Guest guest Posted April 2, 2005 Report Share Posted April 2, 2005 Dear Nanda, Hi, I am a bit confused over all the conch talk and don't know how many I have and which ones I can blow and which ones I just offer, and thusly they just sit on the altar. I guess I also am going to need a larger puja table to fit all on. I have on it the purified water, the cup for offerings , the cup with water for bath, and the cup with drinking water, the previously offered flowers, tea light , incense holder, camphor spoon , of course my idol . Did I forget anything? Grace On 03/04/2005, at 9:38 AM, Nanda wrote: > Dear All, > > > > Sigh! We have JUST finished a beautiful Shiva Puja that included > preparation, purification of all articles of worship, meditation, > establishment of Shiva on ourselves, UNION, offering, singing his > praises… We are one with Him! What is left to do except dance in > celebration? > > > > So we do an arati… and guess what, we have a list of articles that > we offer during arati. Please note, these are the articles offered at > the Mandir. In your home temple, you might want to keep it simple and > offer a few of the items… which is fine. I usually offer incense and > camphor! > > > > But first the list and the order in which the items are offered. > > 1) Incense stick. Karen – you gotta tell us where you get yours > from! > > 2) A five-light lamp – this is a brass lamp with slots to hold > five wicks that were dipped in oil or preferably ghee > > 3) Camphor > > 4) Conch Shell – this is different from the conch shell (call it > A) that we use for blowing (the one I have mentioned in my post). The > conch shell used during arati (call it B) is actually consecrated > during puja but is part of the advanced Shiva Puja. For the purposes > of our beginner practice, you would skip the steps in the advanced > book but would use this conch just as an offering during arati. > > 5) Cloth – this is again different from the cloth that we offered > during our offerings section. This would be another strip of cloth > that you reserve exclusively for Arati. > > 6) Umbrella – a small parasol reserved for arati. Please as much > as possible, use items exclusively for puja. > > 7) Fly whisk – this is a kind of fan. And despite its name, not > used for whisking pesky flies Please see this picture to get an > idea of it looks. > http://www.tiger-tiger.com/catalog/ritualitems/CH101.jpg .You would > gently wave this over the deity. > > 8) Fan – this is your regular hand held fan . Something similar > to this http://ww.asahi-jc.com/images2/fan8733.jpg At the Mandir we > use one made from peacock feathers. > > 9) Mirror – A small hand held mirror for the deity to see his > face after all the makeup that we did. (How do I look ? See for > yerself <05.gif>) > > 10) Flower – yes, we begin and end with flowers.<40.gif> > > > > So we start singing “Jai Shiva Omkara…” – the song is in the Beginner > Shiva Puja CD. > > We ring the bell with our left hand and start offering the items > mentioned above with our right hand. > > Note – for most people, the job of ringing with one hand and offering > with the other is a little tricky in the beginning. But believe me > you get used to it. Another option would be, if you have a small child > in the house, get them involved in ringing the bell. For that matter > try to get your family involved atleast during arati and share the joy > of dancing to the Lord. > > > > We light the incense with the right hand (point it to the tea light > that you have burning during your puja) and while ringing the bell > with you left hand, offer the incense - this is a clockwise vertical > circular motion that you make in front of your deity. Once you have > offered the incense put it back it into an incense holder. > > > > Move onto the five lights. After you light them, again the clockwise > motion and put back in front of your deity. Remember you are ringing > the bell all along. > > If there is anyone present during the puja, they could take the five > lights that have offered and pass it around the room for the others to > bow to this fire and get the blessing of Shiva. > > > > Next – camphor. Light it and offer it to the deity like above and > place back at your altar. > > > > Offer the conch, cloth, umbrella, fly whisk, fan, mirror and finally > the flower, all with clockwise motion. You would place everything back > into their respective places except for the flower, which you would > offer the deity. > > > > Remember you are ringing the bell with your left hand and offering > with your right hand. You can make it a dance with some fancy > footwork. Now I am not gonna teach you the steps – SIMPLY DANCE as you > feel inclined. (Ya gotta see Swamiji doing the arati) > > > > It sometimes happens that you finish singing the song but haven’t > finished the offering for Arati . Here is what we do at the Mandir – > we continue singing with either “Jai Maa” or “Jai Shiva” – cant > describe the tune here but you would hear snippets of this tune in the > VCD “Across the States with Maa and Swamiji”. > > > > Once you finish offering the flower, you would blow the conch (A) that > you have for this purpose (NOT the one that you offered during arati). > Aah its tricky blowing a conch – just purse your lips and release air > through them into the conch as though you were giving it one long > smack. (Sometimes the results are funny – when I blew it once, Maa > said she thought there was a cow <37.gif> mooing <18.gif>. It takes > some practice, just make sure your neighbors are forewarned and don’t > call 911 <04.gif>) > > > > Once the conch has been blown, shout it in joy “Victory to Shiva” – as > in “Shiva Mahadev Ki JAIIIIIIIIIIIIIII” > > > > Sit down in silence for a few minutes…. > > > > We’ll talk about “Pranam and bidding adieu” in my next post. > > > > SHIVA MAHADEV KI JAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIII > > Nanda > > > Mail - You care about security. So do we. > > > Sponsor > > > > Children International > > Would you give Hope to a Child in need? > > > <332170_011805_newchildforemail.jpg> > > · > Click Here to meet a Girl > And Give Her Hope > > · > Click Here to meet a Boy > And Change His Life > > Learn More > > <l.gif> > > Links > > • > / > > • > > > • Terms of > Service. > > Attachment: (text/enriched) [not stored] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2005 Report Share Posted April 3, 2005 Dear Nanda, this is getting complicated: ringing the bell with one hand, offering with the other, looking at your textbook for the song AND dancing at the same time. I'm sure it's not only ringing the bell that's tricky in the beginning! As far as ringing the bell is concerned: -do we also ring the bell continuously during the shanti verses, also with the left hand? -could we make the bell-ringing a mental exercise (just make the gesture) early in the morning if trouble with the neighbours is to be avoided? looking forward to day 16, with love, Henny > > > Mail - You care about security. So do we. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 Dear Nanda, This is just a clarifying question. Why are all these objects offered during arati. I understand the waving of lights and camphor I believe symbolizes purity because it leaves no residue when burnt...but why are the other items offered and why during arati? And would these same items be offered during an arati after the Beginner Durga Puja, or after the Kali Puja? Sincerly. Grace On 03/04/2005, at 9:38 AM, Nanda wrote: > Dear All, > > > > Sigh! We have JUST finished a beautiful Shiva Puja that included > preparation, purification of all articles of worship, meditation, > establishment of Shiva on ourselves, UNION, offering, singing his > praises… We are one with Him! What is left to do except dance in > celebration? > > > > So we do an arati… and guess what, we have a list of articles that > we offer during arati. Please note, these are the articles offered at > the Mandir. In your home temple, you might want to keep it simple and > offer a few of the items… which is fine. I usually offer incense and > camphor! > > > > But first the list and the order in which the items are offered. > > 1) Incense stick. Karen – you gotta tell us where you get yours > from! > > 2) A five-light lamp – this is a brass lamp with slots to hold > five wicks that were dipped in oil or preferably ghee > > 3) Camphor > > 4) Conch Shell – this is different from the conch shell (call it > A) that we use for blowing (the one I have mentioned in my post). The > conch shell used during arati (call it B) is actually consecrated > during puja but is part of the advanced Shiva Puja. For the purposes > of our beginner practice, you would skip the steps in the advanced > book but would use this conch just as an offering during arati. > > 5) Cloth – this is again different from the cloth that we offered > during our offerings section. This would be another strip of cloth > that you reserve exclusively for Arati. > > 6) Umbrella – a small parasol reserved for arati. Please as much > as possible, use items exclusively for puja. > > 7) Fly whisk – this is a kind of fan. And despite its name, not > used for whisking pesky flies Please see this picture to get an > idea of it looks. > http://www.tiger-tiger.com/catalog/ritualitems/CH101.jpg .You would > gently wave this over the deity. > > 8) Fan – this is your regular hand held fan . Something similar > to this http://ww.asahi-jc.com/images2/fan8733.jpg At the Mandir we > use one made from peacock feathers. > > 9) Mirror – A small hand held mirror for the deity to see his > face after all the makeup that we did. (How do I look ? See for > yerself <05.gif>) > > 10) Flower – yes, we begin and end with flowers.<40.gif> > > > > So we start singing “Jai Shiva Omkara…” – the song is in the Beginner > Shiva Puja CD. > > We ring the bell with our left hand and start offering the items > mentioned above with our right hand. > > Note – for most people, the job of ringing with one hand and offering > with the other is a little tricky in the beginning. But believe me > you get used to it. Another option would be, if you have a small child > in the house, get them involved in ringing the bell. For that matter > try to get your family involved atleast during arati and share the joy > of dancing to the Lord. > > > > We light the incense with the right hand (point it to the tea light > that you have burning during your puja) and while ringing the bell > with you left hand, offer the incense - this is a clockwise vertical > circular motion that you make in front of your deity. Once you have > offered the incense put it back it into an incense holder. > > > > Move onto the five lights. After you light them, again the clockwise > motion and put back in front of your deity. Remember you are ringing > the bell all along. > > If there is anyone present during the puja, they could take the five > lights that have offered and pass it around the room for the others to > bow to this fire and get the blessing of Shiva. > > > > Next – camphor. Light it and offer it to the deity like above and > place back at your altar. > > > > Offer the conch, cloth, umbrella, fly whisk, fan, mirror and finally > the flower, all with clockwise motion. You would place everything back > into their respective places except for the flower, which you would > offer the deity. > > > > Remember you are ringing the bell with your left hand and offering > with your right hand. You can make it a dance with some fancy > footwork. Now I am not gonna teach you the steps – SIMPLY DANCE as you > feel inclined. (Ya gotta see Swamiji doing the arati) > > > > It sometimes happens that you finish singing the song but haven’t > finished the offering for Arati . Here is what we do at the Mandir – > we continue singing with either “Jai Maa” or “Jai Shiva” – cant > describe the tune here but you would hear snippets of this tune in the > VCD “Across the States with Maa and Swamiji”. > > > > Once you finish offering the flower, you would blow the conch (A) that > you have for this purpose (NOT the one that you offered during arati). > Aah its tricky blowing a conch – just purse your lips and release air > through them into the conch as though you were giving it one long > smack. (Sometimes the results are funny – when I blew it once, Maa > said she thought there was a cow <37.gif> mooing <18.gif>. It takes > some practice, just make sure your neighbors are forewarned and don’t > call 911 <04.gif>) > > > > Once the conch has been blown, shout it in joy “Victory to Shiva” – as > in “Shiva Mahadev Ki JAIIIIIIIIIIIIIII” > > > > Sit down in silence for a few minutes…. > > > > We’ll talk about “Pranam and bidding adieu” in my next post. > > > > SHIVA MAHADEV KI JAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIII > > Nanda > > > Mail - You care about security. So do we. > > > Sponsor > > > > Children International > > Would you give Hope to a Child in need? > > > <332170_011805_newchildforemail.jpg> > > · > Click Here to meet a Girl > And Give Her Hope > > · > Click Here to meet a Boy > And Change His Life > > Learn More > > <l.gif> > > Links > > • > / > > • > > > • Terms of > Service. > > Attachment: (text/enriched) [not stored] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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