What is a Puja

What is a Puja
	Puja is the act of showing reverence to a god, a spirit, or another aspect of the divine through invocations, prayers, songs, and rituals. An essential part of puja for the Hindu devotee is making a spiritual connection with the divine. Most often that contact is facilitated through an object: an element of nature, a sculpture, a vessel, a painting, or a print. During puja an image or other symbol of the god serves as a means of gaining access to the divine. This icon is not the deity itself; rather, it is believed to be filled with the deity’s cosmic energy. It is a focal point for honoring and communicating with the god. For the devout Hindu, the icon’s artistic merit is important, but is secondary to its spiritual content. The objects are created as receptacles for spiritual energy that allow the devotee to experience direct communication with his or her gods. Performing a Puja A worshipper is required to be pure of body and mind. The Puranas lay more stress on the quality of devotion and good behaviour than on rigid puja procedures. Puja originated as a substitute to homa and other Vedic sacrifices which women and Shudras could not perform and which required animal sacrifices. Due to Dravidian (see Dasas), Buddhist and Jain influences that preached non-violence, the killing or sacrifice of animals was discontinued and with the development of iconography, idol worship and puja took the place of sacrifice. It was also recognized that worship was essential for all, whatever the gender or caste (see Varna) and therefore puja was formalized as a universal option instead of the exclusive homam. Pujas in Temples A Hindu temple is believed to be the earthly seat of a deity and the place where the deity waits for its devotees. As such, temple structures are sacred spaces where gods partake of human offerings and in which the people can be with the gods. Many temples resemble palace architecture; this is not surprising, as deities are often considered kings. Temples are normally dedicated to one primary god. Often they are elaborately decorated on the outside with stone or plaster carvings depicting religious stories, and their decoration is specific to the deity being worshiped. Mythological scenes are juxtaposed with scenes of everyday life and important political events, such as royal coronations, conquests, and celebrations, or with portraits of royal and secular patrons. These divine images and mythological scenes on the outer walls of the temple help worshipers recall the sacred stories they have heard or read. One should remove one’s shoes before entering a Hindu temple in order to pay appropriate respect to the deity within the temple. The innermost sanctuary of the temple contains the principal image of the deity. The character of each shrine is determined by the deity being worshiped. Short Pujas/ Daily Pujas Each time when you say ‘Samarpayami’ (literally: I am offering), please offer two axataas to the LORD with love and devotion.(Akshatha is uncooked rice, if possible colored with kumkum , saffron powder, termaric and a little bit of water. Can be prepared well advance for a week and kept near the ALTAR). 1. Dhyaanam Samarpayami (Think or meditate on the LORD) 2. Aawaahanam Samarpayami (Offering invitation the LORD) 3. Aasanam Samarpayami (Offer a seat to the LORD) 4. Paadyam Samarpayami (offer water to wash the feet) 5. Arghyam Samarpayami (offer water to wash the hands) 6. Aachamaneeyam Samarpayami (offer water to drink ) 7. Snaanam Samarpayami (Give bath to the LORD) 8. Maha Abhishekam Samarpayami (main head bath) 9. Pratishtaapayaami (make him seated ) 10. Vasthram Samarpayami (Offer clothes to the LORD) 11. Yajnopaveetham Samarpayami (Offer the Holy Thread to the LORD) 12. Gandham Samarpayami (offer sandalwood paste/powder) 13. Akshatham Samarpayami (Offer Akshatha to the LORD) 14. Pushpam Samarpayami (Offer flowers to the LORD) 15. Ashthothtra Poojam Samarpayami (Offer the Holy 108 names of the LORD) 16. Dhoopam Aaghraapayaami (offer agarbatti) 17. Deepam Darshayaami (offer light ) 18. Neivedyam Samarpayami (Offer food to the LORD) 19. Phalam Samarpayami (Offer Fruits the LORD) 20. Taamboolam Samarpayami (offer beetle nut and leaves) 21. Dakshinam Samarpayami (Offer money to the LORD) 22. Maha Nirajanam Samarpayami (the main aarati) 23. Pradakshinam Samarpayami (taking clockwise rounds in front of the lord) 24. Namaskaram Samarpayami (prostrations offer them) 25. Mantra Pushpam Samarpayami ( both incantations and flowers 26. Praarthanaam Samarpayami (offering prayers; List your requests) 27. Xamaapanam Samarpayami (offering apologies to lord for any mistakes)

 

http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/showarticles.php?artid=383

Indra Mala Sadhana

Indra Mala Sadhana

Copied from Rudraksha Beads Societies Club (RBSC).  Message dated 12 January 2009.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rudrakshabeadsocietiesclub/message/23016

Dear Srikanth,

There are many forms of sadhana that can be done while wearing Indra Mala.  Its essential to wear the mala for as many hours as possible during the day.  At night, it should be taken off and placed on the altar.

For a beginner in sadhana with wearing Indra Mala, he/she must be very sure he wants to commit to performing it everyday for 365 days (one year) at least.  Best to do the first year and see what happens before doing it the second year. 

How soon the effects will take place largely depends on the sadhak’s karmic propensity with Indra Mala.  Some see results quicker and some people get benefits later.  But its worth a try.  It must be done with utmost bhakti and concentration on the mantra.  There are 2 Shiva mantras that you can choose from:

a)  Om Namah Shivaya

b)  Om Namah Shivaya Shivaya Namah Om.

Once you have chosen the mantra, you must stick to it.  Its not advisable to change mantra halfway through the process.

The simplest sadhana is to firstly take a bath in the morning and wear fresh clothes.   Place Indra Mala on a silver plate upon the altar.  Surround it with flower garland if you can find it.  On the first day of sadhana (begin on Monday), make offerings including fruit, flowers, curd, honey, sweets, milk, camphor, ghee lamp and incense.  Recite the mantra 108 times with a Japa Mala.  After the first day of offerings, they can be made weekly for one year (52 weeks).

During the sadhana period, many things will come and go, some insecurities become stabilized, impurities are removed and you will also gain a sense of heightened spirituality.  Treat this as the most important as its like a connection with God the Divine. 

Some material comforts may come but remember that this is “God’s Money” and you are only a custodian.  But you can make donations to worthy causes such as orphanages, old people’s homes, feed poor people, donate to poor hospitals and to temples that are run down, etc. 

Eventually things will unravel more and more in different ways.  Perhaps you may even gain financial improvement BUT you must always pay debts on time and DO NOT spend unnecessarily NOR borrow money unnecessarily.

When you become well-to-do one day, you MUST look after your family, relatives and perform SEVA for your local community (do good deeds by visiting elderly people who are lonely in nursing homes, bring them food or something, sit and talk with them for a little while). 

After the first year of sadhana, take a rest of a couple of months.  Then if you wish to perform second year, this is an elaborate process:

http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/showarticles.php?artid=98

In the above link, its puja for Lord Shiva.  But you can substitute Lord Shiva’s murti with Indra Mala for putting on chowki (pedestal).

Hope this helps.

Om Bholenath
— In rudrakshabeadsocietiesclub@yahoogroups.com, “Srikanth Jyotula” <shreekaa@…> wrote:
>
> Dear Narasimhaji,
>

> Can you please give me the details of the sadhana and how to perform it. I
> own an indra mala and currently my spiritual levels are high and I want to
> take them to the next level.
>
> Please guide me in this regard.
>
> Thanks and regards
>
>
> Srikanth

Right Trunk and Left Trunk Ganapati

Why is Ganapati with the right Sided trunk not commonly worshipped?

1. Entire idol: Omkar, the unmanifest (nirgun) principle

2. Trunk: It is a popular belief that an idol with the tip of the trunk pointing towards the right and left are called right-sided and left-sided idols respectively; however this is not the case. One should not decide whether the idol is right-sided or left-sided depending upon which side the trunk is directed. It should be decided depending on the direction in which the initial curve of the trunk points. If the initial curve of the trunk in a Ganesh idol points towards the right and the tip of the trunk points towards the left yet the idol should be considered a rightsided idol. The reason for this is that, the initial curve of the trunk pointing towards the right indicates that the right (that is Sun) channel (nadi) of Ganapati is active.

Right Sided Trunk

Right Sided Trunk Ganapati

2.1 Right-sided trunk: An idol of Ganapati with the trunk curved towards the right is called dakshinmurti or dakshi­nabhimukhi murti (the idol facing the south). Dakshin means the southern direction or the right side. The southern direction leads to the region of Lord Yama (Yamalok), the deity of death while the right side belongs to the Surya nadi (Sun channel). One who is able to face the direction of the region of Yama is powerful. So also, one with an activated Surya nadi is also radiant. Thus in both senses, the Ganapati idol with the trunk curved towards the right is said to be ‘active (jagrut)’.

One feels repulsed by the south direction because it is in that direction that scrutiny of one’s sins and merits is carried out after death, in the region of Lord Yama. Scrutiny akin to that done in the south after death, begins when alive if one faces the south or sleeps with the legs directed towards the south. The dakshinabhimukhi idol is not worshipped ritualistically in the usual manner because tiryak (raja) frequencies are emitted from the south. The ritualistic worship of this idol is performed by observing all the norms of ritualistic worship meticulously. Consequently the sattva component is augmented and one is not distressed by the raja frequencies coming from the south.

Left Sided Trunk

Left Sided Trunk Ganapati

2.2 Left-sided trunk: An idol of Ganapati with the trunk curved towards the left is called Vamamukhi. Vam means the northern direction or the left side. The Chandra nadi (Moon channel) is situated to the left. It bestows tranquility. Besides, since the northern direction is spiritually favourable and bestows Bliss (Anand), mostly the Vamamukhi Ganapati is worshipped. It is worshipped ritualistically in the usual manner.

3. Modak (a sweet delicacy)

means Bliss (Anand) and ‘ka’ means a small part. So, modak is a small part of Bliss. A modak is shaped like a coconut, that is it is like the cavity ‘kha’ in the Brahmarandhra. When the kundalini (spiritual energy) reaches the ‘kha’ cavity, the spiritual experience of Bliss is obtained. The modak held in the hand signifies Bliss endowing energy. 

3.2 ‘The modak symbolises spiritual knowledge (dnyan): hence it is also called dnyanmodak. Initially it seems that spiritual knowledge is little (the tip of the modak represents this); but as one starts studying Spirituality, one realises its vastness (the base of the modak symbolises this.) A modak is sweet in taste. The Bliss acquired through spiritual knowledge too is like that.’

3.1 ‘Moda’

4. Goad (ankush) : Destroyer of the energies which are harmful to the mission of acquisition of spiritual knowledge and Bliss.

5. Noose (pash): Worldly bondage. The noose wielded by Ganapati signifies that He will tie the noose around negative entities and take them away.

6. Serpent wound around the waist: The universal kundalini (spiritual energy)

7. Hood of the serpent: Activated (jagrut) spiritual energy

8. Rat: The rat which represents the raja component is within the control of Ganapati.

Reference: ‘Ganapati’, Published by Sanatan Sanstha

Learn about Sattvik Ganesh Idol made by Sanatan Sanstha and spiritual experiences about the idol.

Currently hard copy of reference book is available in: English, Marathi, Hindi, Kannad, Gujrati, Bengali, Gurumukhi, Malyalum, Tamil, Oriya, Telugu

http://www.hindujagruti.org/hinduism/knowledge/article/why-is-ganapati-with-the-right-sided-trunk-not-commonly-worshipped.html

Benefits of Rendering Service or Praying to Tulasi Devi

The Benefits of Rendering Service To Srimati Tulasi Devi

by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, Gaudiya Bhasya.

NIRMITA TVAM PURA DEVAIR ARCITA TVAM SURASURAIH
TULASI HARA ME PAPAM PUJAM GRHNA NAMOSTUTE

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/101 from SKANDA PURANA)

 Oh Tulasi, you previously appeared in this world due to the demigods. The
demigods and demons together worship you. Please remove all of my sins. I pay
my obeisances unto you. FOOTNOTE

YA DRSTA NIKHILA AGHA SANGHA SAMANI SPRSTA VAPUH PAVANI
ROGANAM ABHIVANDITA NIRASINI SIKTANTAKA TRASINI
PRATYA SATTI VIDHAYINI BHAGAVATAH KRSNASYA SAMROPITA
NYASTA TACCARANE VIMUKTI PHALADA TASYAI NAMAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/104 from SKANDA PURANA, AVANTI KHANDA)

Just by looking at you (Tulasi), all sins become removed. Just by touching
you, one’s body becomes pure. By praying to her, all diseases practically
become removed. If one waters her or makes her wet, the fear of Yamaraja
(death personified) is destroyed. Just by planting or transplanting, one
achieves nearness to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If someone offers
Tulasi at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krsna, she awards liberation and devotion
to Him, therefore I pay my humble obeisances to such a wonderful Tulasidevi.

PRADAKSINAM BHRAMITVA YE NAMASKURVANTI NITYASAH
NA TESAM DURITAM KINCID AKSINAM AVASISYATE

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/111 from AGASTYA SAMHITA)

 If someone daily goes around Tulasi and pays obeisances to her, there is no
more sin to be destroyed in him.

HITVA TIRTHA-SAHASRANI SARVAN API SILOCCAYAN
TULASI KANANE NITYAM KALAU TISTHATI KESAVAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/116 from SKANDA PURANA)

 In Kali-yuga, Lord Sri Kesava, after giving up thousands of places of
pilgrimage and holy days, He resides in the forest of Tulasidevi.

DRSTVA SPRSTVA TATHA DHYATA KIRTITA NAMITA SRTA
ROPITA SEVITA NITYAM PUJITA TULASI SUBHA
NAVADHA TULASIM NITYAM YE BHAJANTI DINE DINE
YUGA KOTI SAHASRANI TE VASANTI HARER GRHE

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/126,127 from SKANDA PURANA conversation between Lord
Brahma and Narada Muni)

 Any person who daily sees Tulasi, touches Tulasi, chants Tulasi’s prayers,
meditates on Tulasi, pays obeisances to her, hears about her, transplants and
worships her, he achieves all auspiciousness. Any person who does these nine
kinds of service goes to the abode of the Supreme Lord Hari and remains there
eternally.

SNANE DANE TATHA DHYANE PRASANE KESAVA ARCANE
TULASI DAHATE PAPAM ROPANE KIRTANE KALAU

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/132 from SKANDA PURANA, AVANTI KHANDA)

 In Kali-yuga, Tulasidevi burns up all of a person’s sins who bathes her,
gives her in charity, meditates on her, eats her leaves, worships Lord Sri
Kesava with her, transplants her or sings her glories.

TULASY ALANKRTA YE YE TULASI NAMA JAPAKAH
TULASI VANA PALAYE TE TYAJYA DURATO BHATAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/133 from SKANDA PURANA, KASI KHANDA Yamaraja instructs
his messengers)

 Oh messengers, anybody who is decorated with Tulasi wood or chants her name,
always protects a Tulasi forest, you should give up bringing such persons to
my abode.

DARSANAM NARMADAYAS TU GANGA SNANAM VISAM VARA
TULASI DALA SAMSPARSAH SAMAM ETAT TRAYAM SMRTAM
ROPANAT PALANAT SEKAD DARSANAT SPARSANAT NRNAM
TULASI DAHATE PAPAM VANG MANAH KAYA SANCITAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/139,140 from PADMA PURANA)

 Oh best of the Vaisyas, seeing Narmada, taking bath in the Ganges, and
touching Tulasi leaves are equally meritorious. If somebody plants, protects,
waters, sees or touches Tulasi, then that person’s sins acquired by body, mind
and words are burnt into ashes.

YAD GRHE TULASI BHATI RAKSABHIR JALASECANAIH
TAD GRHAM YAMA DUTAS CA DURATO VARJAYANTI HI

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/145 from PADMA PURANA, KARTIKA MAHATMYA)

 In any house where Tulasi Maharani is very carefully protected and watered,
the messengers of Yamaraja give up that house from a distance.

VISNOS TRAILOKYA NATHASYA RAMASYA JANAKATMAJA
PRIYA TATHAIVA TULASI SARVA LOKAIKA PAVANI

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/151 from AGASTYA SAMHITA)

  As the daughter of Janaka, Sri Sitadevi, is very dear to Lord Rama, the
master of the three worlds, similarly, Tulasidevi, who purifies all of the
planets, is very dear to Him.

TULASI VAPITA YENA PUNYARAME VANE GRHE
PAKSINDRA TENA SATYOKTAM LOKAH SAPTA PRATISTHITAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/157 from GARUDA PURANA)

 Oh king of the birds (Garuda), anyone who has planted a garden of Tulasi,
either in the forest or in the house, I truthfully say that he has won the
seven planetary systems.

SANSARA-PAPA VICCHEDI GANGA NAMA PRAKIRTITAM
TATHA TULASYA BHAKTIS CA HARI KIRTI PRAVAKTARI

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/161 from BRHAN NARADIYA PURANA)

 As by chanting the name of Ganges, one becomes free from all kinds of worldly
sins, if someone chants the name of Tulasi or chants the glories of Lord Hari
with devotion, he gets the same merit.

TRNANI TULASI MULAT YAVANTYAPAHINOTI VAI
TAVATTIR BRAHMA HATYA HI CHINATY EVA NASAMSAYAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/165 from BRHAN NARADIYA PURANA conversation between
Yamaraja and Bhagiratha)

 Anybody who removes the straw or dirt from the root of Tulasidevi, as many as
he has removed, that many sinful reactions of killing brahmanas will be
removed from him without a doubt.

DURLABHA TULASI SEVA DURLABHA SUNGATIH SATAM
DURLABHA HARI BHAKTIS CA SANSARARNAVA-PATINAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/170 from BRHAN NARADIYA PURANA)

 Those people who have fallen in the midst of this material world, among them
worship of Tulasi is very rare, the association of real saintly persons is
very rare, and real devotion to Lord Hari is also very rare.

YASMIN GRHE DVIJA SRESTHA TULASIMULA MRTTIKA
SARVADA TISTHATE DEHE DEVATA NA SA MANUSA
TULASI MRTTIKA YATRA KASTHAM PATRAN CA VESMANI
TISTHATE MUNI SARDULA NISCALAM VAISNAVA PADAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/183,186 from SKANDA PURANA conversation between Lord
Brahma and Narada Muni)

 Oh best among the brahmanas, in anybody’s house or on his body, if the mud
from Tulasi is available, they are not just men, but they are equal to the
demigods. Oh best among the sages, in anyone’s house, if there is the clay of
Tulasi, Tulasi wood, and Tulasi leaves available, that house is certainly a
place of Lord Visnu.

TULASI MULA SAMBHUTA HARI BHAKTA PADODBHAVA
GANGODBHAVA CA MRLLEKHA NAYATY ACYUTA RUPATAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/189)

 Any person who puts on tilaka from the mud or clay from the root of Tulasi,
mud from the lotus feet of Sri Vaisnava, and mud from the Ganges is said to be
equal to the form of Lord Sri Visnu.

PATRAM PUSPAM PHALAM KASTHAM TVAT SAKHA-PALLAVANKURAM
TULASI SAMBHAVAM MULAM PAVANAM MRTTIKADY API

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/191 from PRAHLADA SAMHITA and VISNU DHARMOTTARA)

 Leaves of Tulasi, flowers of Tulasi, fruits of Tulasi, branches of Tulasi,
bark of Tulasi, sprout of Tulasi, blossom or bud of Tulasi, and clay of Tulasi
are all completely purified.

YAH KURYAT TULASI KASTHAIR AKSA MALAM SURUPINIM
KANTHA MALAM CA YATNENA KRTAM TASYAKSAYAM BHAVET

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/199 from SKANDA PURANA, AGASTYA SAMHITA, conversation
between Lord Brahma and Narada Muni)

 Any person who makes a beautiful japamala or neck beads out of Tulasi wood
and uses them, if he does not perform any worship to Lord Sri Visnu, all of
his activities become unlimitedly resultful.

YASYA NABHI STHITAM PATRAM MUKHE SIRASI KARNAYOH
TULASI SAMBHAVAM NITYAM TIRTHAIS TASYA MAKHAIS CA KIM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/200 from SKANDA PURANA conversation between Lord Brahma
and Narada Muni)

 If anyone daily has Tulasi leaves on his navel, in his mouth, on his head, or
on both of his ears, what is the use of him going to the places of pilgrimage
in this world?

YAH KASCIT VAISNAVO LOKE MITHYACARO’PY ANASRAMI
PUNATI SAKALAN LOKAN SIRASA TULASIM VAHAN

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/202 from SKANDA PURANA)

 If any Vaisnava in this world becomes a liar or becomes degraded from his own
asrama, if he has a Tulasi leaf on his head, he can alone purify the three
worlds.

 Srila Sanatana Gosvami gives his Digdarsani-tika commentary on this verse,
stating that if Vaisnavas wear articles which have been offered to the Supreme
Lord, then one may question how a Vaisnava can wear something which has not
been offered to the Supreme Lord. In answer to this, it can be stated that
only a lying or cheating “Vaisnava” can do such a thing because they are all
hypocrites and not real Vaisnavas.

BHAKSITAM LUBDHAKENAPI PATRAM TULASI SAMBHAVAM
PASCAD DISTANTAM APANNO BHASMI BHUTAM KALEVARAM
SITA SITAM YATHA NIRAM SARVA PAPA KSAYAVAHAM
TATHA CA TULASI PATRAM PRASITAM SARVA KAMADAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/213,214 from SKANDA PURANA conversation between Vasistha
and King Mandhata)

 Even if a most sinful hunter eats a Tulasi leaf and dies afterwards, whatever
sins he has in his body turn into ashes. As whitish and blackish water (Ganges
and Yamuna water) remove all kinds of sins, in the very same way, white
(green) and black Tulasis removes all kinds of sins, and if he eats these
leaves (after offering them to Lord Krsna), all of his desires are perfectly
achieved.

KRTVA PAPA SAHASRANI PURVE VAYASI MANAVAH
TULASI BHAKSANAN MUCYET SRUTAM ETAT PURA HAREH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/218 from SKANDA PURANA conversation between Vasistha and
King Mandhata)

 Any person, in his young age commits thousands of sins but later on eats a
Tulasi leaf, he becomes free from all sins. This narration was heard
previously near Lord Sri Hari.

KIM CITRAM ASYAH PATITAM TULASYA
DALAM JALAM VA PATITAM PUNITE
LAGNADI BHALA STHALAM ALAVALA
MRTSNAPI KRTSNA AGHA VINASANAYA
SRIMAT TULASYAH PATRASYA MAHATMYAM YADYAPI DRSAM
TATHAPI VAISNAVES TAN NA GRAHYAM KRSNARPANAM VINA

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/226,227)

 What can I say about the wonderful glories of Tulasi? Her fallen leaves, her
rotten leaves and her water, even if fallen (mixed with her mud?) is
purifying. If even a minute quantity of the mud which has emanated from the
Tulasi root has been placed on one’s head, all of one’s sins are removed.
Although Tulasi is so glorious (and her leaves are so purifying), still
Vaisnavas never eat Tulasi leaves without first offering them to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Krsna.

---

“Anyone who has received initiation in the Vaishnava mantras is obliged to engage in regular worship of the Deity, including offering all he eats to the Lord. When devotees make such food offerings, they should remember to place tulasi leaves or flowers on them because Lord Vishnu does not accept any food without tulasi. Tulasi is most beloved of Lord Krishna and thus her leaves and flowers are also most dear to Him. The term värkñärcävatära, meaning the Lord’s incarnation meant for accepting worship (arcävatära) in the form of a tree (värkña) is applied to Tulasi Devi. Her leaves and flowers are therefore prescribed as an essential part of the worship of the Lord’s other arcävatära, i.e., the deity form of the Lord in the temple. These regulations are found in all the scriptural texts that describe the procedures by which one is to worship such deity forms of the Lord.”Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, Gaudiya Bhasya.

http://www.hknet.org.nz/parishad94.htm

 

Pradakshina for Hanumanji

Pradakshina for Hanumanji

From:

rajendra prasad

Fri Nov 14, 2008 at

 :

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rudrakshabeadsocietiesclub/message/22524  

Namaskar,

The reverse Pradakshinam is performed if having an unsettled problem for a quite long time.It should be strictly done for a Mandalam (41days) Without break.

It is assumed that before you complete this Mandala Apradakshina your problem is solved. Now you have to do the Pradakshina for same Number of days at the same temple again without break. It is normally advised to do 101 Apradakshinams and if suppose ur health or physical condition is not helping you u can do 41 or a minimum of 9..The resuilts are fast if it is done at SriAnjaneya, SriGanesh or Lord Nrisimha Temples….
RP

On 11/8/08, Naveen
mailto:no_reply@yahoogroups.com”>no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
Sat Nov 8, 2008
hi all..
Namaskar..

Yeterday when i visited temple i was shocked as 1 man was doing pradakshna for hanumnaji…

regularly we will do it from left to right but he was doing it from right to left…i got surprised and asked him why r u doing like that..then he told his guruji told to do the same for 41 days….but i was not able to ask reason why he was doing like that…’

please can any one explain what it means and the reason for the same and the outcome what we call doing the pradakshna from right to left…

OM NAMA SHIVAYA…
Om Nama Shivya , Naveen

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rudrakshabeadsocietiesclub/message/22524

Pitara Tarpan Part Three

 

Pitara Tarpan Part Three

13 Nov 2008 sent by Hiroko to RBSC:

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rudrakshabeadsocietiesclub/message/22515

Namaste.

I did tarpan for ancestor at mahalaya new moon(28th September) on
this year.
From this acting,My life is changing little by little.
I ask for Brahmana at Special pandit at Kerala.

Your dead ancestors are governing your destiny. The greatest
contribution of India to the world is her spiritual science. No
civilization, however old it is, has ever attained the level of
sophistication reached by the yogis and siddhas of India. The yogis
and siddhas paid equal attention to the bodily existence while one is
alive and also the disembodied existence after one dies. They also
had knowledge of soul travel while still in embodiment. Sometimes
they left their body in a safe place in a cave and entered another
body. At other times they turned the body into light and disappeared.
Once having disappeared they could momentarily assume a human body
like an old man or a boy and return to the earth plane for a few
hours visit. There are many places in Southern India, like
Thiruvanamallai, Koli Hills and Kutralam where these siddhas hang out
in the subtle forms. If you are destined to meet them at those places
they will show up and bless you.

Siddhas have a special relationship with the earth plane. They are
constantly involved in making the earth plane a better place for the
souls who come to inhabit the earth. The siddhas are the source for
medicine, astrology, alchemy, yoga, rituals for worshiping different
deities for different purposes, etc. Siddhas emphasize that the most
important element in human life is the destiny of the individual
soul. Every soul has its own unique destiny. Every soul has its own
biological and spiritual baggage attached to it. How you look, what
diseases you will have are localized within the genes that the soul
creates. But the soul lives simultaneously as spirit existence as
well. In other words you have the biological existence defined by the
material body as well as a spiritual existence defined by the
invisible spirit. The soul living in the physical and non-physical
existence governs your destiny.

The siddhas contribution to the spirit existence of the soul is
amazing. When a person dies he takes with him all old good and bad
thought forms and experiences that he had while alive. If someone had
been a real bad person his soul starts the torture experience right
after death. If one had lived a luxurious life, committing all kinds
of crimes, that person will have the worst type of shadow existence.
This life in shadow form after death invariably is a troublesome
experience. The most intriguing thing is that there are a host of
your ancestors who are in shadow forms and hanging in the mid-air.
Some of them because of their evil nature are hanging upside down.
This pain experienced the ancestors spirits directly affects your
destiny while you are on the earth plane. Logically it doesnft make
sense that you should suffer for some misdoings of your great, great
grandfather. But the siddhas claim this is soul genetics. You are
your ancestor both biologically and spirit-ually.

I have been returning to this earth plane to find ways and means to
remove pain and sorrow for the human beings. In this life I am
convinced that until you clean the souls of your ancestors, you are
not going to free yourself from suffering. I have a vacuum cleaner
that can cleanse the souls of your grandfather, grandmother or your
great, great grandfather. The vacuum cleaner is called Tarpanam.
Tarpanam means food offering for the ancestors. During the new moon
day these departed spirits come to the earth plane at dawn and leaves
during sunset. They do in fact hang out with you or with your brother
or sister or any other relative. The Siddhas reveal that even your
enemies in your current life, are your reincarnated ancestors for
whom you did not tarpanam. You can feed them with black sesame seeds,
rice and water. This simple act will help change your destiny. It
gives me immense joy to share this knowledge with you.

Although you can do the tarpanam yourself, I recommend that you do it
with the help of a specialist in Kerala. The Kerala priests are adept
in tarpanam. They literally talk to the dead spirits to see that they
are satisfied and are ready to move to the next stage leaving their
shadow existence. A good tarpanam specialist can give you the right
feedback of tarpranam offerings.

http://www.astroved.com/services/Misc.asp?Content=tarpanam

Two simple practices that everyone can do on a daily basis are:

(1) After taking morning shower, cut up a small amount of ginger
root, dip the pieces in honey and eat them, inwardly offering them to
the ancestors. The combination of the ginger and honey helps enliven
the DNA.

(2) Offer tarpanam (rice or rice flour along with black sesame seeds)
in your hand and wet it with water. Minimally, this can be done with
black sesame seeds and rice alone.

Holding the tarpanam in your hand, offer it to 3 generations of
ancestors on your mothers line (mother is 1 (if she is not alive),
grandmother 2, etc.) and 6 generations of ancestors up your fathers
line. Say to the ancestors, Come and take this offering and be at
peace. Ask the ancestors for their blessings and ask that the
blessings come to you now. Just as you have inherited some soul
conditionings from your family, so your prayers can reach them and
alter their patterns in a positive way. Begin with 3 generations and
work your way up to doing this practice for 12 generations. This is
also performed very powerfully in community or family.

Note: You can call the names of your ancestors whom you remember, may
be upto 3 generations. On daily tarpan, you have to use the fresh
rice and seasame seeds everyday.

After doing the above, the water, seasame, rice flour finally after
seeking the blessings, Please pour the water on a well or in a river
or in Sea or drain it.

Tarpan Pitara Part Two

Tarpan Pitara Part Two

From:

http://padmininatarajan.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/09/pitr-paksha-the-fortnight-dedicated-to-ancestors/comments.htm

My intention is to place our traditions and custosm with their general significances in front of the new-gen who want answers to questions about the whys and wherefores.

What they do with the knowledge is their karma. Most of our practices are shrouded in mystery and kept secret. When there is transparency, then the appeal is more.

Padmini Natarajan

================

Vaidyanathan Pushpagiri posted 2 mnths ago

http://padmininatarajan.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/09/pitr-paksha-the-fortnight-dedicated-to-ancestors/comments.htm  

Mrs. Padmini:

 

 

“As rightly observed by you, while times change, the belief in those actions also change, but it is worth remembering the culture behind every great civilization. A noble thought indeed and that too coming from a lady “. A nice observation from Krishnan Bala.

In our 40 Samskaras it is enjoined that we discharge our three debts towards our forebears. Rishi, Deva and Pitr. Only after discharging these three debts can one think of attaining Moksha or Mukthi. When a dvijan completes his Brahmacharya Asrama, he has discharged his debt towards his Rishi. By doing the Yajnyas, as prescribed in the Vedas, one can discharge one’s debt towards the Devas. But one can discharge one’s debts towards one’s Pitr only by entering the Grihastashrama. That is why our forefathers have said “Dharma PrjarthamVruni Mahe.” Besides, when a girl enters the grihastasrama dharma, she also becomes a divijan – “Shtreenam Upanayana Sthane Vivaha“. Marriage confers the twice born status for ladies. They are released from their parental gotra after their marriage and they acquire their husband’s gotra resulting in changes of Asauca (period of grief). Her own father, mother,brother, sister etc. now become only blood relations and any death in her parental family affect her for only three days, against the 10,13 or 16 day period of grief in her husband’s family.

Why I am writing this in detail? Because Vivaha is the most important samskara in a man’s life. He enters the second Asrama, wherein he discharges his debts to Devas, Pitrs, Bhutas, Brahman and Manusha. Without a Sahadharmini it is imposible for a man to discharge his duties towards the other three Asramas as they depend on the Grihasta for their support and vitality.

Marriage to a girl gives her the status of a Sahadharmini. When King Janaka gives away Sita in marriage to Sri Rama, this is what he says in the famous sloka ‘Iyam Sita mama sudha sahadharmasaridhava: etc.etc. There are four more lines in the sloka but this is the operative line : “mama sudha saha dharma saridhava”.

Every Hindu believes in rebirth and the new birth depends on one’s past karma. Irrespective of whether it is a higher or lower form, one’s Jivatma is instrumental for one’s birth and being looked after in one’s early stages. So, as a mark of gratitude and repayment of the Pitr debt, Tarpanas are performed, with til and water. Sages have restricted this libation of water and til to the Pitrs of three generations on the paternal side, father, grand father and great grand father with their wives, and three generations on the maternal side, which includes mother’s father, his father, and grand father with their spouses. They are assigned the staus of Vasu /Rudra / Aditya Svarupas. One is supposed to do 96 Tarpanas in a year. (Shannavati). Actually the Tarpanas are the Gauna (shortened) form of the elaborate Sraddha Ceremonies and it is to be performed between 1.30 and 3.00 P.M. called Apara time. Since this karma has to be performed with faith it is called

Sraddha.

Regards.

Pushpagiri Chandrasekar Vaidyanathan Iyer.[VP]

 

http://padmininatarajan.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/09/pitr-paksha-the-fortnight-dedicated-to-ancestors/comments.htm

 

 

Tarpan Pitara Part One

 

Tarpan Pitara Part One

 

purefriendship posted 2 mnths ago

From: http://padmininatarajan.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/09/pitr-paksha-the-fortnight-dedicated-to-ancestors/comments.htm

 

Thanks for such informative blog about our ancient traditions & rituals.

It is needed for the present generations to know about it more and more.

I recall to my previous write up in the other site last year and reproduce the same for more reference to Tarpan & Mahalaya paksh: Propitiation of Departed Spirits:

The day of Mahalaya Amavasya is the day of great significance and importance to all Hindus.

It is the annual festival for propitiating the spirits of our ancestors, with devout prayers for peace.

The Hindu Itihasas (histories) say, that on the Mahalaya Amavasya, there is a conjunction of the sun and the moon and that the sun enters the sign Virgo (Kanya).

On this day, the departed manes, i.e., our ancestors, leave their abode in the world of Yama and come down to the world of mortals and occupy the houses of their descendants.

The fortnight preceding the new moon is specially consecrated for the propitiation of such departed spirits.The ceremonies performed in honour of the manes or ancestors during each day of this fortnight are considered to be equal to those performed at Gaya.

The principle in all such rites is the worship of the departed souls and the satisfaction of their wishes so that they might be in peace during the rest of the year.

It is these fourteen days that offerings made during this period benefit all the departed souls, whether they are connected to you or not.

Charity in the form of food is important,The gift of food is the greatest gift.

Hence give food in plenty, not only during the Mahalaya fortnight but all through the year.

The ritual of Tarpana. Related to the Sanskrit word Trpti, which means satiation or satisfaction, Tarpana is a process of gratifying our ancestors. Tarpana works more deeply, reducing the emotional charges, which have accumulated in us as a result of the activities of our forebears.

Suppose one of our ancestors was overly fond of eating, so fond that he or she fantasized about food all day long.

All cravings are forms of energy, which are broadcast into the Ether (space) with every thought. Some of these thoughts will be rational &sensible, but many will be obsessive.

We, who are permanently tuned to our ancestors’ wavelengths, automatically receive these subtle broadcasts, which will induce us to become obsessive about food if we are susceptible to them. Anyone who is really obsessive about food is likely to be thinking of food at the moment of death.

This final message is more powerful than all those which went before, because it is transmitted with all the anguish of an unfillable desire.

Because of the power behind this desire, and the fact that the individual whose rational mind could partly negate it no longer exists, this last wish affects us much more powerfully than any living wishes can.

Tarpana enables us to negate these desires. Once they are gone, the pressure on our genes to make us obsessive about food eases, our diet and habits can induce other of our genes to begin to function, which changes our emotional climate. As long as these unseen influences continue to affect us, no amount of diet or routine can ever eliminate them because they do not strike at the source. 99% of human and chimpanzee genes are identical; the differences between the two species occur because some genes are expressed more than others.

We are our own creator, ceaselessly creating ourself from our own genes with the help of our physical and mental food and habits.

The traditional ritual of Tarpana is complex, but its essence is simple. It is much like the All Soul’s tradition, when people visit their relatives in the cemetery.

In preparation, consider what one food item our parent or grandparent was fondest of. May be it is the apple our grandmother used to eat, or tender coconut our father used to drink. That food will act as a vehicle for our emotion.

Sit comfortably facing south and visualize our dead ancestors, one by one, as far back as we can remember.

Make each one sit in front of us. Telling them we want to help release them from any residual earthly desires they might have, offer them a spoonful of water, a spoonful of milk, and a spoonful of sesame seeds, preferably the black variety. These offerings are the same for everyone. Then offer a little of the special item, with the heartfelt wish that this will satisfy any residual cravings and allow that individual, wherever he or she is, to continue with their own progression towards greater integration and clarity.

We then request them to return whence they came, and feed the food we have offered to an animal, or put it into a river or the ocean.

It is good to repeat this annually, preferably on the same New Moon Day each year. The best days for Tarpana are New Moon Days, especially those which fall in September (Pitr Paksha).

We need not even believe in reincarnation, or even life after death, to perform Tarpana. our parents and grandparents are still alive inside us, in our genes.

We are simply projecting a part of our personality, contacting it, and requesting it to be pleased with us and to relinquish any inappropriate influence it may have over us. This visualization releases us from any unhealthy psychological habits we may have as a result of the influence of these previous beings who also shared our genes, and of the images we have of those beings.

Tarpana is especially important for ancestors we knew personally. If we loved them, we show them our love in the only way remaining to us, by remembering them and offering part of ourself to them as a token of our love.

If our relationship with them was marred by negative emotions, Tarpana allows us to forgive them, to heal the relationship by sacrificing

our negativity & offering them the healing power of our love. Thankfulness for the genes which have given us life & forgiveness for those genes which have limited our existence, transport the sacrifice to its intended target. If we are convinced that this can actually help eliminate any negativity remaining between us & the image we hold of our ancestor, it will.

Faith is essential for it to work; we must make our offering with complete sincerity. Faith can truly make us whole. Faith can make our society whole as well.

Tarpana is important to all of us who have forgotten our roots. It creates the bond which should exist between our ancestors and us.

Tradition regards Tarpana as a duty, which every child must perform for its parents. When we accept this responsibility we relinquish forgetfulness.

Tarpana is an act of remembrance, which solidifies the link between the generations.

By opening ourselves to our ancestral influences & forgiving our forebears their imperfections, we open ourselves to their accumulated wisdom, which can cement our culture together.

Shradha is performed on many occasions, like pilgrimage, during an eclipse, birth , investiture of the sacred thread, marriage, after performing funeral rites, or during Bhadra.

It serves to remind one at important times throughout one’s life that death does not severe the link between the present & the past, between the living & the dead.

Shradda where the gods are first invoked and then the pitras.

Each offering is made in the name of a pitra.The food is then served to all those present.

It is believed that by feeding the Brahmins, the manes are being fed.

The remainder is offered to the fire and given to the crows to eat.

It is believed that the pitras take the form of crows to eat the offerings made to them. The Brahmins are given gifts and money.

The Brahmanda Purana has specified both the food and the utensils to be offered in shradha. It rates the pindas as most important. The food cooked during shradha should be saltless and free of all adulteration and impurities.

According to the Matsya Purana, the manes, gratified by the offerings of food, bless their descendants with a long life, happiness, wealth, learning, progeny and

Various kinds of shradha are mentioned in the Markandeya , like nitya or usual and naimitya or occasional, performed on death anniversaries.

The Kamya Shradha is performed on one of the 15 days in the dark fortnight of Bhadra to pay homage as well as to fulfil a specific desire.

Each of these 15 days signifies something different.

For example, shradha is performed on the first day if one desires a beautiful wife, on the eighth day if one desires wealth, and on the fifteenth day if one wishes complete gratification. In addition, there are other days considered auspicious for performing shradha.

Special merit is received if the ceremony is performed at holy places or pilgrimage sites, such as Gaya, Allahabad, Kurukshetra and Siddhpur

Every Hindu in his life time visit Allahabad ,Kasi, Gaya & Rameshwaram & do the Pithru Karma to fulfill the anchestors wishes & for our generations goodness.

This pilgrimage is like Christians visit to Rome – Vatican.Muslim’s trip to Mecca, Medhina.Kalsa’s visit to Golden Temple. Amritsar.

Punya kala Tarpans being performed on every month and during festive seasons. Even during Grahan’s ( Surya & Chandra ) period also tarpan being performed.

http://www.fropper.com/forum/message-list.php?board_id=12&topic_id=7397&pusername=&topics_sel_opt=&page=2

Subbu

http://padmininatarajan.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/09/pitr-paksha-the-fortnight-dedicated-to-ancestors/comments.htm

 

Simple Ritual for Pacifying Shani for Sadhe Sati

Sadhe Sati

 

Ill effects from Sadhe Sati can be very harsh and may cause very low moods, overwhelming a person with a negative outlook about all aspects of life. Some people even feel there is no hope. But if they truly take action to pacify Saturn, things can turn around positively.

It would be good to wear a Rudraksha Personalized Mala, and use a Japa Mala for reciting Shani’s mantra. Motivate yourself into placating Shani at the same hour each day. A simple ritual can be performed with a Saturn Yantra :

Sit in front of the Shani Yantra, offer figs, red sweet grapes, dates, unsalted nuts, black sesame seeds, black mustard seeds, sugar, honey and milk. Light a candle or oil lamp and some incense. Take a few moments to meditate on Shani as a Friend and Teacher, not a malefic planet. Visualize how you would be showered with blessings. Breathe in and out gently, try to still your mind. When you are ready, recite Shani’s mantra:

Om Sham Shanaishcharaya Namah Om.

Chant the mantra 108 times each day for 90 days. You will find along the way that it will help things and notice changes as they come. Things will shift for the better. You just have to make the effort. Without effort, nothing comes. Remember to give thanks to Shani whenever you see positive changes and good opportunities for pursuing matters like finances, less stress, quarrels disappearing, friendship, good health and good relationships.

 

Abhishek for ShivLing

Abhishek for ShivLing

Place the Shivaling along with three Rudrakshas under the
Abhishek Pot. Take flowers in both hands and offer them on
the Shivaling chanting thus- 

Hastaabhyaam Kalashadwayaamrit Rasei-raaplaavayantam Shiro,
Dwaabhyaam Tou Dadhatam Mrigaashavalaye Dwaabhyaam Vahantam
Param. Ankanyast-kar-dwayaamritghatam Kailaash-kaantam Shivam,
Swachhaambhojagatam. Navendumukutam Devam Trinetram Bhaje. 

i.e. I pray to Lord Mahamrityunjaya Shiva who holds two pots
of divine elixir in his two hands, who sits on the Kailash
mountain on a lotus flower and who has a moon ornamenting
his forehead. 

Take water in the right palm and chant thus - 

Asya Shree Trayambak Mantrasya Vashishtth Rishih Anushtup
Chhandah Trayambak Paarvati Patirdevataa Tram Beejam, Bam
Shakti, Kam Keelakam, Mam Sarva Rog Nivritaye Sarva Kaarya
Siddhaye Akaal Mrityu Nivritaye Mahaamrityunjaya Trayambak
Mantra Jape Viniyogah. 

Then let the water flow on to the ground.

Source : http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/shivling.html 

http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/dispCategory.php?catId=27