Applying Tilak
One of the most striking aspects of a Vaishnava’s attire is his tilak – the clay markings on his forehead. Srila Prabhupada said that just as a soldier’s regiment can be known by the uniform he wears, similarly a devotee of the Lord must wear tilak on his forehead in all conditions.
Although it is best to wear tilak all the time, some workplaces may not allow it. If a devotee cannot wear tilak to work then he can chant the appropriate mantra and apply ‘water tilak’.
Tilak is worn for both sanctification and protection. When one wearstilak, he is reminded that his body is a temple and should be respected as such. Both body and mind should be kept clean. It also reminds others who see the person wearing tilak of Krishna. There are many different understandings of what the shape of the tilak represents for Vaishnavas, but generally ISKCON devotees accept that the U-shaped mark represents the heel of Lord Krishna, and the oval part represents aTulasi leaf.
Tilak is made of clay from any sacred place, usually the banks of a sacred river. Gaudiya Vaishnavas usually use cream-coloured clay from a sacred lake near Dwarka, India, called gopi-chandan.
How to apply tilak
Put a little water in the palm of your left hand and mix it with a piece oftilak clay until you get a smooth paste. Or you can keep a small container with tilak soaked in water until it is a creamy paste. Take some gopi-chandan with the ring finger of your right hand and mark your forehead with a vertical line from the root of your nose to your hairline. Use your dampened small finger to remove the excess tilak between the forked lines. Now make the leaf-shaped mark, which should extend from the base of the lines to about three quarters of the way down the nose.
While applying tilak to a particular part of the body, chant the appropriate mantra as shown below:
| MANTRA | (LOCATION) |
| om kesavaya namah | (forehead) |
| om narayanaya namah | (stomach) |
| om madhavaya namah | (chest) |
| om govindaya namah | (hollow of the throat) |
| om visnave namah | (right side) |
| om madhusudanaya namah | (right upper arm) |
| om trivikramaya namah | (right shoulder) |
| om vamanaya namah | (left side) |
| om sridharaya namah | (left upper arm) |
| om hrsikesaya namah | (left shoulder) |
| om padmanabhaya namah | (upper back) |
| om damodaraya namah | (lower back) |
Performing Achaman
Simple achaman
This is a purificatory procedure that one must perform before any Deityworship, including arati, offering of bhoga, etc.
Sit on an asan, with a small spoon take some water from an achaman-patra and sprinkle it on your hands and feet. Using the spoon held by the left hand place three fresh drops of water from the pot in the palm of your right hand.
Chant om keshavaya namah and sip water from the brahma-tirtha (the base of the thumb) of your right hand. Try not to touch your hand with your lips. Take another drop to clean your right hand and discard the water.
Repeat this procedure chanting:
om narayanaya nama
and a third time chanting :
om madhavaya namah
Setting up your altar at home
The Lord in His personal form (Deity or picture) gives us the unique opportunity of serving Him personally. Having a home altar whereKrishna can be served sanctifies one’s home and helps create a spiritual atmosphere where Krishna is at the centre. It also helps the worshiper to fix his mind during japa if he chants in front of the altar.
Home worship, unlike that in the temple, is usually kept simple so that the devotee has more time for japa, kirtan and practical temple service.
To invite Krishna into our home, we need to have a special place for Him: an altar in a separate prayer room or a place separated from the living space by a curtain. You will need: 
• A picture of Sri Sri Radha Krishna (your local Deities if possible)
• A picture of Lord Chaitanya and His associates (Panca-Tattva)
• A picture or deity of Srila Prabhupada
• Tulasi Devi
Place the picture of Radha Krishna in the middle at a slightly higher level than the other pictures. Place Srila Prabhupada on the left and thePanca-Tattva on the right.
You may also have:
• A picture of the recent sampradaya acaryas: Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Goswami, Srila Gaura Kishore Das Babaji Maharaj, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaj
• A picture of the 6 Goswamis
• A picture of your spiritual master. It is best if this picture should be smaller than that of Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada should be worshiped as the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON and plays a central part in every devotee’s life
• Water cups (preferably in silver and one for each picture)
• A special plate, bowls, cup and spoon for offering food (preferably in silver or stainless steel)
• A small bell
• An incense holder
• A table on which to place the Lord’s plate
• Vases in which one can place fresh flowers
• If one wishes to offer full arati to the Lord, an arati plate is required
Further instructions
• Clean the altar each morning and rinse the water cups, replenishing them with fresh water
• Offer incense and flowers daily to the Lord and decorate the altar with fresh flowers
• Offer whatever food you prepare to Krishna on the altar
• As far as possible try and offer natural incense sticks
• Plastic flowers are not used in worship of the Lord
• Regularly polish the cups and arati paraphernalia and keep your altar sparkling
Anyone can maintain a simple but sublime standard of worship at home with pictures of the Panca-Tattva and the spiritual masters. Although one cannot physically dress and decorate the forms of the Lord in a picture, one can offer bhoga, perform arati and kirtan, and offer obeisances just as one does for the Lord in His three-dimensional murti.
Just as the blessings of the spiritual master are necessary before a devotee can perform Deity worship in the temple, those blessings are also needed before one can worship the Deity at home. Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-acharya of ISKCON, gives all the devotees the temple Deities to worship. If the spiritual master gives a disciple permission to worship a personal Deity, that disciple should understand that the personal Deity is an expansion of the temple Deity to whom he is connected by his location and service. The Lord is so kind that He agrees to appear in the devotee's own home, and He accepts the family's worship, making the home into a temple. However, the householder should be careful not to abuse the spiritual master's and the Lord's mercy by being neglectful in his service to the public temple and its presiding Deities, on the plea that he is serving the same Lord at home.
Srila Prabhupada recommended the worship of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai for householders because Their worship is simple. Generally, a devotee should not worship Radha-Krishna Deities at home unless he can maintain a high standard of service throughout the day. Although one may also worship Jagannatha Deities at home in a simple way, one should try to regularly offer Jagannatha oppulent bhoga, since He is daily worshiped with many offerings of bhoga in Jagannatha Puri. Srila Prabhupada frequently stressed how important it is for householder devotees to worship the Lord as opulently and as sincerely as possible. A householder should not be miserly in his worship.
It is also a nice practice to train children to speak to the pictures/Deities on your home altar. They may share their joys and difficulties with Krishna in this way – and feel His reciprocation.
Offering what you eat - Prasadam
Offering Food before we eat – Prasadam
Prasadam literally means “mercy” and devotees of ISKCON use this term to describe pure vegetarian food that has been offered to Lord Krishna. Food that has been offered to the Deities in the temple is known asmaha-prasadam.
Most Food contains karma which binds us to the cycle of birth and death because although it may be vegetarian one may still harm other living entities in the process of obtaining it: The farmer may accidentally kill insects during the cultivation of crops or the plants may feel some pain when they are uprooted. However, when the food is prepared for the pleasure of Krishna He accepts the love and devotion present in the offering and removes all sins from it. The karma present in the food is therefore transformed into spiritual energy. Honouring (eating) this sanctified prasadam is the basis of bhakti-yoga and helps one to make tangible spiritual advancement. Sharing and distributing prasadam is also very important!
What can we offer to Krishna?
Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-gita that “if one offers me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water, I will accept it.” Krishna does not accept meat, fish or eggs. Onions, garlic and caffeine are also not offered because they cause disturbance to the mind and are therefore not beneficial for meditation and spiritual life. One should use fresh, natural ingredients as far as possible. One should also pay special attention to all labels of items bought in supermarkets: most cheeses contain non-vegetarian rennet, some yogurts contain gelatin and many non-vegetarian products are hidden behind e-numbers, preservatives, flavours and colours.
How to prepare an offering
Cleanliness is next to Godliness, so one should keep the kitchen very clean. As the food is to be offered to Krishna, the Supreme enjoyer, one should not taste anything before the offering is made. The most essential ingredients are love and devotion, so while cooking one should remember that one is cooking for Krishna’s pleasure. Listening to a devotional CD helps create a nice meditative mood in the kitchen.
Making an offering
A portion of each preparation is arranged in Krishna’s personal plate and bowls. Fresh water is offered in His cup. A Tulasi leaf is placed on each preparation.
Beginners may chant the maha-mantra Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare three times.
For a more elaborate offering the prayers below are chanted three times each while ringing a bell. Although the offering is made to Krishna, it is done through the spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, so we begin with prayers to his lotus feet:
1. Prayer to Srila Prabhupada:
nama om visnu-padaya krishna-presthaya bhutale srimate bhaktivedanta-swamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracharine nirvishesha sunyavadi paschyatya desha tarine
"I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Chaitanya Deva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism."
2. Prayer to Lord Chaitanya:
namo maha-vadanyaya krishna-prema-pradaya te krishnaya krishna-chaitanya-namne gaura-twishe namah
"O most munificent incarnation! You are Krishna Himself appearing as Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. You have assumed the golden colour of Srimati Radharani and You are widely distributing pure love of Krishna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You."
3. Prayer to Lord Krishna:
namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca jagad-dhitaya krishnaya govindaya namo namah
"I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Krishna, who is the worshipable Deity for all brahmanas, the well-wisher of the cows and the brahmanas and the benefactor of the whole world. I offer my repeated obeisances to the Personality of Godhead, known as Krishna and Govinda."
After offering the food to the Lord, we wait some minutes for Him to relish the preparations. Then the food is transferred from Krishna’s plate back into their respective recipients. Krishna’s plates need to be washed before the prasadam is served.
A special prayer is recited by devotees before honouring the prasadam, to thank the Lord for his mercy.
Prasada-sevaya
from Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Gitavali
1) bhai-re!
sharira avidya-jal, jodendriya tahe kal,
jive phele vishaya-sagore
ta'ra madhye jihva ati, lobhamoy sudurmati
ta'ke jeta kathina samsare
2) krishna baro doyamoy, koribare jihva jay,
swa-prasad-anna dilo bhai
sei annamrta pao, radha-krishna-guna gao,
preme dako chaitanya-nitai
"O brothers! This material body is a place of ignorance, and the senses are a network of paths to death. The senses throw the soul into this ocean of material sense enjoyment and, of all the senses, the tongue is most voracious and uncontrollable; it is very difficult to conquer the tongue in this world. O brothers! Lord Krishna is very kind to us and has given us such nice prasadam, just to control the tongue. Now let us take this prasadam, to our full satisfaction and glorify Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha and Krishna and, in love, call for the help of Lord Chaitanya and Prabhu Nityananda."
How to perform Arati at home
If one has a home altar, he should perform at least one arati a day. Try and involve all the family members, especially children. By bowing down before the Lord, singing and dancing before Him, they will develop a natural affection for Him.
There are different types of aratis and the articles used in a full araticeremony are:
1. Large conch-shell (to blow)
2. A cup of fresh water and a spoon for achaman (purification)
3. Incense sticks (at least three)
4. Ghee lamp (usually with five wicks)
5. Small conch-shell (for offering water) with a stand
6. Container of water to be offered
7. Container in which offered water can be poured
8. Cloth or handkerchief
9. Small plate of flowers
10. Lighter or matches
11. Whisk (camara)
12. Peacock fan
13. Bell
Procedure:
Offer obeisances to Srila Prabhupada and your spiritual master if you have one. Perform achaman.
Pray to Srila Prabhupada and your spiritual master for permission to offerarati to the Lord. You may also offer some flower petals at their lotus feet. The mood is that each article you offer is offered on behalf of Srila Prabhupada.
The following list shows the order in which the articles are offered and how they are offered. Items 3–9 are offered first to Krishna, then toSrimati Radharani, then Gaura, then Nitai, then to the guru parampara, to Srila Prabhupada and finally to the devotees. Before offering each article, one’s hand and the article to be offered should be purified with three drops of water.
1. Conch shell is blown to announce the beginning of the ceremony
2. Bell is rung throughout
3. Incense is offered with seven circles around the whole body
4. Ghee lamp is offered with four circles around the feet; two around the mid body; three around the head; seven around the whole body
5. Water is offered with three circles around the head; seven around the whole body
6. Cloth is offered with seven circles around the whole body
7. Flowers are offered with seven circles around the whole body
8. Fan the whole body with the whisk seven times
9. Fan the whole body with the peacock fan seven times (summertime only)
10. Conch blown to announce the end of the ceremony
For dhupa-arati, only the following articles are offered:
1) an incense holder with an odd number of sticks (at least three)
2) flowers on a plate
3) whisk
4) a peacock fan (in warm weather)
After performing arati, offer your obeisances to Srila Prabhupada and your spiritual master, and pray for forgiveness for any offences caused during the worship.
Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Hayagriva Das, 18th November, 1968 :
“This letter describes a full arati, and it is not difficult to do. It can be accompanied by a kirtana. However, if you do not have the conch shell or fan available, the arati can consist of offering dhupa (incense), followed by the lamp and then a fragrant flower, accompanied by the chanting of Hare Krishna. In temples, the conch shell is also blown at the start ofarati and the incense is offered before the lamp”.
Deity worship at home
Please read the section “Setting up your home altar” before reading this section.
Some Preliminary Considerations Before Beginning Deity Worship at Home:
Srila Sanatana Goswami points out in his Dig-darcini-tika (11.63):If you cannot visit a public temple at least once a day, you have a valid reason to establish the Deity at home. But even in such a case, you should make every effort to visit a public temple as frequently as possible to see the Deities, associate with the devotees, and render some service in the temple.
Minimum Standards for Home Deity Worship:
In a letter Srila Prabhupada gives simple instructions for the worship of Gaura-Nitai, Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityanada: “He can worship Gaura-Nitai in his home. The most important element for their worship is the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra. They can have at least one arati, and whatever foodstuffs are prepared can be offered" (letter from Srila Prabhupada 15 February 1975).
In another letter Srila Prabhupada writes: "So far as taking care of the Deities and your family simultaneously, you have to do both mutually, but the main importance is Deity worship. Just like a busy housewife is always busy in household affairs, yet still she is engaged in dressing herself nicely, combing her hair, etc. So both things go together. Yes, at least once daily the Deity's clothes must be changed, in the morning. If the Deities are small, as they appear to be from the photograph, then they can be layed down in a bed at night. And they can be given nightgowns to wear before taking rest. That is nice. If there is time and facility then these things can be implemented. So far as bathing is concerned, it requires two hands and one tongue. In your left hand be ringing a bell and simultaneously with your right hand pour water. Chant Hare Krishna, Cintamani, Govinda Jaya Jaya, etc., like that. . . .(letter from Srila Prabhupada 1 May 1971).
Householders who find it difficult to dress their Deities daily may bathe and dress Them once a week.
Simple Home Worship Procedure:
The following is a simple procedure for Deity worship at home, using the worship of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai as an example. With minor adjustments, one could also follow this procedure for worshiping other Deities, or for worshiping the Panca-Tattva in a picture.
Waking the Deities:
1. After bathing, dressing, applying tilaka, and performing achaman, offer obeisances to the spiritual master.
2. While ringing a bell, call out jaya Sri-Sri- Gaura-Nitai! and turn on the altar lights.
3. Ringing a bell, touch the spiritual master's lotus feet (in the picture) and ask him to rise from bed; then touch the lotus feet of Gaura-Nitai and ask Them to rise from bed. (If the Deities are not put physically in beds, visualize that They have rested in bed and are now rising from it.)
4. Offer, or meditate on offering, water for Their Lordships to sip (achaman). Fill a small achaman cup with water, presenting three spoonfuls of water to each Deity, and then discard the water into a throw-out pot.
Bathing and dressing the Deities:
1. Gather all the required paraphernalia and arrange it neatly and conveniently for performing the worship. Make sure you have everything you need so that you will not have to interrupt the worship to get something. (Bathing receptacle, receptacle of warm water*, conch shell, cotton wool and cotton buds, ground tilak and fresh lemons **, Tulasileaves, flower petals, small cotton towels***, toothpick or small twig, change of clothes and ornaments for the Lord).
2. Sit on an asan and perform achaman; then sprinkle yourself, the area, and the paraphernalia with water, chanting the Hare Krsna mantra.
3. Offer worship to the spiritual master as follows:
Ringing a bell with your left hand, offer flowers at his lotus feet. Beg for his blessings to perform the worship of Gaura-Nitai. Then chant the guru-given Gayatri mantras silently.
4. Offer worship to Gaura-Nitai as follows:
a) Invite Their Lordships to the bathing receptacle with a gesture of the hands, remove Their clothing, cover Them with gamchas, and clean Them with a damp cloth. If the Deities are metal, polish Them at this time, using a cloth to apply powdered/grated gopi-candana (tilak) mixed with a little fresh lemon juice. So as to polish the Lord’s face while taking care to avoid the eyes and painted areas a cotton bud dipped in the tilak/lemon paste can be used. Clean off the paste with cotton wool dampened with fresh lemon juice.
b) Ringing a bell, pour water over Their Lordships from a conch held in your right hand. Fill the conch at least three times. Chant the Hare Krsna mantra or the Brahma-samhita prayers while bathing Their Lordships. You may need to additionally bathe the Deity with wet cotton wool paying special attention to fingers and toes.
c) Dry the Deities with towels while chanting the appropriate mantras and using a toothpick or twig mark The deities body with tilak markings. Dress Them. The deities should be dressed in clothing suitable to the season-warm clothing in the cold season, light in the hot season. Offer ornaments and fresh flowers and garlands if possible.
d) Ringing a bell, offer flowers and Tulasi leaves (if available) withchandan to Their Lordships lotus feet.
e) Show the Lord a mirror kept for this purpose.
f) Roll a little cotton wool onto the end of a toothpick or twig. Dip it into some natural perfume and offer to the Deity by rubbing the cotton on the Deities' hands.
f) Offer obeisances and beg forgiveness for any offenses you may have commited in the worship.
g) Finally, clear away the paraphernalia used in the worship. At this time you may offer a simple arati with incense, flowers, and chamara- or simply chamara-while playing a recording of the Govindam song.
h) Offer some fruits or sweets.
*The principal element of the bath is pure water, with certain restrictions. Do not collect the water at night, nor touch it with your fingernails. In descending order of quality, the best water for bathing the Deity is Ganga or Yamuna water, then water from any tirtha, water from a river that flows directly to the ocean, water from a tributary river, water from a natural spring, lake, pond, or man-made reservoir, water from a well, and finally water from a pot. Bring the water to a pleasant temperature for bathing. Soak flowers in the water and add Tulasi leaves when bathing Krishna or Gaura-Nitai.
**Brass deities require regular polishing. This is generally done with a paste made of tilak and fresh lemon juice. You may also polish the Deities with a paste made from tamarind pulp and a little water.
To make the paste, add fresh lemon juice to powdered tilak, after a few moments the mixture will bubble. Apply the tilak to the body of the Deity with cotton wool. Always check the paste before applying to see that there are no small stones that will scratch the Deity.
***The towels for drying the Lord should be pure, soft cotton. Cotton is better than silk because it is absorbent and can be washed repeatedly. Do not use synthetics
Always wash and dry new cloth before using for your Deities.
Services During the Day
In home worship the Lord is accepted as the most important guest. One does not have to follow strict temple worship rules of punctuality and minimum offerings. However one should cook and offer whatever the family will eat to the Lord first.
If the Deities reside in your living room, amid various family activities, you may need to close the Deity curtains when the family is eating and at other times of the day. When the Deities are visible, make sure They are offered proper respect.
Putting the Deities to Rest at Night
1. Offer obeisances to your spiritual master and perform achaman.
2. Remove The Lord's flute and garlands and crowns if possible.
3. Arrange the Deities' beds and invite Their Lordships to take rest. Lay Them down in Their beds and visualize that you are massaging Their legs. If you cannot do this meditate on doing so. In winter wrap a woolen shawl around the Deities.
4. Finally, offer obeisances and turn off the lights
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