Rupa Cintamani
The immaculate right lotus foot of Sri Hari, the son of Saci, bears these marks from the big toe down to the little toe: an umbrella, a spear, a barleycorn, a goad, a thunderbolt, four jambu fruits, an earring, an altar, a rod, a mace, a chariot, a lotus, four svastikas and an octagon, together with a pure mountain and an unblemished upward line.
Remember also the left lotus foot of Lord Visvambhara, bearing from the big toe down to the little toe: a conch, the sky, a water-pot, a flag, a creeper, a flower garland, a half-moon, a disc, an unstrung bow, a triangle, a bangle, a flower, four water-pots, a fish and a cow's hoofprint, and a tortoise.
At the base of the big toe is the barleycorn, and below it the umbrella; at the joint between the big toe and the second toe is the upward line.
O my mind, always remember the delicate goad-mark; below the second toe is the rod, and below the middle toe the lotus.
Below that remember the mountain-shaped mark, and below that the chariot; to the right of the chariot is the mace, and to its left the small spear.
Below the little toe is the goad; below that remember the thunderbolt; below that spreads the altar, and below that the earring.
Beneath these marks shines a cluster of four svastikas joined with an octagon, and at the joints between the toes are the four jambu fruits.
O mind, remember these great auspicious marks on the right foot of Gaura-Hari. Now, at the base of the big toe of the left foot is the conch, and below it the thunderbolt.
Below the middle toe is the sky; below both remember the bow, a bow without its string; and at the base of the ring toe is the bangle.
Below the little toe is one beautifully shining water-pot; below that is the mark called the cow's hoofprint, and below that again a flag with a fine banner.
Meditate on the flower below that, and remember the creeper below that; below the cow's-hoofprint mark is also a triangular disc.
Meditate on the four equally lovely water-pots below that; between them a half-moon, and below, a beautifully shining tortoise.
Below that is a lovely little fish, and again to its right, level with the tortoise, low down beneath the water-pot,
Remember the charming flower garland on the lotus of the left foot. Thus are described the thirty-two marks on the lotus feet of Gauranga.
About Rupa Cintamani
Attributed to Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, this fourteen-verse meditation catalogs the thirty-two auspicious marks -- umbrella, conch, disc, mace, chariot, lotus and more -- traditionally said to appear on the soles of Lord Vishnu's feet, here located instead on the two lotus feet of Sri Gauranga (Lord Caitanya). Despite the title's use of "rupa" (meaning "form"), the hymn is not about Srila Rupa Goswami but functions as a dhyana text establishing Chaitanya's identity as Krishna Himself, closing with the line "iti dvatrimsac-cihnani gaurangasya padabjayoh" -- "thus are the thirty-two marks on Gauranga's lotus feet."
- Composer
- Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura · Read biography
- Verses
- 14
Frequently asked
Who wrote Rupa Cintamani?
Rupa Cintamani was composed by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.
What is the meaning of Rupa Cintamani?
The immaculate right lotus foot of Sri Hari, the son of Saci, bears these marks from the big toe down to the little toe: an umbrella, a spear, a barleycorn, a goad, a thunderbolt, four jambu fruits, an earring, an altar, a rod, a mace, a chariot, a lotus, four svastikas and an octagon, together with a pure mountain and an unblemished upward line.
How many verses does Rupa Cintamani have?
Rupa Cintamani has 14 verses.
Can I download Rupa Cintamani as a PPT or PDF?
Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for Rupa Cintamani — verse and translation on each slide — is available to download in both PowerPoint (.pptx) and PDF formats from this page, for use in kirtan or temple programs.