Śrī Śrī Gurv-aṣṭaka

(Eight Prayers Glorifying the Spiritual Master)
by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura

1. saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-
   trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam
   prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya
   vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
   "The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities."
2. mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta-
   vāditra-mādyan-manaso rasena
   romāñca-kampāśru-taraṅga-bhājo
   vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
   "Chanting the Holy Name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the saṅkīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master."
3. śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā-
   śṛṅgāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau
   yuktasya bhaktāṁś ca niyuñjato 'pi
   vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
   "The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master."
4. catur-vidha-śrī-bhagavat-prasāda-
   svādv-anna-tṛptān hari-bhakta-saṅghān
   kṛtvaiva tṛptiṁ bhajataḥ sadaiva
   vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
   "The spiritual master is always offering Kṛṣṇa four kinds of delicious food. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasāda, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master."
5. śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apāra-
   mādhurya-līlā guṇa-rūpa-nāmnām
   pratikṣaṇāsvādana-lolupasya
   vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
   "The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Rādhikā and Mādhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master."
6. nikuñja-yūno rati-keli-siddhyai
   yā yālibhir yuktir apekṣaṇīyā
   tatrāti-dākṣyād ati-vallabhasya
   vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
   "The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopīs, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vṛndāvana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master."
7. sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair
   uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ
   kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya
   vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
   "The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Śrī Hari [Kṛṣṇa]."
8. yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
   yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi
   dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ
   vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
   "By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kṛṣṇa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master."

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, who appeared in the latter half of the 17th Century, is a great spiritual master in the Kṛṣṇa conscious chain of gurus and disciples. He says that one should loudly chant the following eight prayers, with care and attention, during brāhma-muhūrta, the auspicious time an hour and a half before sunrise when devotional practices are especially potent. Anyone who thus chants these eight beautiful prayers glorifying the spiritual master will certainly get a chance to render direct service to Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of Vṛndāvana, after the demise of his body.

Prabhupāda's purport on Gurv-aṣṭakam | Prabhupāda singing Gurv-aṣṭakam

Nṛsiṁhāratī

Tulasī Āratī

1. namo namaḥ tulasī kṛṣṇa-preyasi namo namaḥ
   rādhā-kṛṣṇa-sevā pāvo ei abilāṣī
   O Tulasī, beloved of Kṛṣṇa, I bow before you again and again. My desire is to obtain the service of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.
2. ye tomāra śaraṇa loy, tara vāñchā pūrṇa hoy
   kṛpā kori' koro tāre vṛndāvana-vāsi
   Whoever takes shelter of you has his wishes fulfilled. Bestowing your mercy on him, you make him a resident of Vṛndāvana.
3. mora ei abhilāṣa, vilāsa kuñje dio vāsa
   nayana heribo sadā yugala-rūpa-rāśi
   My desire is that you will also grant me a residence in the pleasure groves of Śrī Vṛndāvana-dhāma. Thus, within my vision I will always behold the beautiful pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
4. ei nivedana dhara, sakhīra anugata koro
   sevā-adhikāra diye koro nīja dāsī
   I beg you to make me a follower of the cowherd damsels of Vraja. Please give me the privilege of devotional service and make me your own maidservant.
5. dīna kṛṣṇa-dāse koy, ei yena mora hoy
   śrī-rādhā-govinda-preme sadā yena bhāsi
   This very fallen and lowly servant of Kṛṣṇa prays, ''May I always swim in the love of Śrī Rādhā and Govinda.''

In the Skanda Purāṇa there is a statement eulogizing the tulasī tree as follows: "Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the tulasī tree, which can immediately vanquish volumes of sinful activities. Simply by seeing or touching this tree one can become relieved from all distresses and diseases. Simply by offering obeisances to and pouring water on the tulasī tree, one can become freed from the fear of being sent to the court of Yamarāj [the King of death, who punishes the sinful]. If someone sows a tulasī tree somewhere, certainly he becomes devoted to Lord Kṛṣṇa. And when the tulasī leaves are offered in devotion at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, there is the full development of love of Godhead."

In India every Hindu, even those not belonging to the Vaiṣṇava group, take special care of the tulasī tree. Even in great cities where it is very difficult to keep a tulasī tree, people are to be found very carefully keeping this plant. They water it and offer obeisances to it, because worship of the tulasī tree is very important in devotional service.

In the Skanda Purāṇa there is another statement about tulasī, as follows: "Tulasī is auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply by touching, simply by remembering, simply by praying to, simply by bowing before, simply by hearing about or simply by sowing this tree, there is always auspiciousness. Anyone who comes in touch with the tulasī tree in the above-mentioned ways lives eternally in the Vaikuṇṭha world."

Reference: The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 11

Govindam Prayers (Śrī Brahma-saṁhitā)

1. veṇuḿ kvaṇantam aravinda-dalāyatākṣam-
   barhāvataḿsam asitāmbuda-sundarāńgam
   kandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya-viśeṣa-śobhaḿ
   govindam ādi-puruṣaḿ tam ahaḿ bhajāmi
   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.
2. ańgāni yasya sakalendriya-vṛtti-manti
   paśyanti pānti kalayanti ciraḿ jaganti
   ānanda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala-vigrahasya
   govindam ādi-puruṣaḿ tam ahaḿ bhajāmi
   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.

Guru Vandanā (Śrī-Guru-Caraṇa-Padma)

by Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura

1. śrī-guru-caraṇa-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma,
   bando mui sāvadhāna mate
   yāhāra prasāde bhāi, e bhava toriyā yāi,
   kṛṣṇa-prāpti hoy yāhā hoite
   The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Kṛṣṇa.
2. guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koriyā aikya
   ār nā koriho mane āśā
   śrī-guru-caraṇe rati, ei sei uttama-gati,
   ye prasāde pūre sarva āśā
   My only wish is to have my consciousness purified by the words emanating from his lotus mouth. Attachment to his lotus feet is the perfection that fulfills all desires.
3. cakhudāna dilo yei, janme janme prabhu sei,
   dibya-jñān hṛde prokāśito
   prema-bhakti yāhā hoite, avidyā vināśa yāte,
   vede gāy yāhāra carito
   He opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my Lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic prema emanates; by him ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.
4. śrī-guru karuṇā-sindhu, adhama janāra bandhu,
   lokanāth lokera jīvana
   hā hā prabhu koro doyā, deho more pada-chāyā,
   ebe yaśa ghuṣuk tribhuvana
   Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord and master of the devotees. O master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.