Śrī Chaitanya Sāraswat Maṭh Philippines Śrī Nāma Hātta Center U.P. Campus, Diliman, Quezon City (+63)09498332414
The Thirty-Two Types of Sevā-Aparādha The following outline was compiled at Śrīla Bhakti Nirmal Āchārya Mahārāj’s request as an appendix to the most recent edition of Śrī Chaitanya Sāraswat Maṭh’s pañjikā (almanac). Here it has been translated from the original Bengali text, which was excerpted from the writings of Śrīla Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur and other Āchāryas in the Rūpānuga sampradāya. (1) Entering the Lord’s Temple in a vehicle or while wearing shoes. (2) Not celebrating the Lord’s birthday and other Pastimes. (3) Not offering obeisance when coming before the Deity. (4) Worshipping the Deity with an unclean body or while in an impure state. 1
(5) Offering obeisance with one hand. (6) Strolling or pacing before the Deity. (7) Spreading one’s legs before the Deity. (8) Sitting before the Deity while holding up one’s knees with one’s forearms. (9) Lying down before the Deity. (10) Eating before the Deity. (11) Telling lies before the Deity. (12) Speaking loudly before the Deity. (13) Conversing privately before the Deity. (14) Crying before the Deity. (15) Quarrelling before the Deity. (16) Chastising someone before the Deity. (17) Being charitable to someone before the Deity. (18) Behaving or speaking cruelly towards common people. (19) Serving the Deity while covered with a wool, fur, or down blanket. (20) Criticising others before the Deity. (21) Praising others before the Deity.
2
(22) Using foul language before the Deity. (23) Passing air before the Deity. (24) Financial fraud, that is, organising a festival or offering worship at a lower cost or with fewer ingredients than one is able to provide. (25) Taking items that have not been offered to the Deity for oneself. (26) Not offering fruits and grains to the Deity when they are fresh. (27) Giving the best part of collected ingredients to others and offering the remains to the Deity. (28) Sitting with one’s back to the Deity. (29) Offering obeisances to others before the Deity. (30) Remaining quiet and not offering praise, obeisance, and so on before Śrī Gurudev. (31) Praising oneself before Śrī Gurudev. (32) Criticising the demigods.
3