Beginner Puja - Day 9 - Q&A and more

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

Before I proceed, I want to make a correction to one of the

suggestions that I had made. It started with Henny's question "why do

we draw with the ring finger?" with reference to drawing the yantras,

both under our asana and on the altar.

Let me confess that this is what I have seen most people do and so I

suggested it. Then I felt prompted to check with Swamiji on Henny's

question and he says, "It is not specified with which finger we draw

it."

Egg on my face ! Sorry Folks ! And thanks Henny for the question that

pulled me back to the straight and narrow path.

OK, lets move forward...

Kudos to Amazing Grace, Thoughtful Rick, Wise Woman Henny and

Sweetheart Berijoy for getting the question on where else we draw a

yantra. The correct answer is under our asans.

Sorry, if I reduced your names to resemble something from the menu of Jamba Juice

Grace, thank you for that great tip - to have a piece of glass on the

puja on which you can draw the yantras without ruining the cloth.

Berijoy **Waved her hand**

Nanda **Waves back vigorously**

Berijoy cut a snippet from my previous post

"Then with each offering below starting with "Om Adhara shaktaye

namah" and ending with "om prithvyai Namah" you offer a grain or two

of rice (called akshat).

OK, by this point, you have drawn the yantra on your altar and put the

grains of rice for each of the four mantras in your book."

and she wanted to know "what do you mean put them in the book?"

Sorry, Berijoy for the confusion. I meant, for each of the four

mantras mentioned (Om Adhara shaktaye namah" and ending with “om

prithvyai Namah") in the book, please put a grain or two on the

yantra.

Hennnnnnnnnnnny had a question on the rice that we offer the yantra.

She asked, "The rice goes more or less on the dot? Or just inside the

yantra in general?"

Henny, just to make sure that I got this correct (and not goof up like

the ring finger fiasco) I asked Swamiji. He said, "I use 1-2 grains

for each mantra, and put them as close to the center as is

practical."

Also your question again Henny " why is the circle inside the square?

I mean: if the Source (or Point of Origin) and the circle or Totality

of Manifestated Existence is One, how can there be anything outside

the circle? Are objectives not played out inside the circle? Or

perhaps I should rephrase the question: what does the square signify

in general? Does it have anything to do with following Divine Order?

Looking at it from another angle the square gives me problems as

well: if I understand the four objectives correctly, there seems to

be a certain development or unfoldment from dharma to moksha, but

perhaps in the end 'to manifest an ideal of Perfection' IS to realize

you ARE (and always have been) that. And so I am going round in a

circle again..."

Again I asked Swamiji, and here is what he had to say "The circle does

not necessarily contain creation; it signifies creation. Wherever we

place a line in infinity, always there is a division or distinction

between which is within the line and that which is outside the line.

It's all still part of creation"

Henny also asked "concerning the mantra that is to be repeated when

sprinkling the purified water on the articles and on yourself: it

really means 'repeat', that is you say it with every item or in every

direction you sprinkle the water?"

Nanda says, " You say "Amritam Kuru Swaha" for every time/direction

you sprinkle the water. Did that clarify your question?”

Glad to know that you find the posts useful and that you are glued to your computer

Berijoy said, "I am still working on the panchang exercise. Just

haven't had the time to study the chart yet. i didn't read your

answer yet...so i hope to get that off to you, soon. "

Ok, I am waiting

Rick provided everyone with the actual copy paste from

http://www.shreemaa.org/faq.htm - how to count my mantras by using my

hands.

/message/10553

Thank you Rick for your thoughtfulness,

Rick had also asked a question in response to my "Are there any questions?"

He said, "Yes, just one - how can I ever adequately express my

gratitude for all the blessings that this puja brings?"

Dear Rick, I know exactly how you feel and I can only quote something

that I read elsewhere which reflects my sentiments

"You have given me everything.

What shall I offer to you, O Master?

I offer salutations, with folded hands."

-- Jyota se Jyota.

....

Until the next post, Namaste to you all

Nanda

[Guest guest]

Dear Nanda,

 

thanks again for the clarifications. As far as the finger business is

concerned, I thought perhaps we should not use the index finger

because I read somewhere that this finger is associated with the ego

and that the ring-finger would mean something special because we use

it in the water-purification mudra. But fortunately, we can use any

finger we like, so that's one thing less to worry about.

 

Thank you for taking the trouble to ask Swamiji and also for asking

him about my yantra muddle.

 

Regarding his answer:

"The circle does not necessarily contain creation; it signifies

creation. Wherever we place a line in infinity, always there is a

division or distinction between which is within the line and that

which is outside the line. It's all still part of creation"

 

Ah, the Sword of Wisdom cutting through confusion! To that One who can

teach us the most difficult thoughts in the most efficient manner, to

that Dakshinamurti I bow..

> Henny also asked "concerning the mantra that is to be repeated when

sprinkling the purified water on the articles and on yourself: it

really means 'repeat', that is you say it with every item or in every

direction you sprinkle the water?"

> Nanda says, " You say "Amritam Kuru Swaha" for every time/direction

you sprinkle the water. Did that clarify your question?"

 

YES, thank you.

> Glad to know that you find the posts useful and that you are glued

to your computer

 

hope I can make it to work tomorrow somehow..

 

looking forward to day 10,

thanks for all your hard work,

 

with love,

Henny

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