Guest guest Posted August 7, 2005 Report Share Posted August 7, 2005 Namaste to you all and thanks to Linda and Kalachandra for your questions, too. First I would like to clarify Day 1 dhyaanam as there was some confusion as to which dhyaanam to recite. There are 2 dhyaanams for Lord Shiva. The Beginner Shiva puja contains one dhyaanam that begins on page 18 "om dhyaayen nityam mahesam rajata girinibham caaru candra vatamsam...." There is another dhyaanam in the Advanced Shiva puja on page 11-13. " om sadyojaatam prapadyaami sadyojaataayavai namo namah bhave bhave naati bhave bhavasamaam bhavodbhavaaya namah.....This is the dhyaanam we focused on for Day 1 that begins after shiva's gayatri which is also in the beginner shiva puja book. "om sadaa sivaaya vidmahe sahasraaksaaya shiimahe tanno sambho pracodayaat." So when you sit down to do puja you will first recite shiva's gayatri which is the first mantra in the beginner shiva puja book page 6 "om sadaa sivaaya vidhmahe.......(page 11 in advanced shiva puja.) Next you will recite shiva's dhyaanam from the advanced shiva puja book page 11-13.(not in the beginner Shiva puja book) Hope this clarifies. After reciting the dhyaanam we offer the light. (see below) 1. light On page 13 of the advanced shiva puja at the bottom begins the mantras for the offering of the light. It begins: Om agnir jyotir jyotir agnih svaahaa suuryo jyotir jyotih suuryah svaahaa..... So you will first recite the light mantras from the advanced shiva puja book page 13 and then recite the mantra from the beginner shiva book page 6 (see wave light). It will go like this: EX: Om agnir jyotir jyotir agnih svaahaa suuryo jyotir jyotih suuryah svaahaa. agnir varco jyotir varcha svaahaa suuryo varco jyotir varcah svaahaa jyotih suuryah suuryo jyotih svaaha (Shiva puja advanced page 13) om agni jyoti ravi jyotis candra jyotis tathaiva ca jyotisamuttamo deva diipo-yam pratigrhyatam esa diipah om namah sivaaya (beginner shiva puja page 6) 2. incense The mantra remains the same as in the beginner shiva puja page 7. Homework: Please read the english meaning for the offering of light in the advanced shiva puja book page 14 and read the transliteration or sanskrit for Shiva's gayatri, dhyanaam, light and incense. I look forward to hearing how your experience of puja is going. For me, I also started out learning the Beginner Shiva puja and slowly added more to it working up to the Cosmic Puja. Once you understand the basic outline of a puja you can cut and paste like we are doing in this class. Hope it is not too confusing. Om namah shivaaya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Namaste Parvati, I would like to share my experience on Shiva Puja and also I have a technical question. Do we wave the lamp when we say "Om Agnir jyoti jyotir agni svaha ...." or do we wave the lamp only when we say "om agnijyoti ravijyotish ..." Also, is there a number of time that we wave the light/incense (3 clockwise circles or multiples of 3 ?) Thanks for your time. One other question ... what is the exact significance of waving the lamp and incense ? Can you please share ... thank you. Regarding sharing experiences about Shiva Puja.... I too started with the Beginner Shiva Puja and I was very very very fortunate that Maa started me on this practice. I can still remember the evening in the old temple where She made me sit next to her and walked me through the steps of the puja, and-* oh joy *-liberally made comments on my copy of the book. Then She got me a crystal linga, couldnt quite find a yoni to go with it, and so swiped one of an existing altar, found it a perfect fit and smilingly gave it to me. She also got Swamiji to bless the crystal linga which He did - keeping in His right hand and meditated a while. Maa also gave me one of Her own masala boxes filled with all that I would need - kumkum, chandan, akshat etc. She MADE sure that I had everything I needed to start my practice and to keep at it. And after about 6 months into the practice, out of the blue Maa commented and smiled "Shiva is happy with you". I will never forget that comment and the way many things in my life took a turn for the better especially the next few days. I think the nicest part of the puja is that it sets the mood for the day ahead . It is such a gradual introduction to going deeper - starting with the external, focussing on doing the tasks lovingly - offering the lights incense etc and so naturally cloistering our senses to become one-pointed on our devotion to our Ishta . Such a wonderful morning tonic - even better than freshly brewed coffee <wink> JAI MAA JAI SWAMIJI JAI SHIVA Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Namaste Parvati, thank you for answering my previous questions. I am also learning a lot from your answers to questions of others, to I hope there'll be many more:) Munching over the text of the dhyanam again: Regarding the 'aghora' verse, I did not understand the 'who instills the fear of evil' at first, because I thought 'if all is Shiva, how can there be evil' and I was reminded of texts used to instill the fear of God in me when I was a child. But then I realized the evil is in the ignorant thoughts in our minds, in our acceptance of appearances, luring us away from the Goodness inside. So the fear is of losing sight of the Goodness, and if we keep our inner eyes on the Fearless One, we need not be afraid of apparent evil. Or so I understand the text. Regarding the light en incense of day 2: In the beginner's puja, we start with the Sada Shiva Gayatri only (which is very short) and then immediately offer the light. So, when performing the beginner's puja,I say the Gayatri, and then light the tea-lights with 'om agnir jyotir' and wave. But now with the longer dhyanam, I wonder if I should have lit the lights before starting reciting the gayatri and the dhyanam and then 'officially' offer the light by waving when saying the 'light mantra's? Or do I say the whole dhyanam with the lights not yet burning? ( I hope I make myself clear). Regarding the 'om agnir jyotir' mantra's: it seems to me that the external lights we are offering also indicate our offering of 'inner lights', and I have been wondering about the different lights mentioned in the text. I can think of fire as our 'bodily fire' (digestion etc, fire of transformation), and there's the inner light reflected in our minds giving rise to devotion, and the light in the heart by which we see truly. Do the different terms used refer to different 'aspects' of inner light or am I reading to much into this? As I understand it, the offering of the light also means that we consiously offer any small light of understanding we think we have to the Light from which it came, to be consumed and made one with That. But I guess in order to learn the meaning of the mantra's, it is best to start reciting them and wait for understanding to grow from that. >From my experience with beginner's puja I've learned that patience had its own rewards, thank you for your guidance, with love, Henny , "parv108" <parv108> wrote: > Namaste to you all and thanks to Linda and Kalachandra for your > questions, too. > > First I would like to clarify Day 1 dhyaanam as there was some > confusion as to which dhyaanam to recite. There are 2 > dhyaanams for Lord Shiva. The Beginner Shiva puja contains > one dhyaanam that begins on page 18 "om dhyaayen nityam > mahesam rajata girinibham caaru candra vatamsam...." > > There is another dhyaanam in the Advanced Shiva puja on page > 11-13. " om sadyojaatam prapadyaami sadyojaataayavai namo > namah bhave bhave naati bhave bhavasamaam > bhavodbhavaaya namah.....This is the dhyaanam we focused on for Day 1 that begins after shiva's gayatri which is > also in the beginner shiva puja book. "om sadaa sivaaya > vidmahe sahasraaksaaya shiimahe tanno sambho > pracodayaat." > > So when you sit down to do puja you will first recite shiva's > gayatri which is the first mantra in the beginner shiva puja book > page 6 "om sadaa sivaaya vidhmahe.......(page 11 in advanced > shiva puja.) Next you will recite shiva's dhyaanam from the > advanced shiva puja book page 11-13.(not in the beginner Shiva > puja book) > > Hope this clarifies. After reciting the dhyaanam we offer the light. > (see below) > > 1. light > > On page 13 of the advanced shiva puja at the bottom begins the > mantras for the offering of the light. > It begins: Om agnir jyotir jyotir agnih svaahaa > suuryo jyotir jyotih suuryah svaahaa..... > > > So you will first recite the light mantras from the advanced shiva > puja book page 13 and then recite the mantra from the beginner > shiva book page 6 (see wave light). It will go like this: > > > EX: Om agnir jyotir jyotir agnih svaahaa > suuryo jyotir jyotih suuryah svaahaa. > agnir varco jyotir varcha svaahaa > suuryo varco jyotir varcah svaahaa > jyotih suuryah suuryo jyotih svaaha (Shiva puja advanced > page 13) > > > om agni jyoti ravi jyotis candra jyotis tathaiva ca jyotisamuttamo > deva diipo-yam pratigrhyatam esa diipah om namah sivaaya > (beginner shiva puja page 6) > > > 2. incense > > The mantra remains the same as in the beginner shiva puja > page 7. > > Homework: > Please read the english meaning for the offering of light in the > advanced shiva puja book page 14 and read the transliteration or sanskrit for Shiva's gayatri, dhyanaam, light and incense. > > I look forward to hearing how your experience of puja is going. > For me, I also started out learning the Beginner Shiva puja and slowly added more to it working up to the Cosmic Puja. Once you understand the basic outline of a puja you can cut and paste like we are doing in this class. Hope it is not too confusing. > > Om namah shivaaya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Namaste Parvati, Thank you for these classes and I am eagerly adding them to my beginner Shiva Puja practice. I have a question on the dhyanam. Can you please help me break out this word into something easier to pronounce? This one is quite an eyeful. aghorebhyottaghorebhyoghoragheratarebhyah Thank you once again for these valuable classes and I will let you know when I have more questions. Jai Shiva Jai Shree Maa Jai Swamiji Jai Guru Vasantha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 You are truly blessed dear Nanda. Om namah shivaayaNanda <chandimaakijai > wrote: Namaste Parvati,I would like to share my experience on Shiva Puja and also I have a technical question. Do we wave the lamp when we say "Om Agnir jyoti jyotir agni svaha ...." or do we wave the lamp only when we say "om agnijyoti ravijyotish ..."Also, is there a number of time that we wave the light/incense (3 clockwise circles or multiples of 3 ?) Thanks for your time.One other question ... what is the exact significance of waving the lamp and incense ? Can you please share .... thank you.Regarding sharing experiences about Shiva Puja....I too started with the Beginner Shiva Puja and I was very very very fortunate that Maa started me on this practice. I can still remember the evening in the old temple where She made me sit next to her and walked me through the steps of the puja, and-* oh joy *-liberally made comments on my copy of the book.Then She got me a crystal linga, couldnt quite find a yoni to go with it, and so swiped one of an existing altar, found it a perfect fit and smilingly gave it to me. She also got Swamiji to bless the crystal linga which He did - keeping in His right hand and meditated a while. Maa also gave me one of Her own masala boxes filled with all that I would need - kumkum, chandan, akshat etc. She MADE sure that I had everything I needed to start my practice and to keep at it.And after about 6 months into the practice, out of the blue Maa commented and smiled "Shiva is happy with you".I will never forget that comment and the way many things in my life took a turn for the better especially the next few days.I think the nicest part of the puja is that it sets the mood for the day ahead . It is such a gradual introduction to going deeper - starting with the external, focussing on doing the tasks lovingly - offering the lights incense etc and so naturally cloistering our senses to become one-pointed on our devotion to our Ishta .Such a wonderful morning tonic - even better than freshly brewed coffee <wink>JAI MAAJAI SWAMIJIJAI SHIVANandaDo You ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 beautiful story Nanda! my qstn for Parvati is also about the lights and waving them ... left hand, or right hand? steve , Kali Kali <kaliananda_saraswati> wrote: > "And after about 6 months into the practice, out of the blue Maa > commented and smiled "Shiva is happy with you"." > > You are truly blessed dear Nanda. > Om namah shivaaya > > > Nanda <chandimaakijai> wrote: > Namaste Parvati, > > I would like to share my experience on Shiva Puja and also I have a > technical question. Do we wave the lamp when we say "Om Agnir jyoti > jyotir agni svaha ...." or do we wave the lamp only when we say "om > agnijyoti ravijyotish ..." > > Also, is there a number of time that we wave the light/incense (3 > clockwise circles or multiples of 3 ?) Thanks for your time. > > One other question ... what is the exact significance of waving the > lamp and incense ? Can you please share ... thank you. > > Regarding sharing experiences about Shiva Puja.... > > I too started with the Beginner Shiva Puja and I was very very very > fortunate that Maa started me on this practice. I can still remember the evening in the old temple where She made me sit next to her > and walked me through the steps of the puja, and-* oh joy *-liberally made comments on my copy of the book. > > Then She got me a crystal linga, couldnt quite find a yoni to go > with it, and so swiped one of an existing altar, found it a perfect > fit and smilingly gave it to me. She also got Swamiji to bless the > crystal linga which He did - keeping in His right hand and meditated > a while. Maa also gave me one of Her own masala boxes filled with > all that I would need - kumkum, chandan, akshat etc. > > She MADE sure that I had everything I needed to start my practice > and to keep at it. > > And after about 6 months into the practice, out of the blue Maa > commented and smiled "Shiva is happy with you". > > I will never forget that comment and the way many things in my life > took a turn for the better especially the next few days. > > I think the nicest part of the puja is that it sets the mood for the > day ahead . It is such a gradual introduction to going deeper - > starting with the external, focussing on doing the tasks lovingly - > offering the lights incense etc and so naturally cloistering our > senses to become one-pointed on our devotion to our Ishta . > > Such a wonderful morning tonic - even better than freshly brewed > coffee <wink> > > JAI MAA > JAI SWAMIJI > JAI SHIVA > > Nanda > > Beliefs of hinduism Different religions beliefs Hinduism religion > > > > > > Visit your group "" on the web. > > > > > Terms of Service. > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Steve said > my qstn for Parvati is also about the lights and waving them ... left > hand, or right hand? > Hi Steve, Hope you dont mind if I answer your question. All actions (unless needing both hands) is always done with the RIGHT hand and always clockwise. JAI SHIVA Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2005 Report Share Posted August 10, 2005 thank you, nanda, for sharing this. it was so nice to hear. it must have been a very inspirational feeling for you. Nanda wrote: >Namaste Parvati, > >I would like to share my experience on Shiva Puja and also I have a >technical question. Do we wave the lamp when we say "Om Agnir jyoti >jyotir agni svaha ...." or do we wave the lamp only when we say "om >agnijyoti ravijyotish ..." > >Also, is there a number of time that we wave the light/incense (3 >clockwise circles or multiples of 3 ?) Thanks for your time. > >One other question ... what is the exact significance of waving the >lamp and incense ? Can you please share ... thank you. > >Regarding sharing experiences about Shiva Puja.... > >I too started with the Beginner Shiva Puja and I was very very very >fortunate that Maa started me on this practice. I can still remember the evening in the old temple where She made me sit next to her >and walked me through the steps of the puja, and-* oh joy *-liberally made comments on my copy of the book. > >Then She got me a crystal linga, couldnt quite find a yoni to go >with it, and so swiped one of an existing altar, found it a perfect >fit and smilingly gave it to me. She also got Swamiji to bless the >crystal linga which He did - keeping in His right hand and meditated >a while. Maa also gave me one of Her own masala boxes filled with >all that I would need - kumkum, chandan, akshat etc. > >She MADE sure that I had everything I needed to start my practice >and to keep at it. > >And after about 6 months into the practice, out of the blue Maa >commented and smiled "Shiva is happy with you". > >I will never forget that comment and the way many things in my life >took a turn for the better especially the next few days. > >I think the nicest part of the puja is that it sets the mood for the >day ahead . It is such a gradual introduction to going deeper - >starting with the external, focussing on doing the tasks lovingly - >offering the lights incense etc and so naturally cloistering our >senses to become one-pointed on our devotion to our Ishta . > >Such a wonderful morning tonic - even better than freshly brewed >coffee <wink> > >JAI MAA >JAI SWAMIJI >JAI SHIVA > > -- "Naan Amme Snehikkunnu" Be Love, Egyirba (Berijoy) http://www.egyirba.net When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other. ~Eric Hoffer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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