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Tag: Devi worship

  • Forms Of Shakti Worship

    Women are accorded the highest respect in the Vedas and the Goddess worship was of primary importance to the Hindus.

    Shakti worship.
    Nine Forms of Shakti

    Not only that, women Seers like Maitreyi were very popular.

    The Vedas mention Shakti in different aspects.

    Durga ,the giver of Strength and destroyer of Evil Forces(this later became the worship of Kali),

    Laxmi, the Provider of Wealth, and

    Sarasvati, the Repository of Knowledge.

    There are Five important Sukthas,

    Purusha Suktham,

    Narayana Suktha,

    Vishnu Suktham,

    Sri Suktham and

    Durga Suktham.

    Of the Upa Suktham we have the Saraswati Suktham.

    Later the worship of Sakthi became two kinds.

    Mantra and Tantra.

    In the Mantra worship , Devi is worshiped through the Mantras while in the Tantra form She is worshiped through Mystical symbols.

    Please read my post on Samayin and Kaulamarga-link provided at the end of the post.

    The uniqueness of Hinduism is that one can worship God in any Form one pleases or likes.

    Mother, Daughter.

    Mother Form is practiced in the Upasna of Kali or Akilandeswari/Tripura Sunadri/Abirami.

    As a child She is worshiped as Bala.

    Female child of five years is considered as the incarnation of  Durga and it is the practice of the Hindus to worship children of this age  by washing their hands and feeding them during Navratri.

    Shakti worship is of such an importance that Shankaracharya established Shakta worship, devoted to Devi, while reorganizing the six modes of worship-Shanmathas.

    Following are the Nine Forms of Devi Worship.

    Durga Shailputri (Daughter of Mountain) : “Shail” means mountains, “Putri” means daughter. Parvati, the daughter of the King of the Mountains Himavan, is called ‘Shailputri”. The first among nine Durgas and 1st night of Navratras is devoted to the puja of Shailputri . Her two hands display a trident and a lotus. Her mount is a bull.
    The second Durga Shakti is Brahamcharini. Brahma that is who observes penance(tapa) and good conduct. Here “Brahma” means “Tapa”. The idol of this Goddess is very gorgeous.One hand hold a “Kumbha” or water pot, and the other holds a rosary. She personifies love and loyalty. Bhramcharini is the store house of knowledge and wisdom. Rudraksha beads are Her most adored ornaments!
    The name of third Shakti is Chandraghanta. There is a half-circular moon in her forehead. She is charmful and bright. She is Golden in color, possesses ten hands and 3 eyes. Eight of her hands display weapons while the remaining two are respectively in the mudras of gestures of boon giving and stopping harm. Chandra + Ghanta, meaning supreme bliss and knowledge, showering peace and serenity, like cool breeze in a moonlit night. This Durga Shakti rides a tiger. She is mainly worshipped in Tamil Nadu.
    With the fourth night begins the worship of Kushmanda, possessed of eight arms, holding a weapons and a mala ( rosary), her mount is the tiger and She emanates a solar aura. “Kumbh Bhand” means to see the cosmic dance in the form of Pindi; the knowledge of cosmic intricacies in the human race. The abode of Kushmanda is Bhimaparvat !
    Fifth name of Durga is “Skanda Mata“. Rising a lion as Her chosen vehicle, She holds Her son skanda on her lap. She displays three eyes and four hands; two hands holds lotuses while the other two hand display defending and granting mudras, respectively. Its said, by the merch of Skandmata, even the fool becomes an ocean of knowledge.
    Black (or blue ) skin with bountiful hair and 4 hands, 2 clutching a cleaver and a torch, while the remaining 2 are in the mudras of “giving” and “protecting”. Her vehicle is a faithful donkey. The destroyer of darkness and ignorance, Kaalratri is the seventh form of Nav-Durga meaning scourer of darkness; enemy of darkness.
    The Eighth Durga is “Maha Gauri.” She is as white as a conch, moon and Jasmine. She is of eight years old. With four arms and the fairest complexion of all the Durgas Shaktis, Mahagauri radiates peace and compassion. She is often dressed in a white or green sari. She holds a drum and a trident and is often depiected riding a bull.
    Ninth Durga is “Siddhidatri“. There are eight Siddhis , they are- Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Iishitva & Vashitva.It is said in “Devipuran” that the Supreme God Shiv got all these Siddhies by worshipping Maha Shakti. With her gratitude the half body of Shiv has became of Goddess and there fore his name “Ardhanarishvar” has became famous.Usually shown ensconced a lotus with four arms, She is the grantor of 26 different wishes to Her Bhaktas
    Ref.http://www.indif.com/nri/articles/article2.asp
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  • Daily Worship of Five Deities Panchayatana Puja

    In Hinduism Paarayana is different from Puja.

    Paarayana is the recitation of a particular Sloka, Sahasranama, or Astothra of one Deity or any number of Deities daily.

    In this, one need not follow very strict rules of Puja, like Dhik Bandana, Kavacham.

    This can be performed at any time , preferably in the morning or in the evening.

    A Naivedya is to be offered with Aarthi,(Naivedya and mantras  please read my post on Naivedya)

    It is recommended that either Honey ar dried Grapes be offered.

    These two are suggested for they do not have any Dosha  or deity specific.

    In a Puja strict rules are followed and normally the Puja is initiated by a Guru.

    One has to wear Pancha kachcham(How to wear a Pancha Kachcham, please read my post )

    Poojas are performed either in the mornings or evenings.

    It is recommended that Siva Pooja be performed in the evening; others may be performed either in the morning or in the evening.

    It is customary to offer a specific Naivedya for a  particular Deiy; Modhaka for Ganesha,Sarkarai Pongal for Ambika/Vishnu and Maha Naivedyam  for Siva.

    ( Maha Naivedya- Hot cooked Rice with a spoon ful of Ghee on top of it with two teaspoonful of cooked Thoordal)

    There is another specific Puja where Deities representing the Five elements of Nature, Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether are worshiped daily .

    This is to be performed in the morning.

    As this Puja has Five Deities, this is called the Panchayatana Puja.

    Idols placement In Panchayatnana Pooja.image
    Panchayatnana Pooja idols placement

    This was made popular by Sri Adi Sankaracharya.

    There is a misconception that only those who worship Siva alone can perform this.

    It  is incorrect.

    The reason for the prevalent view is that people mistake the term ‘Smartha‘ means those who worship Siva.

    Smartha is One who follows the Smriti, that which is retained by Memory, as against Sruthi that which heard(Vedas)

    We have a host of Smritis,

    Narayan Smriti,

    Smarta Smriti.

    Manu Smriti,

    Sukra Smriti. Bruhaspati Smriti.

    All those who follow either of these my perform the Panchayatana Puja.

    Sankaracharya systematised the worship into Six Systems, The Shan Mathas(read my post on this)

    In the Panchayatana Puja,Subrahmanya is not included, but it may be included by having a small Silver Spear(Vel) or a small Silver Snake Idol.

    The Sankalpa depends on one’s desires.

    The best sankalpa is praying for the welfare of all beings, living and non Living.

    The mantras for each Devata may be Astothra .

    Sahasranama is  time-consuming.

    The Five elements and the represented Murthis.

    Akasa -Ether/Space-Vishnu.

    Agni-Fie-Ambika.

    Vayu, Air-Aditya.

    Prithvi, Earth-Siva.

    Jala, Water -Ganapati

    Here on may find the Vedic representation of the principles of nature.

    This may sound slightly different as Aditya  represents Vayu, while Vishnu who is normally associated with Prithvi is seen representing Space as Vishnu is an Amsa of Parama Purusha who represents Space as well.

    ‘Akasyatipo Vishnu Agnischaiva Maheswari,

    Vayo Suryah  Kshtir  Isah Jalan Nyasa Ganathipa’

    There is school of thought which prescribes different  ways of placing the idols in the Puja.

    One is:

    Shiva panchayata

    Vishnu                Surya

          Shiva

    Devi                    Ganesh

    Vishnu panchayata

    Shiva                 Ganesh

          Vishnu

    Devi                 Surya

    Surya panchayata

    Shiva                 Ganesh

     Surya

    Devi                 Vishnu

    Devi panchayata

    Vishnu                 Shiva

            Devi

    Surya                 Ganesh

    Ganesh panchayata

    Vishnu                 Shiva

              Ganesh

    Devi                     Surya

    That is to place the Murthy which one traditionally worships as prescribed by his Kula Sampradaya.

    The other method is to place the Ishta Devata, Preferred personal God in the center and  place all the others around it.

    Some use natural Stones instead of Murthis.

    For..

    Surya Crystal from Vallam Tamil Nadu.

    Ganesha  Red Sonebhadra from Sone,Bihar.

    Vishnu Saligrama from Gandaki, Nepal.

    Shiva, Bana Linga from Narmada, M.P.

    Ambika Swarnamukhi from Swarna Mukhi from Andhra Pradesh.

    if you  plan to use small Idols ensure that they are not taller than your thumb.

    Panchayatana Puja Procedure.

    Start with Ganapati, Adithya,Subrahmanya,Ambika, Shiva and Vishnu.

    Follow the Link for detailed mantras for Panchayatana Puja.

    http://viprayuva.org/joomla/index.php/puja-sangraham/149-laghu-panchayatana-puja

     

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