~~OM~~

Shivaratri

1. Please inform me as to the order of Abhishekam for Shivaratri. There are milk, yogurt, honey and ghee baths. What time of day or night do they occur?

   The order is correct. We will perform four times. The first will start at 5 PM. We start early because of the number of people who will attend. It could be at 6 PM. Second will be at 10 PM. Third at 1 AM. Fourth at 3 AM. Mangal Arati at 4 AM, and then we will be ready for the first morning puja by 5 AM.

2. Are the times for doing the abhishekams traditionally fixed or is it okay to space them out as one sees fit. I know that the Mandir does the first one early because of how many people come but I was curious as why I see so many places do one at 1 AM instead of at Midnight. Same with 3 AM instead of 4 AM?

   The four praharas are 6, 9, 12, and 3. Anyone can improvise according to local traditions or needs.

   Footnote: In Hindu belief, time is a cyclical rather than linear concept. The day is divided into eight sections of three hours each called prahar in Sanskrit.

3. What are the items that can be mixed with milk for the Maha Abhishekam and what stuti/stotra is best during this Maha Abhishekam?

   Often they read the fifth chapter of Rudrastadyayi, along with continuous pouring of milk. Sometimes they mix the paran, ground rice with milk, nuts, raisins, sugar to taste.

4. For Shivaratri, do you melt the ghee when you offer it for an abhishekham?

   You will want to keep it warm. You could melt it before bringing it to pour over the lingam.

5. Can I offer all the four ingredients (milk, yoghurt, honey and ghee) for all the four pujas ? Can I do the beginner Shiva puja four times - one each during the special puja times through the night.

   Yes.

6. Why do we at the Mandir only offer 4 out of the 5 offerings of Panchamrit during Shivaratri ? Why do we not offer sugar?

   Traditionally there are four pujas. We offer the sugar at the end, when we collect all the ingredients and make them into the completed prasad, called Paran. We use this to break the fast.

7. In Your opinion, if one is going to engage in all night ceaseless bhajan on Maha Sivaratri, is it most appropriate to only chant/sing Siva Bhajans or to allow for bhajans to Ram and Devi/Sakti as well?

   Just sing about God!

Navaratri

8. Could you please let me know if there are six Navaratris and are they Varsha, Sharad, Shishir, Hemant, Vasant, Grishma?

   Navaratri can be celebrated at any time. Most often it is observed from Pratipad to Navami or from Shashti to Purnima or Amavashya. There are four Navaratris which are special: Magh, Chaitra, Ashadh, and Ashvin. These correspond to winter, spring, summer, and fall.

9. How do you observe Navaratri at the Mandir?

   Mahalaya is the new moon before the Navaratri begins. We will perform the Cosmic Puja, complete Shraddha and Tarpana, and complete Chandi. The day after Mahalaya is the first day of Navaratri. Every day we will perform the Cosmic Puja, and complete Chandi. We will break the fast on the 8th night (ashtami).

10. Can you please suggest any guidelines for people wishing to observe the Navaratri fast in the same way that you do. (24 hours X 9 days. No water, no food)

    Start off small and be content with small steps. Observe 24 hours with only water, then drink. Actually you will probably want salt more than water. Then try three days. And eat only fruits and water one time a day for the remainder of the nine days. Slowly you will extend it.

11. I am from Orissa, Bhubaneswar. We have a Shri Banadurga Devi temple here. For Navaratri, the temple celebrates 16 days puja. Why do we celebrate 16 days puja in all Devi Temples?

    This is a local tradition without scriptural reference. Ask the local priest as to the origins of this tradition.

12. We have a protima of Maa Ashtadasabhuja Mahalakshmi Durga for which Puja is done every day. During Navaratri is it necessary or essential to do a Kumbha or Ghata sthapana in addition to this? Or can we do the Puja and all Upacharams to the protima?

    Of what material is the murti constructed? If it is clay, you will want to make abhishek in a bowl in front of the deity. Or it may be too messy to pour your baths over the murthi even if it is sculpted from marble. That is why we establish a yantra every day in front of the murthi, and make all the abhishekams to the yantra.

13. It is my understanding that no grains, or salty food is to be eaten during Navaratri. It is a symbolic giving up for the goddess. Are fruit and vegetables ok? To fast completely is for a greater tapas, and austerity. Is this correct?

    The fasting gives forth a number of benefits. We suggest that everyone observe the vow according to their own capacity: the needs of the body, the activities in which the body must engage during the vow, etc. Some will give up grains and pulses, some will only take fruit and dairy, some will only take water: each according to his or her own capacity.

14. How do we count Navratri? Sundown to Sundown? Sunrise to Sunrise? Or Sunrise to Sundown?

    We use a Panchanga, an almanac timed according to the phases of the moon.

15. Does one fast for 9 days during Navraatri without food, only water?

    Some will fast on only water.

16. What is the system that You and Shree Maa follow for prayers during Navratri?

    We recite the entire Cosmic Puja and Chandi Path every day.

17. When during Navaratri do we worship Durga, when Lakshmi, and when Saraswati? What prayers are done during this period? Can Lalita Stotram also be recited?

    We perform the entire Cosmic Puja every day. That includes Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasarasvati.

    Lalita can also be recited, but Chandi Path is not to be neglected.

18. I would like to know is it possible to do homa of 108 names of Durga Ma from the Chandi Path for Navaratri?

    Yes.

Yogini Ekadashi

19. Why is Yogini Ekadashi auspicious?

    All the Ekadashis are auspicious. This one celebrates the 64 yoginis who sit on our yantra as a part of the Cosmic Puja.

Diwali

20. I would like to know what pujas are done prior week to Diwali and on the main day. Why do people light a diya (lamp) outside for Yam Dev prior evening before Diwali?

    We perform the entire Cosmic Puja every day, just to make sure, but traditionally people worship Lakshmi - Ganesh, Gauri - Mahesh, and on the Bengal side they also worship Saraswati and Kartik.

    Diwali is preceeded by Kali Puja. Kali takes away the Darkness, while Diwali celebrates the Light. So the light is offered to Yama, who is the ultimate power of control.

21. There is a Lakshmi-Kubera Puja that is traditionally practised during Diwali. Could Shree Maa and Swamiji give us some hints on how to attune to Kubera and Lakshmi during this upcoming festival?

    While Lakshmi is the true wealth and the definition f our goals, Kubera is the accountant and measures our progress. Lakshmi's bija is Srim: the ultimate peace in our minds and our hearts. Kubera's bija is Sam, which is the perfect equilibrium in creation. May they both bless us all during the Holiday Season.