Vaishnava Etiquette

VAISHNAVA ETIQUETTE
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says that the observance of Vaishnava Etiquette is an

ornament, which makes a devotee beautiful and attractive in the eyes of Krsna and
in the eyes of the world. It is therefore important for all the devotees to follow
Vaishnava Etiquette.
A devotee’s lifestyle should conform to the principle of “SIMPLE LIVING AND HIGH
THINKING.”
There are many rules and regulations guiding a devotee’s life but the purpose of all
of them are to help him to “ALWAYS REMEMBER KRSNA AND NEVER FORGET
KRSNA.”
General Etiquette
1. One must offer respectful obeisances to superiors like the Supreme lord, his
associates,
Guru, Senior Vaishnavas, other devotees at the moment, parents or senior
relatives
2. Never commit any theft
3. Do not use unpleasant words
4. Do not tell lies even if pleasant
5. Do not cause harm to others by mind, words or deeds
6. Do not shower praises on yourself. Instead, praise the lord and his devotees
7. Touching someone with your feet is offensive. If one does so accidentally, one
should touch the other person’s body gently and then touch one's head. This
removes the offence
8. Books, beads and kartals should not be kept on the floor or in any unclean
area
9. One should not touch any sacred object with one’s feet. If one does so
accidentally place the object on one’s head to remove the offence
10.Sacred items like beads, books kartals etc should not be taken to the
bathroom
11.One should not waste Krsna’s energies like water, electricity etc.
One should also put off the lights, air conditioners, fans and other electric
appliances when not in use. One should also not waste other items like soap,
toothpaste, food etc.
General Hygiene
1. On waking up one should chant the Hare Krsna mahamantra.

2. Then offer obeisances to your spiritual master while chanting the following
mantra.
prātaḥ prabodhito viṣṇo hṛṣīkeśena yat tvayā

yad yat kārayasīśāna tat karomi tavājñayā
“O Vishnu, O Isana, O Hrsikesa, You have awakened me, and now I am ready to do
whatever you wish today” (Hari bhakta vilasa 3.91)
3. Before stepping down from the bed chant the following
Samudra-Vasane devi parvata stana mandate

Vihnu patni namas tubhyam , pada sparsam
ksamasva me
O Mother earth, I offer my humble obeisances unto you, who is the wife of Lord
Vishnu and the residence of the oceans, and who is decorated with mountains.
Please forgive me for stepping upon you.”
4. Brush your teeth, scrape your tongue and rinse your mouth
5. Try to pass stools before bathing
6. Use the following mantra during bathing
Gange ca Yamune caiva Godavari Saraswati Narmade

Sindho
Kaveri jale asmin sannidhim kuru.
“May water from the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari Saraswathi, Narmada,
Sindhu and Kaveri kindly be present”
7. One should wash hands with water after passing stool, or urine or putting hands
or fingers in mouth, eyes, nose or ears.
8. One should try to use the right hand only for eating and drinking.
9. Nails should be clipped short and kept clean. Nail biting is an unhealthy habit.
10. It is best to sleep on one’s back or on one’s left side but never on the
abdomen.
11. It is best to rise early in the morning and go to bed early at night.
12. Before resting for the day dedicate your activities of the day, with the
following prayers.
kāyena vācā manasendriyair vā
buddhyātmanā vānusṛta-svabhāvāt
karoti yad yat sakalaṁ parasmai
nārāyaṇāyeti samarpayet tatbuddyatmana vanusrta
svabhavat
“Whatever I have done with my body, said with my words, thought with my mind,
perceived with my senses or comprehended with my intelligence, I offer unto the
supreme lord, Narayana.”
Appearance and Dress
1. Clothing should be simple, clean and remind one of lord Krsna.

2. Mark the body in 12 places with the mark of Vaishnava tilak. Wearing of kanti
mala helps one to remain under krsna’s protection all the time.
3. Unnecessary items like cosmetics, perfume, makeup and lots of
4. Jewellery should be avoided.
5. Girls should wear a bindi and keep the hair braided or tied.
Behaviour in Class
1. Listen silently. (shravanam)

2. Pay attention during class.
3. Do not talk or disturb others.
4. Be Punctual in class. Do not cut class for some other mundane activity.
5. Only relevant and pertinent questions to be asked during class.
6. Be humble during questioning not with a challenging attitude.
7. Only Questions which will enhance our spiritual knowledge should be asked.
8. Moving in and out of class to be avoided so as not to disturb others.
9. Finish assignments given to you on time.
10.Pay obeisance when you enter and leave the class.
11.Do not bring toys or other distracting material including mobiles to class.
12.Respect the property where class is conducted. Take care of the furniture and
things that belong to the host.
Vaishnava Etiquette in Temple
1. The temple where deities reside is a temple so treat every house where there
are deities as a temple.
2. One should not enter the temple in an unclean manner.
3. Do not extend your feet in front of the deities when you are sitting in a
temple.
4. One should avoid sitting with our back to the deities.
5. One should not sit before the deities holding one’s ankle, feet, knees or elbow.
6. One should not pass gas in a temple room.
7. One should not fall asleep while sitting before deities.
8. Do not play or run around in the temple room.
Offering Obeisances
1. Upon entering the temple offer obeisances to Vaishnavas by saying vancha

kalpa.......
2. Full dandavats for boys and half for girls.
3. Keep deities on your left while offering obeisances.
4. After obeisances, take darshan of the deities by gazing at the deities starting
from their lotus feet upwards towards their face.
5. During obeisances, avoid keeping the beads, chanting bags, kartals or books
on the floor.
Talking in the Temple Room
In front of the deities, one should not:
1. Talk loudly.
2. Quarrel with anyone.
3. Chastise or criticise anyone.
4. Speak harshly to anyone.
5. Speak in an angry tone.
6. Praise a materialistic person.
7. Speak ill names.
8. Criticise demigods.
9. Speak a lie.
Honouring Prasad
1. Offer Bhog which is cooked fresh within 3 hours to the lord.

2. Offer Bhog with tulasi and try to leave it for at least 15 mins on the altar.
3. Bigger children should learn to offer bhog or at least fruits, milk, water, nuts at
home with an offering mantra.
4. Smaller children can chant the Hare Krsna mantra during the offering.
5. No prjapalpa during Prasad.
6. Do not waste prasadam.
7. Do not stamp leftover prasadam.
8. Do not eat or drink on kitchen premises.
9. Offer Bhog to the lord in separate utensils kept for offering only.
Glossary
Vaisnavas : a devotee of Lord krsna /Vishnu
Etiquette : set of rules for proper behaviour
Obeisances : obeisances” is a translation of namaste or namah, which means,

“Bowing down, reverential salutation, adoration.
Prajalpa : Talking about mundane subject matters or talking unnecessarily
Bhoga: food meant for offering to Krishna
Prasada: Remnants of food ( Bhoga ) that has been offered to krsna
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Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says that the observance of Vaishnava Etiquette is an

3. Do not use unpleasant words

4. Do not tell lies even if pleasant

5. Do not cause harm to others by mind, words or deeds

1. On waking up one should chant the Hare Krsna mahamantra.

prātaḥ prabodhito viṣṇo hṛṣīkeśena yat tvayā

3. Before stepping down from the bed chant the following

Samudra-Vasane devi parvata stana mandate

5. Try to pass stools before bathing

6. Use the following mantra during bathing

Gange ca Yamune caiva Godavari Saraswati Narmade

1. Clothing should be simple, clean and remind one of lord Krsna.

1. Listen silently. (shravanam)

Vaishnava Etiquette in Temple

1. Upon entering the temple offer obeisances to Vaishnavas by saying vancha

In front of the deities, one should not:

1. Offer Bhog which is cooked fresh within 3 hours to the lord.

Vaisnavas : a devotee of Lord krsna /Vishnu

Etiquette : set of rules for proper behaviour

Obeisances : obeisances” is a translation of namaste or namah, which means,

Prajalpa : Talking about mundane subject matters or talking unnecessarily

Bhoga: food meant for offering to Krishna

Prasada: Remnants of food ( Bhoga ) that has been offered to krsna

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