"Shree Vasudeva-Upanishad" is very short, but more than crucial Upanishad.
In "Shree Vasudeva-Upanishad" Bhagavan Shree Vasudeva tells not only about GopiChandana and Tilaks, but about Madhurya-Rasa (Verse 2), Ekantika-Bhakti (Verse 18), Dhyana-Yoga (Verse 14) and other themes.
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"Shree Vasudeva-Upanishad"
Om. The Holy Narada addressed the Universal Lord, Vasudeva, with adoration.
1. "Instruct me, O Lord, the rules of Urdhva Pundra (a vertical sign of Gopichandana paste on theforehead and other places of the body); and also inform me the material by which it is made of, the mantras which are to be recited when applying it, and the places where it should beapplied.
2. The Lord Vasudeva replied:
"The origin of the Gopichandana was from the Vaikuntha regions. It delights Me and was made a paste by my devotees, Brahma and other son their body.
It is called ‘Vishnu-chandana’ (Sandal paste of Vishnu). It was applied on My Body daily by Gopis and removed. Hence ‘Gopichandana.’
3. It is the means of attaining Salvation as it was besmeared in My Body; it is Holy and is in consecrated water of My Disc (Chakra). It has the Emblem of My Disc on it, with white color.
4. Next, one should handle it with adoration, chanting the Mantra:
“O Gopichandana, the Destroyer of sins, O Thou, that hast come forth from the Body of Vishnu,and hast emblem of the disc, I adore Thee. Give me Salvation. I apply Thee on my body.”
He should fetch water reciting the mantra:
‘O Ganga, hear this &c;’ rub it uttering‘Vishnornukam’ &c., and apply it on his body reciting the mantras:
“Let, therefore, the Devas protect me,” and by Vishnu Gayatri (Narayanaya Vidmahe &c);
or uttering the names‘Kesava’ &c., (the twelve names of Vishnu from Kesava to Damodara).***
***Vishnudut1926 - See the Book "Panniru Namam" by Shree Shreemad Vedanta Desika (here).
5. The Brahmachari and Vanaprastha should apply the paste on the forehead, breast, neck and forearms, uttering either the Vaishnava Gayatri, or Krishna and other names.
6. The Grihastha (house-holder) should consecrate it repeating thrice the verse with meditation: “O Bearer of the Conch-Shell, Disc and Club in Hands, O the Dweller in the Dvaraka, Achuta, Govinda, O Lotus-Like Eyed one, protect me, who has taken refuge in Thee;”
and apply it in the twelve places, crown of the head &c., by the second finger (ring-finger) chanting the Vaishnava Gayatri or Kesava and other names.
7. Brahmachari and the householder should apply it on the forehead, breast, neck and forearms uttering either the Vaishnava Gayatri, or Krishna and other names.
8. The Sanyasin should apply it by the fore-finger on the crown, forehead, andbreast, uttering the Pranava alone.
9. The three vertical lines represent the three embodied ones Brahma &c., the three Vyahritis (Bhu &c,) the three Vedic metres, the three sacred fires, the three luminaries (the Sun &c), the three times, the three states of consciousness, the three Atmans, and the letters A, U, and M.
Thus the Urdhva Pundra is of Pranava.
This is Atman.
It is Sat (being) and Om.
10. All these manifestations are one.
11. As it (symbolizes the) uplifting to the higher regions the aspirants of Om, one, therefore, should apply the Urdhva Pundra.
12. The Paramahamsa can apply a single line of Urdhva Pundra on his forehead, reciting Pranava.
13. The yogi attains the state of My equally (Sayujya), realizing his Self in it which reveals the Truth like a lamp.
14. Or, one may realize it (the Truth) in the center of the paste on the breast, or in the lotus-like heart, as it is said:
“In the center of it (heart) there is a fine flame of light which burns upwards, which is as bright as the flash of lightening in the middle of the blue cloud.
This Supreme Self is as fine as the ear of the wild rice-grains (nivara).”
Therefore one should realize the Self which is in the lotus-like heart as remaining in the Pundra.
15. Thus one should gradually realize me the Supreme Hari, who is the one’s own Self. He, who meditates on Me, the imperishable Hari, with undivided attention, and also on his own Self as residing in his lotus-like heart, attains Salvation.
There is no doubt in this.
He also realizes by devotion My nature which is Secondless (Unique), All-Pervading, without beginning, middle and end, self-shining, and which is Existence, Consciousness and Bliss.
16. The Only One Vishnu dwells uninterruptedly in all moveable and immovable things.
I, as the Self, dwell in all beings.
Like the oil on the oil-seed, the fire in the firewood, the cream in the milk, and like the odor in the flowers, I am dwelling in all beings.
17. One reaches the goal by pasting the Gopichandan on his crown, between the eye-brows, and on the breast, and there meditating on Hari, the Sun of Consciousness.
18. The Sanyasin, who uplifts his senses, who draws his vital current upwards, has Urdhva Pundra caste mark on his body and who practices the centripetal meditation, reaches the upper regions as he possesses the four upper-tending practices.
Thus one obtains for himself the decisive knowledge by My Devotion.
One should, therefore, possess exclusive devotion having the paste Gopichandana on his body.
19. It is well ordained that all the Vaidika Brahmins should have the UrdhvaPundra prepared by Gopichandan and water.
20. If one, desirous of Salvation, does not procure the Gopichandana, should have the substitute from the earth of the root of the Tulasi plant, in order to obtain the direct perception of the Self.
21. One should besmear himself with the body ashes, procured from the sacredfire of the Atiratra Sacrifices, reciting the Mantras “Agner bhasitam,” (the holy ashes are from the fire), “I danu* Vishnu,” “Trini Pada” (the three steps). Vishnu Gayatri, and Pranava. [*In the Srauta Prayoga, we find this mantra uttered with sprinkling the holy ashes, when the dog pollutes theSacrificial ground by entering it.]
22. By this method one should have the Gopichandana on his body (when theSruti authoritatively pronounces thus many do not use Bhasma above Gopichandan paste andviolate the injunction).
23. He, who studies this, becomes free from all the sins.
He never gets the impure thought (concerning Bhasma).
24. He gets the virtue of bathing in all the holy waters.
He obtains the result of performing all the Vedic Sacrifices.
He is honored by all the gods.
25. He gets an uninterrupted Devotion in me, the Lord Narayana.
He attains the state of Equality of Vishnu, having obtained the pure knowledge.
26. He does never come back to this world, does never come back. Thus Says the Lord Vasudeva.
27. He who studies this also attains the same.
Thus Om, Truth.
Thus ends The Upanishad.
translated by R. A. Sastri.
.. वासुदेवोपनिषत् ..
यत्सर्वहृदयागारं यत्र सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् .
वस्तुतो यन्निराधारं वासुदेवपदं भजे ..
ॐ आप्यायन्तु ममाङ्गानि वाक्प्राणश्चक्षुः
श्रोत्रमथो बलमिन्द्रियाणि च .. सर्वाणि सर्वं ब्रह्मोपनिषदं
माहं ब्रह्म निराकुर्यां मा मा ब्रह्म निराकरोदनिराकरणम-
स्त्वनिराकरणं मेस्तु तदात्मनि निरते य उपनिषत्सु धर्मास्ते
मयि सन्तु ते मयि सन्तु .. ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ..
ॐ नमस्कृत्य भगवान्नारदः सर्वेश्वरं वासुदेवं पप्रच्छ
अधीहि भगवन्नूर्ध्वपुण्ड्रविधिं द्रव्यमन्त्रस्थानादिसहितं मे
ब्रूहीति . तं होवाच भगवान्वासुदेवो वैकुण्ठस्थानादुत्पन्नं
मम प्रीतिकरं मद्भक्तैर्ब्रह्मादिभिर्धारितं विष्णुचन्दनं
ममाङ्गे प्रतिदिनमालिप्तं गोपीभिः प्रक्षालनाद्गोपीचन्दन-
माख्यातं मदङ्गलेपनं पुण्यं चक्रतीर्थान्तःस्थितं
चक्रसमायुक्तं पीतवर्णं मुक्तिसाधनं भवति .
अथ गोपीचन्दनं नमस्कृत्वोद्धृत्य .
गोपीचन्दन पापघ्न विष्णुदेहसमुद्भव .
चक्राङ्कित नमस्तुभ्यं धारणान्मुक्तिदो भव .
इमं मे गङ्गे इति जलमादाय विष्णोर्नुकमिति मर्दयेत् .
अतो देवा अवन्तु न इत्येतन्मन्त्रैर्विष्णुगायत्र्या केशवादि-
नामभिर्वा धारयेत् . ब्रह्मचारी वानप्रस्थो वा
ललाटहृदयकण्ठबाहूमूलेषु वैष्णवगायत्र्या
कृष्णादिनामभिर्वा धारयेत् . इति त्रिवारमभिमन्त्र्य
शङ्खचक्रगदापाणे द्वारकानिलयाच्युत . गोविन्द
पुण्डरीकाक्ष रक्ष मां शरणागतम् . इति ध्यात्वा
गृहस्थो ललाटादिद्वादशस्थलेष्वनामिकाङ्गुल्या
वैष्णवगायत्र्या केशवादिनामभिर्वा धारयेत् .
ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थो वा ललाटहृदयकण्ठबाहूमूलेषु
वैष्णवगायत्र्या कृष्णादिनामभिर्वा धारयेत् .
यतिस्तर्जन्या शिरोललाटहृदयेषु प्रणवेनैव धारयेत् .
ब्रह्मादयस्त्रयो मूर्तयस्तिस्रो व्याहृतयस्त्रीणि छन्दांसि
त्रयोऽग्नय इति ज्योतिष्मन्तस्त्रयः कालास्तिस्रोऽवस्थास्त्रय
आत्मानः पुण्ड्रात्रय ऊर्ध्वा अकार उकारो मकार एते
प्रणवमयोर्ध्वपुण्ड्रास्तदात्मा सदेतदोमिति . तानेकधा
समभवत् . ऊर्ध्वमुन्नमयत इत्योङ्काराधिकारी .
तस्मादूर्ध्वपुण्ड्रं धारयेत् . परमहंसो ललाटे
प्रणवेनैकमूर्ध्वपुण्ड्रं वा धारयेत् .
तत्त्वप्रदीपप्रकाशं स्वात्मानं पश्यन्योगी
मत्सायुज्यमवाप्नोति . अथ वा न्यस्तहृदयपुण्ड्रमध्ये
वा हृदयकमलमध्ये वा .
तस्य मध्ये वह्निशिखा अणीयोर्ध्वा व्यवस्थिता .
नीलतोयदमध्यस्थाद्विद्युल्लेखेव भास्वरा .
नीवारशूकवत्तन्वी परमात्मा व्यवस्थित इति .
अतः पुण्ड्रस्थं हृदयपुण्डरीकेषु तमभ्यसेत् .
क्रमादेवं स्वात्मानं भावयेन्मां परं हरिम् .
एकाग्रमनसा यो मां ध्यायते हरिमव्ययम् .
हृत्पङ्कजे च स्वात्मानं स मुक्तो नात्र संशयः .
मद्रूपमद्वयं ब्रह्म आदिमध्यान्तवर्जितम् .
स्वप्रभं सच्चिदानन्दं भक्त्या जानाति चाव्ययम् .
एको विष्णुरनेकेएषु जङ्गमस्थावरेषु च .
अनुस्युतो वसत्यात्मा भूतेष्वहमवस्थितः .
तैलं तिलेषु काष्ठेषु वह्निः क्षीरे घृतं यथा .
गन्धः पुष्पेषु भूतेषु तथात्मावस्थितो ह्यहम् .
ब्रह्मरन्ध्रे भ्रुवोर्मध्ये हृदये चिद्रविं हरिम् .
गोपीचन्दनमालिप्य तत्र ध्यात्वाप्नुयात्परम् .
ऊर्ध्वदण्डोर्ध्वरेताश्च ऊर्ध्वपुण्ड्रोर्ध्वयोगवान् .
ऊर्ध्वं पदमवाप्नोति यतिरूर्ध्वचतुष्कवान् .
इत्येतन्निश्चितं ज्ञानं मद्भक्त्या सिध्यति स्वयम् .
नित्यमेकाग्रभक्तिः स्याद्गोपीचन्दनधारणात् .
ब्राह्माणानां तु सर्वेषां वैदिकानामनुत्तमम् .
गोपीचन्दनवारिभ्यामूर्ध्वपुण्ड्रं विधीयते .
यो गोपीचन्दनाभावे तुलसीमूलमृत्तिकाम् .
मुमुक्षुर्धारयेन्नित्यमपरोक्षात्मसिद्धये .
अतिरात्राग्निहोत्रभस्मनाग्नेर्भसितमिदंविष्णुस्त्रीणि
पदेति मन्त्रैर्वैष्णवगायत्र्या प्रणवेनोद्धूलनं कुर्यात् .
एवं विधिना गोपीचन्दनं च धारयेत् .
यस्त्वधीते वा स सर्वपातकेभ्यः पूतो भवति .
पापबुद्धिस्तस्य न जायते . स सर्वेषु तीर्थेषु स्नातो भवति .
स सर्वैर्यज्ञैर्याजितो भवति . स सर्वैर्देवैः पूज्यो भवति .
श्रीमन्नारायणे मय्यचञ्चला भक्तिश्च भवति .
स सम्यग्ज्ञानं च लब्ध्वा विष्णुसायुज्यमवाप्नोति .
न च पुनरावर्तते न च पुनरावर्तते इत्याह भगवान्वासुदेवः .
यस्त्वेतद्वाधीते सोऽप्येवमेव भवतीत्यों सत्यमित्युपनिषत् ..
ॐ आप्यायन्तु ममाङ्गानि वाक्प्राणश्चक्षुः श्रोत्रमथो
बलमिद्रियाणि च .. सर्वाणि सर्वं ब्रह्मोपनिषदं माहं ब्रह्म
निराकुर्यां मा मा ब्रह्म निराकरोदनिराकरणमस्त्वनिराकणं मेस्तु
तदात्मनि निरते य उपनिषत्सु धर्मास्ते मयि सन्तु ते मयि सन्तु ..
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ..
इति वासुदेवोपनिषत्समाप्ता ..
