Ashvina - Increedible India

Saraswati and Ayudha Puja

vskyadmin — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 06:00:32 +0000

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)

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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.

The post Saraswati and Ayudha Puja appeared first on Increedible India.

Purattasi Saturday

vskyadmin — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 11:28:32 +0000

It is one of the sacred periods in the Vedic calendar. During this sacred month of Purattasi (Ashwina) which generally falls in September/October, Lord Balaji is said to have made his appearance on earth in human form as Sri Venkateshwara (Lord of Tirupati).

All Saturdays are considered very auspicious. During this month of Purattasi, Lord Venkateshwara is prayed to and worshipped on Saturdays which is a favorite day for the Lord. A maavillaku is lit with ghee to worship Lord Venkateshwara. It is the belief that the Lord will be able to bless all the devotees who are far away from Tirupati hills through the rays of the maavillakku light.

Puja Diya

To make the maavilakku, mix 1 cup rice flour with ¾ cup powdered jaggery, ¼ cup grated coconut and a pinch of cardamom powder. Add a couple of spoons of melted ghee to help shape the flour mixture like a diya or lamp with a hollow to fill in with a couple more spoons of ghee. Place a cotton wick in the ghee and light the flour lamp.

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Navaratri/Dussehra

vskyadmin — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 09:50:26 +0000

The festival of Navarathri, meaning nine nights, is celebrated all over India. It occurs in the month of Ashvina (September/October). The tenth day is Dassara or Vijayadashami. Generally, the first three days are dedicated to Durga, the Goddess. She destroys evil and protects us. The second three are for Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and the final three for Sarasvati, the goddess of knowledge.

The ten days of Dussera in Mysore (officially Mysuru), Karnataka, are renowned for outstanding cultural shows, processions, and decorations at the Maharaja’s Palace. The entire South celebrates a custom at homes and temples to create exquisite displays of dolls arranged on steps. This display and the festival itself are known as Golu or Bomba Habba. Well-known themes from religious or historical epics are featured. Elders love to narrate stories from the Hindu epics to the younger generations and revisit precious lessons and morals from these stories.

The ninth day is also known as Ayudha Puja, when tools, armory, vehicles, and other devices of livelihood are honored. This day is also devoted to Sarasvati Pooja.

Celebration in the North

In the north, especially in New Delhi, the final day of Navarathri is Ram Lila – an explosive show commemorating the victory of Sri Rama, the hero of Ramayana, over Ravana. During these nine days, people engage in Pujas, Yajnas, meditations, singing, and dancing. Ramayana is acted out for everyone to see. This is the season to exchange gifts and sweets. I have fond memories of Navarathri from my younger days, as a group of my friends and I would meet in the center of our town and celebrate.

Celebration in the West

In Gujarat, Navarathri is vibrant with fun-filled Garba and Dandiya-Rass dances. Men, women, and children participate in pairs with small decorated bamboo sticks called dandiyas.

How to celebrate

Items required for puja

Purchased the following items well before the Nine-day celebration.

Every day clean the stoop and draw Rangoli, if possible, tie a string of mango leaves by the front door on the first day. Take a bath, wear clean clothes and follow the steps of the puja:

Purchase sets of dolls each year
Plain water in Kalash (a pitcher)
Fresh and washed mango leaves
Sandalwood
One coconut
Kumkum
Turmeric
Betel leaves and betel nuts
Flowers and Fruits

How to arrange the Golu

Set up the steps and place the dolls accordingly.
The first step is decorated with Kalash. Fill this with water. Place mango leaves and coconut on top. This represents Goddesses. Place Idols of deities on both sides of the Kalasha. Keep in this row a pair of wooden dolls, Raja and Rani – king and queen.
Keep in the next few steps idols of saints and farmers etc., of the country. There are numerous variations of dolls available in the market.
It is custom to add a new set of dolls every year.
Draw rangoli in front of the Golu.
Worship or honor this assembly of dolls twice a day for 9 days.
Chant shlokas and perform aarti. Do Naivedya every day.
On the 9th day, worship Saraswati by keeping books, musical instruments next to the golu arrangement.
Celebrate on the 10th day, Vijayadasami. This is the most auspicious day. Put the dolls to sleep and pack them away for the following year.
During the 9 days, invite friends and family, and give away gifts and prasadam.

Activity for the kids

Get your gift bags together. Fill them with betel leaf and nuts, turmeric, Kumkum, flowers, fruits, bangles, and any items you would like to gift.
Have the kids help you with the display.
Next to the Golu, you may make a garden out of dirt and mustard seeds. The seeds germinate within 2 days and look like a garden.
Take your family to a Navarathri Garba, celebrated in the Gujarati community.

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