Deity should be massaged with ointment, shown a mirror, offered a eucalyptus stick for brushing His teeth, bathed with the five kinds of nectar, offered all kinds of opulent foods, and entertained with singing and dancing.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
On special occasions, and daily if possible, the deity should be massaged with oils, and wiped to remove the oils, shown a mirror, offered a stick for brushing his teeth, bathed with the five kinds of liquid, offered all kinds of fine foods, and entertained with singing and dancing.
First one offers the tooth brush. Then one massages the deity with fragrant oils. One removes the oils with powder scented with saffron and camphor. One should bathe the deity in paṣcāmṛta and scented water. Then one offers precious silk cloth, jewel ornaments, sandalwood and other unguents, and garlands. One then offers a mirror and then fragrance, flowers, incense, lamp and mouth wash. One should offer rice, scented drinking water, betel nut, garlands, ārātrika, flowers, bed and fan. Then one should playing musical instruments, sing and dance. This can be done on festival days or daily.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura describes the process of Deity worship as follows: “First the Deity’s teeth should be cleaned and His body massaged with fragrant oil and rubbed with vermilion, camphor powder and so forth. Then He should be bathed with fragrant water and the five kinds of nectar. Next one should offer valuable silk garments and jeweled ornaments to the Deity, smear His body with sandalwood paste, and offer Him garlands and other gifts. After this, one should hold a mirror in front of the Deity and then offer fragrant oil, flowers, incense, lamps and scented water for refreshing the mouth. One should offer all types of palatable foods, fragrant water, betel nuts, garlands,
ārati
lamps, a bed to rest on, and so on. One should also fan the Deity and perform instrumental music, singing and dancing. This Deity worship must be performed on special occasions like religious holidays or else, if one can afford it, daily.” According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, Ekādaśī is an appropriate day for performing special Deity worship.