A Prayer Before Japa
cosmir
avighnam kuru male tvam harinama-japesu ca
sri radha-krsnayor dasyam dehi male tu prarthaye
“O Mala, please destroy inauspiciousness in my chanting of the holy
name of Lord Hari and grant me the position of service to Radha and
Krsna. This is all I pray, O Mala.”
Sri Nama-mala-samarpana-mantra (consecrating the mala):
nama cintamani-rupam namaiva parama gatih
namnah parataram nasti tasman nama upasmahe
“The Holy Name is a beautiful transcendental touchstone---it is the
supreme goal. There is nothing higher than the Holy Name. I therefore
worship the Holy Name.”
Sri Nama-mala sthapana-mantra (establishing the beads):
nama-yajno mahayajnah kalau kalmasa-nasanam
krsna-caitanya-prityarthe nama-yajna-samarpanam
“The sacrifice of the name is the highest yajna, which destroys the
contamination of Kali-yuga. In order to please Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, I offer this sacrifice of the holy name.”
patita-pavana nama nistaraya naradhamam
radha-krsna-svarupaya caitanyaya namo namah
“The holy name is the savior of the fallen. Oh, please deliver this
lowest of men. Obeisances again and again unto Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, unto Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.”
tvam male sarva-devanam sarva-siddhi-prada matta
tena satyena me siddhim dehi matar namo ‘stu te
”O Mala, among all of the gods, you are considered the bestower of all
perfection. By dint of this fact, O Mother, please grant me
perfection. Obeisances unto you!”