Navaratri Recipe for Puja "Light"

[Guest guest]

Namaste ALL esp Ruk,

Your recipe is efficient and very practical, an easy to understand

approach to a day filled with spiritual practice. It's a great

lesson and one that a beginner can follow without confusion. It's

been printed and placed, along with the optional Special Offerings

for the Goddess, in a notebook for Indian festivals. The plan is to

study, assimilate, prepare materials, and be ready! How very kind of

you to share your knowledge with us!

Dhanyavaada!

Karen

-

rmerani

Friday, September 24, 2004 12:34 PM

Puja "Light"

So it got me thinking of a simple "puja recipe", if you will, that one

could have for Navaratri. To incorporate worship 3 times in the day,

as so many of our scriptures recommend.Optional : You can also

follow the Special offerings From the Shrimad Devi Bhagavatam Book

Eight, Chapter Twenty-Four listed at :

http://www.shreemaa.org/article18.htmFor breakfast (should take 15

–30 minutes approx)Offer a light and some incense at the altar

(optional).Recite the mantra " Om Gam Ganapataye Namah" (108 times).

The Lord who removes all obstacles in the way of our spiritual

path.Read the Siva Sankalpa stotram (Siva Puja and Advanced Yajna

book)…This is a beautiful prayer, each verse ending with .."May my

mind be filled with the firm determination of Siva, the consciousness

of infinite Goodness". I think we need all the help from Lord Siva

to keep our faith and determination steady to complete our vow.(of

course if you don't have this book currently, you could chant "Om

Namah Shivaya" (108 times). Mentally thank our Supreme Guru (Lord

Shiva) and all the Gurus who have provided the inspiration and

teaching.If you believe that breakfast is the most important meal of

the day, or you're still kinda hungry....Chant the 32 or 108 (or

both) names of Durga from the Chandi Pathah.For Lunch (approx. 1

hour)Since this is Navaratri when the Divine Goddess is

worshipped…..Chant "Armor of the Goddess" (Kavach ). Read the

English translation if you are not yet familiar with the Sanskrit.

Make another vow to learn this in Sanskrit after your Navaratri

sankalpa is done!Chant the Navarna mantra (108 times) Om Aim Hrim

Klim Chamundayai Vicce..Do you have more time? Perform the Durga

Beginner Puja. Again, you can read it in the language you are most

comfortable with and if feeling adventurous, even offer the articles

of worship as listed in the puja.If you don't have this book,

(perhaps make a mental note to order it when possible), or chant

Durga's mantra "Om Hrim Srim Dum Durgaayai Namah" For Dinner (30

mins. approx.)Offer lights and incense at your altar. Sing the

Chandi Arti (under: Be Victoriuos : Chandi Path

book)Meditate.Sing/chant/read the closing prayers. (Under: Bowing

Down with Devotion : Chandi Path book)For Dessert (calorie-free)Think

of all the sweetness (Peace) this worship has brought in your

day!Clean the altar and prepare for next days worship.Have fun!Ruk