Guest guest Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 Namaste. Just a few more questions for the list & #8211; hope you don & #8217;t mind! 1) I was looking at the Durga puja for beginners, and it seems like there is a lot of flower offering involved. The Sanskrit term used is & #8216;gandhapushpa & #8217;, which means & #8216;fragrant flower & #8217;. Now, I was wondering whether real flowers are always offered, or whether these may be substituted with other things, such as flower petals. I am asking this because in the course of the puja around 30 flowers are offered, and these are a lot & #8211; particularly if one wishes to perform the puja every day. This leads me to my second question: 2) At the moment, it seems like performing the whole puja would take me well over 20 minutes (I would probably guess around 1 hour). So I was wondering what days might be most auspicious to perform the rite, if I cannot perform it all mornings. I believe Fridays are good, or is this only for the recitation of the Sahasranama? This leads to my third and final question: 3) I have heard Swamiji say that the recitation of the 300 names of Lalita is more effective than the recitation of the 1,000. So clearly then, for a beginner like myself, the recitation of the former would be better (not to mention easier!). I was wondering whether it is fine only to recite the actual names, or whether one should recite them in the context of the Lalita Trishati. I was also wondering about metric: my recitation is more of a reading, as I was never taught any of the musical modulations used in reciting the shlokas. Is this ok? The same, of course, also applies to my recitation of the Devi Kavacham and Chandi in general... Any answers, as always, will be much appreciated. Jai Maa! Sergio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 Thank you for asking a very good question, Sergio. I was very confused about the issue of offerings, but since I have read some of Swamiji's words it is more clarified in my mind. When I read that when he had nothing else to offer when he was living in India, he plucked the leaves from the trees to offer, I thought to myself " Yes, of course! How else would a wandering Sadhu perhaps far away from any village or not knowing anyone in the area do his daily worship and offerings? It is so simple! " I am not a sadhu, but there are limitations on my time, expenses and ability, so he is giving me the freedom to make these choices as to how far I want to go in literally offering material objects to Deity. Sometimes it is very satisfying to do so, but it is not necessary. There is so much clarification in what Swamiji and Shree Maa say. They set us free to love and worship to the best of our ability. That is why I am here and why I hang on. Om Jai Kali Ma! Om Namah Shivaya! , " Sergio Knipe " <sergio.knipe wrote: > > Namaste. > > Just a few more questions for the list & #8211; hope you don & #8217;t mind! > > 1) I was looking at the Durga puja for beginners, and it seems like there > is a lot of flower offering involved. The Sanskrit term used is > & #8216;gandhapushpa & #8217;, which means & #8216;fragrant flower & #8217;. > Now, I was wondering whether real flowers are always offered, or whether > these may be substituted with other things, such as flower petals. I am > asking this because in the course of the puja around 30 flowers are > offered, and these are a lot & #8211; particularly if one wishes to perform > the puja every day. This leads me to my second question: > > 2) At the moment, it seems like performing the whole puja would take me > well over 20 minutes (I would probably guess around 1 hour). So I was > wondering what days might be most auspicious to perform the rite, if I > cannot perform it all mornings. I believe Fridays are good, or is this > only for the recitation of the Sahasranama? This leads to my third and > final question: > > 3) I have heard Swamiji say that the recitation of the 300 names of Lalita > is more effective than the recitation of the 1,000. So clearly then, for a > beginner like myself, the recitation of the former would be better (not to > mention easier!). I was wondering whether it is fine only to recite the > actual names, or whether one should recite them in the context of the > Lalita Trishati. I was also wondering about metric: my recitation is more > of a reading, as I was never taught any of the musical modulations used in > reciting the shlokas. Is this ok? The same, of course, also applies to my > recitation of the Devi Kavacham and Chandi in general... > > Any answers, as always, will be much appreciated. > > Jai Maa! > > Sergio > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 Namaste Sergio, I would agree. Swamiji always says that just give her your devotion, everything you need will appear by itself. He told us how when he was a wandering sadhu, he would lay out his gamcha (red towel used in India) instead of a homa fire, and puffed rice for the offering to the fire. Later, he would share it with local school children as prasad. There is nothing in this world that is not hers already. Each offering we make is just a way of offering our love. If you don't have enough flowers offer petals, if you don't have petals offer leaves - anything your heart pleases. Love Papia , " mjfisher2005 " <mjfisher2005 wrote: > > Thank you for asking a very good question, Sergio. I was very > confused about the issue of offerings, but since I have read some of > Swamiji's words it is more clarified in my mind. When I read that > when he had nothing else to offer when he was living in India, he > plucked the leaves from the trees to offer, I thought to myself " Yes, > of course! How else would a wandering Sadhu perhaps far away from > any village or not knowing anyone in the area do his daily worship > and offerings? It is so simple! " I am not a sadhu, but there are > limitations on my time, expenses and ability, so he is giving me the > freedom to make these choices as to how far I want to go in literally > offering material objects to Deity. Sometimes it is very satisfying > to do so, but it is not necessary. There is so much clarification in > what Swamiji and Shree Maa say. They set us free to love and worship > to the best of our ability. That is why I am here and why I hang on. > > Om Jai Kali Ma! Om Namah Shivaya! > > , " Sergio Knipe " <sergio.knipe@> > wrote: > > > > Namaste. > > > > Just a few more questions for the list & #8211; hope you don & #8217;t > mind! > > > > 1) I was looking at the Durga puja for beginners, and it seems > like there > > is a lot of flower offering involved. The Sanskrit term used is > > & #8216;gandhapushpa & #8217;, which means & #8216;fragrant > flower & #8217;. > > Now, I was wondering whether real flowers are always offered, or > whether > > these may be substituted with other things, such as flower petals. > I am > > asking this because in the course of the puja around 30 flowers are > > offered, and these are a lot & #8211; particularly if one wishes to > perform > > the puja every day. This leads me to my second question: > > > > 2) At the moment, it seems like performing the whole puja would > take me > > well over 20 minutes (I would probably guess around 1 hour). So I > was > > wondering what days might be most auspicious to perform the rite, > if I > > cannot perform it all mornings. I believe Fridays are good, or is > this > > only for the recitation of the Sahasranama? This leads to my third > and > > final question: > > > > 3) I have heard Swamiji say that the recitation of the 300 names > of Lalita > > is more effective than the recitation of the 1,000. So clearly > then, for a > > beginner like myself, the recitation of the former would be better > (not to > > mention easier!). I was wondering whether it is fine only to recite > the > > actual names, or whether one should recite them in the context of > the > > Lalita Trishati. I was also wondering about metric: my recitation > is more > > of a reading, as I was never taught any of the musical modulations > used in > > reciting the shlokas. Is this ok? The same, of course, also applies > to my > > recitation of the Devi Kavacham and Chandi in general... > > > > Any answers, as always, will be much appreciated. > > > > Jai Maa! > > > > Sergio > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 thanks for the answer to this question in gemany its winter and i mean winter -10c grades there are now floweres any more and none to buy this time of year. therefore i use artifical petals i know that god shivia is not mad i planted over a 100 flowers in my garten for him so he knows in febuary he will get the fruits from my garden i think if i understood swamiji correctly its your love to god thats important and not what we offer of course i feel also sad that god cant smell the beautiful flowers this time of year.but in febuary till october he has all my flowers that i have. i hope this helps. i think 3 real flowers the ones you put in the holey water,are enough in summer when you dont have a garden your love and devotion is more important. lots of love leelee --- On Tue, 12/2/08, mjfisher2005 <mjfisher2005 wrote: mjfisher2005 <mjfisher2005Re: [www.ShreeMaa.org] Flowers, days for puja etc. (questions) Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 8:31 AM Thank you for asking a very good question, Sergio. I was very confused about the issue of offerings, but since I have read some of Swamiji's words it is more clarified in my mind. When I read that when he had nothing else to offer when he was living in India, he plucked the leaves from the trees to offer, I thought to myself "Yes, of course! How else would a wandering Sadhu perhaps far away from any village or not knowing anyone in the area do his daily worship and offerings? It is so simple!" I am not a sadhu, but there are limitations on my time, expenses and ability, so he is giving me the freedom to make these choices as to how far I want to go in literally offering material objects to Deity. Sometimes it is very satisfying to do so, but it is not necessary. There is so much clarification in what Swamiji and Shree Maa say. They set us free to love and worship to the best of our ability. That is why I am here and why I hang on.Om Jai Kali Ma! Om Namah Shivaya!, "Sergio Knipe" <sergio.knipe@ ...> wrote:>> Namaste.> > Just a few more questions for the list & #8211; hope you don & #8217;t mind!> > 1) I was looking at the Durga puja for beginners, and it seems like there> is a lot of flower offering involved. The Sanskrit term used is> & #8216;gandhapushpa & #8217;, which means & #8216;fragrant flower & #8217; .> Now, I was wondering whether real flowers are always offered, or whether> these may be substituted with other things, such as flower petals. I am> asking this because in the course of the puja around 30 flowers are> offered, and these are a lot & #8211; particularly if one wishes to perform> the puja every day. This leads me to my second question:> > 2) At the moment, it seems like performing the whole puja would take me> well over 20 minutes (I would probably guess around 1 hour). So I was> wondering what days might be most auspicious to perform the rite, if I> cannot perform it all mornings. I believe Fridays are good, or is this> only for the recitation of the Sahasranama? This leads to my third and> final question:> > 3) I have heard Swamiji say that the recitation of the 300 names of Lalita> is more effective than the recitation of the 1,000. So clearly then, for a> beginner like myself, the recitation of the former would be better (not to> mention easier!). I was wondering whether it is fine only to recite the> actual names, or whether one should recite them in the context of the> Lalita Trishati. I was also wondering about metric: my recitation is more> of a reading, as I was never taught any of the musical modulations used in> reciting the shlokas. Is this ok? The same, of course, also applies to my> recitation of the Devi Kavacham and Chandi in general...> > Any answers, as always, will be much appreciated.> > Jai Maa!> > Sergio> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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