The author of Caitanya Caritamrita, Srila Krishnadas Kaivraj Goswami, does mangalacarana in the beginning of his book. Mangalacarana can be translated as auspicious invocation.
Before beginning any activity, if auspicious invocations are done, that paves a way for a good result. Before begetting a child, garbhadana samksara helps to get a proper progeny. Before beginning chanting, it is helpful to recite prayers in the beginning so that we invest all our energy in the Holy Name.
Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami invokes the benedictions of the Lord, the spiritual master and the devotees.
He says,
granthera ārambhe kari ’maṅgalācaraṇa’
guru, vaiṣṇava, bhagavān, tinera smaraṇa
In the beginning of this narration, simply by remembering the spiritual master, the devotees of the Lord, and the Personality of Godhead, I have invoked their benedictions.
What is the effect of this?
tinera smaraṇe haya vighna-vināśana
anāyāse haya nija vāñchita-pūraṇa
Such remembrance destroys all difficulties and very easily enables one to fulfill his own desires.
Life becomes very simple when we remember Hari, guru and Vaishnavas. All problems are due to forgetting Krishna. Our main problem of coming in this material world are due to forgetting Krishna.
When Prabhupada went to the West, even to the reporters, he would say – I have come here on the order of my spiritual master. We can just imagine how much Shrila Prabhupada was conscious of his spiritual master. Aboard the Jaladuta, he wrote – I am feeling separation from my Lords Radha Gopinath, Radha Damodar and Radha Govindji! He also wrote, “My only solace is Caitanya Caritamrita.” Caitanya Caritamrita contains the activities and pastimes of Lord Caitanya who came as a devotee and His devotees. Thus, Prabhupada was remembering all three – Hari, guru and Vaishnavas!!!
Any activity we do – our goal must be – who is the person for whom am I doing this activity for? And the answer must be either of the three – Hari, guru and Vaishnavas!! If that happens, then amidst greatest dangers we can be safe.
This is what Krishna repeatedly explains to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita. If you fight on My behalf, then you won’t accrue any karma for that! Not only that, you will be not shaken in the midst of greatest calamities. Furthermore, when you thus become free from hankering and lamentation, you will attain Me.
Rupa Goswami mentions a beautiful verse in Padyavali,
dinādau murāre niśādau murāre
dinārdhe murāre niśārdhe murāre
dinānte murāre niśānte murāre
tvam eko gatir nas tvam eko gatir naḥ
O Lord Murāri, during the beginning, middle and end of all our days and nights, You always remain the only goal of our lives.
Such a clear conception! Sukadeva has similar feelings when he begins reciting Srimad Bhagavatam and prays – sriyah patir yajna patir praja patir…..patir gatis candhakah (SB 2.4.20)
Devotees are expert in remembrance of Hari, guru and Vaishnavas. Our life should be sheltered in them. Pariksit Maharaja in SB 1.19.16 asks for the grace of Hari, guru and Vaishnavas if he has to take another birth!
When this becomes the way of life for a devotee, even this material world transforms into Goloka for him or her.
viśvaṁ pūrṇa-sukhāyate vidhi-mahendrādiś ca kīṭāyate
yat kāruṇya-kaṭākṣa-vaibhavavatāṁ taṁ gauram eva stumaḥ
