Hindu Pujas in Melbourne- Maha Shivaratri

Maha Shivaratri

 Feb 20th 2012

ॐ त्रयम्बकं यजामहे, सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनं 

उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मोक्षिय मामृतात्

Mahashivaratri Festival or the ‘The Night of Shiva’ is celebrated with devotion and religious fervor in honour of Lord Shiva, one of the deities of Hindu Trinity. Shivaratri falls on the moonless 14th night of the new moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun, which corresponds to the month of February – March as per English calendar.

Legends of Mahashivratri
There are various interesting legends related to the festival of Maha Shivaratri. According to one of the most popular legends, Shivaratri marks the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Some believe that it was on the auspicious night of Shivaratri that Lord Shiva performed the ‘Tandava’, the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction. Another popular Shivratri legend stated in Linga Purana states that it was on Shivaratri that Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of a Linga. Hence the day is considered to be extremely auspicious by Shiva devotees and they celebrate it as Mahashivaratri - the grand night of Shiva. 

Traditions and Customs of Shivaratri
Various traditions and customs related to Shivaratri Festival are followed by the worshippers of Lord Shiva. Devotees observe strict fast in honour of Shiva, though many go on a diet of fruits and milk some do not consume even a drop of water. Devotees strongly believe that sincere worship of Lord Shiva on the auspicious day of Shivaratri, absolves a person of sins and liberates him from the cycle of birth and death.

To mark the Shivratri festival, devotees wake up early and take a ritual bath, preferably in river Ganga. After wearing fresh new clothes devotees visit the nearest Shiva temple to give ritual bath to the Shiva Lingam with milk, honey, water etc. 

On Shivaratri, worship of Lord Shiva continues all through the day and night. Every three hours devotees perform ritual pooja of Shivalingam amidst the chanting of “Om Namah Shivaya’ and ringing of temple bells. Night-long vigil or jaagran is also observed in Shiva temples where large number of devotees spend the night singing hymns and devotional songs in praise of Lord Shiva.

 It is only on the following morning that devotee break their fast by partaking prasad offered to the deity.

Simple ways to perform Shivaratri Puja at home

Depending on time available (i.e. in morning or evening), sit with family in the Puja Room (place of worship)

Light a Deepak and Aggarbatti.

\  Worship Lord Ganesh: Om Ganeshaya Namah

(12 times)

\  Worship  Shri Narayana : Om Namo Naraynaye (5 times)

\  Worship Devi :

·         Om Durga Devyai Namah   (3 times)

·         Om Maha Lakshmyai Namah  (3 times)

·         Om Maha Saraswatyai Namah ( 3 times)

\  Worship Shri Shankar Bhagwan: Om Namah Shivaya (12 times)

·         Do abhishekam of Shivalingam with Pure water

·         Do abhishekam of Shivalingam Milk, Curd, Ghee, Honey and Sugar

·         Do abhishekam of Shivalingam with Gangajal

·         Offer  Vastra & Flowers, Apply Tilak, Offer Naivedya & fruit , Offer Dhoopam/Deepam

·         Apply Bhasma (Vibhuti) to the Shivalingam or moorti

·         May offer Bilva Patra (Bel Patra)

·         Chant 108 names of Lord Shiva  or  Om Namah Shivaya -108 times

·         Maha Mritunjaya Mantra – 5 times

·          Perform  Shri Shiva Arti

   शिव पंचाक्षर स्तोत्रं

 नागेन्द्रहाराय  त्रिलोचनाय भस्मांग रागाय महेश्वराय

 नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै नकराय नमः शिवाय

मन्दाकिनी सलिल चन्दन चर्चिताय नन्दीश्वर प्रमथनाथ महेश्वराय

मन्दार पुष्प बहुपुष्प सुपूजिताय तस्मै मकाराय नमः शिवाय

शिवाय गौरी वदानाब्जवृन्द सूर्याय दक्षाध्वर नाशकाय

श्री नीलकंठाय वृषध्वजाय तस्मै शिकाराय नमः शिवाय

वशिष्ठ कुम्बोद्भव गौतमार्य मुनीन्द्र देवार्चिता शेखराय

चंद्रारका वैश्वानर लोचनाय तस्मै वकाराय नमः शिवाय

यक्षस्वरूपाय जटाधाराय पिनाक हस्ताय सनातनाय

दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै यकाराय नमः शिवाय

पंचाक्षर इदं स्तोत्रं यः पठेःशिव संनिधौ

शिवम लोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते 

 I offer my humble salutations to Lord Maheshvara - who has a garland of serpents around the neck; who has three eyes; whose body is covered with ash (vibhuti); who is eternal; who is pure; who has the entire sky as His dress and who is embodies as the first letter Na.  II1II

I bow to Lord Maheshvara, who is embodied as Makaara (letter Ma), whose body is anointed with holy waters from the river Ganges and sandal paste, who is the sovereign king of the Pramatha Ganas and who is adorned with innumerable divine flowers such as Mandaara. II2II

I offer my salutations to Lord Shiva, who is the resplendent sun for mother Gauri`s lotus face, who is the destroyer of Daksha`s sacrificial ritual, who is the blue necked Lord (due to the Haalahala poison which He agreed to consume), whose banner bears the emblem of a bull and who is embodied as the letter Shi. II3II

I prostrate before the God of Gods, who is worshipped and prayed to by great sages such as Vashishtha, Agastya and Gautama, whose eyes are sun, moon and the fire and who is embodied as Vakaara, the letter Va.  II4II

Prostrations to the sacred Lord who is the Yaksha incarnate, whose hairs are long and matted, who holds Pinaaka (trident) in His hand, who has the entire sky as His attire and who is embodied as the letter Ya. II5II

Whoever repeats this prayer composed with the five holy letters before Lord Shiva, attains that supreme abode of His and enjoys the eternal Bliss. II6II 

Shri Shiva Aarti

OM  JAI  SHIV  OMKARA, PRABHU  JAI  SHIV   OMKARA
BRAHMA  VISHNU   SADA SHIV,     ARDHANGII   DHARA
OM  HAR  HAR  HAR  MAHADEV...

EKANANA   CHATURANAN,      PANCHANAN   RAJE
HANSANAN,   GARURAASAN,    VRISHVAHAN   SAJE
OM  HAR   HAR  HAR  MAHAD EV...

DO BHUJA, CHAAR  CHATURBHUJA, DASHABHUJA  ATI  SOHE
TEENO ROOP NIRAKHATE,       TRIBHUVAN   JAN   MOHE
OM  HAR HAR   HAR   MAHADEV...

AKSAMALA   VANAMALA, RUNDAMALA    DHARI
TRIPURARI   KANSARI  ,  KARMALA    DHARI
OM  HAR  HAR   HAR   MAHADEV...

SHVETAMBARA   PITAMBARA, BAAGHAMBARA   ANGE
BRAHMADIK    SANAKAADIK,    BHUTAADIK    SANGE
OM   HAR   HAR   HAR   MAHADEV...

KARA   MADHYE   SUKAMANDALU   ,

CHAKRA  TRISHUL DHARI SUKH-KARI   DUKH-HARI ,    

JAG- PALAN - KARI

OM  HAR   HAR   HAR   MAHADEV...

BRAHMA   VISHNU   SADASHIVA,   JANATA   AVIVEKA
PRANAVAKSAR   ME   SHOBHIT,   YE    TEENO EKA
OM  HAR   HAR   HAR  MAHADEV...

TRIGUN SWAMI  JI  KI   AARTI , JO KOI  NAR GAVE
KAHATA  SHIVANANDA   SWAMI ,   MANA VANCHITA PHALA PAVE
OM  HAR   HAR   HAR   MAHADEV...

OM  JAI  SHIV  OMKARA, PRABHU JAI  SHIV   OMKARA
BRAHMA  VISHNU   SADA   SHIV,     ARDHANGII   DHARA
OM  HAR  HAR  HAR  MAHADEV...

OM  HAR  HAR  HAR  MAHADEV.........x (3)

§     Involve children in Pujas for passing on our religion, culture and traditions to them

§     What we are today is because of our parents.

§     We should be aware of our culture and religion and it’s a matter of pride to be Hindus which  doesn’t come in the way of respecting other faiths, beliefs and culture.

§     A true Hindu believes in   Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The whole world is my family).

With Best Wishes

-on behalf of Hindu Samaj Australia Inc

Pandit Akashdeep

Phone: 03 833 88937

Mobile: 040 2659 605

panditakashdeep@hotmail.com

www.gyanbhakti.com

Hindu Pujas in Melbourne- Saraswati Puja

Our Festivals - Vasant Panchami    

Saraswati Puja   28 Jan 2012

.

प्रणों  देवी  सरस्वती  वाजेभिर  वाजिनीवति  धीनां  वित्र्यवतु

Prano Devi Saraswati Vajebhir Vajineevati Dheenam Vitrayavatu

Vasant Panchami (वसन्त पञ्चमी), sometimes referred to as Basant Panchami or Shree Panchami (श्रीपञ्चमी), is a Hindu festival celebrating Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and art. It is celebrated every year on the fifth day (Panchami) of Shukla Paksha of the Indian month Magh (January-February) i.e. the first day of spring. In Hinduism Saraswati (सरस्वती ) is the goddess of knowledge, music and the arts. She is the consort of Brahma. Saraswati is considered to be the "Mother of the Vedas.

The name Saraswati came from "saras" (meaning "flow") and "wati" (implying "a woman"). So, Saraswati is symbol of knowledge; its flow (or growth) is like a river and knowledge is supremely alluring, like a beautiful woman. In Vedic times   the auspicious river Saraswati used to flow in North India to meet Ganga and Yamuna at the Triveni. This river is said to have vanished in Kaliyuga as people have become extremely materialistic and gyan (knowledge) has become sparse.

 Also the Sanskrit word Sara means "essence" and Swa means "self." Thus Saraswati means "the essence of the self." Saraswati is represented in Hindu mythology as the divine consort of Lord Brahma, the Creator of the universe. Since knowledge is necessary for creation, Saraswati symbolizes the creative power of Brahma. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped by all persons interested in knowledge, especially students, teachers, scholars, and scientists.

In Her popular images and pictures, Goddess Saraswati is generally depicted with four arms, wearing a white sari and seated on a white lotus. She holds a book and a rosary in Her rear two hands, while the front two hands are engaged in the playing of a lute (veena).

 There is a peacock by Her side gazing at Her. This symbolism illustrates the following spiritual ideas:

\  The lotus is a symbol of the Supreme Reality, and a white lotus also denotes supreme knowledge. By sitting on a lotus, Saraswati signifies that She is Herself rooted in the Supreme Reality, and symbolizes supreme knowledge. The white color symbolizes purity and knowledge. The white sari that the Goddess is wearing denotes that She is the embodiment of pure knowledge.

\  The four arms denote Her omnipresence and omnipotence. The two front arms indicate Her activity in the physical world and the two back arms signify Her presence in the spiritual world. The four hands represent the four elements of the inner personality. The mind (manas) is represented by the front right hand, the intellect (buddhi) by the front left hand, the conditioned consciousness (chitta) by the rear left hand, and the ego (ahankara) by the rear right hand.

\  The left side of the body symbolizes the qualities of the heart and the right side symbolizes activities of the mind and intellect. A book in the rear left hand signifies that knowledge acquired must be used with love and kindness to promote prosperity of mankind.

\  The rosary signifies concentration, meditation, and contemplation, leading to samadhi, or union with God. A rosary in the rear right hand representing ego conveys that true knowledge acquired with love and devotion melts the ego and results in liberation (moksha) of the seeker from the bondage to the physical world.

\  The Goddess is shown playing a musical instrument that is held in Her front hands, which denote mind and intellect. This symbol conveys that the seeker must tune his mind and intellect in order to live in perfect harmony with the world. Such harmonious living enables the individual to utilize acquired knowledge for the welfare of all mankind.

\  A swan is depicted on the left side of the Goddess. A swan is said to have a sensitive beak that enables it to distinguish pure milk from a mixture of milk and water. A swan, therefore, symbolizes the power of discrimination, or the ability to discriminate between right and wrong or good and bad. Saraswati uses the swan as Her carrier. This indicates that one must acquire and apply knowledge with discrimination for the good of mankind. Knowledge that is dominated by ego can destroy the world.

\  A peacock is sitting next to Saraswati and is anxiously waiting to serve as Her vehicle. A peacock depicts unpredictable behaviour as its moods can be influenced by the changes in the weather. Saraswati is using a swan as a vehicle and not the peacock. This signifies that one should overcome fear, indecision, and fickleness in order to acquire true knowledge.


Saraswati Mantras

1.

             या कुंदेंदु तुषारहार धवला, या शुभ्र वस्त्रावृता |   

या वीणावर दण्डमंडितकरा, या श्वेतपद्मासना ||

या ब्रह्माच्युतशंकरप्रभ्रृतिभिर्देवै: सदा वन्दिता |

सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती नि:शेष जाड्यापहा ||

Ya Kundendu Tushar Har dhawala,  Ya Shubhra Vastravrita
 Ya Veena Var Danda Manditakara, Ya Shweta Padmasana
 Ya Brahmachyut Shankar  Prabhritibhih, Devai Sada Vandita,
 Sa Mam Patu Saraswati Bhagavati,  Nihshesh Jadya Paha

Hindi / हिंदी अनुवाद:

जो कुंद फूल, चंद्रमा और बर्फ़ के हार के समान   श्वेत हैं, जो शुभ्र वस्त्र धारण करती हैं|

जिनके हाथ, श्रेष्ठ वीणा से सुशोभित हैं, जो श्वेत कमल पर आसन ग्रहण करती हैं||

ब्रह्मा, विष्णु और महेश आदिदेव, जिनकी सदैव स्तुति करते हैं|

हे माँ भगवती सरस्वती, आप मेरी सारी (मानसिक) जड़ता को हरें||

English Translation

She, who is as fair as the Kunda  flower, the moon, and a garland of Tushar flowers;

She, whose hands are adorned by the excellent veena, and whose seat is the pure white lotus;

She, who is constantly praised and glorified by Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh and other divinities;

O Mother Goddess, remove my mental inertia!

2.

     

प्रणों  देवी  सरस्वती  वाजेभिर  वाजिनीवति  धीनां  वित्र्यवतु

Prano Devi Saraswati Vajebhir Vajineevati Dheenam Vitrayavatu

Hindi / हिंदी अनुवाद:

हम देवी माँ सरस्वती से प्रार्थना करते  हैं की अपने भक्तों की बुद्धि को जागृत करें व अज्ञान को हटायें

English Translation

Salutations to Mother Saraswati who removes the ignorance of the intellects. Salutations to the Goddess of speech. May Devi Saraswati, who protects those who worship Her, protect and awaken our intelligence!

There are some local variations in celebrating Vasant Panchami in India. However, yellow colour is given special importance on this day. Mata Saraswati’s idol is dressed in yellow garments and worshipped (with Puja, Havan etc.). Men and women try to wear yellow clothes on this day. Sweetmeats of yellowish hues are exchanged with relatives and friends

Some people feed Brahmans on this day. Pitri-Tarpan (ancestor worship) is also done on this day.

Children are taught their first words on this day (as an auspicious beginning to learning). Schools, colleges etc. organise special worship of Saraswati.

Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya laid the foundations of Kashi Hindu Vishwa Vidyalaya on Vasant Panchami. This has become a world famous top class academic institution.

 In Bengal, idols of Saraswati are brought and worshipped. Floral offerings are made in a big scale. Books, articles, instruments of music and arts are placed before her. In the evening after the Puja is over, the idol is immersed in the sea with serenity unlike other major festivals. In all educational institutions of music, arts and science, Saraswati Puja is observed with great reverence.

The Festival of Vasant Panchami is observed on a grand scale in Punjab and the North when the mustard crop is ripe.  They cook yellow rice and also wear yellow garments.

Simple ways to celebrate Vasant Panchami:

Depending on time available (i.e. in morning or evening), sit with family in the Puja Room (place of worship)

Light a Deepak and Aggarbatti

Worship deities by:

·         Offering flowers

·         Applying tilak

·         Offering naivedya (halwa or sweets)

·         Offering  fruit

·         Offering Dhoopam/ Deepam

\     Worship Lord Ganesh: Om Ganeshaya Namah (12 times)

\      Worship Shri Shankar Bhagwan: Om Namah Shivaye (12 times)

\      Worship  Shri Narayana : Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevaye (5 times)

\      Worship Devi :

·         Om Durga Devyai Namah   (3 times)

·         Om Maha Lakshmyai Namah  (3 times)

·         Om Maha Saraswatyai Namah ( 108 times)

May also chant Saraswati mantras mentioned on page 3

\  Worship  Spiritual Books/ Educational Books by offering flowers, dhoopam/deepam

\ Worship  Musical Instruments  by offering flowers, dhoopam/deepam

\ Take blessings of elders

·         Involve children in Pujas for passing on our religion, culture and traditions to them

·         What we are today is because of our parents.

·         We should be aware of our culture and religion and it’s a matter of pride to be Hindus which doesn’t come in the way of respecting other faiths, beliefs and culture.

·         A true Hindu believes in  Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The whole world is my family).

 

 With Best Wishes -on behalf of Hindu Samaj Australia Inc

Pandit Akashdeep

Phone: 03 83388937

Mobile: 040 2659 605

panditakashdeep@hotmail.com

http://gyanbhakti.com/