Sandhi means change. Sandhi Puja is performed at the juncture of Ashtami (the eighth) and Navami (ninth). This is the changeover from Ashtami and Navami. In this period , Durga is worshiped in the form of Chamunda. As Chamunda, the goddess had killed two asuras, Chanda and Munda.
When the Goddess was atatcked by two asuras, Chanda and Munda from the rear, the Goddess appeared as a brilliantly glowing woman with her hair knotted on her head, a crescent moon above her forehead, and a garland around her neck. With golden earrings and clad in a yellow saari she emitted a golden glow. Her ten hands possessed ten different weapons. Though she appeared beautiful her face turned blue with anger when she faced Chanda and Munda. From her third eye then emerged a Devi with a large sword and a shield. She had a large face, bloody tongue and sunken blood shot eyes. This was Chamunda. With a bloodcurdling shriek she leapt forward and killed the asuras. This moment was the juncture of the 8th and 9th lunar day, or Sandhi.
It is also said, that this is the time when the Goddess showed herself to Rama.
The last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami (a total of 48 minutes between the two days) constitute the Sandhi or ''Sacred Juncture''. This Puja is considered to be the highest point in the whole Durga Puja and the most important ritual.
Durga is worshipped with 108 lotus flowers and shown 108 lamps.
The diameter of the Sun multiplied by 108 equals the distance between Sun and Earth, and the diameter of the Moon multiplied by 108 equals the distance between Earth and Moon. The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth. That is why we have 108 - a significant number.
It is customary to perform bali or animal sacrifice at this sacred juncture. Nowadays, instead of an animal, a white pumpkin or a raw banana is ‘sacrificed' as a symbolic bali.
I remember waiting for Sandhi Puja to get over, so I could get some shital bhog as prasad. This used to a semolina pudding (suji) and deep fried bread (luchi) served on a plate made of banyan or sal leaves.
Usually Sandhi Puja is a midnight puja. This year, 2015, Navami starts at 1:29PM IST. So 24 minutes before that , at 1:05PM Sandhi Puja starts.
When the Goddess was atatcked by two asuras, Chanda and Munda from the rear, the Goddess appeared as a brilliantly glowing woman with her hair knotted on her head, a crescent moon above her forehead, and a garland around her neck. With golden earrings and clad in a yellow saari she emitted a golden glow. Her ten hands possessed ten different weapons. Though she appeared beautiful her face turned blue with anger when she faced Chanda and Munda. From her third eye then emerged a Devi with a large sword and a shield. She had a large face, bloody tongue and sunken blood shot eyes. This was Chamunda. With a bloodcurdling shriek she leapt forward and killed the asuras. This moment was the juncture of the 8th and 9th lunar day, or Sandhi.
It is also said, that this is the time when the Goddess showed herself to Rama.
The last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami (a total of 48 minutes between the two days) constitute the Sandhi or ''Sacred Juncture''. This Puja is considered to be the highest point in the whole Durga Puja and the most important ritual.
Durga is worshipped with 108 lotus flowers and shown 108 lamps.
The diameter of the Sun multiplied by 108 equals the distance between Sun and Earth, and the diameter of the Moon multiplied by 108 equals the distance between Earth and Moon. The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth. That is why we have 108 - a significant number.
It is customary to perform bali or animal sacrifice at this sacred juncture. Nowadays, instead of an animal, a white pumpkin or a raw banana is ‘sacrificed' as a symbolic bali.
I remember waiting for Sandhi Puja to get over, so I could get some shital bhog as prasad. This used to a semolina pudding (suji) and deep fried bread (luchi) served on a plate made of banyan or sal leaves.
Usually Sandhi Puja is a midnight puja. This year, 2015, Navami starts at 1:29PM IST. So 24 minutes before that , at 1:05PM Sandhi Puja starts.
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