Guest guest Posted April 6, 2006 Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 Dear Srini, I am very happy you have volunteered to answer questions about the Cosmic Puja. I have quite a few, so I hope you won't regret your generosity. I have listened to the Cosmic Puja class mp3 (bless Swamiji for this, because a lot of my questions where answered), and there are some things I would like to get clear. There are a lot of flowers to be offered, and I don't always understand when and where. So here are my questions: -apart from the flowers we offer right at the beginning when welcoming the gods (`srimanmahaganadipataye' etc. en `ete gandhapushpe om sri ganapataye' etc.) and the flower with the sankalpa and the flower underneath the asan, Swamiji talks about 2 flowers for Ganesha (beginning and end Ganesha puja) and flowers to be offered with the svasti vacana (p.40) and with the Rudropasthana (p.57). Are all these flowers to be placed on your altar? Or scattered about freely? Where are they to go? -do we place the prana pratishta flower on top of the coconut? -where do we place the arghya? -I understand we offer three flowers, one with each `svaha', with the mantras on page 98-99. Where do we place these? -if we offer flowers instead of mustard seed for the bhutapsarana (p. 99), where do they go? -if you want to make an external yantra, do you start with making lines of flowers with the mantras on page 107? (Lines 1-6 on page 137) -with the matrika puja, nava durga puja etc (p.111-137): are there flowers to be placed? Where? -Swamiji talks about eight forms of energy and the nine planets on the right. On the right of what? -with the yogini puja and the astra puja, I understand we offer flowers. Where? -regarding the prana pratishta on the inner yantra (p.212), Swamiji says you have to take the flower from the deity or pot and offer it. Is that the prana pratishta flower we put on top of our coconut (sitting on top of the pot) earlier? Where do we offer it, since our yantra is within here? -with the stapana, I understand four flowers are to be offered: where? -am I correct in the understanding that with the pujas for the deities (p.242-334) two flowers are offered with each puja: one with the Gayatri and one with the pranam? -with the puspanjali we offer another three flowers. Does it matter where? -when we take the prana back when finishing the puja, we pick up the flower. Which flower is that? Is it the flower we used for the prana pratishta on the pot, and then later for the prana pratishta on the inner yantra? After we have inhaled and taken the prana back, what do we do with the flower? Sriniji, if you can find it in your heart to answer these questions, be assured I am mentally offering an enormous bouquet to you, with love, Henny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Dear Henny, Namaste! Here are your answers to your flower questions. Answers were drafted by me and approved, edited or replaced by Swamiji. with love and prayers srini Most of your questions would be answered if you consult the Cosmic Puja Map. I will place the Cosmic Puja map under the files section. Question 1: Swamiji talks about 2 flowers for Ganesh (beginning and end Ganesh Puja) and flowers to be offered with the svasti vacana (p 40) and with the Rudropasthana (p 57). Are all these flowers to be placed on your altar? Or scattered about freely? Where are they to go? Answer: 2 flowers for Ganesh are offered at his two sides. Flowers for punya havacana (p 40) are scattered about freely. Flowers for Rudropasthana (p 57) are placed in the front line on the right side (see map). Srini adds: Flowers are offered to the different deities in the altar for the Punya Havacana (Om santirasthu to Om yatpapam ...). No Flowers are offered for the Svasti Vacana (Om brahma punyamaharyacca (p 43) to Om svastivacanasamrddhirastu (p 49)) Question 2: Do we place the prana pratishta flower on top of the coconut? Where do we place the arghya? Answer: At the base of the pot. The flower offering goes on top. The arghya goes to the left side. Question 3: For the Bhuta Suddhi, I understand we offer three flowers, one with each svaha, with the mantras on page 98. Where do we place these? Answer: Can be scattered about freely. Question 4: If we offer flowers instead of mustard seed for the bhutapsarana (p 99), where do they go? Answer: Can be scattered about freely. Question 5: If you want to make an external yantra, do you start with making lines of flowers with the mantras on page 137? Answer: Draw the Yantra on page 137 with sandalwood paste on a metal plate. Chant the verses on pages 138-139. Then place one flower/petal on the location indicated on the mapa, for each Mantra beginning with Om Mukundaya Namaha. Question 6: With the Matrika Puja, Nava Durga Puja, etc. (p 111-137) are there flowers to be placed? Where? Answer: Yes. Consult the Cosmic Puja Map. Question 7: Swamiji talks of the eight forms of energy and the nine planets on the right. On the right of what? Answer: On the right of the Yantra plate. Again, consult the Cosmic Puja map. Question 8: With the Yogini Puja and the Astra puja, I understand flowers are offered. Where? Answer: For the Yogini Puja, on the Yantra plate. Consult the Cosmic Puja Map for the Astra Puja. Question 9: Regarding the Prana Pratishta on the inner yantra (p 212), Swamiji says you have to take the flower from the deity or pot and offer it. Is that the prana pratishta flower we put on top of the coconut? Where do we offer it? Answer: Take a flower from your collection of flowers to be offered. This flower is placed in the location for the Prana Pratishta Flower in front of the Yantra Plate. Again Consult the Cosmic Puja Map. Question 10: For the stapana, I understand four flowers are to be offered: where? Answer: You would need personal instruction from a qualified Guru to understand what you have to do for Stapana. A textual explanation would be difficult to compose and understand. You do not need four flowers, you need only one flower which is placed at the center of the Yantra plate. Question 11: With the Pujas for the deities (p 242 - 334), two flowers are offered with each puja one with the Gayatri and one with the Pranam? Answer: That is correct except Shiva and Lakshmi. The Lakshmi Puja and Siva Puja require ten flowers each. Question 12: With the Pushpanjali, we offer another three flowers. Does it matter where? Answer: No, it doesn't matter. Question 13: When we take the prana back when finishing the puja, we pick up the flower. Which flower is that? After we have inhaled and taken the prana back, what do we do with the flower? Answer: The flower that we place on the center of the Yantra plate under Stapana (p 217). After Visarjana, the flower may be re-used if it is fresh and respectfully discarded in a river or other body of water or under a tree. ----- , "henny_v_i" <HvI wrote: > > Dear Srini, > > I am very happy you have volunteered to answer questions about the > Cosmic Puja. I have quite a few, so I hope you won't regret your > generosity. I have listened to the Cosmic Puja class mp3 (bless > Swamiji for this, because a lot of my questions where answered), and > there are some things I would like to get clear. There are a lot of > flowers to be offered, and I don't always understand when and where. > So here are my questions: > > -apart from the flowers we offer right at the beginning when welcoming > the gods (`srimanmahaganadipataye' etc. en `ete gandhapushpe om sri > ganapataye' etc.) and the flower with the sankalpa and the flower > underneath the asan, Swamiji talks about 2 flowers for Ganesha > (beginning and end Ganesha puja) and flowers to be offered with the > svasti vacana (p.40) and with the Rudropasthana (p.57). Are all these > flowers to be placed on your altar? Or scattered about freely? Where > are they to go? > > -do we place the prana pratishta flower on top of the coconut? > > -where do we place the arghya? > > -I understand we offer three flowers, one with each `svaha', with the > mantras on page 98-99. Where do we place these? > > -if we offer flowers instead of mustard seed for the bhutapsarana (p. > 99), where do they go? > > -if you want to make an external yantra, do you start with making > lines of flowers with the mantras on page 107? (Lines 1-6 on page > 137) > > -with the matrika puja, nava durga puja etc (p.111-137): are there > flowers to be placed? Where? > > -Swamiji talks about eight forms of energy and the nine planets on the > right. On the right of what? > > -with the yogini puja and the astra puja, I understand we offer > flowers. Where? > > -regarding the prana pratishta on the inner yantra (p.212), Swamiji > says you have to take the flower from the deity or pot and offer it. > Is that the prana pratishta flower we put on top of our coconut > (sitting on top of the pot) earlier? Where do we offer it, since our > yantra is within here? > > -with the stapana, I understand four flowers are to be offered: where? > > -am I correct in the understanding that with the pujas for the deities > (p.242-334) two flowers are offered with each puja: one with the > Gayatri and one with the pranam? > > -with the puspanjali we offer another three flowers. Does it matter > where? > > -when we take the prana back when finishing the puja, we pick up the > flower. Which flower is that? Is it the flower we used for the prana > pratishta on the pot, and then later for the prana pratishta on the > inner yantra? After we have inhaled and taken the prana back, what do > we do with the flower? > > Sriniji, if you can find it in your heart to answer these questions, > be assured I am mentally offering an enormous bouquet to you, > > with love, > Henny > ------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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