Greeting the Deities

Sri Sri Krsna Balarama, Vrndavana

These verses from the Brahma-samhita are sung each morning as the Deities are greeted. Srila Prabhupada's disciples recorded them in London in 1970, and the recording is still played in temples around the world.

Govindam Prayers

Brahma-samhita 5.30

venum kwanantam aravinda-dalayataksham
barhavatamsam asitambuda-sundarangam
kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-vishesha-shobham
govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami

venum--the flute; kvanantam--playing; aravinda-dala--(like) lotus petals; ayata--blooming; aksam--whose eyes; barha--a peacock's feather; avatamsam--whose ornament on the head; asita-ambuda--(tinged with the hue of) blue clouds; sundara--beautiful; angam--whose figure; kandarpa--of Cupid; koti--millions; kamaniya--charming; visesa--unique; sobham-- whose loveliness; govindam--Govinda, adi-purusam--the original person; tam--Him; aham--I; bhajami--worship.

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept in playing on His flute, with blooming eyes like lotus petals with head decked with peacock's feather, with the figure of beauty tinged with the hue of blue clouds, and His unique loveliness charming millions of Cupids.

Brahma-samhita 5.32

angani yasya sakalendriya-vritti-manti
pashyanti panti kalayanti chiram jaganti
ananda-chinmaya-sad-ujjwala-vigrahasya
govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami

angani--the limbs; yasya--of whom; sakala-indriya--of all the organs; vrtti-manti--possessing the functions; pasyanti--see; panti--maintain; kalayanti--manifest; ciram--eternally; jaganti--the universes; ananda--bliss; cit--truth; maya--full of; sat--substantiality; ujjvala--full of dazzling splendor; vigrahasya--whose form; govindam--Govinda; adi-purusam--the original person; tam--Him; aham--I; bhajami--worship.

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord whose transcendental form is full of bliss, truth, substantiality and is thus full of the most dazzling splendor. Each of the limbs of that transcendental figure possesses in Himself, the full-fledged functions of all the organs, and eternally sees, maintains and manifests the infinite universes, both spiritual and mundane.

The Deities are now beautifully dressed and an arati is performed for them. The devotees also take charanamrita, the sweetened nectar from the lotus feet of the Deities. It is prasadam, substance sanctified by the mercy of Sri Krsna. After greeting the Deities is Guru puja- worship of the spiritual master. The spiritual master of the Hare Krsna movement is His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.