Durga Puja Step 4.5 - PARISAMAPTI of Bahyik Puja

बाह्यिक् पूजा ( bāhyik pūjā )/External Worship: Part5

4.7.                      PARISAMAPTI: (Conclusion of Puja)
This portion is only for the priest(ess) now. The devotees may sing one bhajan or do silent japa.

4.7.1.   Pushpanjali Mantra: (Only priest(ess))

4.7.1.1.        Take a flower dipped in sandal paste in both hands and utter:

ॐ ह्रीं एश सचन्दन पुष्पान्जलीः सांगायै सावर्णायै सशक्तिकायै सभक्तायै सर्वदेवदेवीस्वरुपिन्यै श्री दुर्गायै वौषट्।

om hrīṁ eśa sacandana puṣpānjalīḥ sāṁgāyai sāvarṇāyai saśaktikāyai sabhaktāyai sarvadevadevīsvarupinyai śrī durgāyai vauṣaṭ |

(Om. I offer this flower to Sri Durga Devi, who represents all Gods and Goddesses and who is accompanied by Her Companions, Shaktis, and devotees).

4.7.2.   Japa Samarpana: (Only priest(ess))

4.7.2.1.        Do atleast 108 times japa of your Ishta-mantra (if you are initiated) or

ॐ श्री दुर्गायै नमः।

om śrī durgāyai namaḥ |

4.7.2.2.        Offer the results to Divine Mother.

4.7.2.3.        Take a little water in the right palm and utter:

ॐ गुह्याति गुह्य गोप्त्रित्वं गृहाणास्मत् कृतं जपं ! सिद्धिः भवतु मे देवि त्वत्प्रसादात् महेश्वरि !!

om guhyāti guhya goptritvaṁ gṛhāṇāsmat kṛtaṁ japaṁ ! siddhiḥ bhavatu me devi tvatprasādāt maheśvari !!

4.7.2.4.        Pour the water in the kunda.

4.7.3.   Pranam to Divine Mother: (Only priest(ess))

4.7.3.1.        Bow down to Divine Mother uttering this Pranam mantra:

ॐ सर्व मंगल मांगल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थ साधिके शरण्ये त्रयम्बके गौरि नारायाणि नमोस्तुते !!

om sarva maṁgala māṁgalye śive sarvārtha sādhike śaraṇye trayambake gauri nārāyāṇi namostute !!

Video 16/19 - Samarpanam from Pujari 

4.7.4.   Preparation for Final Conclusion:

4.7.4.1.        The Priest(ess):

4.7.4.1.1.              can leave the seat now. Its best to remove the asana lest it gets trampled during the flower offering and pranam.

4.7.4.1.2.             Wait until the flower distribution is over amongst the devotees.

4.7.4.1.3.             Repeat the Pushpanjali mantra, a word at a time and let the devotees all repeat together.

     4.7.4.1.4.        Repeat the Pushpanjali mantra 3 times.

     4.7.4.1.5.        Ask the devotees to:
           4.7.1.5.1.             offer their respective flowers into the Kunda 
           4.7.1.5.2.             bow down to Mother asking for Her blessings.
           4.7.1.5.3.       Leave the puja hall silently to partake prasad.             

    4.7.4.1.6.        The priest(ess) prepares “Charanamrita” by pouring the water from the puja Kunda into the bowl holding the Madhuparka.

    4.7.4.1.7.        Distribute this Charanamrita amongst devotees before prasad partaking.

4.7.4.2.        The Devotees:

4.7.4.2.1.             Before Pushpanjali: Ensure that a flower is given to each to the assembled devotees for Pushpanjali.

4.7.4.2.2.             Repeat the Pushpanjali mantra, after the Priest(ess), in unison. Do not rush.

     4.7.4.2.3.        Offer your flower into the Kunda and bow down to Mother asking for Her blessings.

     4.7.4.2.4.        Maintain silence and leave the puja hall for partaking prasad.

Video 17/19 - Durga Puja PUSHPANJALI 

Video 18/19 - Durga Puja Conclusion

4.8.                      PRASAD Distribution:

4.8.1.               Assemble everyone for Prasad partaking.   

4.8.2.               Mix the offered bhog items a back into their respective containers.

4.8.3.               Chant Brahmarpanam and Holy Mother's Prayer

ब्रह्मार्पणं मन्त्र	brahmārpaṇaṁ mantra
ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नो ब्रह्मणा हुतम्।	brahmārpaṇaṁ brahma havirbrahmāgnou brahmaṇā hutam |
ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं  ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना॥	brahmaiva tena gantavyaṁ  brahmakarmasamādhinā ||
हरि ॐ तत् सत्॥	hari om tat sat ||

Holy Mother’s Prayer

Oh Lord, Please, accept our offering, Bless us make us pure and all loving. May we not accuse, demand or complain But love respect and cooperate with all – May we not find fault with others But try to find our own faults – May we not treat others as strangers, But learn to make all our own. May we feel the whole world to be our own. Peace, peace, peace be unto all. (late) Revd. Swami Sarvagatanandaji Maharaj

Feb 1, 2019

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Durga Puja Step 4.4 - AARATI of Bahyik Puja

बाह्यिक् पूजा ( bāhyik pūjā )/External Worship: Part 4:

4.6.                      AARATI: (Vesper service to Divine Mother)

        The vesper service to Divine Mother starts with the famous stotra “Khandana Bhava Bandhana (The breaker of worldly chains)” composed by none other than Swami Vivekananda Himself which is an ode to all incarnations of all times irrespective of any religion. 

        This is followed by “Sarva Managala” the famous 3 verses from Devi Mahatmyam (Chandi) that Thakur Himself sang to Divine Mother, Sarada Devi at the end of Phalaharini Kali Puja.

        Aarati to Divine Mother is completed with Prakritim Paramam.  Revd. Swami Abhedanandaji Maharaj had composed the above hymn on Holy Mother and recited to Holy Mother at Mayer Bari. Holy Mother was very pleased and had blessed him heartily. This famous serene ode to Holy Mother has become a signature in the Ramakrishna Order.

Video 13/19 - Durga Puja Aarati Setup

Video 14/19 - Durga Puja Aarati1 Khandana Bhava Bandhana

Video 15/19 - Durga Puja Aarati2 Sarva Mangala + Prakritim Paramam

Feb 1, 2019

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Durga Puja Step 4.3 ANNABHOG NIVEDANAM of Bahyik Puja

बाह्यिक् पूजा ( bāhyik pūjā )/External Worship: Part3 
AnnaBhog Nivedanam

Video 7/19: Durga Puja Annabhog Nivedanam

4.5.                      ANNABHOG NAIVIDYA: (Divine Mother is offered annabhog.)

At this stage, Divine Mother is offered cooked and uncooked food, the best devotees can offer in a chronological order as one would to a special guest at home. The main dishes with water are offered first followed by Paan (betel leaf) and water. While Mother is imagined to be relishing the offered bhog with all her attendants and all Gods and Goddesses; She is worshipped with flowers along with Thakur, Ma and Swamiji. The mantras signify that Divine Mother Durga, Thakur and Ma (Holy Mother) in Ramakrishna Mission tradition represent all Gods and Goddesses.

4.5.1.   Bhog Nivedanam Arambha:

4.5.1.1.        Blow the conch.

4.5.1.2.        Ask devotees to perform silent japa and imagine Mother graciously accepting the offering.

4.5.2.   Bhog Nividya Sthapanam:

4.5.2.1.        Place the bhog for Divine Mother in front of her picture or image (where the worship is being performed).

4.5.2.2.        Arrange the bhog nicely in one or more trays. The cutleries should be placed (direction and placement) as if Mother is using them.

4.5.2.3.        Sprinkle a little water on the food (anna-bhog) from the Kushi while uttering:

ॐ ह्रीं दूं ईदं सोपकरण नैवेद्यं श्री दुर्गायै निवेदयामि ॐ ह्रीं दूं ईदं पानीयोदकं श्री दुर्गायै निवेदयामि

om hrīṁ dūṁ īdaṁ sopakaraṇa naivedyaṁ śrī durgāyai nivedayāmi om hrīṁ dūṁ īdaṁ pānīyodakaṁ śrī durgāyai nivedayāmi

(Om. I offer this food/anna-bhog and Water etc. to Sri Durga).

4.5.2.4.        Feel that Divine Mother is accepting the offerings. Meditate. Do japa for a few minutes.

4.5.3.   108-11-11-11 Flower offering:

4.5.3.1.        Distribute one flower each to all devotees. Ask them to hold on to their respective flower until further instruction.

4.5.3.2.        Take 1 flower in right hand, utter the mantra and place it in the Kunda.

4.5.3.3.        Offer 108 flowers to Mother Durga, 11 flowers to Thakur, 11 flowers to Holy Mother and 11 flowers to Swamiji.  

4.5.3.4.        Everyone chants the mantra together in unison.

ॐ ह्रीं दूं ईदं सचन्दनपुष्पं सर्वदेवदेवीस्वरूपिन्यै श्री दुर्गायै नमः। श्री श्री ठाकुर ॐ ऐँ ईदं सचन्दनपुष्पं सर्वदेवदेवीस्वरूपाय श्रीरामकृष्णाय नमः। श्री श्री मा ॐ ऐँ ह्रीं ईदं सचन्दनपुष्पं सर्वदेवदेवीस्वरूपिन्यै श्रीसारदादेव्यै नमः। श्री श्री स्वामीजी ॐ ईदं सचन्दनपुष्पं श्रीमत् स्वामिने विवेकानन्दाय नमः।

om hrīṁ dūṁ īdaṁ sacandanapuṣpaṁ sarvadevadevīsvarūpinyai śrī durgāyai namaḥ| śrī śrī ṭhākur om aim īdaṁ sacandanapuṣpaṁ sarvadevadevīsvarūpāya śrīrāmakṛṣṇāya namaḥ| śrī śrī mā om aim hrīṁ īdaṁ sacandanapuṣpaṁ sarvadevadevīsvarūpinyai śrīsāradādevyai namaḥ| śrī śrī svāmījī om īdaṁ sacandanapuṣpaṁ śrīmat svāmine vivekānandāya namaḥ|

(Om. I offer this flower to Sri Durga who appears as all Gods and Goddesses).

Video 8/19: Flower offering to Thakur Sri Ramakrishna

Video 9/19: Durga Puja Flower offering to Ma, Sarada Devi 

Video 10/19: Durga Puja Flower offering to Swami Vivekananda

4.5.3.5.        Pass around a separate plate among the devotees to collect the offered flowers. Add the collected flowers into the Kunda.

Video 11/19: Durga Puja Flower collection

4.5.4.   Bhajan Offering:

4.5.4.1        Ask Devotees to sing one bhajan.

4.5.5.   Tambula Nividya:

4.5.5.1.        Offer water to Mother Durga to wash her hands. Pour water 3 times from Kushi into the kunda and utter:

ॐ ह्रीं दूं ईदं पुनराचमनीयोदकं श्री दुर्गायै निवेदयामि

om hrīṁ dūṁ īdaṁ punarācamanīyodakaṁ śrī durgāyai nivedayāmi

(Om. I offer this water to Sri Durga for washing hands).

4.5.5.2.        Now sprinkle a few drops of water from Kushi on the tambula (prepared paan) and utter:

ॐ ह्रीं दूं ईदं ताम्बुलं श्री दुर्गायै निवेदयामि

om hrīṁ dūṁ īdaṁ tāmbulaṁ śrī durgāyai nivedayāmi

(Om. I offer this Tambula/Paan to Sri Durga).

Video 12/19: Durga Puja Flower and Gifts (Kumari Puja) offering 

Jan 31, 2019

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Durga Puja Step 4.2 - SNAANAM of Bahyik Puja

4.     बाह्यिक् पूजा ( bāhyik pūjā )/External Worship: Part2

4.4.         SNAANAM: Divine Mother is offered a refreshing, relaxing bath.

4.4.1.   Snaan Arambha:

4.4.1.1.        Blow the conch.

4.4.1.2.        Light incense sticks.

4.4.1.3.        Bhajans continue.

4.4.2.    Gandha-Taila: (Perfumed oil for bath).

4.4.2.1.        Preparation for bath starts with offering of bath accessories

with the same mantra.

4.4.2.2.        Take water in Kushi and pour a drop on each of the offered items uttering:

ॐ ह्रीं दूं इदं गन्धतैलं श्री दुर्गायै नमः

om hrīṁ dūṁ idaṁ gandhatailaṁ śrī durgāyai namaḥ

(Om. I offer this perfumed bath oil to Sri Durga).

4.4.3.     Snaniyodakam: (Water for bathing).

4.4.3.1.        This is done in two steps. First the water to be used for bathing is offered.

4.4.3.1.1.             Take water in the Kushi and utter:

ॐ ह्रीं दूं इदं स्नानीयोदकं श्री दुर्गायै नमः

om hrīṁ dūṁ idaṁ snānīyodakaṁ śrī durgāyai namaḥ

(Om. I offer this water for bathing to Sri Durga).

4.4.3.1.2.             Pour this water from Kushi into the kamandulu.

4.4.3.1.3.             Fill up the kamandulu with more ganga-water kept on the side in separate water jug.

4.4.3.2.        Next for bathing, take the kamandulu in the right hand and the ghanta (bell) on your left hand. While ringing the ghanta continuously, utter the MahaMrityunjay mantra 11 times (5 or 7 times if time is a constraint) while slowing pouring the water on the Shivalingam in the kunda.

महामॄत्युंजय मन्त्रः	MahaMrityunjay mantraḥ:
- ॐ त्रयंवकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनं उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनात् मृत्योः मुक्षिय मामृतात्	om trayaṁvakaṁ yajāmahe sugandhiṁ puṣṭivardhanaṁ urvārukamiva bandhanāt mṛtyoḥ mukṣiya māmṛtāt

4.4.4.    Gandah: (Perfume, sandal paste etc.).

4.4.4.1.        Take a little sandal paste and utter:

ॐ ह्रीं दूं एष गन्धः श्री दुर्गायै नमः

om hrīṁ dūṁ eṣa gandhaḥ śrī durgāyai namaḥ

(Om. I offer this sandal paste to Sri Durga).

4.4.4.2.        Put it in the vessel.

4.4.4.3.        Perfume, Body Lotion etc. can be offered with the same mantra following the above steps. Spray the offered perfume once into the Kunda. Smear a drop of sandal paste on the body lotion bottle. Do not add it to into the kunda.

4.4.5.   Alakta: (Aaltaa).

4.4.5.1.        Take water in Kushi and pour a drop on liquid uttering:

ॐ ह्रीं दूं इदं अलक्तादीनि श्री दुर्गायै निवेदयामि

om hrīṁ dūṁ idaṁ alaktādīni śrī durgāyai nivedayāmi

(Om. I offer this Aaltaa to Sri Durga).

4.4.6.   Sindur + Kajal:

4.4.6.1.        Dip middle finger in the sandal paste and touch the offered objects uttering:

ॐ ह्रीं दूं इदं सिन्दूरं श्री दुर्गायै निवेदयामि ॐ ह्रीं दूं इदं कज्ज्वलं श्री दुर्गायै निवेदयामि

om hrīṁ dūṁ idaṁ sindūraṁ śrī durgāyai nivedayāmi om hrīṁ dūṁ idaṁ kajjvalaṁ śrī durgāyai nivedayāmi

(Om. I offer this Aaltaa to Sri Durga).

4.4.7.   Vastra + Abharanam:

4.4.7.1.        Dip middle finger in the sandal paste and touch the offered objects uttering:

ॐ ह्रीं दूं इदं वस्त्रं श्री दुर्गायै निवेदयामि ॐ ह्रीं दूं इदं आभरणं श्री दुर्गायै निवेदयामि

om hrīṁ dūṁ idaṁ vastraṁ śrī durgāyai nivedayāmi om hrīṁ dūṁ idaṁ ābharaṇaṁ śrī durgāyai nivedayāmi

 (Om. I offer this Vastra/Saree/Cloth to Sri Durga).

(Om. I offer this Abharanam/Ornaments (bangles etc.) to Sri Durga).

4.4.8.   Pushpa + Bilwapatra + Dhup + Deep:

4.4.8.1.        Smear sandal paste on the flowers to be offered.

4.4.8.2.        Sprinkle sandal paste on the vilwapatras.

4.4.8.3.        Take the naividya (offerings) in both hands, utter the respective mantra and put it in the Kunda.

ॐ ह्रीं दूं ईदं सचन्दन पुष्पं श्री दुर्गायै नमः ॐ ह्रीं दूं ईदं सचन्दन विल्वपत्रं श्री दुर्गायै नमः ॐ ह्रीं दूं एष धूपः श्री दुर्गायै नमः ॐ ह्रीं दूं एष दीपः श्री दुर्गायै नमः

om hrīṁ dūṁ īdaṁ sacandana puṣpaṁ śrī durgāyai namaḥ om hrīṁ dūṁ īdaṁ sacandana vilvapatraṁ śrī durgāyai namaḥ om hrīṁ dūṁ eṣa dhūpaḥ śrī durgāyai namaḥ om hrīṁ dūṁ eṣa dīpaḥ śrī durgāyai namaḥ

(Om. I offer these flowers to Sri Durga).

(Om. I offer these Vilwapatras to Sri Durga).

(Om. I offer this Dhupa/Incense to Sri Durga).

(Om. I offer this Deepa/Light to Sri Durga).

4.4.9.   Snaanam Samapta: (End of Bath Phase)

4.1.9.1.        Blow the conch.

4.1.9.2.        Bhajans stop now.

4.1.9.3.        Remove all the offerings and make place for anna-bhog. 

Jan 31, 2019
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