3.1.First step of Manasik Puja is Dhyana. Dhyana is meditation on the form
and scene of Mahishasur being slayed by Mother Durga in the battlefield. Our
Life is a battlefield. Divine Mother destroys our most formidable foe, our stubborn,
raw-EGO (represented by the demon Mahishasur emerging out of the severed head
of buffalo) thereby bestowing liberation and also any other boon if we wish
for.
3.1.1.Dhyana: (Meditation)
3.1.1.1.Take a flower in both hands; place them near
your heart and meditate on your chosen deity.
3.1.1.2.Recite the Durga Dhyana Slokas in your mind.
Mother Durga is sporting Jata (matted hair) (Like Lord Shiva) on
her head on which half-moon is glistening. Her full-moon liked beautiful face
has 3 eyes. Molten-Gold hued complexioned Mother has beautiful eyes. First dawn
of youthfulness adorns Mother along with all types of ornaments. Exquisitely
beautiful to look at, Mother sports nectar-full heavy breast. (She is the
Mother of Universe and Her compassion for Her children overflows in form of
nectar (Amrita – immortality) just as
an earthly mother’s breasts become heavy-laden with milk for her suckling
child. We all are Her suckling children).
The Slayer of Mahishasura (demon), Her posture is bent
in three different places (like Krishna). Her ten arms are each slender like
the stalk of lotus plant. On her five right arms, Mother holds Trishul (three-headed spear), Kharga (scythe) or Shankha (conch shell) and Chakra
(Discus) in the order. Sharp pointed Baan
(arrows) and Shakti complete the
weapons on right five arms. On her left side are Khet, Purna-Chaap (full-Quiver of arrows), Paash/Naagpaash (venous snake for binding), Ankush, Ghanta (bell) or Parashu (axe). In the bottom on the
ground is seen the severed head of the Mahish
(buffalo). The hand holding the Kharga is getting ready to sever with the head
off the demon emerging from the severed buffalo head. The Trishul has sharply
and deftly pierced the heart of the demon. Mahishasur and Mother are covered in
blood and blood is spurting from the demon. Mahishasur sporting a fearsome
scowl is bound in Naagpaash. With Her Paash holding (left) hand, Mother Durga
is holding the demon by the tuft of his hair. Devi’s vaahan (carrier), Simha is vomiting
blood. Devi’s right feet is on the back of the Simha, and a little higher the
left toe on the buffalo.
Devi, The Slayer of enemies,
destroys the arrogant-pride of the Daityas
and Danavs (demons).
Mother, forever pleased,
graciously bestows the results of all karmas. All the divine beings around Her
are praising Her glories.
The eight Shakti s encircling Her are: Ugrachanda, Prachanda, Chandogra, Chandanayika, Chandaa, Chandavati, Chandarupati and Chandika.
I meditate thus on Jagatdhatri (substratum of the
universe), the bestower of Dharma
(righteous living), Kaama (Desire for
enjoyment), Artha (wealth) and Moksha (liberation) - the four Purusharthas (goals of life)
3.2.Second part is the actual Manasik
puja. Here the worshipper mentally worships the Divine Mother with all mental
faculties, sensory perceptions and aspired-for divine qualities.
3.2.1.Manasika
Puja: (Mental
worship)
3.2.1.1.Put the Flower on your head and worship the
Divine Mother mentally offering thus:
मानसिक पुजा
ॐ हृत्पद्ममासन्ं
दद्यात् सहस्रारच्युतामृतैः
पाद्यं चरणयोर्दद्यात्
मनस्त्वर्घ्यं निवेदयात्।
तेनामृतेनाचमनीयं
स्नानीयं तेन च स्मृतं
आकाशतत्वं वस्त्रंस्यात्
गन्धं स्यात्
गन्धतत्त्वकं !
चित्तं प्रकल्पयेत्
पुष्पं
धूपं प्राणान्
प्रकल्पयेत्।
तेजः तत्वं च
दीपार्थे नैवेद्यं स्यात् सुधाम्बुधिः
अनाहतध्वनिं
घंटां
वायुतत्त्वं
च चामरं
सहस्रारं भवेच्चत्रं
शब्दतत्त्वं
च गीतकं !
नृत्यमिन्द्रियकर्माणि
चांचल्यं मानसस्तथा
सुमेखलां पद्ममालां
पुष्पं नानाविधं तथा !
अमायाद्यैः भावपुष्पैः
अर्चयेत् भावगोचरं
अमायानहंकारं
अरागममदं तथा !
अमोहकमदंभं च
अद्वेषक्षोभकौ तथा
अमात्सर्यमलोभं
च दशपुष्पं विदुर्बुधाः
अहिंसा परमं
पुष्पं पुष्पमिन्द्रिय निग्रहः
दयापुष्पं क्षमापुष्पं
ज्ञान पुष्पं च पंचमं !
ईति पंचदषैः
भावपुष्पैः संपूजयेत् देविं !
mānasika pujā
om hṛtpadmamāsanṁ dadyāt
sahasrāracyutāmṛtaiḥ
pādyaṁ caraṇayordadyāt manastvarghyaṁ
nivedayāt |
tenāmṛtenācamanīyaṁ snānīyaṁ tena ca
smṛtaṁ
ākāśatatvaṁ vastraṁsyāt
gandhaṁ syāt gandhatattvakaṁ !
cittaṁ prakalpayet puṣpaṁ
dhūpaṁ prāṇān prakalpayet |
tejaḥ tatvaṁ ca dīpārthe naivedyaṁ
syāt sudhāmbudhiḥ
anāhatadhvaniṁ ghaṁṭāṁ
vāyutattvaṁ ca cāmaraṁ
sahasrāraṁ bhaveccatraṁ
śabdatattvaṁ ca gītakaṁ !
nṛtyamindriayakarmāṇi cāṁcalyaṁ
mānasastathā
sumekhalāṁ padmamālāṁ puṣpaṁ nānāvidhaṁ
tathā !
amāyādyaiḥ bhāvapuṣpaiḥ arcayet
bhāvagocaraṁ
amāyānahaṁkāraṁ arāgamamadaṁ tathā !
amohakamadaṁbhaṁ ca adveṣakṣobhakau
tathā
amātsaryamalobhaṁ ca daśapuṣpaṁ
vidurbudhāḥ
ahiṁsā paramaṁ puṣpaṁ puṣpamindriya
nigrahaḥ
dayāpuṣpaṁ kṣamāpuṣpaṁ jñāna puṣpaṁ ca
paṁcamaṁ !
īti paṁcadaṣaiḥ bhāvapuṣpaiḥ saṁpūjayet
deviṁ !
Meaning:
The heart is offered as the
seat;
the nectar in the thousand
petalled lotus in the head for ablution, bathing and drinking.
The mind as the welcome
offering.
The sky as the garment,
the element of smell as the
fragrance,
the innumerable thoughts for
the variegated flowers.
The prana as the incense.
The light of knowledge as
the lamp;
Nectar in the sahasrara as
the food;
the unvoiced sound be the
sweet trilling of the bells;
the cool breeze be the act
of fanning and
the ceaseless activities of
the senses and the mind be the dance of entertainment.
i.Non-delusion, (Amaya)
ii.egoless-ness, (anahankaara)
iii.non-attachment, (araaga)
iv.prideless-ness, (amada)
v.non-infatuation, (amoha)
vi.non-arrogance, (adambha)
vii.non-hatred, (adwesha)
viii.non-agitation, (akshovaka)
ix.non-jealousy, (amatsarya)
x.non-greediness, (alobha) are the best of flowers.
xi.Non-injury, (ahimsa)
xii.sense-control, (indriya-nigraha)
xiii.compassion, (daya)
xiv.forgiveness, (Kshama) and
xv.knowledge, (jnana) are the sweetest flowers.
These 15 flowers of rarest
virtues be the best offering to Divine Mother.
3.3.End
on Internal Worship: 3.3.1.Place the flower in the vessel in front. 3.3.2.Blow the conch shell.
2020 May 23 Significance of Aarati Items