vastropavÄ«tÄbharaṇa-
patra-srag-gandha-lepanaiḥ
alaṅkurvīta sa-prema
mad-bhakto mÄá¹ yathocitam
vastra - with clothing; upavÄ«ta - a brÄhmaṇa thread; Äbharaṇa - ornaments; patra - decorations drawn on various parts of the body with tilaka; srak - garlands; gandha-lepanaiḥ - and smearing of fragrant oils; alaá¹…kurvÄ«ta - he should decorate; sa-prema - with love; mat-bhaktaḥ - My devotee; mÄm - Me; yathÄ ucitam - as is enjoined.
ÅšrÄ«la ÅšrÄ«dhara SvÄmÄ« quotes Lord ÅšrÄ« Viṣṇu’s instructions to Ambarīṣa MahÄrÄja in the Viṣṇu-dharma UpapurÄṇa as follows: “Absorbing your mind completely in the Deity, you should give up all other shelter and consider the Deity your intimate well-wisher. You should mentally worship Him and meditate upon Him while you walk, while you stand, while you sleep and eat. You should see the Deity in front of you, behind, above, below and on both sides. In this way you should constantly remember My Deity form.†In the GautamÄ«ya-tantra one is enjoined to give the Deity of the Lord a brÄhmaṇa thread, if possible one made of gold. In the Ná¹›siá¹ha PurÄṇa it is stated, “If one offers to Lord Govinda a yellow sacred thread containing three strands of silk, he will become an expert in VedÄnta.â€