Monday night at the Mandir

[Guest guest]

We are very much enjoying being able to spend our evenings at the Mandir

thanks to newly offered satellite service in our country hermitage.

Tonight we watched the arati and had a few questions. There are various

objects waved in front of the altar (feathers, an umbrella, and such),

and we wondered about this. May we ask what type of objects are used

for arati and what do they signify? May a person select what to do for

arati or are there traditions to follow?

 

After arati, two devotees prayed in front of the fire. We wondered

about the fire. Is it always attended? Do the devotess select what to

do or is there a program for them to follow?

 

Thank you all very much for the amazing world of web cams! Love,

Michael and Karen

[Guest guest]

Congratulations, you guys, on your high speed connection!! Have you

checked out the video classes yet? They really came out good, I think!

 

Jai Maa!

Chris

 

 

 

, "Karen" <forall10q wrote:

>

>

> We are very much enjoying being able to spend our evenings at the Mandir

> thanks to newly offered satellite service in our country hermitage.

> Tonight we watched the arati and had a few questions. There are various

> objects waved in front of the altar (feathers, an umbrella, and such),

> and we wondered about this. May we ask what type of objects are used

> for arati and what do they signify? May a person select what to do for

> arati or are there traditions to follow?

>

> After arati, two devotees prayed in front of the fire. We wondered

> about the fire. Is it always attended? Do the devotess select what to

> do or is there a program for them to follow?

>

> Thank you all very much for the amazing world of web cams! Love,

> Michael and Karen

>

[Guest guest]

---Some explaination of the Aarathi:

Aarti,or Aarathi ("Aa" means "towards"or"from all sides" and

"rati"means highest love for god"or"joy")It is said to have descended

from the vedic fire ceremony.

Aarathi is generally performed three times daily(morning,noon and

night)but at least in the morning and evenings(often after a puja)

In the Tattva Jnaana(www.shreemaa.org/drupal-4.7.3/node/404)it states:

Worship can be done with 5,10,16,or more than 16 articles.

 

In the morning and noon aarathi it's generally five articles while

the evening is usually ten.There are slight variations that one might

do,but a 10 offering sequence is generally done this way at the Devi

Mandir at evening Aarathi: First you light the incense from the ghee

lamp and wave the incense (while ringing the bell)at the deity 7 times

around and once for the devotees. Next one offers 5-lights(ghee wick

lamp)from the large lamp and offers it to the deity:

4(clockwise)circles to the dieties feet,2 circles to the navel,3 to

the face and 7 circles around the whole deity.Next camphor can be

offered in the same way(though it now can be briefer)The conch(which

has the concecrated waters from the puja can be waved 3 times around

the deities head and 7 times around the body.Next item is the cloth

and it can be offered 7 times around the deities. Then the offering of

the umbrella with the gesture of providing shelter to the deity.The

next item is the chamara(Yak tail whisk)with the gesture of fanning

the deities and keeping away any flies.

Next the peacock fan is offered with the gesture of keeping the deity

cool. Then the mirror is presented before the diety in a way to

reflect the stainless mirror pure consciousness before us all.

We end with the flower of devotion from our heart which we generally

thrown or placed before the deity.

 

Again the Aarati sequence:

 

1.incense

2.5-lights

3.camphor

4.conch(water)

5.cloth

6.Umbrella

7.Fly Whisk

8.Peacock fan

9.Mirror

10.Flower

We can sit quietly and meditate,end with closing prayers,anoint

devotees with waters from the conch then pass out the prasad of the

puja to devotees while doing mantras.

 

 

As a closing note: rather than me making the explanation too long

winded on the significance of the numbers in the Aarathi check out the

Tattwa Jnana

for further explaination on all the 3's 5's & 7's etc.It really quite

fascinating.

 

In answering the last question about the programs:

Maa and Swamiji have their own sankalpas(vows)for their

sadhanas(spiritual practices) and all other devotees make their own

vows,though the more seasoned devotees may be doing the same type

of sadhana as Shree Maa and Swamiji.There of of course sheduled

programs and classes going on regularly.Check the home page.In the

Navigation panel the video category will show you a Video Called:

"Starting of the Holy Fire a the Devi Mandir." This should help

answer these questions more fully.

Namaste, Surath

 

In , "Karen" <forall10q wrote:

>

>

> We are very much enjoying being able to spend our evenings at the Mandir

> thanks to newly offered satellite service in our country hermitage.

> Tonight we watched the arati and had a few questions. There are various

> objects waved in front of the altar (feathers, an umbrella, and such),

> and we wondered about this. May we ask what type of objects are used

> for arati and what do they signify? May a person select what to do for

> arati or are there traditions to follow?

>

> After arati, two devotees prayed in front of the fire. We wondered

> about the fire. Is it always attended? Do the devotess select what to

> do or is there a program for them to follow?

>

> Thank you all very much for the amazing world of web cams! Love,

> Michael and Karen

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Surath, for a wonderful explanation. You not only answered

our questions but included much extra information. The traditions of

the Mandir are so beautiful to view, but even more valuable when there

is an awareness of the meaning and significance of the the activities.

Thank you again. Love, Michael and Karen

 

, "surathananda" <surathananda

wrote:

>

> ---Some explaination of the Aarathi:

> Aarti,or Aarathi ("Aa" means "towards"or"from all sides" and

> "rati"means highest love for god"or"joy")It is said to have descended

> from the vedic fire ceremony.

> Aarathi is generally performed three times daily(morning,noon and

> night)but at least in the morning and evenings(often after a puja)

> In the Tattva Jnaana(www.shreemaa.org/drupal-4.7.3/node/404)it states:

> Worship can be done with 5,10,16,or more than 16 articles.

>

> In the morning and noon aarathi it's generally five articles while

> the evening is usually ten.There are slight variations that one might

> do,but a 10 offering sequence is generally done this way at the Devi

> Mandir at evening Aarathi: First you light the incense from the ghee

> lamp and wave the incense (while ringing the bell)at the deity 7 times

> around and once for the devotees. Next one offers 5-lights(ghee wick

> lamp)from the large lamp and offers it to the deity:

> 4(clockwise)circles to the dieties feet,2 circles to the navel,3 to

> the face and 7 circles around the whole deity.Next camphor can be

> offered in the same way(though it now can be briefer)The conch(which

> has the concecrated waters from the puja can be waved 3 times around

> the deities head and 7 times around the body.Next item is the cloth

> and it can be offered 7 times around the deities. Then the offering of

> the umbrella with the gesture of providing shelter to the deity.The

> next item is the chamara(Yak tail whisk)with the gesture of fanning

> the deities and keeping away any flies.

> Next the peacock fan is offered with the gesture of keeping the deity

> cool. Then the mirror is presented before the diety in a way to

> reflect the stainless mirror pure consciousness before us all.

> We end with the flower of devotion from our heart which we generally

> thrown or placed before the deity.

>

> Again the Aarati sequence:

>

> 1.incense

> 2.5-lights

> 3.camphor

> 4.conch(water)

> 5.cloth

> 6.Umbrella

> 7.Fly Whisk

> 8.Peacock fan

> 9.Mirror

> 10.Flower

>

> We can sit quietly and meditate,end with closing prayers,anoint

> devotees with waters from the conch then pass out the prasad of the

> puja to devotees while doing mantras.

>

>

> As a closing note: rather than me making the explanation too long

> winded on the significance of the numbers in the Aarathi check out the

> Tattwa Jnana

> for further explaination on all the 3's 5's & 7's etc.It really quite

> fascinating.

>

> In answering the last question about the programs:

> Maa and Swamiji have their own sankalpas(vows)for their

> sadhanas(spiritual practices) and all other devotees make their own

> vows,though the more seasoned devotees may be doing the same type

> of sadhana as Shree Maa and Swamiji.There of of course sheduled

> programs and classes going on regularly.Check the home page.In the

> Navigation panel the video category will show you a Video Called:

> "Starting of the Holy Fire a the Devi Mandir." This should help

> answer these questions more fully.

> Namaste, Surath

>

> In , "Karen" forall10q@ wrote:

> >

> >

> > We are very much enjoying being able to spend our evenings at the

Mandir

> > thanks to newly offered satellite service in our country hermitage.

> > Tonight we watched the arati and had a few questions. There are

various

> > objects waved in front of the altar (feathers, an umbrella, and

such),

> > and we wondered about this. May we ask what type of objects are used

> > for arati and what do they signify? May a person select what to do

for

> > arati or are there traditions to follow?

> >

> > After arati, two devotees prayed in front of the fire. We wondered

> > about the fire. Is it always attended? Do the devotess select what

to

> > do or is there a program for them to follow?

> >

> > Thank you all very much for the amazing world of web cams! Love,

> > Michael and Karen

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Namaste Surath,

 

Thanks for this indepth explanation on the offerings, especially as it

relates to the amount of times they are offered at the different areas

of Divine Mother's body.

 

Pranams

Kali

 

, "surathananda" <surathananda

wrote:

>

> ---Some explaination of the Aarathi:

> Aarti,or Aarathi ("Aa" means "towards"or"from all sides" and

> "rati"means highest love for god"or"joy")It is said to have descended

> from the vedic fire ceremony.

[Guest guest]

Surath,

This is the email that spured my questions.

In the 1st paragraph it sounds like it is done w/out puja also.

This is why I asked the questions.

If done w/out how done?

I do Shiva puja am and am working on Chandi in after noon, so far P 1-84.

Then evening thought I would try Kali or other puja eventually, but for now so as not to take on too much that aarathi would do well to fill in when time doesn't allow Chandi or a long puja in evening.

This is why I asked if aarathi done alone requires sankalpa at beginning as Maa said start everything with one. And if so what changes in .... Sri siva kamah, puja karmaham karsye

at end of sankalpa? That is cld sankalpa correct om adya jambudvipe..................?

The other ? not clear on was if do puja w/ and aarathi in am the come in at noon to do an aarathi or other puja w/ arit. do we cln up 1st puja or add to it. And same in evening.

Usualy I cln up in evening.

Thank you,

Debi

 

surathananda <surathananda > wrote:

---Some explaination of the Aarathi:

Aarti,or Aarathi ("Aa" means "towards"or"from all sides" and

"rati"means highest love for god"or"joy")It is said to have descended

from the vedic fire ceremony.

Aarathi is generally performed three times daily(morning,noon and

night)but at least in the morning and evenings(often after a puja)

In the Tattva Jnaana(www.shreemaa.org/drupal-4.7.3/node/404)it states:

Worship can be done with 5,10,16,or more than 16 articles.

 

In the morning and noon aarathi it's generally five articles while

the evening is usually ten.There are slight variations that one might

do,but a 10 offering sequence is generally done this way at the Devi

Mandir at evening Aarathi: First you light the incense from the ghee

lamp and wave the incense (while ringing the bell)at the deity 7 times

around and once for the devotees. Next one offers 5-lights(ghee wick

lamp)from the large lamp and offers it to the deity:

4(clockwise)circles to the dieties feet,2 circles to the navel,3 to

the face and 7 circles around the whole deity.Next camphor can be

offered in the same way(though it now can be briefer)The conch(which

has the concecrated waters from the puja can be waved 3 times around

the deities head and 7 times around the body.Next item is the cloth

and it can be offered 7 times around the deities. Then the offering of

the umbrella with the gesture of providing shelter to the deity.The

next item is the chamara(Yak tail whisk)with the gesture of fanning

the deities and keeping away any flies.

Next the peacock fan is offered with the gesture of keeping the deity

cool. Then the mirror is presented before the diety in a way to

reflect the stainless mirror pure consciousness before us all.

We end with the flower of devotion from our heart which we generally

thrown or placed before the deity.

 

Again the Aarati sequence:

 

1.incense

2.5-lights

3.camphor

4.conch(water)

5.cloth

6.Umbrella

7.Fly Whisk

8.Peacock fan

9.Mirror

10.Flower

 

We can sit quietly and meditate,end with closing prayers,anoint

devotees with waters from the conch then pass out the prasad of the

puja to devotees while doing mantras.

 

As a closing note: rather than me making the explanation too long

winded on the significance of the numbers in the Aarathi check out the

Tattwa Jnana

for further explaination on all the 3's 5's & 7's etc.It really quite

fascinating.

 

In answering the last question about the programs:

Maa and Swamiji have their own sankalpas(vows)for their

sadhanas(spiritual practices) and all other devotees make their own

vows,though the more seasoned devotees may be doing the same type

of sadhana as Shree Maa and Swamiji.There of of course sheduled

programs and classes going on regularly.Check the home page.In the

Navigation panel the video category will show you a Video Called:

"Starting of the Holy Fire a the Devi Mandir." This should help

answer these questions more fully.

Namaste, Surath

 

In , "Karen" <forall10q wrote:

>

>

> We are very much enjoying being able to spend our evenings at the Mandir

> thanks to newly offered satellite service in our country hermitage.

> Tonight we watched the arati and had a few questions. There are various

> objects waved in front of the altar (feathers, an umbrella, and such),

> and we wondered about this. May we ask what type of objects are used

> for arati and what do they signify? May a person select what to do for

> arati or are there traditions to follow?

>

> After arati, two devotees prayed in front of the fire. We wondered

> about the fire. Is it always attended? Do the devotess select what to

> do or is there a program for them to follow?

>

> Thank you all very much for the amazing world of web cams! Love,

> Michael and Karen

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

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