Translated by K. Srinivasan
Om ! May my speech be based on (i.e. accord with) the mind;
May my mind be based on speech.
O Self-effulgent One, reveal Thyself to me.
May you both (speech and mind) be the carriers of the Veda to me.
May not all that I have heard depart from me.
I shall join together (i.e. obliterate the difference of) day
And night through this study.
I shall utter what is verbally true;
I shall utter what is mentally true.
May that (Brahman) protect me;
May That protect the speaker (i.e. the teacher), may That protect me;
May that protect the speaker – may That protect the speaker.
Om ! Let there be Peace in me !
Let there be Peace in my environment !
Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me !
1. Then the Prajapàti (Creator) asked Guha: “Oh Sir, (please) tell me the rules regarding the rosary of beads. What is its characteristic ? How many varieties of rosaries are there ? How many threads (does a rosary) contain ? How should it be made ? What are its colours ? How is it consecrated ? Who is its presiding deity ? And what is the benefit (of using it) ?”
2. Guha replied: “(It is made of any one of the following 10 materials) Coral, Pearl, Crystal, Conch, Silver, Gold, Sandal, Putra-Jìvikà, Lotus or Rudràksha. Each head must be devoted and thought of as presided over by the deities of Akàra to Kshakàra. Golden thread should bind the beads through the holes. On its right silver (caps) and left copper. The face of a bead should face, the face of another head and tail, the tail. Thus a circular formation must be made.
3. The internal thread must be thought of as Brahma (the Supreme Being). The right side silver cap must be considered to be the place of Shiva and Copper caps belonging to Vishnu. The face must be thought of as Sarasvati and the tail as Gayatri. The hole is Knowledge. The knot must be thought of as nature. The Beads representing vowels must be white (since they represent Sàttvika Guna). Those which represent mutes-consonants must be yellowish (since they are the result of mixture of Sattva and Tamas). The balance must be red in complexion (since they are Ràjasic).
4. Then (after thus meditating the presiding deities in different part of the rosary) bathe it (or clean it) in the milk got from 5 types of cows (like Nanda); and then in Pancha-gavya (a sanctified liquid prepared from the cow-dung, cow’s urine, ghee, curd and milk) and darbha grass immersed in water and then in the individual Pancha-gavya (in the aforesaid 5 things separately) and in sandal water. Then sprinkle water with darbha grass uttering Omkàra. Besmear it with eight fragrant (pastes) of eight (sweet-smelling substances like Sandal, Kasturi etc.,). Place it on flowers. Meditate (all) the letters in the rosary (or each letter in each bead).
5. Om Aëkàra, the conqueror of death, Omnipresent, be established in the 1st head !
Om Àëkàra, He who of the nature of attracting, found everywhere, be established in the 2nd head !
Om Iëkàra, the giver of wealth and firmness, be established in the 3rd head !
Om Ìëkàra, the maker of clarity in speech and clear One, be established in the 4th head!
Om Uëkàra, the giver of strength, the essence of everything, be established in the 5th head!
Om Ùëkàra, One who drives away evil spirits, the intolerable, be established in the 6th head !
Om Äëkàra, One who disturbs the (the dis-order), the moving One, be established in the 7th head !
Om Íëkàra, the deluding one, the effulgent and shining, be established in the 8th head!
Om Îëkàra, the hater, the devourer of everything else (or one who conceals everything), be established in the 9th head !
Om Îëkàra, the deluding one, be established in the 10th head !
Om Eëkàra, One who attracts everyone, Suddha-sattva, be established in the 11th head!
Om Aiëkàra, the Pure and Noble (Suddha-sattvika), attracting human beings, be established in the 12th head !
Om Oëkàra, the (base) of entire speech, eternally pure, be established in the 13th head !
Om Auëkàra, of the nature of speech, capable of attracting the peaceful, be established in the 14th head !
Om Aëkàra, capable of attracting elephants etc., attracting, be established in the 15th head!
Om Aãkàra, capable of destroying death terrible, be established in the 16th head !
Om Kaëkàra, the remover of all poison, giver of auspiciousness, be established in the 17th head !
Om Khaëkàra, the tormentor (or disturber) spreading everywhere, be established in the 18th head !
Om Gaëkàra, He who puts dows all obstacles, the greatest, be established in the 19th head !
Om Ghaëkàra, the giver of ………. (sanbhasya), stupefier, be established in the 20th head!
Om Ñaëkàra, the destroyer of all poisons, the sharp, be established in the 21st head !
Om Caëkàra, the destroyer of ……… (abhichara), cruel, be established in the 22nd head !
Om Chaëkàra, the destroyer of goblins, terrifying, be established in the 23rd head !
Om Jaëkàra, the destroyer of …….. (krityas – abhichara), unstoppable, be established in the 24th head !
Om Jhaëkàra, the destroyer of ……. (bhutas), be established in the 25th head !
Om Ñaëkàra, the churner of ……… (mrityu), be established in the 26th head !
Om Âaëkàra, the remover of all diseases, the good One, be established in the 27th head !