THE BATHING CEREMONY OF LORD KRSNA
Nanda Maharaja was naturally very magnanimous, and when Lord Sri Krsna appeared as his son, he was overwhelmed with jubilation. He first bathed and purified himself and dressed himself properly, and then he invited brahmanas who knew how to recite Vedic mantras. After having these qualified brahmanas recite auspicious Vedic hymns, he arranged to have the Vedic birth ceremony celebrated for his newborn child according to the rules and regulations, and he also arranged for worship of the demigods and forefathers.
Nanda Maharaja gave two million cows, fully decorated with cloth and jewels, in charity to the brahmanas. He also gave them seven hills of grain covered with jewels and with cloth decorated with golden embroidery.
The brahmanas recited auspicious Vedic hymns, which purifled the environment by their vibration. The experts in reciting old histories like the Puranas, the experts in reciting the histories of royal families, and general reciters all chanted, while singers sang and many kinds of musical instruments, like bheris and dundubhis, played in accompaniment.
Vrajapura, the residence of Nanda Maharaja, was fully decorated with various festoons and flags, and in various places there were gates made with varieties of flower garlands, pieces of cloth, and mango leaves. The courtyards, the gates near the roads, and everything within the rooms of the houses were perfectly swept and washed with water.
The cows, bulls, and calves were thoroughly smeared with a mixture of turmeric, oil, and various minerals. Their heads were bedecked with peacock feathers, and they were garlanded and covered with cloth and golden ornaments.
The cowherd men put on valuable ornaments and garments such as coats and turbans. Decorated in this way, and carrying various presentations in their hands, they approached the house of Nanda Maharaja. The wives of the cowherd men were very pleased to hear that mother Yasoda had given birth to a son, and they decorated themselves very nicely with proper garments, ornaments, black ointment for the eyes, etc. With their lotus-like faces looking extraordinarily beautiful, decorated as they were with saffron and fresh kunkuma, the wives of the cowherd men hurried to the house of mother Yasoda with presentations in their hands.
Offering blessings to the newborn child, Krsna, the wives and daughters of the cowherd men said, “May you become the King of Vraja and long maintain all its inhabitants.” Then they sprinkled a mixture of turmeric powder, oil, and water upon the mirthless Supreme Lord and offered Him prayers.
PAINTING BY PARIKSIT DASA (1977)