Ritual Preface · Dedication Viniyoga & Nyāsa
The dedication of the mantra and its placing upon the body, before the names begin.
Every mantra-recitation is prefaced by a viniyoga — a statement naming
the seer (Parāśara), the metre
(Anuṣṭup), the deity
(Śrī Kṛṣṇa Paramātmā), and the seed, power, and
pin (bīja, śakti, kīlaka) that hold the mantra
together — and dedicating the practice to its purpose.
Viniyoga
ॐ अस्य श्रीकृष्णसहस्रनामस्तोत्रमन्त्रस्य पराशर ऋषिः, अनुष्टुप् छन्दः, श्रीकृष्णः परमात्मा देवता, श्रीकृष्णेति बीजम्, श्रीवल्लभेति शक्तिः, शार्ङ्गीति कीलकं, श्रीकृष्णप्रीत्यर्थे जपे विनियोगः ॥ ōṃ asya śrīkṛṣṇasahasranāmastōtramantrasya parāśara ṛṣiḥ, anuṣṭup Chandaḥ, śrīkṛṣṇaḥ paramātmā dēvatā, śrīkṛṣṇēti bījam, śrīvallabhēti śaktiḥ, śārṅgīti kīlakaṃ, śrīkṛṣṇaprītyarthē japē viniyōgaḥ ॥ Oṃ. Of this Śrī Kṛṣṇa Sahasranāma Stotra mantra: Parāśara is the ṛṣi (seer); Anuṣṭup is the metre; Śrī Kṛṣṇa Paramātmā is the deity; śrīkṛṣṇa is the bīja (seed-mantra); śrīvallabha is the śakti (power); śārṅgī is the kīlaka (nail-pin). It is employed in japa for the delight of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Aṅga-nyāsa
The nyāsa installs the elements of the mantra on the parts of the body,
so that the reciter becomes the seat of the hymn. Each salutation names an
element and the place it is touched.
पराशराय ऋषये नमः इति शिरसि parāśarāya ṛṣayē namaḥ — iti śirasi Salutation to the ṛṣi Parāśara (head)
अनुष्टुप् छन्दसे नमः इति मुखे anuṣṭup Chandasē namaḥ — iti mukhē Salutation to the metre Anuṣṭup (mouth)
गोपालकृष्ण देवतायै नमः इति हृदये gōpālakṛṣṇa dēvatāyai namaḥ — iti hṛdayē Salutation to the deity Gopāla Kṛṣṇa (heart)
श्रीकृष्णाय बीजाय नमः इति गुह्ये śrīkṛṣṇāya bījāya namaḥ — iti guhyē Salutation to the bīja Śrī Kṛṣṇa (navel centre)
श्रीवल्लभाय शक्त्यै नमः इति पादयोः śrīvallabhāya śaktyai namaḥ — iti pādayōḥ Salutation to the śakti Śrīvallabha (feet)
शार्ङ्गधराय कीलकाय नमः इति सर्वाङ्गे śārṅgadharāya kīlakāya namaḥ — iti sarvāṅgē Salutation to the kīlaka Śārṅgadhara (all limbs)
Kara-nyāsa
The kara-nyāsa places ranges of the names upon the fingers and hands,
from the thumbs to the palms — a tactile prelude that gathers the whole garland
into the hands before it is spoken.
श्रीकृष्ण → शूरवंशैकधीः śrīkṛṣṇa ityārabhya śūravaṃśaikadhīḥ ityantam
अङ्गुष्ठाभ्यां नमः two thumbs
शौरिः → स्वभासोद्भासितव्रजः śauriḥ ityārabhya svabhāsōdbhāsitavrajaḥ ityantam
तर्जनीभ्यां नमः two index fingers
कृतात्मविद्याविन्यासः → प्रस्थानशकटारूढः kṛtātmavidyāvinyāsaḥ ityārabhya prasthānaśakaṭārūḍhaḥ ityantam
मध्यमाभ्यां नमः two middle fingers
बृन्दावनकृतालयः → मधुराजनवीक्षितः bṛndāvanakṛtālayaḥ ityārabhya madhurājanavīkṣitaḥ ityantam
अनामिकाभ्यां नमः two ring fingers
रजकप्रतिघातकः → द्वारकापुरकल्पनः rajakapratighātakaḥ ityārabhya dvārakāpurakalpanaḥ ityantam
कनिष्ठिकाभ्यां नमः two little fingers
द्वारकानिलयः → पराशरः dvārakānilayaḥ ityārabhya parāśaraḥ ityantam
करतलकरपृष्ठाभ्यां नमः palms and backs of both hands
With body and breath thus prepared, the reciter turns to the
dhyāna and then to the names.
