BACK TO BASIC When we start practicing Krishna Consciousness we are taught how we should do it.

Universally, after some time it under goes change without our knowledge, at times to suit our convenience. The changed method, as followed currently becomes a standard practice, and to the new comers we teach the same. Without caring for what we were taught originally, without knowledge we make changes and make new standard and digress from the fixed standards as taught by the Authorities. Standard Practice to be followed, specially for Grihastha Devotees could be as follows:1) Wake up early enough to start Mangal Arati by 5 AM with all Family Members > take bath > put Tilaka > Knock Door before entering Temple Room. 2) Pay Obeisances to Gurudev Chanting Pranam Mantra > Seek Gurudevs mercy for performing devotional service without committing any offense. We can progress in our Devotional Service only with the Blessings of Gurudev, so we should pray to Him with Body mind words. 3) Pay Obeisances to Lord Chanting Pranam Mantra. This could be done mentally, if Gurudev is on the same Altar as the Lord. 4) Pay Obeisances to all other Senior Devotees, Maharajas, Prabhupad Disciples, Temple President. 5) Also after Initiation or Shelter, Devotees must pay obeisances to All Senior Devotees present, 6) When you see a Senior Devotee after long time, must pay obeisance immediately. It is an offense not to pay obeisances. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami used to pay obeisances to 2000 Devotees every day. 7) Should not pay obeisances in front of the Lord, could move alongside to pay obeisances. 8) Offer Milk to Lord (with sugar & Tulsi ) > Milk to be boiled and cooled > Tulsi to be cleaned with water. Also any other Sweet or Sweet Rice could be offered. Any offering without Tulsi is not acceptable to The Lord. 9) Achmana Water cup should be outside the plate, used for putting water after Achmana. > Wash left hand then right hand, chant Om Keshavaya Namah, Om Narayanayah Namah, Om Madhavayah Namah. Not to make noise while sipping water. 10) Put 3 Drops of Achmana water on the Conch Shell and Blow it 3 times. 11) Put 3 Drops of Achmana Water on the Bell and Ring the Bell. 12) Open the Altar Curtain, glorifying The Lord and all others on the Alter. One basic thing we should follow is that all of us should know Vaishnava Songs, especially Initiated and Sheltered Devotees, and sing them regularly, like Yasomati Nandana, Radhe Jaya Jaya Madhava Dayete. These are sung by Great.Vaishnavas in a particular mood, when they have established relationship with the lord as such they are very potent and give us good effect. While singing, we should clap, that removes bad Rekhas or Lines in our hand. Also clapping and Dancing is part of devotional service and pleases the Lord, at the same time gives us joy. By this we can associate with other Devotees with pleasure. Nector of Instruction explains our Service to Lord should be done with enthusiasm. This will help rapid progress in devotion. 13) Arati Put 3 drops of Achmana water on the Offering Article, take permission by showing to Guru Maharaj, Srila Prabhupad, Guru parampara, Six Goswamis, then begin Arati Radha Krishna, Jagannath Baladev Subhadra, Gaur Nitai, Narasimhadev, Laddu Gopal, Panchatatva, Six Goswamis, Guru Parampara, Srila Prabhupad, Guru Maharaj, Tulsi Maharani, All other Vaishnavas. Bottom Middle Top Whole Incense Clockwise Circles 4 2 7 Lamp Clockwise Circles 4 2 3 7 Water Clockwise Circles 7 Kerchief Clockwise Circles 7 Flower Clockwise Circles 4 (feet) Chamara Top to Bottom 7 Peacock Feather-sideways 7 Chamara take out evil eye effects. Mangal Arati Kirtan Samsara Davanal Pay obeisances, Prabhus Shashtanga pranam with feet together, arms stretched at the end joining together, Matajis Half bent Chest / Breast not to touch the Ground. While paying obeisances Altar on the left and devotees on the right. 14) Narasimha Prayer Show Scent/ Perfume in the same way as Arati to the face, then apply scent on the backside of the palm of the Devotees. 15) Tulsi Arati -3 times chant Pranam Mantra, Do the arati with Incense, Lamp and Flower in the same way as above. All devotees to clean hand with Achmana water and water Tulsi. Devotees to do Pradakshina of Tulsi do not show your back to Lord orTulsi while doing Pradakshins spin anti Clockwise immediately after crossing the Altar, to avoid showing your back to Lord / Tulsi. 16) Read Ten Offenses against Chanting Harinam. 17) Read Srimad Bhagavatam 1 Sloka with Purport, essential for Initiated and sheltered Devotees. Sheltered Devotees must read Srimad Bhagavatam before Initiation. There could be a Course for this. 18) Guru Puja must be done everyday, if not possible for Prabhu, later could be done by Mataji.There has to be a separate Altar for this. Prabhupad Puja in the Morning and Gurupuja in the Evening. 19) Dhoop Arati with Incense, Flower and Chamara only, this should not be a daily Affair, only as exceptional cases. 20) Deity Dressing When Prabhus are doing Deity Dressing Matajis not enter Deity Room, same way when Matajis are doing Deity Dressing Prabhus not to enter Deity Room. When Husband and Wife are doing Deity Dressing no other Prabhu or Mataji to enter Deity Room.

21) Arati in Temple / in Public to be done by Prabhus only, certainly by not Matajis. Matajis can do it at Home. 22) Deity Dressing, Bhog Preparation / Offering to be done by Brahminical Initiated Devotees in the Temple, engage Initiated Devotees first then sheltered Devotees then Others. 23) Bhoga Offering Bhoga to be brought to Lord completely covered, Children, Cats and Dogs not to enter this place, as they may touch, like to eat or give bad eyes that will contaminate the Bhoga. Do Achmana, then Ring the Bell and chant offering Mantra 3 times each Mantra like, Guru Pranam Mantra, Prabhupad Pranam Mantra, Namoh Mahavadannayaa, Namoh Bramhanya Devaya, request Lord to accept the Bhoga. Chant One Round Japa while Lord is accepting the Bhoga, thereafter Ring the Bell and take it away, saying to the Lord hope you enjoyed the Bhoga. Pay Obeisances, Clean the Plates otherwise the place may be contaminated with Insects etc. Thereafter, Show Incense to Lord with some Flower. 24) Now you may close the Altar, and sit down to honor Prasadam. Maharaj, Senior Devotee, Temple President or who took the Class sitting on Vyasasana - to sit first and honor prasadam, others to follow him, so also while getting up after honoring Prasadam. 25) Vaishnavas can not keep animal inside the House like, Cats and Dogs. 26) Pay obeisances to Guru 3 times daily Morning, Afternoon, Evening. Whenever you see Guru Maharaj you pay obeisances ( Shastanga ), without expecting reciprocation, GM sees or not does not matter. This helps accept him as Guru, and brings humility. Also pay obeisances to other Maharaj or other Senior Devotees when you see them for the first time during the day. 27) Shayana Arati when this done - to Sing Shayana Arati Song and show incense, Flowers, Chamara, there after Curtain to be closed and Lord sleeps. Lights are off, not to switch them on. OF ALL ARATI MANGAL ARATI IS IMPORTANT, CHANTING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MANGAL ARATI. 28) Tulsi Arati Incense feet 4, Centre 2, Whole Body of Tulsi 7 circles, Lamp feet 4, Centre 2, Head 3, Whole Body of Tulsi 7 circles, Flower Feet 4, While doing Pradakshina of Tulsi not to step on the Shadow of Tulsi, any dry Tulsi leaves on the floor - put it back in the Pot. 29) Physically unfit could pay obeisances mentally, but this should not be a habit for others, those who are fit will pay obeisances normally. 30) Bhoga offering to Gurudev not to Lord Krishna directly, Gurudev will offer it to Lord. Not initiated or Sheltered Devotees to offer to Prabhupad. While chanting offering mantra focus on Gurudev, Prabhupad, Lord Chaitanya, Lord Krishna for respective mantra, but offering to be done to Gurudev only. 31) Temple offer Bhoga 5 times every day. Also 5 Prayers Mangal Arati, Darshan Arati, Bhog Arati, Sandhya Arati, Shayan arati. 32) Prasad is not ordinary Food, by honouring Prasad we rapidly progress in our Devotion.Prasad is honoured and not eaten 33) Focus should not be shifted from honouring Prasad to eating Veg food, especially when compelled to do so. Outside Food though Veg., could be cooked by Non- Veg eaters, making it as good as Non Veg. When necessary to eat outside, Chant O m Sri Vishnu 3 times before eating anything not offered. Outside Sweets made of Milk is ok. 34) After Bhoga offering Lord takes rest and ready for Darshan later. 35) Then comes Sandhya arati this is important as Mangal Arati, as Sandhya has potency as Brahma Muhurtha. This is the time for Sandhya Vandanam, Chanting Gayatri, mind is peaceful during this time- tamasik effect starts after this time. 36) During Tulsi Arati Close the Altar Curtain, as we can glory the lord only when the Altar is open, and no one else. 37) Then Shayan arati to put Lord to sleep, to show Incense, Flower and Chamara, then Curtain is closed for the day. After lights are switched off not enter even for cleaning, 38) Tulsi Puja to be done before sunset only. 39) Winter time, not to show Peacock Fan to Lord, as it is cold. 40) Guru Puja to be done after closing the Altar. In Temples Guru Puja is done outside the Temple premises / hall. 41) Altar should face west or South may also be east, but not north. 42) Tilaka to use finger not stick mark Tulsi Leaf at the bottom end, both sides feet of the Lord, one side Brahma and other side Siva. Body is a temple-Lord is sitting there as Paramatma. 12 places on the body mark with tilaka, balance tilaka wipe with wet cloth. Not to wash. 43) After Bhoga offering clean the place and then show Incense chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra. 44) If a person has health problem and can not take bath early morning, he can start chanting early. Mangal Arati is most important; if you can not do these at least do dhoop arati and start chanting. 45) Vaishnava Dress and Tilaka - while doing Arati creates a good satvik effect. Vaishnava Dress could be used again provided no eating or going to toilet with the same dress, otherwise to be washed before re-use. While doing arati best to use Angavastra, also wearing Kurta is ok. This is in a mood of a servant not as a master. 46) Abhisek- if possible everyday, else once a week or on ekadassi day, do not be erratic. Sometimes with water only - as needed. 47) If you can not do Mangal Arati for late working, play Govindam Adi Purusha, do arati, and do Gurupuja. Mood is very important 48) Darshan arati is not necessary every day. 49) If you are allergic to incense use 1 in place of 3, keep incense at a distance. 50) When husband is late from work next day mangal arati is not done, Husband wife to decide, as serving husband is equally important.