Resting deities at home

As far as placing the deity in the bed is concerned, if the deity is large and heavy, it is not possible to move Him daily. In such case there can be a smaller deity utsav murti, which is also worshiped, that is taken to the bed. A pot of milk and sugar is offered to Him. After milk, Betel nuts and spices can now be offered.

This mantra should be chanted:

Bring the wooden slippers from the altar to the bedside. Lay down the deity on the bed. Krishna should be first put to rest. His legs should be massaged. You may follow the procedure below in full, chanting the Sanskrit or say the translations. If this is too complicated, while touching the lotus feet of each deity ask Them to please go to sleep. Then following the same procedure touch your spiritual master’s lotus feet (in the picture) and ask him to go to sleep.

If you have Gaura-Nitai then follow the procedure only for Them and then followed by the spiritual master. If you have Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra as well as Gaura-Nitai then put Them to bed before Gaura-Nitai. If you have Radha-Krsna and Gaura-Nitai, put Radha-Krsna to bed before Gaura-Nitai. If you have all three sets of deities, put Radha-Krsna to bed first, followed by Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra, and then Gaura-Nitai.

For large deities for whom you have beds, you may assist in the meditation by moving Their shoes next to the bed. If there are no beds for the deities then touch Their lotus feet while chanting Their mantras and meditate They are being escorted to bed. Follow the procedure in meditation.

Items required:
an acamana cup (containing water) and a spoon
the deities’ beds
the deities’ nightclothes
cloths for wiping off tilaka decorations
flower petals

Procedure

Perform acamana and offer obeisances to your spiritual master requesting his blessings to assist him in the worship. While ringing a bell, call out, the names of the deities followed by sri sri guru-gauranga, jagannatha-baladeva-subhadra & radha-krsna-ki jaya! If it is possible, dress the deities in nightclothes before They go to bed. Place each deity’s bed before or beside the altar, either on the floor or on a low table. Fluff out the bedding, and then you may place flower petals in the bed, either physically or by meditation. (If there are mosquitoes or flies in the room, put mosquito netting around the beds.)

Bring Their Lordships’ shoes from the altar to the bed, thinking that you are escorting the deities to Their beds. Place the shoes next to the bed on a small mat, pillow or table.Then invite the deities to bed by chanting the appropriate mantra and offering Them your hand. Offer flowers to Their Lordships’ lotus feet. Now place Their Lordships in bed and massage Their lotus feet. Then cover Them with bedding appropriate to the room temperature.

You may chant the following prayers in Sanskrit, or say the translations, or you may simply ask the deities to please take rest.

Radha-Krsna
Place Krsna’s flute under His pillow.

Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra

Lord Caitanya

Lord Nityananda


Srila Prabhupada
If you have a deity of Srila Prabhupada, you may follow the same procedure for putting Srila Prabhupada to bed, if you have a picture then touch his lotus feet in the picture while chanting the following mantra and meditate that he is going to bed.


Spiritual Master
Follow the same procedure for putting your spiritual master to bed:


Turn out the altar lights and close the curtains or altar doors, if the altar has them; if not, then just quietly leave the room, turning off the lights as you leave. Offer obeisances to your spiritual master. If you have removed any jewelry or clothing, then carefully put them in their proper storage places, respecting them as the Lord’s paraphernalia.