Professional Documents
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BIDHI
Technology have advanced, to give more and easier understanding of the universe
and its functions, but HINDUS refuse to get simplier and down to earth
meanings to our rituals and practices.
They say if the Scriptures does not say so, then we are wrong, if we say so and
so about our rites and rituals.
Ask yourself, for how many years have India been ruled by the British, the
Moguls??????? Have they influenced the Priests of those years to change the
meanings of our rites and worship????
Come on Hindus, give LOGICAL AND SENSIBLE meanings to our rites and
rituals.
Our present day Swamis from MY time of birth, starting with Swami Purnananda
of the Bharatya Sevashram Sangha, Swami Satchitananda of the Divine Life
Society, Sri Satya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi, Sant Keshavadas, Swami
Chinmayananda, Swami Bhaskarnanda and MY own, Shri, Shri Shri Ganapathi
Sachchidananda Swami of Mysore India, are only a few of the Saints of India,
who have tried to give Vedantic and logical explanations and sequential order in
our Pooja system, rites and rituals.
Changes have been made by them, and they have made Poojas, rites and rituals
accessable to anyone who wants to perform Poojas, rites and rituals.
These mantras are just a guide to the South India Pooja system. If you know
Mantras that differ from those presented here, you decide which ones you want to
use. We have 4 Vedas, 18 Puranas, 108 Upanishads, and a host of Pooja
Paddities by Vsshista, Narad, Bhrigu, Garga, Gowtam, Sandilya and other Rishis.
Mantras have come into our Pooja System from all these sources. The main thing
is that the correct and systematic offering is done along with the relevant Mantras
that you choose, IF you know them or just offer in the order given and ask God
to please accept the offerings.
NOTE: The explanations of the Pooja as given by me, Pandit Ramkissoon Ramnarine
Sharma ( Boloji ) are given simply in order for Devotees to get a laymans, down to
earth, understanding of the activities and items that are offered in the South India Pooja
system. Remember, that there are highly Vedic explanations and meaning of the Mantras
and the offerings, which is not given here. These explanations, I repeat is ONLY for your
better understanding of South India Pooja system and to encourage and make you want
and love to do Pooja
Remember each Pandit has his own Mantras and format of doing Poojas, some has been
handed down, from grand father to fathers to son, no format or Mantras is wrong.
Just as each and every host will serve their guests in their own way, each Pandit will do
his Pooja in his own way. This is the simplest format of the South India Pooja system, as
taught to me by His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji , with Pandit
Moorli of Mysore, South India as my Acharia ( teaching me through Sruthi----from his
mouth to my ear)
Cleansing of Srotha (Devotee doing Pooja) before beginning of Pooja. Engaging the
Srothas into the Pooja.
Srotha stands on a kush grass or mango leaf facing the Bede or Murthi.
The Pandit pours water on his/her hand, with a mango leaf, asking hin/her to wash his/
her hands, then he pours water in his right hand and ask him/ her to drink it ( three times),
then wash their hands. The washing of the hands is symbolic of the outside cleansing of
the body, the drinking of the water is symbolic of the cleaning of the inside of the body. A
kush grass or mango ring is placed in his/her ring finger. ( engaging the Srothas in the
Pooja) When someone gets engaged, that person must think of the person that they have
become engaged to only and no one else, they now surrender themselves to God until
they become disengaged. The Srotha must only think about the Pooja while engaged in
the Pooja, their THAN ,MANN oure DHAN ( thoughts, words and deeds ) must be on the
Pooja.The water must not fall on the Bede or Murthi. The Srotha remains standing, until
told to take his/her seat by the Pandit. Pandit gives each Srotha a flower ask him to hold
it in his hands , clasping his hands in form of prayer.
INVITING THE GURUSRI SRI SRI GANAPATHI SACHCHANANDA SWAMIJI
TO PRESIDE OVER THIS POOJA ---Im just his instrument.
OM NARAYANAYA SWAHA
OM MAADHAVAYA SWAHA
OM GOVINDAYA NAMAHA
Pour a spoon of water on your right hand palm and let it run down to the ground
passing through the tip of your fingers .
OM VISHANAVE NAMAHA
Pass right hand fingers over mouth, from right hand side.
OM MADHUSOODHANAYA NAMAHA
Rub palms with right palm on top
OM TRIVIKRAMAAYA NAMAHA
Rub palms with left palm on top .
OM VAAMANAAYA NAMAHA
Pour a spoon of water on your right palm, and let it run to the ground passing
through the tip of your fingers.
Take a flower, put a few grains of yellow rice and a drop of water and say this
Mantra:
Put in Name of year, sun phase, season, moth, fortnight Tithi . Your Name, Date of
Birth, Rasinaam Nakshatra Gotra where told to do so and say this Sankalp:
ATAHA SANKALPAHA
OM SHUBHAY,
SHOBHANAY MUHURTAY
ADHYA BRAHMANAH
DWITIYA PARAADHE
SHWETA VARAAHA KALPAY
VAIVATSWATAHA MANVANTARE
KALIYUGAAY
PRATHAMAPADAAY
JAMDII DWIPAY
BHARATA VARSHAY (Trinidad Varshay)
BHARATA KHANDAY (Trinidad Khanday)
ASHMIN VARATA MAANAY
VYAAVAHAARIKAA
CHAANDRAMAANENAH
PRABHAV VAADAY
SHASHTEE
SAMVATSARANAAM MADHYE
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SHRI MAT
(Year)
(Sun Phase)
(Season)
(Month)
(Fortnight)
(Tithi)
SHRI MUKHA
NAAM SAMVATSARE
AYANAY
RITOU
MAASAY
PAKSHI
TITHOV
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OM VAKRA THUNDA
MAHAA KAAYA
SURYA KOTI
SAMA PRABHA
NIRVIGNAM
KURU MEY DEVA
SARVA KARYEA SHO
SARVADDHA
MANASOOBHISTA
PRARTHANAAM
SAMARPAYAMI
NOTE KALASHA POOJA MUST BE DONE BEFORE GANESH POOJA
please shift this around --Artima to shift.
Kalasha Pooja is now done.This is done to prepare (1) Holy water to be used in the Pooja,
(2) the Kalasha for the Devatas to which Poojas are to be done to, to take a seat on that
Kalasha
ATAHA KALASHA POOJA
TADANGA KALASHYA POOJAM KARISHYEA
KAALASHAM GANDHA AKSHATA PATRA PUSHPEI RAVIARCHA
Using ring finger if right hand touch hardi and touch 4 sides of both Kalsas starting
from the southern side clockwise. Do the same for the Kum-Kum or sindoor.(This is
done to prevent any evil forces, from entering the vessels) Place a little hardi,
yellow rice and camphor, into both Kalasas, which is filled with water. One
Kalasha is with now prepared with mango leaves and a dried coconut, which is
shaped in the form of a peak, the fibre forming the peak, is where the eyes are, the
eyes are left covered, in this Kalasha one coin is placed together with three drops of
water from the other Kalasha, the water in this Kalasha is now stirred three times
with a spoon or the mango leaf, which is placed in the smaller Kalasha. A flowers is
placed in each Kalasha. A Raksha or cloth is wrapped around the neck of the
Kalasha which has the coconut on it, hardi and kum kum are placed on four sides of
the shaped coconut, as was previously done with the two Kalashas, (Say this mantra
while doing the above keeping each hand over the (1)the mouth of the smaller
Kalasha and(2) your next hand touching the coconut, which is on the next Kalasha.
OM YO DEVAHA, SAVITAA SMAAKAM, DHIYOO DHARMAADI,
GOOCHARAHA, PREERAYEETH, TASYA, YAD BHARGAHA, TAD
VAREBYAM, UPAASMAHE (Say this pray three (3) times)
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Place a flower upside down into the Kalsa mouth with your right palm and say the
following Mantra:
OM KALASHYASHYA
MUKHEY VISHNUHU
KANTHAY RUDRA
SAMA SHWREETAAHA
MOLE TATRA
STITHOU BRAMHAA
MADHYAY MATRA GANAA SMIRTHAHA
KUKSHOW TOO SAAGARATSARVEE
SAPTA DWEEPA WASUNDHARA
RIG VEDA, TA YAJUR, VEDA TA
SAMA VEDAH, HEEYATAR VARAHA
ANGAISCHA SAHITA ASARVEY
KALASAYSHU SAMA SHRITAHAA
AAYANTU DEVA PUJA ARTHAM
DURITA KSHYA KAARA KAHA
GANGAY CHA YAMUNA CHAIVA
GODAVARI SARASWATEE
NARMADA SINDHU KAAVERI
JALESHMEEN SAN NEEDHEEN KURUU
Dip the flower into the water in the kalsa,( i.e the Kalsa without the coconut) and
sprinkle on all Pooja items saying this mantra: this is done to sanctify all Pooja
items
KALAS O DEKEYNA
POOJA DRAVYANEE SAMPROKSHA
Dip flower in water and sprinkle murti and pictures saying this Mantra: this is done
to sanctify all the murtees and pictures.
DEVAM PROKSHA
Dip flower in water and sprinkle on yourself saying this Mantra: this is done to
sanctify the Srotha.
ATMA ANANCHA PROKSHA
SHESHAN VISRUJYAA
Sprinkle the whole place with water from flower by sprinkling right around you in a
circular clockwise way. This is done to sanctify the entire area.
Put flowers near murti or bedi
Now the actual Pooja begins. A Pooja is the inviting, welcoming, entertaining and
bidding farewell of the Devatas.
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Now you must officially invite the Devatas and tell them for what purpose you are
inviting them. When you invite someone to your home, you must tell them for what
purpose you are inviting them, so they can come prepared, for the occasion you are
inviting them for. You are inviting them, so you can do 16 stages of Pooja for them.
Put palms together in form of praying and say this Mantra:
ATAHA OM SHRI .. (Name of deity)
SHORA SHO OPACHARA POOJAM KARISHYAYAI
AWAWAHYAMI STAPAYAMI POOJAYAMI SANIDAPAYAMI
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MAHERANAYAA CHAKSHASAY
YO WAH SHIVATA MOO RASAHA
TASYA BAAJAYA TEHANAHA
USHA TERE WAA MAATARAHAA
YASYAKSHAYAYAA JINWATAA
AAPO JANAYATA CHANAHAA
OM SHRI (name of deity). KHUSDHO DAKA SNANAM
SAMARPAYAMI
Human beings have a biological body, their body is given a bath with water , soap,
shampoo e.t.c.. The Deities have a spiritual body, they must be given a bath with spiritual
items which are milk, dahee, ghee, honey and sugar. The following are now done.
Some people will mix all five items and bathe the murthi.We do not melt soap in a bath
tub and jump into the bath tub and come back out of the bath tub, saying we have taken a
bath. What we do, is we wet our skin with water, then rub our skin with soap, then wash
out the soap and perhaps rub our skin with shampoo and wash our skin again. The same
procedure is done in bathing the murthi. First, bath the murthi with water then milk,
then wash out the milk, then bath the murthi with dahee, then wash out the dahee, then
bath the murthi with ghee, then wash out the ghee, then bath the murthi with honey, then
wash out the honey, then bath the murthi with sugar, then wash out the sugar with water
each time. Panch amrit (5 items-milk, dahee, ghee, honey and sugar mixed together is
used, not to bathe the Murthi, but as a nectar for the Deity to drink and at the end of the
Pooja, to those at the Pooja, to drink, as having partaking of what was used to bath the
Deity all mixed together and a leaf of Toolsie added. It is said that whatever touches the
feet of the Lord, becomes Holy items and we must partake of it, to get the blessings of the
Lord. The same is done with the Parsad, after offering it to the Lord, we partake of if, to
receive the blessing of the Lord.
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MADHUKSRANTI
SINDHAWAHA
MADHWEIRNA SWANTOSHADHI
MADHUKNAKTA
MUTO SHA SHI
MADU MATO PARTI WAGAM VRAJHA
OM SHRI . (Name of Deity) MADHU SNANAM SAMARPAYAMI
Repeat----1 as done after bathe with milk.
Using Sugar bathe the deity saying this Mantra:
OM SHRI.. (Name of deity) SHARKARA SNANAM KAISHYAY
OM SWADAU PAWASWA DIBYAYA
SWADHUR INDRAYA
SUHAVEETI NAAMNAY
SWADHUR MITRAYA
WARUNAYA WAYAVAY
BRISHASPATAYEA MADHUMAN ARABHYAHA
SHRI (Name of deity) SHARKARA SNANAM SAMARPAYAMI
Repeat---1 as done after bathe with milk.
After having a bath, you would wipe and dry your skin with a towel. The same is done
for the Diety, using a clean small towel or paper towel or napkins. Now clothes is
put on the Diety. A piece of cotton wool is placed in front of the Diety. This is to thank
God for giving us cotton, which is woven into thread and made into cloth, which we use
to make our clothes, Actually this is an offering to thank God for giving us the raw
material to make our clothes- part of the thanksgiving service.
Offer a piece of cloth or cotton wool as cloth to deity saying this Mantra
OM SHRI . (Name of deity) NAMAHA
VASTRANI (or VASTRAM) SAMARPAYAMI
After putting on clothes, normally, a person would want to decorate themselves with
chain or malas around their neck. The Janeu was the first Spiritual item that the holy
persons or Deities wore around their neck, before the inventing of malas. The following
is now done.
Offer a janeu or a piece of wick as janeu and say this Mantra
OM SHRI . (Name of deity) NAMAHA
UPAVITAM SAMARPAYAMI (or DHARAYAMI)
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Remember a Pooja is also a thanks giving service, now God has given us something to
purify our blood and calm our nervous system, which is the Sandal wood. The Devatas
does not need to purify their blood nor calm their nervous system, we, human beings
need to do that, so we offer a dot of chandan paste to the head , between the eyes,
thanking God for giving something to us, to purify our blood and calm our nervous
system. This chandan, whatever, it is made from, is symbolic of the offering of Sandal
wood. The devotee now places a dot of chandan on the Srothas forehead, between the
eyes, on the lower tip of his both ears, on the middle of his throat, on the middle of his
both wrists. These are some of the major points in his body, where his nerves and blood
vessels cross. This, as said before is to purify OUR blood and calm nervous system. The
following is now done.
Place chandan on forehead of deity or tip of paan leaf, and say this Mantra
OM SHRI (Name of deity) NAMAHA
GANDHAM SAMARPAYAMI (or DHARAYAMI)
God has given us medicine in many formsin plants, through inoculations using
animals, and other ways. In order to thank God for providing us with raw materials for
making medicine, we offer some of the earlist form of medicine Hardi or saffron.
Offer a little Hardi powder at base of deity and say this Mantra
OM SHRI (Name of deity) NAMAHA
HARIDRA CHORANAM SAMARPAYAMI
When Hanuman saw Sita with Kum Kum on her fore head, he asked her, what was the
reason for her wearing the Kum Kum on her forehead? She told him, that is to show that
she is married, her husband is alive and most important, that she is being protected by her
husband, which is Ram. What did Hanuman then do, he rubbed Kum Kum or sindoor
over his whole body, saying he wants Ram to not only protect his head, but his whole
body. Therefore, when we offer Kum Kum or Sindoor, we are asking for protection, just
as Hanuman did. Therefore, God does not need any protection, we need it, so we thank
God for his protection, by offering Kum Kum or sindoor
Offer a little Kum Kum at the base of the deity and say this Mantra:
OM SHRI (name the deity).NAMAHA
KUM KUM CHORANAM SAMARPAYAMI
Offer a little Sindhoor at the base of the deity and say this Mantra:
OM SHRI (name the deity).NAMAHA
SINDHORA CHORANAM SAMARPAYAMI
We ask God to protect us by offering some kum kum or sindoor which represents the
powder of protection.
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Offer whatever else is there to offer including yellow rice, money, doob grass, neem
leaves, bael leaves etc. at the base of the Murthi and say the following.
Some of the Lay mans explanations I give for some of the items mentioned are as
follows:
Yellow rice---progenity, prosperity, long livety.
Money----to thank God for providing you with money through your job and legal
earnings.
Doob grass---before the invention of foam beds and foam mattresses, grasses, cane
arrow flowers and fibres from dry coconut were used to make our pillows,
mattresses and beds, so we offer doob grass representing all these items mentioned
that God has given us to use to make our beds, pillows and mattresses at the
beginning of creation. Of course NOWwe use foam to make our beds, pillows and
mattresses, but God did provide the original natural things as mentioned.
Neem and bael leaves----REPRESENTS all the timber that God has given us to
build our houses. Of course, nowadays steel and concrete are mainly used to build
our houses, but the original thing that God provided us to build our houses, is the
trees from the forest, which we cut down to make timber, which we used to build our
houses. Remember, these meanings I am giving, are NOT Vedic meanings, these
meanings have been thought up by me in order to put some lay mans, common
sense, explanations to Pooja, and so encourage people to want to do Pooja, when
they can understand what each items is being offered for. Pooja must NOT be a
SECRET nor a SYMIDIMMY but it must be something that is SACRED and
UNDERSTANDABLE to the most illiterate person. My explanations are aimed at
that.
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person. Therefore Naam Pooja is to tell the Lord, that we know he can take many
forms, and these many form that he takes are different forms that he will take to
help us . He will come to us in whatever form that we may need him to help us. Since
we do not know which form we may need his help, we therefore call as many forms
of his and say NAMAHA ,which means, I BOW TO THAT FORM. According to the
amount of Poojas being done, 108 names of a male Deity is called and 108 names of
a female Deity is called. Others are called in smaller amounts. The next thing that is
done, is the reading of the Chalisa, which is the life story and powers of the Deity. By
reading the first and last verses of all Chalisas for which Poojas are being done and
at least the whole Chalisa of the main Deity, or Deity of the day, it is telling the
Deities that you are aware of their life story and the powers that they have and how
they have helped others and you, the devotees are asking the Deities to help you also
or in some specific way.
During the chanting of the names, after each name is called, a flower or some yellow
rice is offered at the base of the Murthi or picture of the Deity, symbolically of
having performed full Pooja for the Deity (this will be explained later on in my
explanationas to how the offering of yellow rice can suffice for a whole Pooja )
*****
The next procedure is to ask God to remove any evil forces from your home. Now all
religions ask God to remove evil forces from their homes---the Moslems use the
smoke from the Lobhan to ask God to remove evil forces, the Christians use the
smoke from the Chalise to remove evil forces from their home and the Church,
by smoking out the home using various religious items to smoke out evil forces.
When any person feels frightened or feel some evil forces are interfering in their
home, we advice them to smoke out their homes, using Inscense sticks, in the same
way as, what is now going to be done. As a matter of fact every home, no matter
religion they belong to, should smoke out all evil forces , at least once a week. This is
now done during Pooja
ATAHA DHUPAM
Offer incense fumes to the deity, essence and say this Mantra:
OM SHRI (name the deity).
OM VANASPATI RASOO DIBYO
GANDHAR DHYO GANDHAM UTAMAHA
AGRE YAHAA
SARVAA DEVANAM OR (BHUTANAM) DHUPO YAM
PRATI GRIHYATHAAM
SHRI (name the deity) DIVYA DHUPAM AGRAPAAYAMI
Now we have tried to offer a little bit of whatever God has given to us as thanks giving
as God has provided us with all that is required for our survival. One of the things that
we cannot get a piece to offer as thanksgiving, is the SUN. In order to thank God for
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providing us with the sunlight, which no living being can live without, we light a single
wick lite and wave this lite in front of the Diety or Murthi. This is now done.
ATAHA DEEPAM
Offer a single wick light to deity and say this Mantra:
OM SHRI (name the deity)..
OM SAAJYAANTRI WARTAY, SAN YUKTAM
WANHINA YOJITAM MAYA GRIHANAM
MANGALAM , DEEPAM, TRILOKYAM , TIMIRAPAHA (name the deity)
EKARTI DEEPAM DARSHAYAMI
Hold container of single wick in left hand, place flower and rice and drop of water at
the end of container in left hand and fan flames of single wick with palm of right
hand towards deity and all other murti and pictures. At the end, offer two drops of
water on flower. This is done to tell the Deity that we need sunlight for the survival,
of all living things, but not too much to burn up every thing, so two drops of water is
now offered.
Touch flame with hand and touch both of your eyes saying this Mantra: (name of
deity) This is to show that the sun is the source of ALL energy and without the sun,
we cannot see, we may say that we use electricity to see, using a bulb, but that form
of electricity is not sustainable, eventually we will have to return to solar energy.
DUPA DEEPA AANANTARAM ARCHAMANIYEEYAM SAMARPAYAMI
Now, when anyone is invited to your home, you must offer them some food to eat.
Naivedyam, is FOOD. Why we prepare different naivedyam for each Deity, is simple, in
our own homes, father may like a certain food, wife may not like that food, so whatever
he likes is prepared for him ,whatever she likes, we prepare it for her. In the same way
each member of the family, whatever each one likes, is prepared for each one. When you
invite someone to your home, it is your duty to prepare whatever they like, in order to
ensure that they enjoy that visit to your home. Prepare whatever they like and they will
definitely be happy on their visit to your home.
ATAHA NAVEDYAM
Place in plate with parsad two paan leaves, two sooparees, flowers, rice, water and
toolsie leaves. Hold plate up. Touch plate with parsad to your head and heart then
to the feet of the deity or bedi three times saying this Mantra: Then place plate in
front of deity.
OM SHRI (name of deity)
OM VISHWA MITRA RUSHIHI GAYATRI CHANDAHA NIVEAADANNEY
VINIYOGAHAA
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When someone is having meals, usually a glass of water and a glass of some other
beverage, such as milk, juice or soft drink is also served, with the Naivediam. This is
what is now being done, symbolically ,using two drops of water.
Place one drop of water from blessed Kalsa into parsad and say this Mantra:
OM SHRI..(name of deity)
OM MADHYEA MADHYEA SWADHUU DAKAM SAMARPAYAMI
Place one drop of water from blessed Kalsa into parsad and say this Mantra:
OM SHRI. (name of deity)
OM AMRITA PIDHANAMASI SWAHA
When someone is finished eating, normally, they would wash their mouth, their hands
e.t.c. This is now symbolically done, by doing the following.
Place four drops of water at the base of deity saying this Mantra:
OM SHRI..(name of deity)
OM UTAR APAUSHANAM JALAM SAMARPAYAMI
OM HASTA PRAKSHA LANAM JALAM SAMARPAYAMI
OM PADA PRAKSHA LANAM JALAM SAMARPAYAMI
OM PUNAR AACHAMEEYAM JALAM SAMARPAYAMI
When someone is finished eating, normally, they take something to digest the food,
freshen the breath and clean the teeth. This is now done symbolically. Up to this day, in
India and other places the following is still done.
Break up a paan leaf and add to it (2) sooparee some clove and offer it at the base of
the Deity saying this Mantra:
OM SHRI.(name of deity)
OM POOGE PALA SAMA YUKTAM , NAGA VALE , DALEIRUTAM ,
CHUR NA KARPURA , SANYUKTAM TAMBULAM PRATI GRIHYATAAM
SHRI..(name of deity) POOGEE PALA TAMBOOLAM SAMARPAYAMI
In order to thank God for providing you with money, through your job, some coins are
offered.
SHRI----(name of deity) DAKSHINA DANAM SAMAYPAYAMI
In order to show that the plate, ( Tharia ) in which you serve the Lord, this plate will be
kept to serve food, for him only. Passing of water around , is symbolically of cleaning
the plate.
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Take some of the blessed water in palm of your right hand and pass it clockwise
Around the plate with the parsad saying this Mantra and then let it fall through
your fingers outside the plate .
OM SHRI.(name of deity) SAKALO OOPACHARA POOJAM SAMARPAYAMI
When camphor is burnt in a container, nothing will remain in the container, we are
saying to God, just as nothing will remain in the container, please, let this
container, ( our body ) have no more Karmas and Egos, to work out, similarly, as
we burn the camphor and wave it clockwise, first around the Deity, three times, then
standing up, turning around, clockwise, once fanning the flame with our right
hand, from our body outwards, around us, we are asking God to please remove our
EGO and help us to burn out our karma. We remind devotees that they have asked God to
remove their EGO and burn their karma, so they should reduce their EGO and should
NOT create any new karmas.
KARPOOR ARTI
Offer lighted camphor (Karpoor) in container to the deity waving it from left to
right at the base of the deity saying this Mantra , doing arti.
OM SHRI..OM HIRANYA PAATRAM, MADHO-O-PURNAM,
DADHATI MADHAVYO SA NETI, EKA HARATI, EKA DAIVA,
YAJAMANA, AYUSTEJU, DADATI.
Hold container with burning camphor in left hand, place flowers, rice and water
saying at the base of container in left hand, fan flame with right palm towards deity
saying this Mantra:
OM SHRI..(name of deity)
KARPOORA MANGALAM NIRAAJANAM SAMARPAYAMI
(Then turn around clockwise once with camphor and show camphor Arti to the
audience while turning around) say with them:
By doing this, you are also asking God to reduce the EGO and karma of all those
who are witnessing the Pooja
HARA, HARA, NAMA PARVATI PATEYE, HARA, HARA, MAHADEV.
Place container on the ground. Take a flower and pass it clockwise around the flame,
touch your eyes with the flowers. Place the flower at the base of the deity and say
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this Mantra: This is to indicate that you are making this request with humblinest
and love.
OM SHRI(name of deity)
NIRAAJANAM ANNANTARAM ARCHAMANEEYAM SAMARPAYAMI
Place two drops of blessed water on the flowers on container with camphor and say
this Mantra:
OM SHRI.(name of deity)
ARCHAMANEEYAM ANANTARAM PARIMALA PATRA PUSHPANI
SAMARPAYAMI
Remember God can grant you any wish, that you may ask for, once it is something you
selflessly desire. At this time, you may ask God to help you, but remember that a Pooja
is not only done to ask for help, but also to thank Him for whatever He has given to you.
So this is your time to ask him for help and to THANK him. Also ask to reduce lust,
greed, anger, hatred, and malicekaam, krodh, madh, lobha aur ahankarathe inner
enemies of the body from you.
PERSONAL PRAYER
Take flowers, yellow rice, and water hold it in clasp hand and pray. This is your time
for your personal prayer. Also pray for others and say this Mantra:
OM SHRI.(name of deity)
OM YO VEDA, DOW SORO PROCTO, VEDANTECHAA, PRATISHTI TAHA,
TASYA, PRAKRIT LEE NAS YAH, YAH PARAS WAH, MAHESHWARAHA
OM SHRI(name of deity)
MANTRA PUSHPANI SAMARPAYAMI
Other GAYATREES of the different Deities can also be said, and other Mantras,
asking for help, and giving thanks.
Now God is not only in front of you, he can be anywhere, east, west, north, south, up or
down. In order to pay respects to God wherever he is, we do the following.
PRADAKSHANA
Stand up and turn around clockwise three times saying this Mantra:
OM YANI KANI, CHA PAA PANI,
JAN MANTARA, KRITANI CHA,
TAANI TAANI, VINASHANTEE,
PRADHAKSHINAM, PADE PADE,
NAMASKARANE, VIGNESHA,
SARVA VIGNA HARO BHAWAH,
SHIGRAM MAMA, VARAM DEHI,
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PRATHANACHA POORNAGATIM.
Touch the ground with your right hand, then touch your hand to your head and
heart and say this Mantra:
OM SHRI(name of deity)
PRADAKSHINA NAMASKARAM SAMARPAYAMI
OM SHRI(name of deity) ATAHA PUNAH POOJA
******Now in a Pooja there are many things that are supposed to be done but because of
lack of time, circumstance and place, everything cannot be done in Pooja. So in place of
doing some things, yellow rice is offered, in its place. Some of these things arekeeping
an umbrella over the head of the Deity, to prevent sun and rain from from burning or
wetting the Deity when you are taking the Deity around your village, providing a
comfortable seat, singing, dancing, providing a vehicle to take the Deity around (long ago
there were no cars, elephants and horses were the means of transportso we say
providing elephants and horses ). That is the reason for using yellow rice in our Poojas--yellow rice can replace anything that is NOT available. That is the reason, we can use
yellow to offer every thing we need to offer in Poojas, including Naivedyam or food,
also known as parsad. In our homes we always have rice and saffron, so we can use the
saffron to make the rice yellow and that will suffice for everything . We can use yellow
rice alone to do a WHOLE Pooja. BUT, this should only be done only in emergencies and
when some items are NOT available.
Offer yellow rice and say the Mantra each time, offering rice at the end of each
Mantra:
OM SHRI.(name of deity) DEEBA CHATRAM SAMARPAYAMI
OM SHRI.(name of deity) CHAAMARAM VIJAYAMI
OM SHRI.(name of deity) GEETAM GAAYAMI
OM SHRI.(name of deity) NAATYAM NAATAYAMI
OM SHRI.(name of deity) ANDHO-LIKAAM ARO HAYAMI
OM SHRI.(name of deity) ASHRAM ARO HAYAMI
OM SHRI.(name of deity) GAJAAM ARO HAYAMI
You now say to the Deity that you have treated the Deity like a king, which means, if
someone of a high stature, such as a king, were to come to your home, you would rush to
provide him with the best of things that you have and is available and what you can
afford. That means that you have tried your best to please him , from your heart. You are
asking him to please accept all that you have offered to him. This is the best that I
can afford.
Offer flowers with yellow rice and water at the end of this Mantra:
OM SHRI.(name of deity)
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Now you say the closing Prayer-----God---you are my motheryou are my father--------Clasp hands in form of prayer and say this Mantra:
OM SHRI.(name of deity)
TWAMEVA MAATA PEETA TWAMEVA
TWAMEVA BAANDHU SAKA TWAMEVA
TWAMEVA VIDYA DRAVINAM TWAMEVA
TWAMEVA SARVANG MAMA DEVA DEVA
KAYENA VAACHA MANA SENDREYERVA, BOODHYAAT MANAVA,
PRAKATE SA BHAVAT, KAROMEE YAGYAT, SAKALAM PARASMAI,
NARAYANA YETEE, SAMARPAYAMI.
Now you ask for forgiveness for all your bad deeds and short comings, by crossing your
hands and touching you ears
Touch both ears with hands on each sides and say this Mantra:
ACHUTAM, KESHAVAM, RAMANARAYANAM, SHRI DHARAM,
MADHAVAM, KRISHNA DAMOODHARAM, ACHUTAM, KESHAVAM,
RAMANARAYANAM, SHRI DHARAM, MADHAVAM, GOPIKA VALAVAM.
Fill your hands with flowers, place a few grains of yellow rice and few drops of
water, clasp hands and prayer saying this Mantra:
HARI RAM, HARI RAM, RAM RAM HARI HARI
HARI KRISHNA, HARI KRISHNA, KRISHNA KRISHNA HARI HARI
RAM RAM, HARI HARI, KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARI HARI
RAM RAM, HARI HARI, KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARI HARI
Now you pray not for yourself alone but for the welfare of ALL.
SARVECHA, SUKHINA SANTU
SARVE SANTU, NIRAMAYAHA
SARVE BHADRANI, PASHYANTU
MAA KASCHIT, DHUKHA BHAGA BHAVET
May all be happy; May all be free from disease; May all be blessed with
auspiciousness; May none suffer.
OM SHRI GANESHAYA NAMAHA
SHRI SARASWATEYAI NAMAHA
SHRI PADAVALLABHA
NARASIMHA SARASWATEE
SHRI GURU DATTATREYA NAMAHA
(Call the name of the deity and as many other deities especially those whose murtis
and pictures are within puja area and say JAI after each Deity name is called,
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ending with Sri Sri Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji kee JAI ( 3
times ))
SHRI..JAISHRI.JAI.JAI
Offer flowers at base of deity
OM TAT SAT
SHRI KRISHNA ARPANAM MASTOO
SHRI GURU BHYO(3 times) NAMAHA HARIHI OM
Now the offerings of clothing and flags are done.
The Srotha is told to hold all the cloth, that he wants to offer, all the flags, including the
nau graha flags, the large flags of the Deities, some flowers, some money and any other
offerings. The Sankalpha, as said at the beginning of the Pooja is repeated once more,
replacing the last word KARMA KAARISHYEAA ,with the words DWIJA AUR
VASTRAM SAMARPAYAMI
The Srotha is now told to touch all that he has in his hand, to his head, heart and the base
of the Murthi or the Bede, three times.
The meaning of the Sankalpaha .is the same as given earlier on, when the 1st Sankalpaha
was done.
The reason for the offering of clothes simple means, the offering of clothes as a thanksgiving to God, for our ability to have clothes to wear through His grace only. There are
countries that are suffering from floods, volcano eruptions, earthquakes, sunamis,
hurricanes e.t.c. and they have no homes, to live in, far more for clothes to wear. We who
are fortunate to have lots of clothes to wear, should offer some of that clothes as a thanks
giving to God in all our Poojas
The Flags represents victory. Pooja is similar to a war! Why do I say that ? On Divali
day we say VICTORY of GOOD OVER EVIL ! If at Divali, we say victory of good or
evil, then every Pooja, not only Divali is a war! So, at the end of every Pooja, just as at
the end of every WAR, the army that wins the war, raises a flag, similarly, we have to
show that we have won this WAR with GOD as the commander of this army. Each flag
hoisted, represents the Deity ( commander of a platoon of this army of Gods protective
forces)
The Nau Graha flags, to be hoisted on the Bede, represents the rulers of the various
Planets, Surya( Sun )Chandrama( Moon)Mangala(
)---Budh(
)
Guru(
) ----Sukra (
) Shani(
) ---Rahu (
)---and Ketu( )
Now there is need to explain a few points about Nau Graha---
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You do not have to wait until your Patra tells you that you will have a Grah, at every
Pooja, Grah Pooja should be done! Why? The Planets affect our lives EVERY DAY!
How?
I will give a few examples--On Fullmoon, day, usually there is rain, the tides in the seas becomes rough and
sometimes high, sometimes winds become strong, all because of the FULL moon! Do
you what? The FULLmoon means that the moon is nearest to the earth on full moon days,
and such, it will affect the gravitational inner pull of the Earth. When this happens, the
water from the seas rise and vaporize, as it rises as it vaporizes, it gets into cooler
atmosphere and form droplets of water, which becomes heavy and eventually falls as
rain. Insects are disturbed, this is the reason that many insects, especially cockroaches are
flying around on and around full moon time. Even fishermen express their ability to get a
better catch of fish around full moon time. Farmers also give their preference to get seeds
to sprout fast when sown after full moon.
Now if at full moon , the dirt is affected, then our FLESH, which is dirt is affected, the
waters, which is the BLOOD is affected, the wind, which is the NERVES in our body is
affected, some people as we hear sometimes behave as were wolf during Full moon
time. So we see from that example, once the Planets are affected WE, OUR BODIES are
affected. This example is shown as how the MOON affects our lives, what about all the
other PlanetsPlutoMercurySaturnUraneus---Mars e.t.c., all of which are
rotating and revolving around the sun and constantly coming closer and further to the
Earth at different times .
Now each Planet has good things and bad things which each individual get differently
affected. We do not know when good things or bad things are going to affect us. You may
think that your Patra is correctly read ,and you know exactly when a Grah is about to
affect you. I have known especially some old and some educated religious persons, who
only recently discovered that their time and some case their date of birth IS NOT
CORRECT, yet they have been told ,based on their incorrect time and date of birth of
ALL THEIR GRAHS
Now to avoid any mistakes, and anyhow there is no harm in doing Grah Poojas , Iinsist
that in ALL my Poojas, Grah Pooja must be included
Therefore the Nau Grah flags are put on the Bede according to there correct positions,
before going outside to install the Deity flags.
Now the procedure I use to install the Diety flags. The putting up of the Deity flags, is
actually the INSTALLATION of Deities, in the form of FLAGS, outside of the home.
The flags are usually placed on the north eastern corner of the house or in front of the
house, preferably on the right hand of the house.
Procedure for Putting Up or Installation of the Jhandi----
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A Tharia with the kalasha of holy water, a coin for each hole, flowers for each hole, some
ghee in a deya with wick, matches, two blocks of camphor, saffron, kum kum or sindoor,
Pakka dhar, if Durga flag is to be put up, other dhar as recommended, milk for other
dhar, items for offering to the Dee Devtaone plastic or styrotex cup with milk, one
plastic or styrotex cup with water, a plstic or styrotex or leaf with some Parsad, if Durga
Pooja is done, include a pair of Lapse and Soharie and any other Parsad.
The Installation of the Flags is actually a whole Pooja, but in a very simple format.
Instead of doing a shor a shopachara (16 stages of Pooja), you just have to do a Parch
opachara (5 stages of Pooja). The 5 items to be offered are tied in the small piece of cloth
or Langote. Which is tied to above the fifth joint of the bamboo, after you have
Teekeyed the bamboo.
Procedure in Teekeying the bamboo
Remember you are actually doing a small Pooja to Install the flags, which is the Dieties
in your yard. You now ask the Diety to come onto the bomboo, by saying ( name of Deity
) AWAHAYAMI, STAPAYAMI, POOJAYAMI, SANNIDAPAYAMIwhich means
( Deity) please come onto this bamboo, so that I can do Pooja for you. You then
symbolically touch five joints of the bamboo beginning from the bottom end, to
symbolically washing the feet of the five elements that go to form a human body
Earth,Water, Ether, Air and Firethese are the elements that God put together to make a
Human body---we are now asking God to put together these elements together in this
bamboo, to make it into a living Diety. Each joint represents one of the elements
mentioned before. Another drop of water is then offered to wash hands---another to wash
mouth another to bathe --symbolically the ghee represents milkdaheeghee
honeyand sugarthe five nectars used to bathe the Deities, the clothes is the flag,
medicine as a thank you to the Dieties , saffron is touched on each knot of the bamboo,
kum kum or sindoor, asking for protection from the Diety. All other of the five major
offerings are tied in the langote one coin, one soparee, two cloves ,some yellow rice
and a flower. After teeking the bamboo, one coin and a flower is placed in the hole,
where the Jhandi is to be placed. The Dhar for each Deity is now offered, while the
Pandit again repeats the Sankalpha, with the last word being SAMARPAYAMI, as
changed during the Sankalpha of the clothes and flags just before coming outside to
Install the Jhandi. Each Jhandi is now placed in their respective holes, accompanied with
the jai jai call ( e.g.Durga Maata ki---JAI ). A canphor is now lit in front of the Installed
Jhandis in order to ask the Deities that you have done Poojas for, to help you burn out
your Karmas.
The offering of the items for the Dee is now done .The Dee offerings is to beg God in the
form of Dee Baba, to protect your property, your family and yourself. This offering is
done by many religious leaders, in their own way.
This procedure has been given to me by my Guru, Shri Shri Shri Ganapthi
Sachchidananda Swamiji of Mysore, India. His procedure as given to me , is as follows
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Light a deya with ghee, two agarbatti ( inscence sticks ), place offerings next to the deya,
milk, take some water , pour a little in your right hand, put down cup with the rest of
water next to the one with the milk, pass the water that is in your hand around everything
that is being offered, three times. Take a flower in your hands in the form of praying.
Then say the wordsDEE BABA, OH DEE BABA, OH DEE BABA, please accept this
offering, this is ALL I HAVE TO OFFER, please protect my property, please prevent any
accidents, incidents, fires, floods, earthquakes e.t.c. Please protect my family, please
prevent any deaths, sickness, illness e.t.c. Please give us health, wealth, children,
longgivity ask for anything you want to ask for, e.t.c. Please accept this offering, THIS IS
ALL I HAVE TO OFFER. Then place the flower on the ground, next to the offering, and
touch your right hand to the ground, then touch in to your head, then to your heartthree
times.
If you offered any blood sacrifice before, such as fowl, goat or pig, a pair of DOSTI roti
is made, separate the two skins of roti, place each skin of roti on a plate, paste some
honey throughout the inner skins of the roti, sprinkle some sugar on the honey, peel a
banana, place the banana on the middle of one skin of the roti, place the next skin of the
roti, with the honey and sugar, with the inner side with the honey and sugar, on top of the
peeled banana, which is now on the first skin of the roti.
Now wrap the two skins of the rotis, with the banana in it, and tie them with a piece of
thread. This is to make a sort of SATTWIC body, which will be offered, instead of the
animal sacrifice. A knife will be taken outside, together with all the already mentioned
items for the DEE. Some people carry biscuits and butter, in pairs, this is SATTWIC and
can be done as usual
The procedure, as told to me by SWAMIJI, since 1986 I have been making my DEE
offerings without any hindrances, even I was told, by well learned Hindu Pandits, that I
must CONTINUE the same way that my father used to make his offerings, with fowl,
rum, cigarette, candle and biscuits, before which I continued to offer fowl, Iwas told that
if I stopped the offerings as my father started, that terrible things, including death would
occur in my family. Luckly, since 1986, I have changed over to offering the DEE as
instructed by SWAMIJI and no untowards incidents have happened to any members of
my family . SWAMIJIs instructions were as follows
Carry two plastic or styrotex plates, one to be left with some of the offerings on the
ground and the other to bring back inside, with the remaining of the offerings, to be eaten,
a little of it, by ALL members of the immediate family.
Take a knife and cut off a piece of the wrapped roti and banana, as if you are cutting off a
head of a fowl. Leave that cut piece on one plate, together with one or two pairs of
biscuits paced with butter.
Remember all that was told to you, is said, if this format of offering is done. (see above
for what was told to be said )
Remember ALL remaining offerings MUST be eaten by immediate family members.
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After Installing the Jhandi and making offerings to DEE BABA, the Srotha and the
Pandit and everyone who went outside, returns inside, taking their respective seats at the
Bede, in preparation for Havan.
In order to fully understand what is Havan, I offer the following explanation--First, the fire, Agin Devta is the messenger of God!!!! When Moses went up to
the mount to get the ten commandments, out of a holy tree, the fire come out,
and with the tip of the fire, like a pen, the fire wrote the ten commandments on
the tablets on the mountain side. This is proof, that, the fire is the messenger of
God. So when Hindus, use the Havan or Homa, and make offerings in it, just as
Christians received the ten commandments through the fire, we Hindus, send these
food offerings to God , through the fire by performing Havan or Homa.
Before commencing the Havan, the Srothas and the Pandit must cleanse themselves once
more, by washing their hands and drinking water three times, again, to show that they are
externally and internally clean to continue doing Pooja.
Procedure for performing HavanThis can be very elaborate or very simple for a house
Pooja. An elaborate Havan or Homa, could be an hour or two hours long, as is done every
Sunday and religious days at the Dattatreya Yoga Centre At the Dattatreya Yoga Centre
at Carapichaima, Trinidad, after the Sankalpha, which is usually said for ALL the Poojas
to be done, including the Homa ,after inviting Agin Devta ( fire ) to officially take its
place, and all the offerings for washing of the feet, hands, mouth, bath, clothing, janeu,
saffron, kum kum or sindoor, chandhan, dhoop, deep, naivediam, tambool, doob grass,
neem leaves, bael leaves, coinsall that is done in Pooja, but for Agin Devta ,is
SYMBOLICALLY done .The repetition of the Gayatri Mantra for the Devta, for whom
the Homa is being done is repeated 108 times. Each repetation is followed by the word
Swaha, at which time Ghee is offered, followed by the words- Idang namama. At the end
of the 108 offerings, a Purnahuti, sometimes very elaborate, is offered. Other closing
procedures, are done. The ashes from the Homa ,is made into a Tilak using a drop or two
of Ghee. This is placed on the forehead of all devotees present
. The following Havan procedure is the simplest, which I do at house Poojas.
The procedure that I perform at Poojas at Devotees homes are as follows---Light wood, using a piece of camphor.
Take a Flower in your hand, invite Agin Devta to take its position in the Havan Kund,by
sayingAGIN DEVTA, AWAHAYAMI, RATNA SINGHASAANAM
SAMARPAYAMI, EHA GACHA EHA THISHTA ASANAAM VINIYOGAHA.
Next take some holy water from that which was prepared in the Kalasha Pooja, in your
hand and pass it three times around the fire, symbolically, washing feet, hands, mouth,
bathing of Agin Devta, saying OM ACHAMNIYAM, ACHAMNIYAM,
ACHAMNIYAM SAMARPAYAMI.
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Normally before we eat solid food, we would drink some liquid, first. Therefore liquid, in
the form of Ghee is offered first.
Next, using a metal spoon, pour one drop of Ghee in the fire after each of the following
Mantras
OM SHRI AGIN DEVTA BHYO NAMO NAMAHASWAHA, AGIN DEVTA
IDAM NAMAMA
OM SHRI MAHAA GANAPATAYE NAMAHASWAHA, MAHAA
GANAPATAYE IDAM NAMAMA
OM SHRI MAHAA SARASWAT-YAI---SWAHA, MAHAA SARASWAT-YAI
IDAM NAMAMA
OM SHRI GURU DEVATAA BHYO NAMAHASWAHA, GURU DEVATAA
BHYO IDAM NAMAMA
OM NAMO NAARAAYANAYA NAMAHASWAHA, NAARAAYANA BHYO
IDAM NAMAMA
OM SHRI LAKSHM-YAI NAMAHASWAHA, LAKSHM-YAI BHYO IDAM
NAMAMA
OM SHIVAYA NAMAHASWAHA, SHIVAYA IDAM NAMAHA
OM SHRI GOWRAA PARVAT-YAI NAMAHASWAHA, GOWRAA PARVATYAI IDAM NAMAMA
OM SHRI BHAASKARAAYA NAMAHASWAHA, BHAASKARAAYA IDAM
NAMAMA
OM SHRI CHANDRAMASE NAMAHASWAHA, CHANDRAMASE IDAM
NAMAMA
OM SHRI BHOWMAAYA NAMAHASWAHA, BHOWMAYAAYA IDAM
NAMAMA
OM SHRI BUDDHAAYA NAMAHASWAHA, BUDDHAAYA IDAM NAMAMA
OM SHRI GURUVE NAMAHASWAHA, GURUVE IDAM NAMAMA
OM SHUKRAYA NAMAHASWAHA, SHUKRAYA IDAM NAMAMA
OM SHRI SHANISCHAR-AAYA NAMAHASWAHA, SHANISCHAR-AAYA
IDAM NAMAMA
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Now we begin the offering of solid food. The Tharia with the mixture, as mentioned
earlier is properly mixed and a little is offered into the fire, from the palm of your hands
onto the tips of your finger, just as if you are feeding someone, in this case you are
putting these offerings into the mouth of Agin Devta (the fire ), as you would feed a small
child, a little at a time.
Using your hands, preferably, except at weddings, where you can use a spoon, offer a
little after each Mantra--OM SHRI AGIN DEVTA NAMAHASWAAHAA, AGIN DEVTA IDAM
NAMAMA
OM SHRI MAHAA GANAPATAYE NAMAHSWAAHAA, MAHAA
GANAPATAYE IDAM NAMAMA
OM SHRI MAHAA SARASVAT-YAI NAMAHSWAAHAA, MAHAA
SARASVAT- YAI IDAM NAMAMA
OM SHRI GURU DEVATAA BHYO NAMAHSWAAHAA, GURU DEVTA
IDAM NAMAMA
OM NAMO NAARAAYANAAYA NAMAHSWAAHAA, NAMO
NAARAAYANAAYA IDAM NAMAMA
OM SHRI MAADHAVAAYA NAMAH--- SWAAHAA, MAADHAVAAYA IDAM
NAMAMA
OM SHRI KESHAVAAYA NAMAHSWAAHAA, KESHAVAAYA IDAM
NAMAMA
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38
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OM SHIVAARPANAMASTU.
The meaning of this Mantra is as follows--Om, That is Fullness. Creation is fullness. From Divine Fullness flows this
worlds fullness. This fullness issues from that Fullness, yet that Fullness remains
full. Om, peace, peace, peace. Om, this I offer unto Siva.
Now some water is taken from the blessed Kalasha in the Shrota right hand and
passed clockwised around the Homa Kund three times.
A flower is now taken and the fire is fanned east three times, west three times,
north three times, south three times, up three times and down three times, while
the following Mantra is being said--OM AGIN DEVTA VISARGANAT
This Mantra is actually thanking Agin devta for accepting the Havan offerings ,
and bidding Agin Devta farewell.
ARTI
IS NOW DONE.
What is Arti???? Based on the reason for lighting of a Deya, at the beginning of
the Pooja, which was given very early in this document, which means to put the
soul of the Murthi or Deity in front of the Murthi or Deity, when you do Arti,
you ask that the Murthi or Deity continue to have LIFE FORCE, WITHIN the
Murthi or Deity.
Similarly, when you perform Arti for any person, you are saying, MAY YOU
CONTINUE TO HAVE LIFE, IN YOUR BODY.
ALL are asked to stand up, sing along and clap, while Arti is in progress.
Appropiate Arti Bhajans are sung, in relation to the Diety, for whom Pooja is
being done. The Pandit gives directives as to how Arti is done, clockwise, three
times, touching the persons feet at the end of the Arti, of each person.
The Shank, Bell and Ghanti is sounded and rung during the Arti. These are done,
to ward off all evil forces while making the sound OM, which also is also a
pleasing sound for the Deities. This is the reason, why each Mantra begins with
OM. It is said that the greatest Mantra is simply OM.
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At the end of Arti for all persons, the main Srotha is asked to pass the Arti,
waving it in a clockwise direction, throughout the house. This is done to ask God
God let there be life all the time in this house, and let there be no death in this
house. Water from the blessed Kalasha is now sprinkled throw out the house, by
the Srotha, to bless the house, using holy water.
As the main Srotha returns from performing Arti for the house, everyone is asked
to take their seats.
The Srothas are asked to take off their kush grass or mango leaf made rings and
loosen them, and place them on the Bede or in front of the Murthi or Deity.
This is done to indicate that, the Srothas are now disengaging themselves from
Pooja. Remember at the beginning of the Pooja, they were given these rings to
be engaged in Pooja, now they are disengaged from Pooja.
Flowers, yellow rice, and water from the specially prepared Kalasha, are given to
each Srotha, they clasp their hands and join in the final prayer.
Each Srotha is asked to pray for what they want, whether it be health problems,
family problems, business problems, studying problems, work problems, financial
problems or any other problems. They are reminded that Pooja is also a thanks
giving service, and they must thank God for what they have received , health
wise, family wise, business wise, study wise, work wise, financial wise and any
other way.
Remind them to ask God to reduce the inner enemies --Lust, Greed, Anger,
Hatred and Malice from their bodies.
The Mantras I use in closing my Poojas are as follows
TWAMEWA
TWAMEWA
TWAMEWA
TWAMEWA
You alone are my mother and father, friend and companion. You are my
knowledge and wealth. You are everything to me. O Supreme Being.
OM HE , SARVA SHAKTIMAAN, SATCHIDANANDA,
NIRA KAAR, NIRVI KAAR, SARVA DHAAR,
SARVESHWAR, SARVA-- VYAPAK, ANTARAYAAMI,
AJAR AMAR, NITYA PAVITRA,
SHRISHTEE KARTAA KO, BAARAM BAAR,
NAMASKAAR HAI, HE PARAMAATMAA,
BHAVISHYA, VARATAMAAN,
DUKHIYO KE KASHTA
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42
Shrotas are asked to place flowers on the Bede or base of the Murthi.
This is to show, that all that was offered to the Deity, was offered with LOVE.
Each one at a time is asked to prostrate-- Male, full length, with hands
outstretched in front of them, clasping them, in the form of pray, and right leg
cross on top of left leg. Females, will go on their knees, and place their head on
the ground
This is to show that the Devta is always above us. Our head and whole body is
placed below the level of feet of the Devta.
The Pandit blesses each Srota, while they are prostrated, by showering yellow
rice on their heads, saying appropriate Mantras,
Panch amrit is given to each Srota, accompanied by the appropriate Mantras, and
someone from the audience is asked to distribute to all members of the audience.
Panch amrit, which is the mixture of the five nectars, which was used to bathe
the Murthi, is blessed items, and everyone gets the chance to receive this
blessings
Parsad is given to each Srota, accompanied by the appropriate Mantras, and
someone from the audience is asked to distribute to all members of the audience.
It is said, whatever has been offered to the Devatas, the Srotas and members of
the audience, if they want to get the blessings of the Devatas, MUST PARTAKE
of what was offered to the Devatas.
Arti and Essence. are sent around to all members of the audience.
Whatever gifts ( Seedha ), are given to the Pandit.
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Materials:
One Havan Kundie the vessel to perform the Havan, pitch pine or mango wood (dried
off course), camphor, matches, a metal bowl with liquid ghee, a metal spoon, the
specially prepared Kalsa, with holy water, with a mango leaf or small spoon in it ,( paan
leaves one, soparee, some cloves, a nutmeg, cotton- these items are for preparing a
simple Purnahuti or final offering ) flowers, sacred mixture, in a Tharia or glass bowl ie
two ounces of white rice two ounces of sugar, one ounce of googol, half ounce of tille,
two ounces of prasaad, one or two ilaichee, a few drops of essence and some ghee to
saney ( Mix) the ingrediants.
END OF POOJA.
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