The 64 Upacharas

Here follow the 64 acts of intimate worship to sri Lalitha Devi in the yantra or idol
or the suvasini. For every one of the upacaras (acts of propitiation)
aim hrim srim Lalithayai] is said in the beginning and (kalpayami namah) at the
end.

(1) aim hrim srim lalithayai padyam kalpayami namah [washing her feet similarly]

(2) aim hrãm srãm lalithayai abharan avaropanam kalpayami namah [removal of
ornaments and clothes]

(3) aim hrim srim lalithayai sugandhi tailabhyanganam kalpayami namah [applying
perfumed oil, trumeric powder and rubbing with wet gram flour]

(4) aim hrim srim Lalithayai majjana sala pravesam kalpayami namah [entering
the bathroom]

(5) aim hrim srim lalithayai majjana sala mantapa manipithopa vesanam
kalpayami namah [seating on the jewelled chair]

(6) aim hrim srim lalithayai divya snaniyodvartanam kalpayami namah

preparation of perfumed water and pancamrutas (milk, curds, honey,ghee, sugar)

(7) aim hrim srim lalithayai usnodakasnanam kalpayami namah bathing with
warm water here you may recite sri suktam,puruùa suktam, durga suktam,
rudram, namakam,camakam etc., as time permits.
The minimum set of mantras which combine the effect of all the vedas is given
below:
----------------
1. With water

om apohistâ mayobhuvah stana urje dadhatanâ

maheranaya caksase yovassivatamorasaha
tasya bhajayate hanah usatiriva mataraha tasmâ
arangamamavo yasyaksayaya jinvadha apo
anayadhacanah suddhodaka snanam kalpayami namah

2. With milk

om apyayasva sametute visvatah soma vrsņiyambhava

vajasya sangadhe - ksirena snapayami

3. With curds

om dadhikravarno akarisam jisnorasvasya

vajinah surabhino mukhâ karat prana
ayugamsi tarisat – dadhnâ snapayami
4. With ghee

om sukramasi jyotirasi tejosi devovassavitopunât

vacchidrena pavitrena vasos suryasya
rasmibhih – ajyena snapayami

5. With honey

om madhu vata rutayate madhu ksranti sindhavah

madhvir nassantvosadhih madhu naktam utosasi
madhu matpardhivagum rajah madhu dyaurastunah pita
madhu manno vanaspatir madhumagum astu suryah
madhvir gavobhavantunah madhu madhu madhu
madhuna snapayami

6. With sugar and water

om svâdur pavasva divyaya janmane svâdurindraya

suhavitu namne svadurmitraya varunaya vayave
brhaspataye madhumagum adâbhyah.
sarkaraya snapayami
7. With fruit juice

om yah phalinir yah aphalah apuspayasca puspinih

brhaspati prasutâs tano muncastvagumhasah
phalodakena snapayami

8. Repeat the above with perfumed water and say

om. yah phalinir yah aphalah apuspayasca puspinih

brhaspati prasutâs tano muncastvagumhasah
gandhodakena snapayami

Continue abhisekam with the following mantras:

9. Laksmi - with milk preferably

om hiranya varuam harinim suvarna rajatasrajam

candram hiranmayim laksmim jatavedo mamavaha

10. Visnu - with milk

om sahasra sirsa puruùah sahasraksah sahasrapat

sabhumim visvato vritva atyatisthat dasangulam
11. Durga - with milk & kumkum

tam agni varnam tapasa jvalantim vairocanim

karmaphalesu justam
durgam devigm saranamaham prapadye
sutarasitarase namah

12. Siva - with coconut water preferably or any fruit juice or perfumed water

om tryambakam yajamahe sugandhim pustivardhanam

urvarukamiva bandhanan mrutyor muksãya mamrutat
om mrutyave svaha (2)
om namo bhagavate rudraya visnave mrutyurme pahi
prananam grandhirasi rudro mavisantakah tenannena
apyasva mama mrityur nasyat vayur vardhatam
om santih (3)

13. The 4 vedas: Rg, Yajur, Sama & Atharvana

om jatavedase sunavama soma

maratiyato nidahati vedah
sanah parusadati durgani visva
naveva sindhum duritatyagnih
14 . om bhur bhuvah suvah tat savitur varenyam
bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah pracodayat
parorajasi savadom

15. om tryambakam yajamahe sugandhim pustivardhanam

urvarukamiva bandhanan mrutyor muksiya mamrutat

16. om amritabhiseko astu, kanakabhiseko astu,

hiranyabhiseko astu suvarnabhiseko astu,
divyamangalabhiseko astu, mahabhiseko astu

(If possible, do abhisekam with pancamrutams over the mangalya sutram on

which haldi and kumkum have been applied earlier)

------------------------------
Continuing with the upacharas …
(8) aim hrim srim lalithayai kanaka kalascyuta sakala tirthabhisekam kalpayami
namah [washing the srã chakra with samanyarghya]

(9) aim hrim srim lalithayai dhauta vastra parimarjanam kalpayami namah [drying
þer body with a white towel]

(10) aim hrim srim lalithayai aruna dukula paridhanam kalpayami namah [red
shawl to cover]
(11) aim hrim srim lalithayai aruna kucottariyam kalpayami namah [red top
garment (brassiere)]

(12) aim hrim srim lalithayai alepa mandapa pravesanam kalpayami namah
[entering the make-up room]

(13) aim hrim srim lalithayai alepa mandapa manipitha upavesanam kalpayami
namah [seating her there]

(14) aim hrim srim lalithayai candana - agaru - kumkuma - sanke -mrgamada -
karpura - kasturi - gorocanadi - divya gandha sarvangina vilepanam kalpayami
namah
[applying different kinds of perfumes appropriate to different parts of the body]

(15) aim hrim srim lalithayai kesaharasya kalagaru dhipam kalpayami namah
[drying her heavy wet hair with agaru and sambrani dhupam]

(16) aim hrim srim lalithayai mallika - malati - jati - campaka - asoka satapatra -
pugâ - kudmali - punnaga - kalhara - mukhya sarvarutu kusuma malam kalpayami
namah
[all kinds of fragrant flowers arranged in different garlands]

(17) aim hrim srim lalithayai bhusana mantapa pravesanam kalpayami namah
[entering the jewellery room]

(18) aim hrim srim lalithayai bhusana mantapa manipãtha upavesanam kalpayami
namah [seating her there]
(19) aim hrim srim lalithayai nava mani makutam kalpayami namah [crown
jewels]

(20) aim hrim srim lalithayai candra sakalam kalpayami namah [an ornament to
represent the moon]

(21) aim hrim srim lalithayai simanta sindhuram kalpayami namah [vermillion in
the hair-parting]

(22) aim hrim srim lalithayai tilaka ratnam kalpayami namah [jewels to represent
the third eye]

(23) aim hrim srim lalithayai kalanjanam kalpayami namah [mascara and eye-
liner]

(24) aim hrim srim lalithayai paliyugalam kalpayami namah [head-set and ear
ornaments]

(25) aim hrim srim lalithayai manikundala yugalam kalpayami namah [pair of
earrings]

(26) aim hrim srim lalithayai nasabharanam kalpayami namah [diamond nose-stud
venus]

(27) aim hrim srim lalithayai adharayavakam kalpayami namah [lipstick and pearl
pendant from the nose shining on her red lower lip]
(28) aim hrim srim lalithayai pradhama bhusanam kalpayami namah [mangala
sutram]

(29) aim hrim srim lalithayai kanaka cintakam kalpayami namah [gold sovereign
chain]

(30) aim hrim srim lalithayai patakam kalpayami namah [small locket]

(31) aim hrim srim lalithayai mahapatakam kalpayami namah [big locket - Sri
Chakram]

(32) aim hrim srim lalithayai muktavalim kalpayami namah [pearl necklace]

(33) aim hrim srim lalithayai ekavalim kalpayami namah [single strand necklace]

(34) aim hrim srim lalithayai cchannaviram kalpayami namah [an open flower
garland coming up to the feet]

(35) aim hrim srim lalithayai keyurayugala catusthayam kalpayami namah [arm
bracelets for the four hands]

(36) aim hrim srim lalithayai valayavalim kalpayami namah [bangles]

(37) aim hrim srim lalithayai urmikavalim kalpayami namah [20 rings]
(38) aim hrim srim lalithayai kancidama kalpayami namah [waist bracelet gold]

(39) aim hrim srim lalithayai kati sutram kalpayami namah [gold girdle]

(40) aim hrim srim lalithayai saubhagyabharanam kalpayami namah [girdle

pendant]

(41) aim hrim srim lalithayai pada katakam kalpayami namah [anklets]

(42) aim hrim srim lalithayai ratna nupuram kalpayami namah [small tinkling
anklets]

(43) aim hrim srim lalithayai padanguliyakam kalpayami namah [silver rings placed
on second toe]

(44) aim hrim srim lalithayai eka kare pasam kalpayami namah [in top left hand, a
noose]

(45) aim hrim srim lalithayai anya kare ankusam kalpayami namah [in top right
hand, a goad]

(46) aim hrim srim lalithayai itara kare pundreksu capam kalpayami namah [in
bottom left hand,muladhara a sugarcane bow with a thread of bees]

(47) aim hrim srim lalithayai apara kare puspabanan kalpayami namah [in bottom
right hand, flowery arrows]
(48) aim hrim srim lalithayai sriman manikya paduke kalpayami namah [red-jewel
slippers]

(49) aim hrim srim lalithayai svasamana vesabhiravarana devatabhissaha

mahacakradhi rohanam kalpayami namah
[climbing onto the mahachakra with all her avarana devatas who are similarly
attired and adorned]

(50) aim hrim srim lalithayai kamesvaranka paryankopa vesanam kalpayami

namah [sitting on top of kamesvara who is lying down flat, face up]

(51) aim hrim srim lalithayai amrtasava casakam kalpayami namah [visesarghyam
nectar]

(52) aim hrim srim lalithayai acamannyam kalpayami namah [samanyarghyam -

perfumed water]

(53) aim hrim srim lalithayai karpura vidikam kalpayami namah [sweet pan]

(54) aim hrim srim lalithayai anandollasa vilasa hasam kalpayami namah [smile
bubbling from joy within]

(55) aim hrim srim lalithayai mangalarartikam kalpayami namah [ghee lamp]

(56) aim hrim srim lalithayai chatram kalpayami namah [umbrella - a sign of
royalty]
(57) aim hrim srim lalithayai camara yugalam kalpayami namah [pair of fans held
by sarasvati and lakùmi]

(58) aim hrim srim lalithayai darpanam kalpayami namah [mirror - she, as the
worshipper, sees her form the universe,reflected in mind, the mirror]

(59) aim hrim srim lalithayai tala vrintam kalpayami namah [palm leaf fan]

(60) aim hrim srim lalithayai gandham kalpayami namah [sandal paste]

(61) aim hrim srim lalithayai puspam kalpayami namah [floral bouquet]

(62) aim hrim srim lalithayai dhupam kalpayami namah [incense]

(63) aim hrim srim lalithayai dupam kalpayami namah [lights]

(64) aim hrim srim lalithayai naivedyam kalpayami namah [food offerings]

Those unable to procure all of the ingredients above may substitute them with a
drop of water from the samanyarghya.