Saraswati and Ayudha Puja
Saraswati Puja
Saraswati is a Goddess of learning, wisdom and music. Also, she is know as Vedamata, mother of Vedas. Saraswati puja is done on the eighth day of Navratri. During this time, people keep books, any musical instruments and do the puja to these items.
According to Hindu mythology, she is the wife of the Lord Brahma. It is said that Goddess Saraswati came late to perform a religious ceremony by Lord Brahma. Since he wanted the ceremony to be on schedule, the God’s created a new wife, Gayatri for him. When Goddess Saraswati came for the ceremony, She saw Lord Brahma with another woman. She cursed Lord Brahma never to be worshipped by humanity. As such, we do not see many Lord Brahma temples in India.
Ayudha Puja
Ayudha means tools one uses in their daily life, it could be a pen, pencil, vehicles, machines like computers any equipment. This puja is performed with Saraswati puja during the 9 day ceremony of Navaratri. All the equipment are cleaned and smeared with Kumkum and chandanam (sandlewood paste) and puja is performed.
Puja at home (process) (Link to the complete puja process)
Hindu worship or puja at home requires idols (murtis/deity) and prayers (mantras). Usually the deity(s) or pictures are kept in a quiet place called a puja room. Puja in Sanskrit means “honor” or “worship”. We welcome God or Goddess the same way as we welcome our guests. If time is of the essence, the following steps can be taken for the puja:
- Sit on a small carpet or low stool (raised wood plank) facing North or East.
- Create an altar for all the items for Saraswati puja and Ayudha puja.
- Light the lamps and place in front of the items.
- Keep betel leaves, nuts, flowers and fruits in a plate in front of the altar.
- After keeping the items in front of the altar, begin with Ganesh or Vishwaksena puja or Prathana.
- Then, start chanting slokas or mantras as per your family traditions.
- After worshiping with slokas, you decorate the items with flowers and offer Naivedyam.
- Light aarti deya and perform aarti.
- Finally, conclude with Pradakshina (circumambulation, which means going in a clockwise direction) namaskar at the end of puja.
- Give everyone present, prasad which you offered as Naivedyam.