The devotees of Goddess Durga start the celebrations on the morning of Maha Ashtami with Pushpanjali. I remember, in Delhi, trying to hurry up to the Durga Pandal. Hungry, as the Anjali is offered in an empty stomach, one would wait eagerly for the Anjali to happen and then the prasad.
Devotees perform the ritualistic bathing and fasting before offering Pushpanjali. Fresh flowers are held in hand and the mantra is recited after the priest. After reciting the Sanskrit couplets everyone showers flowers at the Goddess's feet. Someone would come by with abasket and ask for the flowers to be put in the basket instead of flinging the flowers. The flowers are then placed at Durga's feet.
Three rounds of Anjali happen.
Anjali mudra is performed by pressing the palms of the hands together. Flowers are held in the folded hands. This is called Pushpa (Flower) Anjali (Folded Hands).
As on Saptami, on Ashtami also, the deity is bathed and Shodashopachara puja is done. In addition, nine small pots with flags of different colours attached are installed and the Nine Shaktis are invoked in them and worshiped. After this sixty-four yoginis are worshiped. Then one crore yoginis are worshipped. The yogini worship also has its roots in the tantric form of worship. This is followed by worship of Nava Durga (nine aspects of Durga) and Goddesses Jayanti, Mangala, Kali, Bhadrakali, Kapalani, Durga, Shiva, Kshama, Dhatri, Svaha and Svadha. Ashtami Puja is concluded with Bhog and Arati.
The Sanskrit hymn goes like :
Jayantii Manggalaa Kaalii Bhadrakaalii Kapaalinii
Durgaa Shivaa Kssamaa Dhaatrii Svaahaa Svadhaa NamostuTe
Salutations to the Ever-Victorious (Jayanti)
Salutations to the Ever-Auspicious (Mangala)
Salutations to the Devi who is remover of darkness (Kali)
Salutations to the Devi who is beyond Time (Bhadrakali)
Salutations to the Devi Who Wear a Garland of Skulls (Kapalini)
Salutations to Devi who is the reliever of difficulties (Durga),
Salutations to the the Ever-Auspicious One, and One with Shiva (as His Consort) (Shivaa),
Salutations to the Devi Who is the embodiment of Forbearance and Supporter of All Beings(Kssamaa Dhaatrii);
Salutations to the Devi Who is Swaha (the cosmic being to whom the individual being is surrendered)
Salutations to the Devi who is Swadha (the cosmic being to whom the sacrificial offering goes)
Mantras from the Aragala Stotra are recited (The mantra above is part of this). This forms a part of Devi Mahatmayam, which itself is a part of the Markandeya Purana.This is an important part of Devi Mahatmayam.
Worship of a young girl, treating her as Devi, is also a part of Ashtami Puja. Some perform this in the evening of Saptami, but mostly this worship is doing on the eighth day, Ashtami. It is said that the Divine Mother manifests herself more in a pure-hearted girl and that is why Kumari Puja is done. The same kinds of offerings made to the Devi are given to the Kumari also, and finally Arati is performed. A Brahmin girl around 9 years of age is chosen. After bath, she is decked with new clothes and jewels. This ritual finds its origins in the Tantra form of worship where living beings were worshiped.
Ashtami is considered the most important day of Durga Puja. It is said, that Mahishasura was slain on Ashtami. The priests tell tales of valor of Durga and she slew the demons.
Evening Aarati is performed with fire. The fire symbolizes light and is the purifier of sins. In the evening, Sandhi puja is conducted, which marks the inter-linking of the Maha Ashtami with Maha Navami. It is performed at the end of Durga Ashtami and the beginning of Maha Navami.
Devotees perform the ritualistic bathing and fasting before offering Pushpanjali. Fresh flowers are held in hand and the mantra is recited after the priest. After reciting the Sanskrit couplets everyone showers flowers at the Goddess's feet. Someone would come by with abasket and ask for the flowers to be put in the basket instead of flinging the flowers. The flowers are then placed at Durga's feet.
Three rounds of Anjali happen.
Anjali mudra is performed by pressing the palms of the hands together. Flowers are held in the folded hands. This is called Pushpa (Flower) Anjali (Folded Hands).
As on Saptami, on Ashtami also, the deity is bathed and Shodashopachara puja is done. In addition, nine small pots with flags of different colours attached are installed and the Nine Shaktis are invoked in them and worshiped. After this sixty-four yoginis are worshiped. Then one crore yoginis are worshipped. The yogini worship also has its roots in the tantric form of worship. This is followed by worship of Nava Durga (nine aspects of Durga) and Goddesses Jayanti, Mangala, Kali, Bhadrakali, Kapalani, Durga, Shiva, Kshama, Dhatri, Svaha and Svadha. Ashtami Puja is concluded with Bhog and Arati.
The Sanskrit hymn goes like :
Jayantii Manggalaa Kaalii Bhadrakaalii Kapaalinii
Durgaa Shivaa Kssamaa Dhaatrii Svaahaa Svadhaa NamostuTe
Salutations to the Ever-Victorious (Jayanti)
Salutations to the Ever-Auspicious (Mangala)
Salutations to the Devi who is remover of darkness (Kali)
Salutations to the Devi who is beyond Time (Bhadrakali)
Salutations to the Devi Who Wear a Garland of Skulls (Kapalini)
Salutations to Devi who is the reliever of difficulties (Durga),
Salutations to the the Ever-Auspicious One, and One with Shiva (as His Consort) (Shivaa),
Salutations to the Devi Who is the embodiment of Forbearance and Supporter of All Beings(Kssamaa Dhaatrii);
Salutations to the Devi Who is Swaha (the cosmic being to whom the individual being is surrendered)
Salutations to the Devi who is Swadha (the cosmic being to whom the sacrificial offering goes)
Mantras from the Aragala Stotra are recited (The mantra above is part of this). This forms a part of Devi Mahatmayam, which itself is a part of the Markandeya Purana.This is an important part of Devi Mahatmayam.
Worship of a young girl, treating her as Devi, is also a part of Ashtami Puja. Some perform this in the evening of Saptami, but mostly this worship is doing on the eighth day, Ashtami. It is said that the Divine Mother manifests herself more in a pure-hearted girl and that is why Kumari Puja is done. The same kinds of offerings made to the Devi are given to the Kumari also, and finally Arati is performed. A Brahmin girl around 9 years of age is chosen. After bath, she is decked with new clothes and jewels. This ritual finds its origins in the Tantra form of worship where living beings were worshiped.
Ashtami is considered the most important day of Durga Puja. It is said, that Mahishasura was slain on Ashtami. The priests tell tales of valor of Durga and she slew the demons.
Evening Aarati is performed with fire. The fire symbolizes light and is the purifier of sins. In the evening, Sandhi puja is conducted, which marks the inter-linking of the Maha Ashtami with Maha Navami. It is performed at the end of Durga Ashtami and the beginning of Maha Navami.
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