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About Puja
Puja is an ancient form of worship in which we invite the divine object of worship to
take a seat in our hearts. One of the most important aspects of puja is the
preparation, for as we prepare, we bring our minds into focus on the divine, or more
refined energetic realms. Thus, anything you can do to purify yourself (mentally and
physically) and your environment is worthwhile. Begin by showering or at least
wash your hands and brush your teeth, then dress in clean clothes. The puja actually
begins as you start to prepare yourself and the tray of offerings. See the list below for
recommended items. You may also visualize the offerings. The main ingredients are
love and sincerity.
After you gather the items take a few deep breaths and center. Gaze softly at a
picture or image of Nityananda. Feel your connection or your wish for a
connection. This is an excellent way to work more deeply and expand spiritually.
Although puja can be performed at any time, it is best done in the hours before
sunrise, at sunrise, noontime or sunset. It is also best to set a regular time to perform
it.
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Sri Nityananda Puja
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worshipped by the forces of union and division alike. He takes away all difficulties,
and therefore, we bow to the Lord of Multitudes.
(Wave Light)
OM agnir jyoti ravir jyotish chandra jyotish tathaiva cha |
jyotisham-uttamo deva dipo yam prati-grhyatam ||
esha dipa OM gam ganapataye namah ||
The Divine Fire is Light, the Light of Wisdom is the Light. The Light of Devotion is
the light as well. The Light is the highest Bliss, Oh Lord, is in the Light which I offer,
the Light which I request you to accept. With the offering of the Light, I bow to
Ganapati.
(Wave Incense)
OM vanas-patirasot-panno gandhat-yayi gandha uttamah |
aghre-yah sarva devanam dhupo-yam prati-grhyatam ||
esha dhupa OM gam ganapatye namah ||
OM Spirit of the Forest, from you is produced the most excellent of scents. The scent
most pleasing to all the Gods, that scent I request you to accept. With this offering of
fragrant scent Om I bow to Ganapati, Lord of Multitudes.
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destroys all obstacles to whom we are bowing down with devotion.
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mallik-adi sugandhini malitya-dini vai prabho |
maya hritani pujartham pushpani prati- grhyatam ||
Various flowers such as mallika and others of excellent scent are being offered to
you, Our Lord. All these flowers have come from the devotion of our hearts for your
worship. Be pleased to accept them.
(Wave Light)
OM agnir jyoti ravir jyotish chandra jyotish tathaiva cha |
jyotisham-uttamo deva dipo yam prati-grhyatam ||
esha dipa OM Shri Nityanandaya namah ||
The Divine Fire is Light, the Light of Wisdom is the Light. The Light of Devotion is
the light as well. The Light is the highest Bliss, Oh Lord, is in the Light which I offer,
the Light which I request you to accept. With the offering of the Light, OM I bow to
Sri Nityananda.
(Wave Incense)
OM vanas-patiras-ot-panno gandhat-yayi gandha uttamah |
aghre-yah sarva devanam dhupo-yam prati-grhyatam ||
esha dhupa OM Shri Nityanandaya namah ||
OM bhur bhuvah svaha | tat savitur varenyam |
bhargo devasya dhimahi | dhiyo yo nah praco-dayat ||
Spirit of the Forest, from you is produced the most excellent of scents. The scent
most pleasing to all the Gods, that scent I request you to accept. With this offering of
fragrant scent Om I bow to Sri Nityananda.
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With this scented flower OM I bow to Shiva, Pure Consciousness, along with the five
primary deities (Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu, Ganesh, and Surya).
Achaman
(Pour some water in the right palm. Sip some water after each 'OM
Vishnu', then rub the hands with the remaining water, clean and dry)
OM Vishnu, OM Vishnu, OM Vishnu
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(Draw the following yantra with some drops of water and/or sandal
paste at the front of your seat. Place a flower on the bindu in the
middle)
Clap hands three times and snap fingers in the ten directions (N S E W
NE SW NW SE UP DOWN) repeating 'Om Sri Nityanandaya namah'
(Place a flower in the left hand. Pour 3 drops of water on it after 'OM tat
sat'. Place right hand over flower and finish reciting this verse with the
appropriate names added (refer to a lunar calendar, if available), then
offer the flower. ) Shukla is for the waxing or growing moon. Krishna is
for the waning or decreasing moon.
vishnu OM tat sat | OM adya jambu-dvipe (America) deshe
(Colorado) pradeshe (City) nagare, (divine mother) mandire,
(month) mase, (shukla or krishna) pakshe, (name of the day)
tithau, (Shambhavananda) gotra, Shri (your name) kritaitat, Shri
Nityanandaya kamah, puja karmaham karishye ||
OM Vishnu, the consciousness which pervades all, Om that is truth. Presently I am
performing this puja on the planet earth, in USA, in (state), in (city), in Divine
Mother temple, month, bright or dark fortnight, day, name of Sadhu familu, Shri
(your name) for the satisfaction of Nityananda.
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shantani purva rupani shantan no-stu krita kritam |
shantam bhutam cha bhavyam cha sarvam-eva samastu nah ||
Peace to all that has form, Peace to all causes and effects; Peace to all existence, and
to all intensities of reality including all and everything; Peace be to us.
(Draw the following yantra on the plate, or space for worship with
sandal paste and/or water. Offer rice on the yantra for each of the next
four mantras)
(Place an empty water pot on the bindu in the center of the yantra when
saying 'phat')
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stham sthim sthiro bhava phat!
Be Still in the Gross Body! Be Still in the Subtle Body! Be Still in the Causal Body!
Purify!
Note: The Ganges is the Ida, Jamuna is the Pingala, the other five rivers
are the five senses. The land of the seven rivers is within the body as well
as outside.
(Wave right hand in the angkush (fish hook) mudra while chanting this
mantra).
Om gange cha jamune chaiva godavari sarasvati |
narmade sindhu kaveri jale-hasmin sanni-dhim kuru ||
The Ganges, Jamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri these waters are
mingled together.
(Sprinkle water over all articles to be offered, then throw some drops of
water over your shoulders while repeating the mantra)
amritam kuru svaha
Make this immortal nectar! I am One with God!
Pushpa Shuddhi
Wave hands over flowers with prarthana mudra while chanting the first
line of the mantra and with dhena (cow) mudra while chanting the
second line of this mantra.
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OM pushpa pushpa maha pushpa su-pushpa sambhave /
Pushpa chaya-vakirne cha hum phat svaha //
Flowers, flowers, oh great flowers, excellent flowers; flowers in heaps and scattered
about, cut the ego, purify, I am One with God!
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DHYANAM (Meditation)
Place a flower in your left hand; cover it with the right hand while
reciting this mantra. Then offer flower.
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OM avighnam astu Freedom from obstacles to you
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the bliss of the Light of wisdom. Granting refuge for purity of mind, O Guru, with
compassion illuminate the darkness.
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abhimana prabhava vimara-daka he
gati hina jane tumi rakshaka he |
chita shankita banchita bhakti dhane
guru deva daya kara dinajane ||
You protect us from the forces that slay the soul and rid us of possessiveness. You
free the Inner Self from the bondage of doubt through the gift of pure devotion. O
divine Guru with your compassion illuminate the darkness.
Offerings
Collect the next eight offerings in a bowl or offer them individually
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foot bath
OM Shri Nityanandaya namah padyam samarpa-yami
I bow to the great Guru of Never Ending Bliss, and offer these foot bath waters.
milk bath
OM Shri Nityanandaya namah payah snanam samarpa-yami
I bow to the great Guru of Never Ending Bliss, and offer this milk for your bath.
yogurt bath
OM Shri Nityanandaya namah dadhi snanam samarpa-yami
I bow to the great Guru of Never Ending Bliss and offer this curd for your bath.
ghee bath
OM Shri Nityanandaya namah ghrita snanam samarpa-yami
I bow to the great Guru of Never Ending Bliss and offer this ghee for your bath.
honey bath
OM Shri Nityanandaya namah madhu snanam samarpa-yami
I bow to the great Guru of Never Ending Bliss and offer this honey for your bath.
sugar bath
OM Shri Nityanandaya namah shar-kara snanam samarpa-yami
I bow to the great Guru of Never Ending Bliss and offer this sugar for your bath.
water bath
OM Shri Nityanandaya namah ganga snanam samarpa-yami
I bow to the great Guru of Never Ending Bliss and offer these waters for your bath.
cloth
OM Shri Nityanandaya namah vastram samarpa-yami
I bow to the great Guru of Never Ending Bliss and offer this wearing apparel.
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rudraksha
OM Shri Nityandaya namah rudraksham samarpa-yami
I bow to the great Guru of Never Ending Bliss and offer this rudraksha.
red powder
OM Shri Nityanandaya namah sinduram samarpa-yami
I bow to the great Guru of Never Ending Bliss and offer this red colored powder.
sandal paste
OM Shri Nityanandaya namah chandanam samarpa-yami
I bow to the great Guru of Never Ending Bliss and offer this sandal paste.
rice
OM Shri Nityanandaya namah akshatam samarpa-yami
I bow to the great Guru of Never Ending Darkness and offer these grains of rice.
flower garland
OM Shri Nityanandaya namah pushpa-malam samarpa-yami
I bow to the great Guru of Never Ending Bliss and offer this garland of flowers.
food offering
OM Shri Nityanandaya namah bhog nai-vedyam samarpa-yami
I bow to the great Guru of Never Ending Bliss and offer this presentation of food.
drinking water
OM Shri Nityanandaya namah panartha jalam samarpa-yami
I bow to the great Guru of Never Ending Bliss and offer this drinking water.
flower
esha ghanda pushpam OM Shri Nityanandaya namah
I bow to the great Guru of Never Ending Bliss and offer this flower.
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Perform Arati:
Dance in celebration while offering your puja tray and other items you
have while singing Nityananda Arati song.
Nityananda Sharanam
Nityananda Sharanam
Nityananda Sharanam, Sharanye
Jai Jai Nityanda, Jai Jai Nityananda, Jai Jai Nityananda Sharanya
Guruvae, Guruvae, Guruvae, Guruvae (repeat 2x)
Nityananda Sharanam
Nityananda Sharanam
Nityananda Sharanam, Sharanye
Jai Jai Nityanda, Jai Jai Nityananda, Jai Jai Nityananda Sharanya
Guruvae, Guruvae, Guruvae, Guruvae (repeat 2x)
I take refuge in the great Guru Nityananda, I take refuge in the Guru's absolute
grace. Hail Nityananda!
Closing Mantras
tvam-eva mata cha pita tvam-eva
tvam-eva bandhush- cha pita tvam-eva |
tvam-eva vidya dravinam tvam-eva
tvam-eva sarvam mama deva deva ||
You alone are mother and you alone are father.
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You alone are brother and friend.
You alone are the bestower of knowledge and wealth.
You alone are everything, my God of Gods.
OM purnam-adah purnam-idam
purnat purnam-udacyate |
purnasya purnam-adaya purnam-evava shisyate ||
OM That is full. This is full. Being full, fullness arises.
Having taken fullness from fullness, fullness alone remains.
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