ONLINE CLASS # 2, Session 1
TOPIC -- PUJA

srini_sadhu: Om Sang Saraswatyai Namaha!
henny_v_i: Om Sang Saraswatyai Namaha!
srini_sadhu: Nice to talk to you
henny_v_i: Nice to be here again, looking forward to the class
srini_sadhu: Me too!
Ramya: Like wise! Jai Maa!
myrikveda2 has joined the conference.
srini_sadhu: Namaste Rick
Ramya: Jai Maa!
srini_sadhu: Nice to have you here!
myrikveda2: Namaste Sriniji
myrikveda2: Thank you. Good to be here.
srini_sadhu: We have four people online now.
myrikveda2: Goeie morgen Henny
henny_v_i: Goeie morgen Rick! That's quite a surprise, you speaking Dutch
Ramya: Jai Maa Alan!
srini_sadhu: Jai Maa Kali!
kaliananda_saraswati: Namaste
Ramya: Kali! Kali! Kali!
Alan: Hello everyone
Ramya: Happy to see you all!
kaliananda_saraswati: Jai Maa
kaliananda_saraswati: Happay to be here
srini_sadhu: Swamiji just finished his Path and wished us a good class
henny_v_i: Namaste Kalia!
kaliananda_saraswati: Namaste my friend.
myrikveda2: Blessings to Swamiji also
henny_v_i: Jai Swamiji!
kaliananda_saraswati: Hope everyone is well.
amritagita: Namaste Srini, Pranaams to Shree Maa, Swamiji
kaliananda_saraswati: Jai Swamiji. Jai Shree Maa.
amritagita: Namaste Swamiji
Ramya: Srini is trying to get an invitation to another person who has come for class!
henny_v_i: the more the merrier
Ramya: Today our class is about PUJA
Ramya: Should we begin?
Ramya: Om Sam Saraswatyai Namaha!
kaliananda_saraswati: Om Sam Saraswatyai Namaha!
henny_v_i: Om Sang Saraswatyai Namaha!
amritagita: Namaste everyone!
Ramya: We'll work together the way we did last time - The way it will be easiest is if I write about a topic first – and you get to listen and learn. And then open it for discussion. Then we will move on to the next topic ok?
henny_v_i: ok
Alan: Yes
amritagita: ok
Ramya: We will talk about (a) what is puja and why we do puja? (b) different types of behavior and (c) steps in puja.
srini_sadhu: Welcome Keith!
Ramya: Welcome Keith!
keith campbell: thx
srini_sadhu: Let us start with What is Puja?
srini_sadhu: Puja is a guided meditation that takes us step by step away from our worldly concerns into the presence of God.
srini_sadhu: Can anybody share their experience with Puja
henny_v_i: the more I perform puja, the more beautiful it becomes because I don't have to look in the book all the time and can concentrate on what I am saying
srini_sadhu: That is sweet!
Alan: Yes. I am distracted by the effort involved in trying to correctly pronounce sanskrit.
henny_v_i: in my experience, it gets better after a while. But it is an effort
kaliananda_saraswati: i like the peace and silence that fills the atmosphere once the mind becomes fised on puja.
amritagita: Puja is ritualistic prayer, each step has great hidden significance and meaning, it gets us closer to our core/ GOD
Ramya: Alan - i felt that way too - but the concentration we need to figure out the mantras gives us devotion.
srini_sadhu: When I started doing Cosmic Puja I was just reading the book.
srini_sadhu: Like Henny said as you keep doing it, the Mantras become familiar and then I started looking at the deities from time to time
srini_sadhu: That became good and now I want to memorize the mantras so that I can just see them all I want
Alan: Good - there is hope
henny_v_i: And once you the mantras of the beginner's puja, you have a framework for the rest
Ramya: Swamiji says that it is all about Love. We can say "i love you Mother" in English and She will understand
srini_sadhu: A good place to start is the Beginners Siva Puja or Durga Puja
srini_sadhu: Its all about devotion and love for God and expressing and cultivating that love.
Ramya: But we want to say it in the way that Rishis who have always lived with Her do -- so the message will reach Her from the core of our being
Ramya: So little by little we try to say using the traditions - the language, the mudras, the offerings -- and as we keep doing it - the practice becomes our very own!
Ramya: It is beautiful then -- Not a discipline, but a joy!
srini_sadhu: When I was younger I used to sit in front of the altar and chant some mantras for 5 - 10 minutes and then get up to do my work
Alan: Yes
srini_sadhu: After meeting Maa and Swamiji I really understand the value of Puja
srini_sadhu: Like Kali said, it fills you with Peace after some time
srini_sadhu: In my months here, I have learned two things that Puja does
srini_sadhu: It helps cultivate attention
srini_sadhu: Second, when I finish the Cosmic Puja and see all the flowers lined up beautifully, I realize that the rest of my life should also be beautiful like this flower arrangement
kaliananda_saraswati: that is sweet Srini and very true.
srini_sadhu: Puja is a part of “siddhantachar”
srini_sadhu: Any one know what Siddhantachar is?
Alan: Behavior according to scriptures.
srini_sadhu: Super!
srini_sadhu: What are these behaviors?
keith campbell: i just managed to get the Why Puja video to play
Ramya: Great Keith! I am sure you will enjoy watching it
Ramya: One behavior in Sidhantachar is "puja"
srini_sadhu: Swamiji says that there are seven types of Siddhantachar
srini_sadhu: Welcome Kalachandra
Ramya: Welcome Kalachandra!!!!
Kalachandra Chandra: Hello dear ones. Pardon me
henny_v_i: Welcome, nice to see you
Ramya: No pardon, only
kaliananda_saraswati: Welcome Kalachandra
Kalachandra Chandra: Thanks all dears ones
Ramya: Clue: Second sidhantachar also starts with "P" and we will be discussing it next week. Anyone wants to guess?
Alan: Path
srini_sadhu: Siddhantachar consists of Puja, Path, Homa, Nrit, Geet, Pravachan, and Arpan
srini_sadhu: He calls this Nitya Karma
Ramya: Puja is formal worship, Path is chanting scriptures
mvr6482: NAMASTE TO ALL
Ramya: The 7 types of behavior in Sidhantachar are called Nitya Karma -Means Eternal Karma.
kaliananda_saraswati: namaste and welcome
Ramya: When you are doing this type of karma, Swamiji says that the door is locked -You are not creating new karma.
Kalachandra Chandra: Nasmate! Welcome dear one
srini_sadhu: Swamiji says when we do Nitya Karma with concentration we protect ourselves from creating new karma or Praarabdha
srini_sadhu: What do you think?
Alan: If we do only one or two of the seven regularly, are we still doing nitya karma?
srini_sadhu: Yes.
srini_sadhu: One day you could be doing a long Path. Another day along Puja
henny_v_i: Could you please explain what hrit, geet, pravachan and arpan mean?
Ramya: Nrit is dance, Geet is singing, Pravachan is explanation,discourse and arpan is offering
henny_v_i: thank you!
amritagita: Is puja meant to be congregational or individual
Ramya: We want to do as much of these 7 as we can -- just so as to not create new karma-- also i think its a lot of fun!
srini_sadhu: Nitya Karma is like a kavach that prtoects you, so when you get the consequences of your past actions, their effect is somewhat mollified
Ramya: Its fun to do puja to God,to sing and dance and talk about God and offer ourselves to the Divine, is it not?
srini_sadhu: It could be both Amritagita
amritagita: Thank you
srini_sadhu: Could we discuss the steps in a puja
srini_sadhu: Get into the nitty gritty
Ramya: Maa and Swamiji teach us each person can do Puja - Maa said that every heart and home is a temple and every person a pujari (priest).
srini_sadhu: Swamiji says that there five steps in aPuja
srini_sadhu: Preparation, Purification, Invitation, Union, Offering
srini_sadhu: I love them all!
srini_sadhu: How do you prepare for apuja?
myrikveda2: Get all the items together and get my mind focused.
Ramya: What items do you use Rick?
myrikveda2: offerings - water, flowers, sugar, rice, rudraksha, etc.
Ramya: And utensils too, right?
srini_sadhu: Here at the Mandir, every night some of us spend time cleaning and shining utensils so that everyone can start Puja quickly the next day
myrikveda2: yes, if I am doing the puja at my altar.
Ramya: Maa once said that if you shine utensils you will get devotion.
srini_sadhu: I used to be tired to do it initially, but now I realize the value as it saves you alot of time the next day
Ramya: She said "We don't like to eat from dirty utensils, how can we offer to God in utensils that are not shiny?"
srini_sadhu: Its copper cream time every night at the Mandir
kaliananda_saraswati:
Ramya: Swamiji says that bhava with which we do puja is that an important Guest is coming to visit us
srini_sadhu: Interesting Story Swamiji told me
srini_sadhu: After he had been doing Puja Many years
srini_sadhu: His Guru told him to do the entire Puja blindfold
srini_sadhu: He had to know exactly where every object used in worship was kept ahead of the Puja
Ramya: In summary, preparation is all about -- Shining utensils, cleaning up, offering beautiful flowers, making our altar pretty. It is joyful anticipation
srini_sadhu: Also Swamiji talks about Kram or Organization
srini_sadhu: He says its important to know exactly where you keep your items of worship so that you are not searching for them during the puja.
srini_sadhu: Once I had flowers on my left and He said keep it on your right so that you dont have to twist each time you have a flower
srini_sadhu: Thoughts? Discussion?
myrikveda2: I like to organize everything before starting. I have also learned to put the flowers on my right! what other tips do you have?
srini_sadhu: Swamiji said nice to practice Hatha Yoga so that you can reach for the items easily
srini_sadhu: Purification is the second step
kaliananda_saraswati: Just taking in what you are saying Srini. I was also remembering that as one of the flower utensil becomes empty, Swamiji would shift it to his left and bring the others closer.
kaliananda_saraswati: to his right side
srini_sadhu: Nice Kali!
amritagita: This is so awesome, all actions are meant to be puja, you have to have the preparation, all your faculties - indriyas, antah karana are instruments, do it joyfully dance, music, explain to others what you are doing and why, whatever results come are the sacrament, the blessing
Ramya: Swamiji says it all about Intention and Attention
Ramya: We purify physically – wash hands, wash lips, purify the asan and flowers. We purify water, all the offerings. We purify with OUR INENTION, with our ATTENTION.
srini_sadhu: Swamiji demonstrates time and again that Puja is about developing attention.
srini_sadhu: And in my work too he gives the same instruction.
srini_sadhu: Paying attantion means not forgetting God
Ramya: So Alan, even if we have to really concentrate on the sanskrit - it is really good - because it helps develop our concentration and attention.
Alan: Right!
srini_sadhu: Purification is really fun
srini_sadhu: What do we purify?
Alan: The things we offer.
srini_sadhu: Great! Like?
Alan: Flowers, rice.
henny_v_i: ourselves
myrikveda2: our hands and mouth
Ramya: Kalachandra - is it going ok for you?you are quiet
srini_sadhu: We purify our lips first because we would like pure sounds to come from our moth - achaman
srini_sadhu: We purify the flowers, water, offerings
Ramya: We purify ourselves within (with bhuta suddhi),we purify ourselves outside (by taking shower, wearing clean clothes,acaman)
srini_sadhu: For each we say amantra and there is amudra that goes with it
srini_sadhu: Bhta Suddhi is very important. Maa says to do it everyday
Ramya: The mantras and mudras take us to the place of perfect purity, beauty and GOD!
srini_sadhu: I meant Bhuta Suddhi
henny_v_i: Where in the puja do you do Bhuta Suddhi?
srini_sadhu: Do you all know what is Bhuta Suddhi
Alan: No
henny_v_i: Purification of the elements
srini_sadhu: It involves pronouncing a sound and at the same time concentrating on a chakra.
Alan: Is it part of puja, or something we do separately from puja?
srini_sadhu: You go up from the bottom most chakra to the top chakra
srini_sadhu: Puja is made up Vidhis or modules.
srini_sadhu: You stick them all together
srini_sadhu: So it is part of Puja. And you do the purification in general before the invitation which is the next step
keith campbell: chakras - how do you perceive them in order to concentrate on them?
srini_sadhu: Swamiji says dont worry about perceiving them
srini_sadhu: Just look toward the general area and keep doing it
srini_sadhu: Goddess will guide you to the right place
Ramya: How do we do Invitation?
keith campbell: purification - is this related to the rules of jood(?)
srini_sadhu: Partly
keith campbell: not sure hpw to spell it
srini_sadhu: You want to wear pure clothes
srini_sadhu: Jootha
keith campbell: thx
srini_sadhu: We can have long interesting discussion about Purification on the club
srini_sadhu: Invitation is really cool
henny_v_i: we invite God by opening our hearts and ask Him/Her to please come
srini_sadhu: You are directly talking to God
srini_sadhu: And asking Her to come and sit inside Your Heart
Ramya: Like Henny said!
Alan: Is the gayatri mantra an invitation?
srini_sadhu: Gayatri Mantra is a blessing or Beatitude
keith campbell: is invitation the same as invocation?
Ramya: The mantra for invitation is "Iha Gacha" which means "Please come"
srini_sadhu: We chant it whenever we seek wisdon in all the major events of yoor life
srini_sadhu: I am not sure Keith
Ramya: Invitation - is an invitation like "Please come to this party i am having in my heart"
Ramya: You are the guest of honor!
keith campbell: avahanam
srini_sadhu: You so please come
srini_sadhu: You say please come in
Alan: In the beginner Shiva Puja, which part is the invitation? I thought it was the gayatri at the beginning?
myrikveda2: very nice Ramya!
srini_sadhu: Then You Say, My Dear Devi Here is a special Seat for YOu
Ramya: Yes, Keith
keith campbell: thx
srini_sadhu: Then You say Please dont go away
srini_sadhu: And YOu say Sorry for any inconvenience I may be causing
srini_sadhu: And then you say I surrender my soul to you
srini_sadhu: When Swamiji taught me the Mudra that goes with "I surrender my soul to you", He said you should bend down as low as possible
Ramya: Alan - we don't have all the mantras in the Beginner puja book -- but when you offer the flowers before the mediation
kaliananda_saraswati: what is the name of that mudra Srini?
Ramya: In Beginner Shiva puja book, you are Inviting Lord Shiva and all the other Gods too! Is this ok?
srini_sadhu: Atma Samarpana Mudra
kaliananda_saraswati: thank you.
Ramya: Its on page 16-17
Alan: Thanks Ramya.
kaliananda_saraswati: shiva puja?
srini_sadhu: So its preparation, purification, invitation and then union and offering
Ramya: Kali - this is to answer Alan's question!
srini_sadhu: Union!!!!!!!!!!
kaliananda_saraswati: ooops - ok
srini_sadhu: Swamiji says "As a child of qualities, I have all the Godly qualities – I am one with you. I have established you within and now I am one with you."
srini_sadhu: In Cosmic Puja, we do invitation with Mudras and do Japa to the Goddess who is in our Heart
srini_sadhu: Swamiji does a minimum of 10 malas of Japa at this point
Ramya: In the Nyasa, I established the letters of the mantras in my fingers. Once when Swamiji was doing a class on “nyasa” Maa said something like -- “Don’t you feel pure? The mantras are all within you now.”
Ramya: Divine Mother is within us, and we show our love by chanting Her name!
Ramya: It is simple and yet sublime and beautiful.
srini_sadhu: After Japa, You take a flower touch your heart and carry Her on the flower from the Heart to the Altar
srini_sadhu: Because it is nice to have Her in your heart but also nice to see Her in fron of you
srini_sadhu: So the flower becomes the form of the Goddess and you can start offering Her cakes, biscuits, puddings and show how you love Her
srini_sadhu: That's Offering
srini_sadhu: Discussion?
Ramya: That is offering
srini_sadhu: Please share your thoughts
kaliananda_saraswati: the steps to becoming a lover
henny_v_i: I find it difficult to make the transition from Enhanced Shiva puja to the version with the prana pratishta. Can we discuss this in the forum later?
srini_sadhu: Definitely
keith campbell: what is difference between doing puja to deity and doing puja to master
kaliananda_saraswati: master is the deity in form
srini_sadhu: It is the same thing. We see God, our beloved in both
srini_sadhu: Maa sees Shiva in everyone
srini_sadhu: Any other questions?
myrikveda2: And Shiva sees Maa in everyone
srini_sadhu:
keith campbell: i must confess that i het more inspiration from the guru than the deity
keith campbell: get
srini_sadhu: Doing Puja everyday helps you to see God in everyone.
Ramya: Maa once said wherever you get inspiration take and Go Forward
srini_sadhu: I understand, Keith, wherever we get inspiration there we go.
srini_sadhu: Its nice to have picture of your Guru and talk to Him or Her
srini_sadhu: Should we wrap up now? I would love to keep going and hearing from you
srini_sadhu: But ...
Alan: Thank you Srini and Ramya!
srini_sadhu: Thanks Alan!
amritagita: Thank you
myrikveda2: Wonderful class Srini and Ramya!
srini_sadhu: Jai Maa AmritaGita!
Ramya: Thank you everybody. Namaste!! See you next time and also on the yahoo club!
henny_v_i: Thank you very much, have a wonderful day
amritagita: Jai Maa
kaliananda_saraswati: Thanks Ramya and Srini.