Guest guest Posted April 5, 2005 Report Share Posted April 5, 2005 Dear All, Here is the set of questions from yesterday. Grace wanted to know,”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?" Dear Grace, The Cosmic Puja gives some symbolism as to the importance of the items offered during Arati. It says - Conch - Conch of all vibrations, Umbrella - protection from heat and wind, fly whisk - made from yak tail, to whisk away all sin, fan signifying equanimity and to remove perspiration from the body of the deity. (Our tapasya must have really heated things up for the deity Grace says:" I would have thought that once we had our purified water that that would surfice for bathing and drinking water for the murti. I suppose I was so confused I could not phrase the question adequately the last time." Grace, you can keep an empty for bathing water when you come to the section and pour the purified water into this cup as signifying a bath. For some reason we have always had a separate cup with water at hand for drinking water. We never used the purified water. I could follow up with Swamiji to iron out this little detail. Grace also says that she has been following both Durga and Shiva Beginner Pujas. And she says," But what is of real interest is that at the end of the Durga are all these beautiful closing prayers. A snipet from here and a snipet from there as it were. And I love chanting it...but there is nothing at the end of the Shiva puja ....WHY?" Well Grace, the Beginner Shiva is the MOST basic of all pujas. The Durga is a leeeetle more advanced in the sense that it has a more comprehensive Dhyanam section. The Pranam at the end - yes it is more comprehensive in Durga Puja. However if you like the longer pranam you can always add it on at the end of the Shiva Puja. Remember, a puja unlike a recitation, can be customized to fit your need and want. Lieve Henny did her puja today (Hurray) and asked some good question based on her experience She says "since I have only one little piece of camphor, I used tea-lights both at the beginning (om agnir jyoti) and at the end (arati). At the end of the puja, they are still burning. Can I extinguish the lights after having finished arati (I don't like to leave them unattended)?" Yes, after your pranam section is over, you can extinguish the lights. Next one from Henny, "After having recited the sankalpa, do you offer the flower you have held in your hand? Where?" Good catch Henny, you would offer it at the foot of the deity. Next question from Henny, "after having sprinkled the items for offering with the flower from the pot, do you put the flower back in the water or do you offer it?" Again good attention to detail - you would put the flower back into the water pot. Ardis Maa had some very nice things to say about this puja series. She says," I can tell from the responses that you have inspired people to really dig in and get going with puja. I could feel their excitement as they got their altars set up and began to get the offerings together. I could really feel their joy and devotion as they realized that they could actually start to do puja and to understand all of the steps along the way."" She further adds, "This puja is a life-changing experience. It is transformative. .Thank you to all the new pujaris for embarking on this adventure of devotion." Yes, thank you for those kind words Ardis. All credit and applause go to Shree Maa and Swamiji for their inspiration .I am a tool , they are the craftsmen. I join you Ardis in thanking all those in the group that are starting or resuming their puja practices. I will post one more on a few final items including the final exams . Jai Maa Nanda Better first dates. More second dates. Personals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2005 Report Share Posted April 5, 2005 Dear Nanda, Thank you for your attention to our endless round of questions. I do feel blessed to ;have been given this opportunity . One question that you mistakenly overlooked was do we offer the same items in all aratis whether the puja ahas been to Shiva, Durga, Hanuman, or Ganesh. Thank you, Grace On 05/04/2005, at 4:28 PM, Nanda wrote: > Dear All, > > Here is the set of questions from yesterday. > > > > Grace wanted to know,”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?" > > > > Dear Grace, The Cosmic Puja gives some symbolism as to the importance > of the items offered during Arati. > > It says - Conch - Conch of all vibrations, Umbrella - protection from > heat and wind, fly whisk - made from yak tail, to whisk away all sin, > fan signifying equanimity and to remove perspiration from the body of > the deity. (Our tapasya must have really heated things up for the > deity<04.gif> > > > > Grace says:" I would have thought that once we had our purified water > that that would surfice for bathing and drinking water for the murti. > I suppose I was so confused I could not phrase the question adequately > the last time." > > > > Grace, you can keep an empty for bathing water when you come to the > section and pour the purified water into this cup as signifying a > bath. > > For some reason we have always had a separate cup with water at hand > for drinking water. We never used the purified water. I could follow > up with Swamiji to iron out this little detail. > > > > Grace also says that she has been following both Durga and Shiva > Beginner Pujas. And she says," But what is of real interest is that at > the end of the Durga are all these beautiful closing prayers. A snipet > from here and a snipet from there as it were. And I love chanting > it...but there is nothing at the end of the Shiva puja ...WHY?" > > > > Well Grace, the Beginner Shiva is the MOST basic of all pujas. The > Durga is a leeeetle more advanced in the sense that it has a more > comprehensive Dhyanam section. The Pranam at the end - yes it is more > comprehensive in Durga Puja. However if you like the longer pranam you > can always add it on at the end of the Shiva Puja. > > > > Remember, a puja unlike a recitation, can be customized to fit your > need and want. > > > > Lieve Henny did her puja today (Hurray) and asked some good question > based on her experience > > She says "since I have only one little piece of camphor, I used > tea-lights both at the beginning (om agnir jyoti) and at the end > (arati). At the end of the puja, they are still burning. Can I > extinguish the lights after having finished arati (I don't like to > leave them unattended)?" > > > > Yes, after your pranam section is over, you can extinguish the lights. > > > > Next one from Henny, "After having recited the sankalpa, do you offer > the flower you have held in your hand? Where?" > > > > Good catch Henny, you would offer it at the foot of the deity. > > > > Next question from Henny, "after having sprinkled the items for > offering with the flower from the pot, do you put the flower back in > the water or do you offer it?" > > > > Again good attention to detail - you would put the flower back into > the water pot. > > > > Ardis Maa had some very nice things to say about this puja series. She > says," I can tell from the responses that you have inspired people to > really dig in and get going with puja. I could feel their excitement > as they got their altars set up and began to get the offerings > together. I could really feel their joy and devotion as they realized > that they could actually start to do puja and to understand all of the > steps along the way."" > > > > She further adds, "This puja is a life-changing experience. It is > transformative. .Thank you to all the new pujaris for embarking on > this adventure of devotion." > > > > Yes, thank you for those kind words Ardis. All credit and applause go > to Shree Maa and Swamiji for their inspiration<35.gif> .I am a tool , > they are the craftsmen. > > > > I join you Ardis in thanking all those in the group that are starting > or resuming their puja practices. > > > > I will post one more on a few final items including the final exams > <16.gif>. > > Jai Maa > > Nanda > > > Better first dates. More second dates. Personals > > > 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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