Beginner Puja –Day 5 – Gather ye rosebuds while ye may

March 22, 2005

Dear All,

Moving on to the next few verses in the Beginner Shiva Puja book …

The fourth verse in the book … can be arguably said as the most famous

mantra of them all – The Gayatri Manta.

It starts with “Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah” and ends with “Dhiyo Yonah Pracodayat”

This step could be part of the preparation phase too. We fold our

hands in the Namaste pose – See Shree Maa doing it so gracefully here

http://www.shreemaa.org/feedback.htm

What is this step for? The last line says everything “May it (the

Light of Wisdom) grant to us increase in our meditations”

Swamiji says in the “Gayatri Sahasranam” book, “She (Gayatri) is a

divine attitude; the incessant, relentless pursuit of wisdom.”

So we invoke Mother Gayatri in this step to help go deeper in our meditation during the puja.

The next set of steps is FUN – offering flowers to all the deities.

“But”, you say, “I called only Shiva, where did all the others come from?”

Aha, Swamiji gave a nice answer. He said and I paraphrase “If you call

Shree Maa to dinner (or to tea Grace) , she will be accompanied by

Swamiji, and possibly a few disciples from the Mandir . Similarly,

when you call one God, he is accompanied by a few others as well”

And as we know, when we have guests, we don’t just honor one person and ignore the rest.

So the next steps honors the guests and as we know, Ganesh got the

boon that he will be worshipped first, so he gets the first flower.

(There ya go Arjuna)

We start off with

“Ete Gandhapushpe Om Gam Ganeshaya Namaha” and go on to worship a few

others deities before we come to

“Ete Gandhapushpe Om Sri gurave Namaha” – Always Always the importance

of the Guru in each step, cannot be overemphasized.

And then a catch-all phrase

“Ete Gandhapushpe Om Brahmanebhyo Namaha” – “I bow to ALL Knowers of Wisdom”

I wanted to talk a little bit about flowers.

First, about how Swamiji arranges the flowers in his altar. While I

have seen most people, including myself, throw flowers on the deity,

Swamiji ARRANGES them MINDFULLY on his altar. He doesn’t just chuck

them, he lovingly places them … Oh how to describe it.

Sufficient to say, that if you so want to emulate his step, you would

place the flowers one after the other in a neat row in the front of

your altar.

Second, someone wanted to know, do we buy fresh flowers each day? Or

can we reuse them? Well ‘bud’dy , at the rate at which a sprig of

carnations cost in the Bay Area, it is wise to reuse them.

But there is a method to it – At the end of the day, when you close

shop, you remove the flowers from the altar and dip them in water, so

they can be reused.

However if you are one of those that possess a nice flowering garden, go for it !!!!

Maa’s favorite are roses by the way. Swamiji uses carnations mostly.

When the flowers are old and used and can’t be reused anymore, then

like Sankar had suggested, you dispose of them respectfully. You

would either put them under a tree or into flowing water like a

stream or river.

If someone visits home and you wanted to give them a blessing, you

could take one of these flowers and give it to them.

Dawn had once asked a question – are their certain colors preferred

for certain deities. Well, Dawn, RED is the preferred color for

Ganesh, Hanuman (hope you are reading this Michael of Seattle) and

Kali, and WHITE for Saraswati at the Mandir .

(For Shiva I tend to use white a lot as he is associated with Monday,

ie the moon and astrologically white is the color for Monday – this

is just my take though)

Oh, not to forget, if flowers are an expensive option, then you could

throw one petal at a time instead of one whole flower for each of the

mantra. Also, if you don’t have flowers for that day, take them from

the garden of your heart.

Okie Dokie, in tomorrow’s discussion we will come to an important part of the puja – purification.

Your assignment for today: Chant the Sanskrit of the verses that we

have discussed so far – from the beginning until “Ete Gandhapushpe Om

Brahmanebhyo Namaha”

Also, do you have any ideas as to how you would position the flowers

in your altar ? It will be great if you share.

Jai Shiva

Nanda

Make your home page

March 22, 2005

, Nanda <chandimaakijai>

wrote:

>

> Second, someone wanted to know, do we buy fresh flowers each day?

Or can we reuse them? Well `bud'dy , at the rate at which a sprig of

carnations cost in the Bay Area, it is wise to reuse them.

I have a disabled homeless person I see every day who sells roses on

the sidewalk for any donation. I think I will combine my flower puja

with a bit of seva to the homeless. Good idea?

> Your assignment for today: Chant the Sanskrit of the verses that

we have discussed so far – from the beginning until "Ete

Gandhapushpe Om Brahmanebhyo Namaha"

Are there any recordings of this done slooooooowly enough for me to

learn the proper pronunciation?

Michael

March 23, 2005

oh i'm just so thrilled about these lessons! anyway...

> What is this step for? The last line says everything “May it (the

> Light of Wisdom) grant to us increase in our meditations”

> */Swamiji/* says in the “*_Gayatri Sahasranam_*” book, “She

> (*/Gayatri/*) is a divine attitude; the incessant, relentless

pursuit

> of wisdom.”

> So we invoke */Mother/* */Gayatri/* in this step to help go deeper

in

> our meditation during the puja.

wow! this is so nice!

> The *next set of steps* is FUN –

offering flowers to all the deities.

> “/But/”, you say, “/I called only *Shiva*, where did all the

others

> come from/?”

wow, nanda! you beat

me to it! (see my recent post)

> Aha, */Swamiji/* gave a nice

answer. He said and I paraphrase “/If

> you call *Shree Maa* to dinner (or to tea *Grace*) , she will be

> accompanied by *Swamiji*, and possibly a few disciples from the

> Mandir . Similarly, when you call one God, he is accompanied by a

few

> others as well”/

now this makes perfect

sense to me! i'm so happy to know the reason (silly as that might

seem).

> And as we know, when we have

guests, we don’t just honor one person

> and ignore the rest.

>

> So the next steps honors the guests and as we know, */Ganesh/* got

> the boon that he will be worshipped first, so he gets the first

> flower. (There ya go */Arjuna/*)

>

oops! and me, too!

(see that aforementioned post) :-[

thank you, thank you,

nanda, for your attention to detail throughout this process.

jai maa! jai swamiji!

jai shiva!

--

Be Love,

Berijoy

http://www.egyirba.net

March 23, 2005

Jai Maa

I have also read that in a pinch, one can substitute

akshat, washed and dried rice mixed with a drop of

ghee and some turmeric, for fresh flowers. Is this

true?

Jai Maa

--Aravind

--- Michael Doughty <woebegone01 wrote:

>

> , Nanda

> <chandimaakijai>

> wrote:

> >

> > Second, someone wanted to know, do we buy fresh

> flowers each day?

> Or can we reuse them? Well `bud'dy , at the rate at

> which a sprig of

> carnations cost in the Bay Area, it is wise to reuse

> them.

>

> I have a disabled homeless person I see every day

> who sells roses on

> the sidewalk for any donation. I think I will

> combine my flower puja

> with a bit of seva to the homeless. Good idea?

>

> > Your assignment for today: Chant the Sanskrit of

> the verses that

> we have discussed so far – from the beginning until

> "Ete

> Gandhapushpe Om Brahmanebhyo Namaha"

>

> Are there any recordings of this done slooooooowly

> enough for me to

> learn the proper pronunciation?

>

> Michael

>

March 23, 2005

Michael,

Hi, the recording of the beginners Shiva Puja by Swamiji is really

slow and easy to follow.

sincerely,

Grace

On 23/03/2005, at 3:43 PM, Michael Doughty wrote:

>

> , Nanda <chandimaakijai>

> wrote:

> >

> > Second, someone wanted to know, do we buy fresh flowers each day?

> Or can we reuse them? Well `bud'dy , at the rate at which a sprig of

> carnations cost in the Bay Area, it is wise to reuse them.

>

> I have a disabled homeless person I see every day who sells roses on

> the sidewalk for any donation. I think I will combine my flower puja

> with a bit of seva to the homeless. Good idea?

>

> > Your assignment for today: Chant the Sanskrit of the verses that

> we have discussed so far – from the beginning until "Ete

> Gandhapushpe Om Brahmanebhyo Namaha"

>

> Are there any recordings of this done slooooooowly enough for me to

> learn the proper pronunciation?

>

> Michael

>

Sponsor

>

> <22305_0205_016_b_300250_a.gif>

> <l.gif>

>

> Links

>

> •

> /

>

> •

>

> • Terms of

> Service.

>

Attachment: (text/enriched) [not stored]

March 23, 2005

Nanda,

Thank you so for going through everything in such detail... I love it

and none in the past that I have come across has ever taken the time.

My question is where do I put the music stand with the book?

I need to be able to read the mantras at the same time that I am

placing the flowers on the alter.

By the way I tend to place them at her feet and let the pile build up.

Then I start placing them in her hair and anywhere else on the statue

that they will fit and stay. This gets trickly depending on what I

have which will start to get very limited as we move into winter.

Jai Maa and Jai Swamiji

Grace

On 23/03/2005, at 3:13 PM, Nanda wrote:

> Dear All,

>

> Moving on to the next few verses in the Beginner Shiva Puja book …

>

> The fourth verse in the book … can be arguably said as the most famous

> mantra of them all – The Gayatri Manta.

>

> It starts with “Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah” and ends with “Dhiyo Yonah

> Pracodayat”

>

> This step could be part of the preparation phase too. We fold our

> hands in the Namaste pose – See Shree Maa doing it so gracefully here

> http://www.shreemaa.org/feedback.htm

>

> What is this step for? The last line says everything “May it (the

> Light of Wisdom) grant to us increase in our meditations”

>

> Swamiji says in the “Gayatri Sahasranam” book, “She (Gayatri) is a

> divine attitude; the incessant, relentless pursuit of wisdom.”

>

> So we invoke Mother Gayatri in this step to help go deeper in our

> meditation during the puja.

>

> The next set of steps is FUN – offering flowers to all the deities.

>

> “But”, you say, “I called only Shiva, where did all the others come

> from?”

>

> Aha, Swamiji gave a nice answer. He said and I paraphrase “If you call

> Shree Maa to dinner (or to tea Grace) , she will be accompanied by

> Swamiji, and possibly a few disciples from the Mandir . Similarly,

> when you call one God, he is accompanied by a few others as well”

>

> And as we know, when we have guests, we don’t just honor one person

> and ignore the rest.

>

> So the next steps honors the guests and as we know, Ganesh got the

> boon that he will be worshipped first, so he gets the first flower.

> (There ya go Arjuna)

>

> We start off with

>

> “Ete Gandhapushpe Om Gam Ganeshaya Namaha” and go on to worship a few

> others deities before we come to

>

> “Ete Gandhapushpe Om Sri gurave Namaha” – Always Always the importance

> of the Guru in each step, cannot be overemphasized.

>

> And then a catch-all phrase

>

> “Ete Gandhapushpe Om Brahmanebhyo Namaha” – “I bow to ALL Knowers of

> Wisdom”

>

> I wanted to talk a little bit about flowers.

>

> First, about how Swamiji arranges the flowers in his altar. While I

> have seen most people, including myself, throw flowers on the deity,

> Swamiji ARRANGES them MINDFULLY on his altar. He doesn’t just chuck

> them, he lovingly places them … Oh how to describe it.

>

> Sufficient to say, that if you so want to emulate his step, you would

> place the flowers one after the other in a neat row in the front of

> your altar.

>

> Second, someone wanted to know, do we buy fresh flowers each day? Or

> can we reuse them? Well ‘bud’dy , at the rate at which a sprig of

> carnations cost in the Bay Area, it is wise to reuse them.

>

> But there is a method to it – At the end of the day, when you close

> shop, you remove the flowers from the altar and dip them in water, so

> they can be reused.

>

> However if you are one of those that possess a nice flowering garden,

> go for it !!!!

>

> Maa’s favorite are roses by the way. Swamiji uses carnations mostly.

>

> When the flowers are old and used and can’t be reused anymore, then

> like Sankar had suggested, you dispose of them respectfully. You would

> either put them under a tree or into flowing water like a stream or

> river.

>

> If someone visits home and you wanted to give them a blessing, you

> could take one of these flowers and give it to them.

>

> Dawn had once asked a question – are their certain colors preferred

> for certain deities. Well, Dawn, RED is the preferred color for

> Ganesh, Hanuman (hope you are reading this Michael of Seattle) and

> Kali, and WHITE for Saraswati at the Mandir .

>

> (For Shiva I tend to use white a lot as he is associated with Monday,

> ie the moon and astrologically white is the color for Monday – this is

> just my take though)

>

> Oh, not to forget, if flowers are an expensive option, then you could

> throw one petal at a time instead of one whole flower for each of the

> mantra. Also, if you don’t have flowers for that day, take them from

> the garden of your heart.

>

> Okie Dokie, in tomorrow’s discussion we will come to an important part

> of the puja – purification.

>

> Your assignment for today: Chant the Sanskrit of the verses that we

> have discussed so far – from the beginning until “Ete Gandhapushpe Om

> Brahmanebhyo Namaha”

>

> Also, do you have any ideas as to how you would position the flowers

> in your altar ? It will be great if you share.

>

> Jai Shiva

>

> Nanda

>

> Make your home page

>

> Sponsor

>

> <22305_0205_016_b_300250_a.gif>

> <l.gif>

>

> Links

>

> •

> /

>

> •

>

> • Terms of

> Service.

>

Attachment: (text/enriched) [not stored]

March 23, 2005

Dear Nanda,

thanks for your clear answer to my sanskrit question and I am eagerly

looking forward to the asana lesson.

Now for day 5:

> So we invoke Mother Gayatri in this step to help go deeper in our

>meditation during the puja.

Is Savitur, the Light of Wisdom, the Light that is seen on the

physical plane as the Sun, and considered to be male? So that Gayatri,

as the incessant pursuit of Wisdom, could be seen as incessant longing

for union? So that our invocation means our desire to share in that

longing, taking us away from what obscures the Light and closer to it?

(I am trying to understand the meaning of meditation during the puja)

> I wanted to talk a little bit about flowers.

I wondered if it would be ok to use 'artificial' flowers. The flowers

you can buy here are heavily sprayed with pesticides and their

cultivation takes a heavy toll on the environment, so I normally tend

to avoid buying them, preferring to let flowers blossom where, when

and for how long they will anyway. It is not that I do not want to

give the 'real deal' and I will if needed, but I thought I might as

well ask, since you're so nice.

Also: where do you keep the flowers before offering, when seated

before your altar? I have gathered together a large tray with several

bowls etc. Do you keep the flowers on the tray or in a vase next to

you, presuming you are not supposed to just lay them on the floor?

that's all from me today,

thank your for all your hard work,

with love,

Henny

March 23, 2005

Henny, dear,

Your insight touched my heart very deeply.

And your expression of your insight is deeply beautiful.

Ardis

On Mar 23, 2005, at 2:14 AM, henny_v_i wrote:

>

> Is Savitur, the Light of Wisdom, the Light that is seen on the

> physical plane as the Sun, and considered to be male? So that Gayatri,

> as the incessant pursuit of Wisdom, could be seen as incessant longing

> for union? So that our invocation means our desire to share in that

> longing, taking us away from what obscures the Light and closer to it?

> (I am trying to understand the meaning of meditation during the puja)

>

Sponsor

>

> <22305_0205_016_b_300250_a.gif>

> <l.gif>

>

> Links

>

> •

> /

>

> •

>

> • Terms of

> Service.

>

Attachment: (text/enriched) [not stored]

March 24, 2005

A few thematic quotes--as close as I can come to digitizing a bouquet

of flowers for Nanda for her efforts, and for the group for all of

your thoughtful contributions :-)

Every flower holds the whole mystery in its short cycle....

May Sarton

There are always flowers for those who want to see them.

Henri Matisse

It is at the edge of the petal that love waits.

William Carlos Williams

Earth laughs in flowers.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them.

Chinese proverb

March 24, 2005

What beautiful quotes. Thank you

Grace

On 24/03/2005, at 4:56 PM, msbauju wrote:

>

> A few thematic quotes--as close as I can come to digitizing a bouquet

> of flowers for Nanda for her efforts, and for the group for all of

> your thoughtful contributions :-)

>

> Every flower holds the whole mystery in its short cycle....

> May Sarton

>

> There are always flowers for those who want to see them.

> Henri Matisse

>

> It is at the edge of the petal that love waits.

> William Carlos Williams

>

> Earth laughs in flowers.

> Ralph Waldo Emerson

>

> Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them.

> Chinese proverb

>

Sponsor

>

> <22305_0205_016_b_300250_a.gif>

> <l.gif>

>

> Links

>

> •

> /

>

> •

>

> • Terms of

> Service.

>

Attachment: (text/enriched) [not stored]

Sign In

Beginner Puja –Day 5 – Gather ye rosebuds while ye may

Recommended Posts

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Join the conversation

Support the Ashram

Join Groups

Top Downloads