to linda - puja offerings (was Online-class: PUJA - some questions for you!)

[Guest guest]

Dear Lindaji,

 

I'm sure there are many people here who know more about these things

than I do, but here's what I know. If I am wrong, I hope someone will

correct me.

As I understand, it is ok to collect the liquid offerings for the

five-nectar bath in a small bowl and offer that to the deity. I think

perhaps you can take a few drops from this on your finger and

carefully 'wash' the deity with it. I am not sure, but after all, it

is about making God feel welcome, so why should He/She not like this?

Also you can use water instead of milk and yoghurt and honey etc., so

perhaps you could just pour some water in a small cup with each mantra

and visualise the milk etc. The powders can get a bit messy. I believe

you can offer these either on a flower or on the murti/lingam

directly. But in both cases it is best to keep a tissue handy to wipe

the fingers. If I remember correctly, these matters were discussed

during the Shiva Puja beginner's class, and you can find the file of

that in the files section here (bless Nandaji!). There you will find

all sorts ofTher questions answered, about the purification mantras

and also about how to set up an altar.

Please don't be discouraged. You say your method is limited, but

perhaps limitations can also be a blessing in disguise. I'm sure you

remember how Swamiji used to do puja for years with leaves he found.

And how he warns us not to waste time gathering things for puja

instead of doing puja. So perhaps you could take a nice plate or

something, with a flower or something on it representing your ishta,

put it by your bedside, and just pour some water in a small cup for

each offering you read.

But if this is too much for you at this time, perhaps it would help to

think of how in 'Shree Maa, the Life of a Saint', there is the story

of the king and the poor sadhu. Remember how Lord Shiva would not come

to the inauguration of the king's splendid new temple because he was

present at the installation ceremony of the sadhu's temple, who had

built one in his heart? Every time you read the puja, you are building

your temple, whether anyone else can see it or not, and you can make

it as messy as you like:)

 

dear sister, I hope this helped a little, thank you for asking

questions which help me learn more,

 

with love,

henny

 

 

 

 

In , nierika wrote:

>

> henny wrote:

>

> ...Because, otherwise, what do you do for the puja

> naivedya if you have already made offerings?...

> Dear henny or whomever can offer help,

>

> I have been reciting the Shiva Puja almost every night since I moved

into my

> new house. I am still the turtle student, plodding along. Some of

the

> questions I have regard all the offerings ~ the ghee, milk, yoghurt,

water, kum kum

> and tumeric, etc. I am unclear as to where one puts these

offerings, or in

> the case of the "bath," over what one would pour them. Could I use

my Shiva

> Nataraj for this purpose? And it all sounds very messy. Should the

murti or

> whatever one is putting/pouring these things on/over be set in some

type of

> shallow pan. I don't yet have a place to put my altar ... still too

many boxes to

> unpack and I don't get very far on any given day. But as I

recite/study this

> scripture, I am very excited to learn. And, for now, along with the

EMS

> Sankalpa, this is my puja.

>

> Last night I started to fall asleep while reciting EMS malas, so I

wasn't

> able to read the book, and I discovered that I missed this daily

communion with

> Shiva, even though my method at the moment is so limited. Anyhow, I

have

> other questions, but I thought someone on the digest could answer

the ones above.

> I will also check the files to see if there is anything there.

>

> Last night I also read Swamijis first Q & A about setting goals. I

am

> assuming this is coming from the classes, so I hope I can make it

this Saturday. I

> don't know why, but I am always and continuously amazed at Swamiji's

 

> responses. I read and feel I am getting nectar from the Gods...as

I'm sure I am. Yet,

> it still amazes me how, I want to say brilliantly ... like turning

on a

> bright light, he tailors the response to the individual questioner

as well as to

> the overall integrity of the spiritual belief system of Hinduism. I

felt I

> had opened a present. : )

>

> Jai Swamiji ~ Linda

>