PLATE 1.
THE BRAHMIN'S FIRST MORNING PRAYER TO THE GOOROO ON RISING.
It is habitual with the Natives, all over India, to rise with the first dawn of day. The Brahmin sits up on his charpaya or on a mat on the ground, and, joining his hands, repeats the following prayer to the Gooroo (High Priest, who is considered by the Hindoos to he invested with the power of a Deity, and to have sprung from the Gods. To him the Brahmin offers up his first morning orisons. The words, in Sanscrit, are as contained in the Poorans, the following being a literal translation:—
"I glorify thee, Benign, who rests upon a serpent, from whose navel the lotus springs; God of Gods! the supporter of the universe; beautiful as the azure of the sky; cloud-like in colour; elegant in form.
"The husband of Luxshmee, lotus-eyed, worthy the contemplation of sages! Vishnoo, the preserver and destroyer the world! the only Lord of the universe!
"I glorify him who is to be always contemplated, the remover of all stains, the granter of all desires, the essence of all holy shrines; who is praised by Siva and by Brahma, the universal refuge, the assuager of the pain of his servants, the protector of those who bend before him, the bark to bear us over the ocean of the world. I praise thy lotus-feet, oh mighty Male."
श्रीगणेशाय नमः अथ ध्यानस्य श्लोकोयं लिख्यते
लक्ष्मीकांतं कमलनयनं योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यं वंदे विष्णुं भवभयहरं सर्वलोकैकनाथं॥१॥
अथ प्रणामस्य श्लोकोयं लिख्यते
भृत्यार्तिहं प्रणतपालं भवाब्धिपोतं वंदे महापुरुष ते चरणारविंदं॥२॥
