Guest guest Posted January 11, 2005 Report Share Posted January 11, 2005 Hello to All! This is a corrected version of an earlier post I made. Please update, as I inadvertently made several small ommisions during editing. Last week, there was a bit of discussion in the Group on the topic of "How Do I Begin?" a personal practice in Shakti Sadhana. I mentioned that some people find advice like "Pray to the Mother" to be too simple; and advice like "Download the Khadgamala" to be too complex. At this point, the plan is to put together a FAQ to help orient members new and old on what exactly Shakti Sadhana is, what it involves as a spiritual discipline, and how you can safely begin a practice that fits your needs. BUT IN THE MEANTIME ... just yesterday I remembered (or rather, the diligent SE101 reminded me of) a wonderful conversation I enjoyed last month (December 2004) with a Guru and a truly great teacher of Srividya -- and it struck me that this may be exactly what some of you are looking for. As always, Q is lil' ol' me. A has asked to remain anonymous for privacy purposes due to the large number of persons accessing this discussion board: Q: What is Panchopachara? A: It is the simplest pooja; a pooja requiring nothing – it's all mudras only. The other poojas are but elaboration of this. Q: How is it performed? A: There are two versions of this pooja. I will teach you the one called jalaadi jalaantam – "starting and ending with water." Though the materials are five, the steps are six (in the other version, it is five materials and just five steps). The principle in this version is that everything arises from water and ends in water; which is in consonance with the Vaidik concept of deluge – that everything starts after a deluge and ends in a deluge. Q: And these are mental offerings accompanied by mudras – are they the same offerings symbolized by various materials in gross pooja? A: Yes, exactly. In gross pooja, jalam is water; gandham is sandal paste; pushpam is flowers; dhoopam is scented smoke; deepam is the lamp. Okay? Q: Okay. A: Good, then we will proceed. 1. So the first step is saying vaM apaathmanaa jalam kalpayaami – saying this, one shall rub the ring finger with the thumb from the base to the tip, both hands. My aunt's father-in-law used to say, "When you rub the ring finger with the thumb as part of pooja and say 'vam' then water should flow from the tip of your ring finger." I said, "It is not possible." He said, "It is!" and he showed me. That shows the concentration needed. As you rub, imagine all the pure and offerable waters of the world as being offered to the deity. 2. The next step is rubbing the little finger with thumb base to tip, reciting laM prithivyaathmanaa gandham kalpayaami. Here we offer the deity all that is sweet-smelling in the gross world. When you do that you must feel the sweetest otherworldly smell. 3. Next you rub the thumb from the base up with the index finger, reciting haM aakaashaathmanaa pushpam kalpayami. Thus we offer to the diety the best most beautiful and sweet smelling flowers. You must visualize all of these flowers – innumerable in number – manifesting out of the tip of your thumb at the feet of the deity. 4. Next is the index finger, and you say yaM vaaywaathmanaa dhoopam kalpayaami, "all the best incenses are offered here in form of sweet- smelling smoke" -- and you must manifest the smoke. 5. Then the middle finger: raM vahnyaathmanaa deepam kalpayami. The primordial light that first came is offered to Her and you visualize the darkness of ignorance being removed by this Divine Light. 6. Then, again, the ring finger, but this time with vaM amritaatmanaa naivedyam kalpayaami. With that you offer all that is exquisitely edible and nutritious to Devi; and with that, everything goes back to its primordial state. Finis. Is your question answered now? Q: Yes, thank you! A: Happy New Year! [Enjoy! -- DB] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2005 Report Share Posted January 11, 2005 Thank you. Is there some sort of preamble to this, or does one dive right in (to the water :-) with step 1 and "vaM...."? , "Devi Bhakta" <devi_bhakta> wrote: > > [....] > Q: What is Panchopachara? > > A: It is the simplest pooja; a pooja requiring nothing – it's all > mudras only. The other poojas are but elaboration of this. > > Q: How is it performed? > > A: There are two versions of this pooja. I will teach you the one > called jalaadi jalaantam – "starting and ending with water." Though > the materials are five, the steps are six (in the other version, it > is five materials and just five steps). The principle in this > version is that everything arises from water and ends in water; > which is in consonance with the Vaidik concept of deluge – that > everything starts after a deluge and ends in a deluge. > > Q: And these are mental offerings accompanied by mudras – are they > the same offerings symbolized by various materials in gross pooja? > > A: Yes, exactly. In gross pooja, jalam is water; gandham is sandal > paste; pushpam is flowers; dhoopam is scented smoke; deepam is the > lamp. Okay? > > Q: Okay. > > A: Good, then we will proceed. > > 1. So the first step is saying vaM apaathmanaa jalam kalpayaami – > saying this, one shall rub the ring finger with the thumb from the > base to the tip, both hands. My aunt's father-in-law used to > say, "When you rub the ring finger with the thumb as part of pooja > and say 'vam' then water should flow from the tip of your ring > finger." I said, "It is not possible." He said, "It is!" and he > showed me. That shows the concentration needed. As you rub, imagine > all the pure and offerable waters of the world as being offered to > the deity. > > 2. The next step is rubbing the little finger with thumb base to > tip, reciting laM prithivyaathmanaa gandham kalpayaami. Here we > offer the deity all that is sweet-smelling in the gross world. When > you do that you must feel the sweetest otherworldly smell. > > 3. Next you rub the thumb from the base up with the index finger, > reciting haM aakaashaathmanaa pushpam kalpayami. Thus we offer to > the diety the best most beautiful and sweet smelling flowers. You > must visualize all of these flowers – innumerable in number – > manifesting out of the tip of your thumb at the feet of the deity. > > 4. Next is the index finger, and you say yaM vaaywaathmanaa dhoopam > kalpayaami, "all the best incenses are offered here in form of > sweet-smelling smoke" -- and you must manifest the smoke. > > 5. Then the middle finger: raM vahnyaathmanaa deepam kalpayami. > The primordial light that first came is offered to Her and you > visualize the darkness of ignorance being removed by this Divine > Light. > > 6. Then, again, the ring finger, but this time with vaM > amritaatmanaa naivedyam kalpayaami. With that you offer all that is > exquisitely edible and nutritious to Devi; and with that, everything > goes back to its primordial state. Finis. Is your question answered > now? > > Q: Yes, thank you! > > A: Happy New Year! > > [Enjoy! -- DB] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2005 Report Share Posted January 11, 2005 Hi ... I think the preamble would be whatever you usually do before a pooja. If you have an altar, you might sit and do your usual japa, prayers, offerings -- whatever you like to do. Then just take a deep breath and begin. The pooja requires nothing -- not even an image of the Deity if you can see Her in your mind. In fact, the whole pooja is an exercise in intense, focused visualization. With frequent (preferably daily) repetition, you will find that the imagery does begin to take on an objective reality, first in your own eyes and later even in the eyes of third parties. Strange but true! ;-) Hope that helps? DB --- msbauju <msbauju wrote: > > > Thank you. > Is there some sort of preamble to this, or does one > dive right in (to > the water :-) with step 1 and "vaM...."? > > , "Devi Bhakta" > > <devi_bhakta> wrote: > > > > [....] > > Q: What is Panchopachara? > > > > A: It is the simplest pooja; a pooja requiring > nothing – it's all > > mudras only. The other poojas are but elaboration > of this. > > > > Q: How is it performed? > > > > A: There are two versions of this pooja. I will > teach you the one > > called jalaadi jalaantam – "starting and ending > with water." Though > > the materials are five, the steps are six (in the > other version, it > > is five materials and just five steps). The > principle in this > > version is that everything arises from water and > ends in water; > > which is in consonance with the Vaidik concept of > deluge – that > > everything starts after a deluge and ends in a > deluge. > > > > Q: And these are mental offerings accompanied by > mudras – are they > > the same offerings symbolized by various materials > in gross pooja? > > > > A: Yes, exactly. In gross pooja, jalam is water; > gandham is sandal > > paste; pushpam is flowers; dhoopam is scented > smoke; deepam is the > > lamp. Okay? > > > > Q: Okay. > > > > A: Good, then we will proceed. > > > > 1. So the first step is saying vaM apaathmanaa > jalam kalpayaami – > > saying this, one shall rub the ring finger with > the thumb from the > > base to the tip, both hands. My aunt's > father-in-law used to > > say, "When you rub the ring finger with the thumb > as part of pooja > > and say 'vam' then water should flow from the tip > of your ring > > finger." I said, "It is not possible." He said, > "It is!" and he > > showed me. That shows the concentration needed. As > you rub, imagine > > all the pure and offerable waters of the world as > being offered to > > the deity. > > > > 2. The next step is rubbing the little finger with > thumb base to > > tip, reciting laM prithivyaathmanaa gandham > kalpayaami. Here we > > offer the deity all that is sweet-smelling in the > gross world. When > > you do that you must feel the sweetest > otherworldly smell. > > > > 3. Next you rub the thumb from the base up with > the index finger, > > reciting haM aakaashaathmanaa pushpam kalpayami. > Thus we offer to > > the diety the best most beautiful and sweet > smelling flowers. You > > must visualize all of these flowers – innumerable > in number – > > manifesting out of the tip of your thumb at the > feet of the deity. > > > > 4. Next is the index finger, and you say yaM > vaaywaathmanaa dhoopam > > kalpayaami, "all the best incenses are offered > here in form of > > sweet-smelling smoke" -- and you must manifest the > smoke. > > > > 5. Then the middle finger: raM vahnyaathmanaa > deepam kalpayami. > > The primordial light that first came is offered to > Her and you > > visualize the darkness of ignorance being removed > by this Divine > > Light. > > > > 6. Then, again, the ring finger, but this time > with vaM > > amritaatmanaa naivedyam kalpayaami. With that you > offer all that is > > exquisitely edible and nutritious to Devi; and > with that, everything > > goes back to its primordial state. Finis. Is your > question answered > > now? > > > > Q: Yes, thank you! > > > > A: Happy New Year! > > > > [Enjoy! -- DB] > > > > ===== ~ aum mAtangyai namaH ~ Then the gods saw Devi's supreme cosmic form: The Satyaloka is situated on the topmost of Her head; the Sun and Moon are her eyes; the quarters, Her ears; the Vedas are Her words; the Universe is Her heart; the earth is Her loins; the space between earth and sky is Her navel; the constellations are Her Thighs; the Maharaloka is Her neck; the Janarloka is Her face; Indra and the Devas and then Svarloka are her arms; the sound is the organ of Her ears; the fire is within her Face; day and night are like her two wings; the mountains are Her bones; the rivers are Her veins, and the trees are the hairs of Her body. Youth, virginity, and old age are Her finest modes; the two twilights are Her raiment; the Moon is the mind of the Mother of the Universe. ~ Devibhagavata Purana, VII. Chap. 33.1-21ff * Please visit the Shakti Sadhana Homepage at http://www.shaktisadhana.org * Please join the Shakti Sadhana Group at The all-new My - Get yours free! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2005 Report Share Posted January 12, 2005 Devi bhakta wrote: I think the preamble would be whatever you usually do before a pooja. If you have an altar, you might sit and do your usual japa, prayers, offerings -- whatever you like to do. Then just take a deep breath and begin. The pooja requires nothing -- not even an image of the Deity if you can see Her in your mind. In fact, the whole pooja is an exercise in intense, focused visualization. With frequent (preferably daily) repetition, you will find that the imagery does begin to take on an objective reality, first in your own eyes and later even in the eyes of third parties. Strange but true! ;-) HA! EVENTUALLY !!!! you post it. Ive been waiting for a looooooong and asking : When! when are you going to share that with us. About time !!! Thank you anyway. Okay back to the Panchopachara : I am being told too that we can do this simple Pooja in the temple too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2005 Report Share Posted January 12, 2005 Yes it can be done in temple too. NMadasamy <nmadasamy wrote: Devi bhakta wrote: I think the preamble would be whatever you usually do before a pooja. If you have an altar, you might sit and do your usual japa, prayers, offerings -- whatever you like to do. Then just take a deep breath and begin. The pooja requires nothing --not even an image of the Deity if you can see Her in your mind. In fact, the whole pooja is an exercise in intense, focused visualization. With frequent (preferably daily) repetition, you will find that the imagery does begin to take on an objective reality, first in your own eyes and later even in the eyes of third parties. Strange but true! ;-) HA! EVENTUALLY !!!! you post it. Ive been waiting for a looooooong and asking : When! when are you going to share that with us. About time !!! Thank you anyway. Okay back to the Panchopachara : I am being told too that we can do this simple Pooja in the temple too. / Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2005 Report Share Posted January 12, 2005 Hey Nora *lol* If only our members knew how patient you are in so many ways! I am surprised you put up with me! *lol* Anyway, there is one other item you've been waiting for for ages now (I believe aboout 18 months!) which I've finally readied for mailing. Should create some synergy and maybe kick the poor neglected Khagamala series back into gear! ;-) BTW, I notice we posted one minute apart -- had IM off; sorry I missed you! Your Western Hemisphere Co-Moderator, signing off ... DB , "NMadasamy" <nmadasamy@s...> wrote: > HA! EVENTUALLY !!!! you post it. Ive been waiting for a looooooong > and asking : When! when are you going to share that with us. About > time !!! Thank you anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2005 Report Share Posted January 12, 2005 Namaste Srinavas, I am replying to your off-board query on-board, in case any other members had a similar question. In my understanding, the mudras are to be done with both hands simultaneously. If this is incorrect, may I ask other members to post corrected information? Thank you! DB [Query received off-board yesterday:] Tue, 11 Jan 2005 23:41:44 -0800 (PST) reg-panchopachara devi_bhakta namaste, i read the above topic. it is really simple. but the doubt is which hand fingers are to be rubbed? do the both hands are having same quality? srinivas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2005 Report Share Posted January 12, 2005 yes noth hands. Maybe u can add with anjali mudra at chest Sam sarwapratheekaathmakam thaamboolam kalpayami namaH = i offer thamboola (betel leaves) as a representation of everything. anjali at the forehead- Samastha rajopachaaraan kalpayami namaH - All Royal diginities are hereby offered over the head - anantha koti namaskaaraan samarpayaami- I offer infinite namaskaras unto three also. Then it will be complete. Devi Bhakta <devi_bhakta wrote: Namaste Srinavas, I am replying to your off-board query on-board, in case any other members had a similar question. In my understanding, the mudras are to be done with both hands simultaneously. If this is incorrect, may I ask other members to post corrected information? Thank you! DB [Query received off-board yesterday:] Tue, 11 Jan 2005 23:41:44 -0800 (PST) reg-panchopachara devi_bhakta namaste, i read the above topic. it is really simple. but the doubt is which hand fingers are to be rubbed? do the both hands are having same quality? srinivas / Mail - You care about security. So do we. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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