Aṣṭa Yama Sādhana
Here is the program we will be going through daily throughout Cāturmāsya. We will go through one yama (division of the day) every fortnight.
Prathama Yama Sādhana
Bhajana-rahasya 1.10
Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.1.103) states that nāma-ābhāsa destroys all sins and liberates one from material existence:
— — — — / • • • • • — / – • – – • – –
taṁ nirvyājaṁ bhaja guṇa-nidhiṁ pāvanaṁ pāvanānāṁ
śraddhā-rajyan-matir atitarām uttamaḥ-śloka-maulim
prodyann antaḥ-karaṇa-kuhare hanta yan-nāma-bhānor
ābhāso ’pi kṣapayati mahā-pātaka-dhvānta-rāśim
Sincerely worship Him—the reservoir of divine qualities, the purifier of all purifiers, and the foremost of all who are glorified by the choicest verses, with a mind exceedingly colored by faith. Aho! Even the faintest dawn of His sun-like Name, as it rises in the core of the heart, eradicates the great mass of darkness of grievous sin.
parama pāvana kṛṣṇa tā̃hāra caraṇa
niṣkapaṭa śraddhā saha karaho bhajana
Kṛṣṇa is supremely purifying; worship His feet with sincere, guileless faith.
ĵā̃ra nāma sūryābhāsa antare praveśi’
dhvaṁsa kare mahā-pāpa andhakāra-rāśi
His Name’s sun-like effulgence, entering within the heart, destroys grievous sins—that mass of darkness.
The Methodology of Śrī Śikṣāṣṭaka
ei śikṣāṣṭake kahe kṛṣṇa-līlā-krama
ihāte bhajana-krame līlār udgama
This Śikṣāṣṭaka tells of the sequence of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes; in it, through the systematic practice of bhajana, the Lord's pastimes awaken.
prathame prathama śloka bhajo kichu-dina
dvitīya ślokete tabe haoto pravīṇa
First, engage with the first verse for some days; then, in the second verse, you will become proficient.
cāri śloke kramaśaḥ bhajana pakva karo
pañcama ślokete nija-siddha-deha varo
Through four verses, gradually bring your devotional practice (bhajana) to maturity; in the fifth verse, embrace your own spiritual body (siddha-deha).
ai śloke siddha-dehe rādhā-padāśraya
ārambha kariyā krame unnati udaya
In that verse, having begun to take shelter of Rādhā's feet within your spiritual body, advancement gradually arises.
chaya śloka bhajite anartha dūre gelo
tabe jāno siddha-dehe adhikāra hailo
By practicing according to the six verses, unwanted worldly attachments (anarthas) go far away; then know that eligibility for the spiritual body has been achieved.
adhikāra nā labhiyā siddha-deha bhāve
viparyaya-buddhi janme śaktira abhāve
Without attaining true eligibility, if one contemplates the spiritual body, a contrary or mistaken intelligence is born from a lack of spiritual strength.
sāvadhāne krama dharo ĵadi siddhi cāo
sādhur carita dekhi’ śuddha-buddhi pāo
Carefully follow this progressive path if you desire spiritual perfection (siddhi); by observing the character of saintly persons (sādhus), you will attain pure intelligence.
siddha-deha peye krame bhajana karile
aṣṭa-kāla sevā-sukha anāyāse mile
Having obtained the spiritual body and performing devotional practice in sequence, the joy of service throughout the eight periods of the day (aṣṭa-kāla sevā) is effortlessly attained.
śikṣāṣṭaka cinta, karo smaraṇa kīrtana
krame aṣṭa-kāla sevā habe uddīpana
Contemplate the Śikṣāṣṭaka, perform remembrance (smaraṇa) and chanting (kīrtana); gradually, service throughout the eight periods of the day will be awakened.
sakala anartha ĵābe pābe prema-dhana
catur-varga phalgu-prāya habe adarśana
All unwanted attachments will depart, and you will obtain the treasure of divine love (prema-dhana); the four aims of mundane life (catur-varga) will then seem insignificant and disappear from sight.