RE: Beginner Puja Day 3- A little theory dearie

[Guest guest]

Dearest Nanda Ji

I tend to

enjoy a lot your posts and your online classes although I normally read it

during working hours.

Just a

question here: What stotra/stuti in particular do we

recite/sing during Maha Abhishek

of Goddess Chandi? I normally do Chapter 4 of Chandi Path (Shakradii

stuti) as I find it so enjoyable and feel like

dancing during the recitation! Any other stotra/stuti

does Devi mandir/ Swamiji

or Maa ji suggests?

Jai maa

Durga

Jay

dayal

mso-no-proof:yes">FIJI

yes">.

font-family:Tahoma">

Nanda

[chandimaakijai ]

 

Tahoma">Monday, March 21, 2005

font-family:Tahoma">8:25 PM

Beginner

Puja Day 3- A little theory dearie

12.0pt">

mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial">Dear All,

mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial">

mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial">So lets delve a little into what

goes into the making of a puja. Parvati, could you

please review and add anything as appropriate? Thank you.

mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial">

mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic">Swamiji

font-family:Arial"> says all pujas are modular. So we can expand our puja by

increasing the modules. All that remains is for us to learn the basic structure

of a puja and then expand it according to our time and capacity.

mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial">

mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial">The Beginner Shiva Puja is a

perfect example of a simple modular puja.

mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial">

mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial">Here are the five basic steps in a

puja

mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial">

list 36.0pt">

mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial">1)

Preparation

list 36.0pt">

mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial">2)

Purification

list 36.0pt">

mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial">3)

Invitation

list 36.0pt">

mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial">4)

Offering

and

list 36.0pt">

mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial">5)

Union

bold">Preparation –

refers to every effort that we put before we start our pujas and also some of

the actual steps in a puja. This could be getting the altar ready, the

ingredients in place, food offering yada yada yada

margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt">This could also mean ,

for example drawing the yantra upon which we place the pot (more on this later)

or in advanced pujas drawing the yantra on our chest and inviting the Goddess

to come and reside in it … but this is an advanced technique best left

for a later class.

The idea

is that preparation is both before and during a puja… The more efficient

we get, the more prepared we are … and the one of the purposes of puja is

to turn us into more efficient people.

We prepare

our time, our surroundings and all the objects needed for the puja so that we

don’t divert our attention during the puja

The next

important step is purification.

This refers to the purification that we undergo before a puja. Since we usually

do a puja in the mornings (preferably early) we try to ensure that we have

bathed and wearing clean and fresh clothes. Um, if you go to the bathroom and

er to put it politely - defecate, one of the rules at the Mandir , is that you

would have a bath immediately after. So , as much as possible, be as pure of

body as you can.

You would

also need to ensure that your altar and surroundings are clean and pure.

Purification

also refers to some of the steps in the puja – we purify water, flowers,

offerings and even ourselves and our surroundings. There are specific mantras

in the puja for each purification that we will see in the next few days.

margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Invitation

This

refers to the Gayatri mantra that we chant to invite the deity of our choice.

The Gayatri mantra is kinda like a telephone number. One for every deity. You

say the Gayatri mantra and you get the response “Hello, Yes this Shiva, didja call

me sweetie? “

Essentially,

we have prepared ourselves, purified everything in the puja and we are ready

– for the presence of our deity . So we invoke them to come to our altars

and be there for the duration of the puja.

bold">Offering

10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial">

This is to

me the most loving part of the puja. So our honored guest has arrived in our

altar and we have soooooo much to give our guest . There is milk and yoghurt

and ghee and honey and flowers and garlands and clothes and ….OUR HEARTS.

Its like the most beloved person has just come in to our house and we are

overjoyed to be with them again. What will we not give them ?

Nothing

but the best will do for you.

And

offerings – you can give anything you want. You can start off with water,

work your way to ornaments and money and STUFF …

The basic

puja we stick with some simple offerings … more on that later too.

And last

but not the least

margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Union

This is

the purpose of the puja – to unite with our beloved deity. This we

do, by chanting the names of the

God, or repeating one mantra over and over and over. Until we become one with

Him /Her. The culmination of our efforts!

Aaaaaahhhhh

!

OK dear ones

… your turn now. What are your questions related to today’s topic?

margin-bottom:0mm;margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt">And I am

gonna be nice today , no homework

for you except to come back with some questions on today’s topic.

Jai Shiva !

Nanda

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