navaratri gandhapuspe

[Guest guest]

Dear Steve,

Where I learned puja in India, I was told red of all kinds for

Durga, Pink (like the lotus) for Lakshmi and pure White for

Saraswati. We would usually make the garlands in these colors. This

seems to change according to the area of India, as I have noticed

that the South Indian pujas use slightly different colors. But, in

Sri Vidya, for instance, the flower offerings to Devi are usually in

the red family...and the Sri Yantra itself is described as

manifesting in various shades of red..from sindhura to the deep

magenta of a hibiscus flower. I had also learned that Kali's

favorite flower is red hibiscus, Lakshmi a pink lotus, Ganesh loves

gardenias, etc.

Whenever I do Devi Puja of any kind, I usually use flowers and

saris in the red family...everything from orange right through deep

magenta (except for Saraswati, who is blue and white)..but the

practices of Devi Mandir might be different??? One other really

interesting thing that I first saw at a South Indian Temple was the

garland of limes or lemons put around the neck of the Devi's murti

to "cool down the Shakti"...sometimes even grapefruit!!!

I would be very interested to learn of the puja decorations at

Devi Mandir...this is a subject I am REALLY into! I am sending

thoughts of love and blessing to everyone on the list every night

before I go to sleep....with great wishes for an ecstatic

Navaratri!!!

best,

sadhvi