Berijoy's questions on Beginning a Puja, Setting up an altar

[Guest guest]

Question: is one supposed to do the whole book (Beginner Durga

Puja ) each day, or only certain parts at certain times. this is

also not clear to me.

 

Latha's response :- Yes, we chant the entire book in one sitting,

and when you are comfortable with the text , you might be able to

complete it under 15 minutes or less.

 

Usually the Chalisa is optional, but everything else has been

condensed to give the minimum steps that a puja needs to have.

 

 

However, if you dont have the time for an entire puja, you could

take certain pieces from the book and chant them alone. A typical

example from the Beginner Durga Puja book is the '32 names of Durga'

aka 'Durga Dvattrimsannamamala' and this could be chanted at anytime

you wanted.

 

Remember, when we are beginners and trying to learn the steps , it

is perfectly fine for us to want to learn and do as much as our

capacity allows for. So if you preferred to learn just 5 minutes

each day and increase the time slowly, it is perfectly fine. The

intent, always the intent is what counts.

 

 

Question :- am i supposed to set up some kind of altar? and is so,

where do i find out about that?

 

Latha's response :- Yes, it would be nice to set up an altar and set

up the "mood" for prayer. Please see some sample altars from some

our members - Ardis, Steve, Santo and Jay have shared photos of

their altars in the Photos section.

 

You could start with maybe just a picture of Durga mounted on the

wall or standing on a small platform, with flowers and have a small

container to offer her water or fruit. A candle lit during the times

of prayer and voila there you have an altar.

[Guest guest]

Shree Maa has also said that it is okay to just read the English.

It depends on you and how comfortable you feel with Sanskrit

and reading the transliteration. Of course as Latha mentioned it

is nice to do the whole book in one sitting but it is also okay to

pick and choose in the beginning and work your way up to the

whole book. If you have a copy of Shree Maa's Durga puja CD

this is also helpful for learning the pronunciation. Here is a

possible small puja you could do to begin with. You can read

the English and try the transliteration for the following:

 

1. Recite Durga's gayatri. Om kaatyaayanaaya vidmahe

kanyaakumaarii dhiimahi tanno durgih pracodayat om

 

Om We meditate upon the Ever Pure One, contemplate the

Daughter Without Flaw or Imperfection, May that Goddess grant

us increase.

 

2 Offer the light. (See mantras in book)

 

3 Offer the incense.

 

4. Recite the Gayatri mantra with folded hands: Om bhuur

bhuvah svah tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhiimahi dhiyo

yo nah pracodayaat

 

5. 108 japa of Durga's mantra: Om Hring Shring Dung Durgayai

namah.

 

6. Silent meditation

 

7. Offer a piece of fruit. (See mantra in back of book for food

offering.) Om hriim sriim dum durgaayai namah bhog naivedyam

samarpayaami

 

8. Offer a small glass of water. (See mantra in back of book.) Om

hriim sriim dum durgaayai namah paanaartha jalam

samarpayaami

 

9. Offer a flower. Ete gandhapuspe Om hriim sriim dum

durgaayai namah

 

10. If you have time you can recite the closing prayers at the end

of your puja that begin with:

durgaam sivaam saantikariim brahmaaniim brahmanah

priyam...... and ends with om saantih saantih saantih

 

11. Hope this helps a little.

12. Keep us posted.

 

An altar is nice to set up as it establishes a mood and a

relationship with the deity. Remember Durga is the Divine

Mother Who Relieves All Difficulties. God bless you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

, "Latha Nanda"

<lathananda> wrote:

> Question: is one supposed to do the whole book (Beginner

Durga

> Puja ) each day, or only certain parts at certain times. this is

> also not clear to me.

>

> Latha's response :- Yes, we chant the entire book in one

sitting,

> and when you are comfortable with the text , you might be able

to

> complete it under 15 minutes or less.

>

> Usually the Chalisa is optional, but everything else has been

> condensed to give the minimum steps that a puja needs to

have.

>

>

> However, if you dont have the time for an entire puja, you could

> take certain pieces from the book and chant them alone. A

typical

> example from the Beginner Durga Puja book is the '32 names

of Durga'

> aka 'Durga Dvattrimsannamamala' and this could be chanted

at anytime

> you wanted.

>

> Remember, when we are beginners and trying to learn the

steps , it

> is perfectly fine for us to want to learn and do as much as our

> capacity allows for. So if you preferred to learn just 5 minutes

> each day and increase the time slowly, it is perfectly fine. The

> intent, always the intent is what counts.

>

>

> Question :- am i supposed to set up some kind of altar? and is

so,

> where do i find out about that?

>

> Latha's response :- Yes, it would be nice to set up an altar and

set

> up the "mood" for prayer. Please see some sample altars from

some

> our members - Ardis, Steve, Santo and Jay have shared

photos of

> their altars in the Photos section.

>

> You could start with maybe just a picture of Durga mounted on

the

> wall or standing on a small platform, with flowers and have a

small

> container to offer her water or fruit. A candle lit during the

times

> of prayer and voila there you have an altar.

[Guest guest]

parvati

 

please thank maa for her succinct steps on this durga puja. i will

be printing it out. i find more and more sadhana and life must

integrate seamlessly and without negative conlict of any kind like a

boat skimming across the water.

 

swamiji said in a nice e-mail that sadhana expands and contracts.

 

here is something i have received lately as i have not been able to

do the sadhana with the usual regularity.

 

another swami said to increase the will, one can do regular sadhana,

austerities, or develop virtues.

 

god gives us all these ways, in no way should we ever feel walled

off or restriced from the greater view. whatever our circumstances

or capacity, we can make some shift towards durga.

 

even to think of someone like maa or ramakrishna at moments is

enough.

 

parvati i noticed this again. the spirit of the mother enters one

and does some magic. for example, this egotistical male sometimes

feels an empathy for strangers, as if he were their mother.

 

jai maa parvati. please send all love and appreciation to your

spiritual mother.

 

praises to shree maa. maa you have helped those in need. you need do

nothing but be as you are.

 

steve c.

 

, "parv108" <parv108> wrote:

> Shree Maa has also said that it is okay to just read the English.

> It depends on you and how comfortable you feel with Sanskrit

> and reading the transliteration. Of course as Latha mentioned it

> is nice to do the whole book in one sitting but it is also okay to

> pick and choose in the beginning and work your way up to the

> whole book. If you have a copy of Shree Maa's Durga puja CD

> this is also helpful for learning the pronunciation. Here is a

> possible small puja you could do to begin with. You can read

> the English and try the transliteration for the following:

>

> 1. Recite Durga's gayatri. Om kaatyaayanaaya vidmahe

> kanyaakumaarii dhiimahi tanno durgih pracodayat om

>

> Om We meditate upon the Ever Pure One, contemplate the

> Daughter Without Flaw or Imperfection, May that Goddess grant

> us increase.

>

> 2 Offer the light. (See mantras in book)

>

> 3 Offer the incense.

>

> 4. Recite the Gayatri mantra with folded hands: Om bhuur

> bhuvah svah tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhiimahi dhiyo

> yo nah pracodayaat

>

> 5. 108 japa of Durga's mantra: Om Hring Shring Dung Durgayai

> namah.

>

> 6. Silent meditation

>

> 7. Offer a piece of fruit. (See mantra in back of book for food

> offering.) Om hriim sriim dum durgaayai namah bhog naivedyam

> samarpayaami

>

> 8. Offer a small glass of water. (See mantra in back of book.) Om

> hriim sriim dum durgaayai namah paanaartha jalam

> samarpayaami

>

> 9. Offer a flower. Ete gandhapuspe Om hriim sriim dum

> durgaayai namah

>

> 10. If you have time you can recite the closing prayers at the end

> of your puja that begin with:

> durgaam sivaam saantikariim brahmaaniim brahmanah

> priyam...... and ends with om saantih saantih saantih

>

> 11. Hope this helps a little.

> 12. Keep us posted.

>

> An altar is nice to set up as it establishes a mood and a

> relationship with the deity. Remember Durga is the Divine

> Mother Who Relieves All Difficulties. God bless you.

, "Latha Nanda"

> <lathananda> wrote:

> > Question: is one supposed to do the whole book (Beginner

> Durga

> > Puja ) each day, or only certain parts at certain times. this is

> > also not clear to me.

> >

> > Latha's response :- Yes, we chant the entire book in one

> sitting,

> > and when you are comfortable with the text , you might be able

> to

> > complete it under 15 minutes or less.

> >

> > Usually the Chalisa is optional, but everything else has been

> > condensed to give the minimum steps that a puja needs to

> have.

> >

> >

> > However, if you dont have the time for an entire puja, you could

> > take certain pieces from the book and chant them alone. A

> typical

> > example from the Beginner Durga Puja book is the '32 names

> of Durga'

> > aka 'Durga Dvattrimsannamamala' and this could be chanted

> at anytime

> > you wanted.

> >

> > Remember, when we are beginners and trying to learn the

> steps , it

> > is perfectly fine for us to want to learn and do as much as our

> > capacity allows for. So if you preferred to learn just 5 minutes

> > each day and increase the time slowly, it is perfectly fine. The

> > intent, always the intent is what counts.

> >

> >

> > Question :- am i supposed to set up some kind of altar? and is

> so,

> > where do i find out about that?

> >

> > Latha's response :- Yes, it would be nice to set up an altar and

> set

> > up the "mood" for prayer. Please see some sample altars from

> some

> > our members - Ardis, Steve, Santo and Jay have shared

> photos of

> > their altars in the Photos section.

> >

> > You could start with maybe just a picture of Durga mounted on

> the

> > wall or standing on a small platform, with flowers and have a

> small

> > container to offer her water or fruit. A candle lit during the

> times

> > of prayer and voila there you have an altar.

[Guest guest]

Parvati Mata, That is so beautiful. To give a simple and pure way to

start out for one who may be a little overwhelmed by starting with a

whole puja . Lovely, lovely.

"parv108" <parv108 >

Wed, 07 Jul 2004 05:46:29 -0000

Re: Berijoy's questions on Beginning a Puja, Setting up an altar

Shree Maa has also said that it is okay to just read the English.

It depends on you and how comfortable you feel with Sanskrit

and reading the transliteration. Of course as Latha mentioned it

is nice to do the whole book in one sitting but it is also okay to

pick and choose in the beginning and work your way up to the

whole book. If you have a copy of Shree Maa's Durga puja CD

this is also helpful for learning the pronunciation. Here is a

possible small puja you could do to begin with. You can read

the English and try the transliteration for the following:

1. Recite Durga's gayatri. Om kaatyaayanaaya vidmahe

kanyaakumaarii dhiimahi tanno durgih pracodayat om

Om We meditate upon the Ever Pure One, contemplate the

Daughter Without Flaw or Imperfection, May that Goddess grant

us increase.

2 Offer the light. (See mantras in book)

3 Offer the incense.

4. Recite the Gayatri mantra with folded hands: Om bhuur

bhuvah svah tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhiimahi dhiyo

yo nah pracodayaat

5. 108 japa of Durga's mantra: Om Hring Shring Dung Durgayai

namah.

6. Silent meditation

7. Offer a piece of fruit. (See mantra in back of book for food

offering.) Om hriim sriim dum durgaayai namah bhog naivedyam

samarpayaami

8. Offer a small glass of water. (See mantra in back of book.) Om

hriim sriim dum durgaayai namah paanaartha jalam

samarpayaami

9. Offer a flower. Ete gandhapuspe Om hriim sriim dum

durgaayai namah

10. If you have time you can recite the closing prayers at the end

of your puja that begin with:

durgaam sivaam saantikariim brahmaaniim brahmanah

priyam...... and ends with om saantih saantih saantih

11. Hope this helps a little.

12. Keep us posted.

An altar is nice to set up as it establishes a mood and a

relationship with the deity. Remember Durga is the Divine

Mother Who Relieves All Difficulties. God bless you.

, "Latha Nanda"

<lathananda> wrote:

> Question: is one supposed to do the whole book (Beginner

Durga

> Puja ) each day, or only certain parts at certain times. this is

> also not clear to me.

>

> Latha's response :- Yes, we chant the entire book in one

sitting,

> and when you are comfortable with the text , you might be able

to

> complete it under 15 minutes or less.

>

> Usually the Chalisa is optional, but everything else has been

> condensed to give the minimum steps that a puja needs to

have.

>

>

> However, if you dont have the time for an entire puja, you could

> take certain pieces from the book and chant them alone. A

typical

> example from the Beginner Durga Puja book is the '32 names

of Durga'

> aka 'Durga Dvattrimsannamamala' and this could be chanted

at anytime

> you wanted.

>

> Remember, when we are beginners and trying to learn the

steps , it

> is perfectly fine for us to want to learn and do as much as our

> capacity allows for. So if you preferred to learn just 5 minutes

> each day and increase the time slowly, it is perfectly fine. The

> intent, always the intent is what counts.

>

>

> Question :- am i supposed to set up some kind of altar? and is

so,

> where do i find out about that?

>

> Latha's response :- Yes, it would be nice to set up an altar and

set

> up the "mood" for prayer. Please see some sample altars from

some

> our members - Ardis, Steve, Santo and Jay have shared

photos of

> their altars in the Photos section.

>

> You could start with maybe just a picture of Durga mounted on

the

> wall or standing on a small platform, with flowers and have a

small

> container to offer her water or fruit. A candle lit during the

times

> of prayer and voila there you have an altar.

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[Guest guest]

latha,

what is the "chalisa?" and the question (i asked again in my other

email), is this puja to be done daily or at special times only?

also, thank you for the suggestions about the altar.

Be Love,

Berijoy

Pirate Vesta Animal, Keeper of Divine Secrets

http://www.egyirba.net:*``*::*``*::*``*::*

--------------

"Latha Nanda" <lathananda >

Tue, Jul-6-2004 11:40 AM

Berijoy's questions on Beginning a Puja,

Setting up an altarQuestion: is one supposed to do the whole book

(Beginner Durga Puja ) each day, or only certain parts at certain

times. this is also not clear to me. Latha's response :- Yes, we

chant the entire book in one sitting, and when you are comfortable

with the text , you might be able to complete it under 15 minutes or

less.Usually the Chalisa is optional, but everything else has been

condensed to give the minimum steps that a puja needs to

have.However, if you dont have the time for an entire puja, you could

take certain pieces from the book and chant them alone. A typical

example from the Beginner Durga Puja book is the '32 names of Durga'

aka 'Durga Dvattrimsannamamala' and this could be chanted at anytime

you wanted.Remember, when we are beginners and trying to learn the

steps , it is perfectly fine for us to want to learn and do as much

as our capacity allows for. So if you preferred to learn just 5

minutes each day and increase the time slowly, it is perfectly fine.

The intent, always the intent is what counts. Question :- am i

supposed to set up some kind of altar? and is so, where do i find out

about that?Latha's response :- Yes, it would be nice to set up an

altar and set up the "mood" for prayer. Please see some sample altars

from some our members - Ardis, Steve, Santo and Jay have shared photos

of their altars in the Photos section. You could start with maybe just

a picture of Durga mounted on the wall or standing on a small

platform, with flowers and have a small container to offer her water

or fruit. A candle lit during the times of prayer and voila there you

have an altar.

[Guest guest]

parv108,

thank you so much for your suggestion on mini-puja. is this a daily ritual?

so far i have been listening to the cd and reading along with the cd.

sometimes i try and say the transliteration with the cd. some place i

do much better than others. i have been doing the whole book,

either just listening and following along silently, or chanting with

cd when i can.

Be Love,

Berijoy

Pirate Vesta Animal, Keeper of Divine Secrets

http://www.egyirba.net:*``*::*``*::*``*::*

--------------

"parv108" <parv108 >

Tue, Jul-6-2004 10:50 PM

Re: Berijoy's questions on Beginning a Puja,

Setting up an altarShree Maa has also said that it is okay to just

read the English.It depends on you and how comfortable you feel with

Sanskrit and reading the transliteration. Of course as Latha

mentioned it is nice to do the whole book in one sitting but it is

also okay to pick and choose in the beginning and work your way up

to the whole book. If you have a copy of Shree Maa's Durga puja CD

this is also helpful for learning the pronunciation. Here is a

possible small puja you could do to begin with. You can read the

English and try the transliteration for the following:1. Recite

Durga's gayatri. Om kaatyaayanaaya vidmahe kanyaakumaarii dhiimahi

tanno durgih pracodayat omOm We meditate upon the Ever Pure One,

contemplate the Daughter Without Flaw or Imperfection, May that

Goddess grant us increase.2 Offer the light. (See mantras in book)3

Offer the incense.4. Recite the Gayatri mantra with folded hands: Om

bhuur bhuvah svah tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhiimahi dhiyo

yo nah pracodayaat 5. 108 japa of Durga's mantra: Om Hring Shring

Dung Durgayai namah.6. Silent meditation7. Offer a piece of fruit.

(See mantra in back of book for food offering.) Om hriim sriim dum

durgaayai namah bhog naivedyam samarpayaami8. Offer a small glass of

water. (See mantra in back of book.) Om hriim sriim dum durgaayai

namah paanaartha jalam samarpayaami9. Offer a flower. Ete

gandhapuspe Om hriim sriim dum durgaayai namah10. If you have time

you can recite the closing prayers at the end of your puja that

begin with:durgaam sivaam saantikariim brahmaaniim brahmanah

priyam...... and ends with om saantih saantih saantih11. Hope this

helps a little.12. Keep us posted.An altar is nice to set up as it

establishes a mood and a relationship with the deity. Remember Durga

is the Divine Mother Who Relieves All Difficulties. God bless you.

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