In his book Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma (Part 2, Chapter 1), Śrīla Gurudeva explains, through the story of Murārī Gupta, the proper mood in which to approach Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrī Gaurāṅga:
Once, Śrīman Mahāprabhu and Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu were sitting together in Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita’s house. Murārī Gupta first paid his obeisances to Gauracandra and then to Nityānanda Prabhu. This did not please Śrīman Mahāprabhu who told him, “You have transgressed Vaiṣṇava etiquette.” That night Mahāprabhu entered Murārī’s dream and spoke to him of the glories of Nityānanda Prabhu. “Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu is akhaṇḍa guru-tattva, the original undivided truth of the spiritual master. First, the devotee worships the spiritual master and then he worships the Supreme Lord. If a devotee transgresses this order the Supreme Lord does not accept his worship of Him.” The next morning Murārī first offered his obeisances to Nityānanda Prabhu and then to Mahāprabhu. This greatly satisfied Mahāprabhu.
In this way, one must worship Śrī Gaurāṅga only after offering respects and taking permission from Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu.
There are different methods to worship Śrī Gaura-Nitāi according to various considerations. For example, some worship Śrī Gaura-Nitāi separately and some worship Them together, some worship Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu first and some worship Śrī Gaurāṅga first. There is not only one right way to worship Them; they are worshiped according the mood and qualification of the devotee. The process given below is just one of the various ways by which one can worship Śrī Gaura-Nitāi.
Waking Śrī Gaura-Nitāi
Enter the temple and, while remaining outside the deity room, ring the temple bell [or a hand held bell]. Reciting either the prayers from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.87.14–41) or the following verses, pray to the Lord to awaken.
so ’sāv adabhra-karuṇo bhagavān vivṛddha-
prema-smitena nayanāmburuhaṁ vijṛmbhan
utthāya viśva-vijayāya ca no viṣādaṁ
mādhvyā girāpanayatāt puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.9.25)
Śrī Bhagavān, who is supreme and primeval, is unlimitedly merciful. I pray that He bless me with His smiling glance by opening His lotus eyes. He can uplift the entire cosmic creation and remove our grief and sorrow with the sweet words of instruction emanating from His lotus mouth.
deva prapannārtti-hara
prasādaṁ kuru keśava
avalokana-dānena
bhūyo māṁ pārayācyuta
O Keśava, O infallible one, O remover of the distress of the surrendered souls, kindly bestow Your mercy upon me by again awarding me with Your transcendental glance.
jaya jaya kṛpāmaya jagatera nātha
sarva jagatere kara śubha dṛṣṭi-pāt
O Bhagavān! All glories, all glories unto You, O merciful Lord of the universe, please cast Your auspicious glance upon all the worlds.
Then clap three times and enter the deity room. Light the oil lamp [or turn on a soft light] and sit down on the āsana. Perform ordinary ācamana and, while ringing the bell, proceed to the place where śrī gurudeva is resting. Awaken him by touching his feet and chant the following prayers.
uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha śrī guro
tyaja nidrāṁ kṛpāmaya
O most merciful gurudeva, please arise, please arise and give up your sleep.
Then, touching the feet of Śrī Nityānanda, awaken Him by chanting:
uttiṣṭha jāhnaveśvara
yoga-nidrāṁ tyaja prabho
nāmno haṭṭe divya-nāmaṁ
su-śraddhārthaṁ vitarasi
O Lord of Jāhnavā, Nityānanda Prabhu, please arise and give up Your divine sleep. At the marketplace of śrī nāma, You distribute that transcendental name, asking only for one’s faith in payment.
Next, touching the feet of Śrī Gaurāṅgadeva, awaken Him by chanting:
uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha gaurāṅga
jahi nidrāṁ mahāprabho
śubha-dṛṣṭi pradānena
trailokya-maṅgalaṁ kuru
O Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu, please arise, please arise and give up Your sleep. Please benedict the three worlds with Your auspicious glance.
Afterward, meditate that Śrī Gaura-Nitāi have risen and taken Their seat on the altar. [Physically place Them on the altar if They were removed from there the previous night and placed in a bed.]
Washing Their mouth
Now, while chanting the following mantras, one should first offer ācamana (water for cleansing the mouth) to śrī guru and Śrī Gaura-Nitāi. Then offer a twig for cleaning the teeth (danta-kāṣṭha), and again ācamana:
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ aiṁ gurave namaḥ
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
Ācamana is offered by tipping a spoonful of water from the pañca-pātra (ācamana cup) into an empty container (the throw-out pot), while ringing the bell and saying the respective mantra.
eṣa danta-kāṣṭhaḥ aiṁ gurave namaḥ
eṣa danta-kāṣṭhaḥ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
eṣa danta-kāṣṭhaḥ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
The above mantras signify the offering of a twig for cleaning the teeth (danta-kāṣṭha). This item is offered by mind rather than by offering the actual article. Generally, in the absence of any item, one may meditate on the particular item and, while saying the appropriate mantra, offer water from the pañca-pātra into the throw-out pot.
Now offer ācamana like before, but twelve times. [Three times is also acceptable.]
Cleaning the deity and the altar
Wipe the face, hands and feet of Śrī Gaura-Nitāi with a clean cloth. After removing old garlands, tulasī leaves, and flowers, clean the altar and then purify one’s hands. Offer tulasī and decorate Śrī Gaura-Nitāi with Their crowns and ornaments while chanting Their appropriate mūla-mantra. Then perform maṅgala-ārati.
Offering Foodstuffs
While ringing the bell and chanting the following mantras, offer the bhoga as indicated:
eṣa puṣpāñjaliḥ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
eṣa puṣpāñjaliḥ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer puṣpāñjali (a few flower petals) at the lotus feet of each deity.
idaṁ āsanaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ āsanaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Place flowers on the āsana [that has been placed in front of the bhoga, for the deity to sit on while eating. Or, offer an āsana by mind and offer water from the pañca-pātra into the throw-out pot].
etat pādyaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
etat pādyaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer water [from the pañca-pātra] into the throw-out pot [to signify the offering of footbath].
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer water [from the pañca-pātra] into the throw-out pot [to signify the offering of mouthwash].
If offering a sweet preparation and a glass of water, say the following:
idaṁ miṣṭānna-pānīyādikam klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ miṣṭānna-pānīyādikam oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer the sweet preparation (miṣṭānna) and a glass of water (pānī) by placing a tulasī leaf and a drop of water from the conch shell [or pañca-pātra] on each preparation. [Or, use drops of water to make a circle around the offering.]
If offering a variety of foodstuffs, say the following:
īdaṁ anna-vyañjana-pānīyādikaṁ sarvaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
īdaṁ anna-vyañjana-pānīyādikaṁ sarvaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Keeping one’s right hand above the bhoga plate, chant the gopāla-mantra eight times. Come out of the deity room and close the door. Chant the gaura-gāyatrī ten times as well as the kāma-gāyatrī ten times and wait for some time for the Lord to take His meal.
Again enter the deity room and, with the following mantras, offer ācamana and tāmbūla to the deity:
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer water [from the pañca-pātra] into the throw-out pot [to signify the offering of mouthwash].
idaṁ tāmbūlaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ tāmbūlaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer water [from the pañca-pātra] into the throw-out pot [to signify the offering of tāmbūla].
[Now the bhoga offering is complete.]
Offering mahā-prasāda
Offer the prasāda to śrī gurudeva,Tulasī-devī, the Vaiṣṇavas and the Gauḍavāsīs by chanting the following mantras:
idaṁ mahā-prasādaṁ aiṁ śrī gurave namaḥ
idaṁ mahā-prasādaṁ oṁ tulasyai namaḥ
idaṁ mahā-prasādaṁ oṁ sarva-vaiṣṇavebhyo namaḥ
idaṁ mahā-prasādaṁ oṁ sarva-vaiṣṇavībhyo namaḥ
idaṁ mahā-prasādaṁ oṁ sarva gauḍavāsībhyo namaḥ
Arcana of Śrī Gaura-Nitāi
Begging the mercy of śrī gurudeva, begin the arcana of Śrī Gaurāṅga and Śrī Nityānanda by first meditating on Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma.
Meditation on Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma
svardhunyāś cāru-tīre sphuritam ati-bṛhat-kūrma-pṛṣṭhābha-gātraṁ
ramyārāmāvṛtaṁ san-maṇi-kanaka-mahāsadma-saṅghaiḥ parītam
nityaṁ pratyalayodyat-praṇaya-bhara-lasat-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanāḍhyaṁ
śrī-vṛndāṭavy-abhinnaṁ tri-jagad-anupamaṁ śrī-navadvīpam īḍe
All glories to Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma, situated on the beautiful banks of Śrī Bhāgīrathī. It is spread wide in the shape of a tortoise shell and is adorned with jewelled palaces of gold and numerous charming resting places. That place, where the devotees are submerged in the inner moods of śrī kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana-rasa, is non-different from Śrī Vṛndāvana-dhāma and is matchless within all the three worlds.
Then meditate on the lotus feet of Śrīman Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrīman Mahāprabhu sitting on a jewelled altar at Yogapīṭha Māyāpura, within the boundary of Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma.
Mantra for meditation on Śrī Nityānanda
(oṁ) vidyut-dāma-madābhimardana-ruciṁ vistīrṇa-vakṣa-sthalaṁ
premodghūrṇita-locanāñcala-lasat-smerābhiramyānanam
nānā-bhūṣaṇa-bhūṣitaṁ sumadhuraṁ vibhrad ghanābhāmbaraṁ
sarvānandakaraṁ paraṁ pravara-nityānanda-candraṁ bhaje
I worship Śrī Nityānanda-candra, who is unparalleled in every respect, whose body displays an unprecedented luster that derides the splendor of lightning, who has a broad chest, whose eyes are rolling with the emotional ecstasies of prema, whose face is adorned with a gentle smile, whose limbs are decorated with beautiful ornaments, whose body is covered with a bluish garment, and who grants the topmost bliss to everyone.
Mantra for meditation on Śrī Gaura
śrīman-mauktika-dāma-baddha-cikuraṁ susmera-candrānanaṁ
śrī-khaṇḍāguru-cāru-citra-vasanaṁ srag-divya-bhūṣāñcitam
nṛtyāveśa-rasānumoda-madhuraṁ kandarpa-veśojjvalaṁ
caitanyaṁ kanaka-dyutiṁ nija-janaiḥ saṁsevyamānaṁ bhaje
I worship Śrī Caitanyadeva, whose hair is intertwined with beautiful garlands of pearls, whose face is splendorous like a radiant moon, whose limbs are anointed with candana and aguru, and who, adorned with wonderful clothes, garlands and transcendental glittering ornaments, dances while absorbed in the ecstasies of sweet mellows. His golden-complexioned form, adorned with the ornaments of bhāva, makes Him appear like an enchanting Cupid amidst the presence of His intimate associates.
Offering praise (jaya-dāna)
jaya śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda
śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda kī jaya
Arcana procedure
In the same manner as explained in the arcana of śrī guru, first worship Śrī Gaurāṅga and Śrī Nityānanda within the mind (mānasa-pūjā). Then, worship Them with external items in Their form as the deity or śrī śālagrāma-śilā, while reciting the gaura-mantra (the mūla-mantra for Śrī Gaurāṅga), as received from śrī gurudeva, and the nityānanda-mantra (the mūla-mantra for Śrī Nityānanda).
While offering the following articles, meditate that, having requested Śrī Gaurāṅgadeva and Śrī Nityānanda to sit in the snāna-pātra, one is bathing Them.
Reception
(1) āsana (seat)
idaṁ āsanaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ āsanaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer flowers dipped in candana into the snāna-pātra for the purpose of offering āsanas.
(2) svāgata (a welcome)
prabho! kṛpayā svāgataṁ kuru klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
prabho! kṛpayā svāgataṁ kuru oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
With folded hands, invite Śrīman Mahāprabhu and Śrī Nityānanda to sit on the āsana situated in the snāna-pātra.
(3) pādya (footbath)
etat pādyaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
etat pādyaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer water at Their lotus feet into the snāna-pātra.
(4) arghya (a symbolic offering)
idaṁ arghyaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ arghyaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer arghya into the snāna-pātra.
(5) ācamanīya (mouthwash)
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer water into the throw-out pot.
(6) madhuparka (a sweet liquid food)
eṣa madhuparkaḥ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
eṣa madhuparkaḥ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer madhuparka into the snāna-pātra.
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer water into the throw-out pot.
Bathing and Dressing
(7) snāna (bath)
Afterward, meditate on applying oil to the beautiful limbs of Śrī Gaura-Nitāi. [Or, if the śilā or deity is in the bathing pot, one may directly apply the fragrant oil.]
idaṁ snānīyaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ snānīyaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
While ringing the bell and reciting prayers, bathe Śrī Gaura-Nitāi with fragrant water poured from the conch shell into the snāna-pātra.
After bathing Śrī Gaura-Nitāi, dry Their bodies with a cloth. [Or, if one has not actually placed the deities in the bathing pot, offer a cloth by mind or wave a cloth in front of Śrī Gaura-Nitāi in ārati fashion.]
(8) vastra (cloth)
idaṁ sottarīya-vastraṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ sottarīya-vastraṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer two flowers for each deity into the throw-out pot for the purpose of offering garments [or actually dress the deities].
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer water into the throw-out pot.
After this, meditate on Śrī Gaura-Nitāi sitting at Their place on the altar feeling very satisfied. Touch Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu's lotus feet and chant His mūla-mantra eight times and then touch Śrī Gaurasundara's lotus feet and chant His mūla-mantra eight times and then continue.
(9) upavīta (sacred thread)
idaṁ upavītaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ upavītaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer the sacred thread (upavīta) to Śrī Gaurāṅga and Śrī Nityānanda, or in its absence, a flower.
idaṁ tilakaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ tilakaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Draw the tilaka mark on the body of Śrī Gaurāṅga and Śrī Nityānanda [or meditate on doing so].
(10) bhūṣaṇa (ornaments)
idaṁ ābharaṇaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ ābharaṇaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
For the purpose of decorating with ornaments, offer a flower.
Worship
(11) gandha (scented candana)
eṣa gandhaḥ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
eṣa gandhaḥ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer gandha [by dipping flowers in candana them] at the lotus feet of Śrī Gaura-Nitāi.
(12) puṣpa (flowers)
idaṁ sagandhaṁ puṣpaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ sagandhaṁ puṣpaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer a flower dipped in candana at the lotus feet of Śrī Gaura-Nitāi.
etat tulasī patraṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
etat tulasī patraṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer tulasī leaves dipped in candana at Their lotus feet.
(13) dhūpa (incense)
eṣa dhūpaḥ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
eṣa dhūpaḥ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
[To signify the offering of incense] offer water into the throw-out pot.
(14) dīpa (ghee lamp)
eṣa dīpaḥ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
eṣa dīpaḥ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
[To signify the offering of a ghee lamp] offer water into the throw-out pot.
(15) naivedya (foodstuffs)
Offer an āsana, pādya and ācamana as before, and then offer foodstuffs (naivedya). [One can offer actual foodstuffs, or, as a substitute, offer water into the throw-out pot, while saying the mantras below.]
idaṁ naivedyaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ naivedyaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Place a tulasī leaf and a drop of water from the conch shell on each preparation.
idaṁ pānīyaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ pānīyaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Place a tulasī leaf and a drop of water from the conch shell in the drinking cup.
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer water into the throw-out pot.
After offering foodstuffs, meditate that Śrī Gaura-Nitāi are very happily situated at their places on the altar and continue as follows:
(16) mālya (garland)
idaṁ tāmbūlaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ tāmbūlaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer tāmbūla, or in the absence of tāmbūla, offer a flower.
idaṁ mālyaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ mālyaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer a flower garland or in the absence of a garland, offer flowers.
idaṁ sarvaṁ klīṁ gaurāya svāhā
idaṁ sarvaṁ oṁ nityānandāya namaḥ
Offer a flower at the lotus feet of Śrī Gaura-Nitāi [representing all the items (sarvam) that are very dear to Them that may not have been offered].
After performing the worship, chant nityānanda-gāyatrī (klīṁ nityānandāya vidmahe, saṅkarṣaṇāya dhīmahi, tan no balaḥ pracodayāt) ten times and gaura-gāyatrī ten times. Then offer prayers and praṇāma.
Obeisances to Śrī Nityānanda
nityānanda namas tubhyaṁ
premānanda-pradāyine
kalau kalmaṣa-nāśāya
jāhnavā-pataye namaḥ
I offer repeated obeisances unto Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, who bestows the bliss of divine love, who eliminates the contamination of the age of Kali, and who is the husband of Jāhnavā-devī.
saṅkarṣaṇaḥ kāraṇa-toya-śāyī
garbhoda-śāyī ca payobdhi-śāyī
śeṣaś ca yasyāṁśa-kalāḥ sa nityā-
nandākhya-rāmaḥ śaraṇaṁ mamāstu
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ädi-līlā 1.7)
Saṅkarṣaṇa, Śeṣa Nāga, and the Viṣṇus who lie on the Kāraṇa Ocean, Garbha Ocean, and Kṣīra Ocean, are the plenary portions and portions of the plenary portions of Śrī Nityānanda Rāma. May He give me shelter.
Prayers to Śrī Gaurāṅga
dhyeyaṁ sadā paribhava-ghnam abhīṣṭa-dohaṁ
tīrthāspadaṁ śiva-viriñci-nutaṁ śaraṇyam
bhṛtyārti-haṁ praṇata-pāla bhavābdhi-potaṁ
vande mahā-puruṣa te caraṇāravindam
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.33)
“O Śrīman Mahāprabhu, O protector of the surrendered souls, Your lotus feet are the object of my constant meditation. In meditating upon You, there is no restriction regarding time and place. You are the destroyer of the insults received from one’s senses and family members. (In other words, You destroy the material existence of the living entities.) You are the supreme abode of all holy places like Śrī Gauḍa, Śrī Vraja and Śrī Kṣetra-maṇḍala. You are the supreme shelter of the topmost devotees, who are followers of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in the Śrī Brahmā-Madhva-Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava line. You are glorified by Lord Śiva in his incarnation as Śrīman Advaita Ācārya, and by Lord Brahmā in his incarnation as nāmācārya Śrī Haridāsa Ṭhākura. You removed the distress of a sheltered brāhmaṇa suffering from leprosy, and You destroyed the ulterior desires for material enjoyment in the heart of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and King Pratāparudra. You destroy the evil paths of anyabhilāṣa – karma, jñāna, yoga and so on – which are the enemies of śuddha-bhakti. You are the bestower of kṛṣṇa-prema. I worship Your lotus feet, which are like a boat to help us cross the ocean of nescience.”
tyaktvā su-dustyaja-surepsita-rājya-lakṣmīṁ
dharmiṣṭha ārya-vacasā yad agād araṇyam
māyā-mṛgaṁ dayitayepsitam anvadhāvad
vande mahā-puruṣa te caraṇāravindam
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.34)
I worship the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Appearing as a mahā-puruṣa, or exalted personality, He retired to the forest (accepted sannyāsa) in order to uphold the words of a brāhmaṇa. In this way, He renounced His life and soul, Śrīmatī Viṣṇu-priyā-devī, who is the manifestation of Śrī Lakṣmī. His compassion has no limit. Bestowing His mercy freely upon the fallen souls, who are deeply entangled in hankering after women, children and wealth, He immerses them in the ocean of kṛṣṇa-prema.
pañca-tattvātmakaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ
bhakta-rūpa-svarūpakam
bhaktāvatāraṁ bhaktākhyaṁ
namāmi bhakta-śaktikam
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi-līlā 1.14)
I offer praṇāma to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in His five features, as bhakta-rūpa, the form of a devotee (Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu); bhakta-svarūpa, the expansion of a devotee (Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu); bhakta-āvatāra, the incarnation of a devotee (Śrī Advaita); bhakta, a pure devotee (Śrī Śrīvāsa); and bhakta-śakti, the devotional energy (Śrī Gadādhara).
Obeisances (praṇāma)
ānanda-līlāmaya-vigrahāya
hemābha-divyac-chavi-sundarāya
tasmai mahā-prema-rasa-pradāya
caitanya-candrāya namo namas te
Śrī Caitanya-candrāmṛta
I offer praṇāma to Śrī Caitanya-candra, whose form is the embodiment of blissful, transcendental pastimes, whose golden complexion is divinely beautiful, and who bestows the unlimited nectar of the mellows of prema.
namo mahā-vadānyāya
kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te
kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-
nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya-līlā 19.53)
I offer praṇāma to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself. He has assumed the golden hue of Śrīmatī Rādhikā and is munificently distributing kṛṣṇa-prema.
Pañca-tattva
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda
śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
Mahā-mantra
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare
In place of, or in addition to, Their individual obeisance verses, one may chant verses of Gaura-Nitāi together, such as:
ājānu-lambita-bhujau kanakāvadātau
saṅkīrtanaika-pitarau kamalāyātākṣau
viśvambharau dvija-varau yuga-dharma-pālau
vande jagat-priya-karau karuṇāvatārau
Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata (Ādi-khaṇḍa 1.1)
I worship the incarnations of mercy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, whose arms extend to Their knees, whose eyes are large like lotus petals, and whose complexions are enchanting and resplendent with the luster of molten gold, who are the maintainers of the entire universe, who appeared in the families of exalted brāhmaṇas, and inaugurate the saṅkīrtana movement, thus protecting the yuga-dharma and bestowing the highest auspiciousness upon the residents of the material world.
avatīrṇau sa-kāruṇyau
paricchinnau sad īśvarau
śrī kṛṣṇa caitanya-nityānandau
dvau bhrātarau bhaje
Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata (Ādi-khaṇḍa 1.3)
I worship the two brothers, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Śrī Nityānanda, who have descended in this material world in covered forms as the supreme controllers and the embodiments of mercy.
vande śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-
nityānandau sahoditau
gauḍodaye puṣpavantau
citrau śandau tamo-nudau
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi-līlā 1.2)
I offer obeisance unto Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, who are like the sun and moon. They have arisen simultaneously in the land of Gauḍa to dispel the darkness [of ignorance] and thus bestow astonishing benediction upon all.
Offering mahā-prasāda
After Their worship is complete, offer the mahā-prasāda and any prasādī (remnant) flowers or garlands to śrī guru and the Vaiṣṇavas by chanting the following mantras.
idaṁ mahā-prasādaṁ nirmālyādikam aiṁ śrī gurave namaḥ
idaṁ pānīyaṁ aiṁ śrī gurave namaḥ
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ aiṁ śrī gurave namaḥ
idaṁ sarvaṁ oṁ sarva-vaiṣṇavebhyo namaḥ
idaṁ sarvaṁ oṁ sarva-gauḍavāsibhyo namaḥ
Putting Śrī Gaura-Nitāi to Rest
After the [noontime or nighttime] ārati, remove Their crowns, flute and other ornaments, and pray to Them to lay down on Their bed to take rest (śayana) by saying:
āgaccha viśrama-sthānaṁ
asva-gaṇaiḥ saha gaurāṅga
kṣaṇaṁ viśramya sukhena
līlayā vihara prabho
O Lord Gaurāṅga, please come to Your resting place along with Your associates. O Lord, rest comfortably for a moment, enjoying Your pastimes.
āgaccha śayana-sthānaṁ
nityānanda jagad-guro
tava rūpe mahā-viṣṇor
anante śayanaṁ kuru
O spiritual master of the universe, Lord Nityānanda, please come to Your place of rest. In Your form of Mahā-Viṣṇu, please rest upon the thousand-headed serpent known as Śeṣa.
Then invite śrī gurudeva to his resting place with the following mantra:
āgaccha viśrāma-sthānaṁ
sva-gaṇaiḥ saha śrī-guro
O Gurudeva, kindly come to your resting place along with all your associates.
After this, offer fragrant drinks, tāmbūla with camphor, a garland and some flowers. [Or, one may simply place a fresh glass of water before the deities.] After paying prostrated obeisances, close the temple doors.
After completing the arrangements for putting śrī guru and Śrī Gaura-Nitāi to rest, pay obeisances to the mahā-prasāda and honour it after chanting the glories of mahā-prasāda, chanting nāma-saṅkīrtana and saying the jaya-dhvani. After honouring prasāda in the association of Vaiṣṇavas, participate in discussions about one’s worshipable deity (iṣṭa-goṣṭhī), read, with proper understanding, scriptures relevent to bhakti, and complete one’s chanting of a fixed number of harināma (names of Śrī Hari).
