Viñëüccäraëa-mätrena

kåñëasya smaranäd-dhareù

sarva vighnäni naçyanti

maìgalaà syän-na saàsayaù

“The Supreme Lord, Viñëu is all auspicious. Madhusüdana is all auspicious. Håñékeça is all auspicious. Hari is the abode of all auspiciousness. Simply by saying the name of Viñëu or by remembering Kåñëa all obstacles are destroyed and all auspiciousness comes. This is certain.” (Båhad Viñëu Puräëa)

satyaà kaliyuga vipra

çré harer näma maìgalaà

paraà svastyayanaà nånäà

nästy-eva gatir anyathä

“Oh brähmaëa, chanting of the holy name is the auspicious process in Kali Yuga. It is the highest auspiciousness for mankind. There is no other way.” (Padma Puräëa)

puëòarékäkña govinda

mädhavädéàç ca yaù smaret

tasya syan-maìgalaà sarva-

karmädau vighna-näçanaà

“He who remembers all the forms of the Lord such as Puëòarikäkña, Govinda and Mädhava, will attain all auspiciousness and destruction of all obstacles in all his activities.” (Viñëu Dharmottara)

maìgaläyatanaà kåñëaà

govindaà garuòa-dhvajam

mädhavaà puëòarékäkñaà

Viñëuà näräyaëaà harià

Väsudevaà jagannäthaà

acyutaà madhusüdanam

tathä mukundänantädén

yaù smaret prathamaà sudhéù

kartä sarvatra sutaräà

maìgalänanta karmaëaù

“The intelligent man who first remembers the various forms of the Lord and his pastimes before performing his activities, will attain infinite auspiciousness in all that he does.” (Rudra Yämala)

Adhiväsa

Adhiväsa is usually performed on the night preceding the saàskära proper along with the äcamana, Viñëu Smaraëam, Svasti Väcanam, Ghaöa Sthäpaëa, etc. (see Appendix II). If this cannot be done at that time, it should be performed on the morning of the ceremony, before the Sättvika Våddhi Çräddha. The auspicious articles used in the Adhiväsa are earth, stone, paddy, dürva, flowers, fruit, yoghurt, ghee, svastika, sindhüra, conch, kajjal, gorocana, white mustard seeds, gold, silver, copper, lamp, mirror, fragrant oil, tumeric, cloth, thread, cämara and candana. One should offer prayers while showing all the articles together, and then offer an ärati.

@FOOTNOTE: While saying the appropriate mantra, touch each item to the ghaöa (see Appendix II) which has been installed and worshipped (or if the Deity is present, first touch to His lotus feet and then to the pot), then to the earth, and finally to the heads of the beneficiaries of the rite (e.g. bride and groom if the saàskära is a marriage). After presenting all the items, gather them together on a tray and present them before the (the Deity), the pot and the beneficiaries.

· Earth from the Gaìgä

oà bhür-asi bhümirasy aditir asi

Viçvadhäya viçvasya bhuvanasya dhatré

påthivéà yaccha påthivéà drgàha påthivéà mä hiàséù

oà anayä gaìgä-måttikyä çubhädhiväsaù astu

“You are the earth, the supporter of the worlds, the supporter of the universe, sustaining everything. Control the earth, make the earth firm, do not harm the earth.”

· Gandha (sandalwood paste)

oà gandha-dväräà durädharñäà nitya puñöäà karéñiném

éçvarégà sarvabhütänäà tväm ihopahvaye çriyam

oà anena gandheëa çubädhiväsaù astu

“By gandha you become protected, continually nourished. Abounding in purity, wealth, beauty and prosperity, I call you here.”

Note: gandha may be mixed with other fragrances like musk, äguru, saffron, camphor, etc.

· Stone

oà pra-parvatasya våñabhasya påñöhän nävaç-caraëti svasi-ca iyänäù

tä avavåtan na dharä gudaktä ahià budhnyam anu réyamänä