~~OM~~

Lakshmi

1. In the Laksmi Puja there doesn't seem to be the nectar bath offering. Why?

   All the offerings are in the Cosmic Puja. I didn't want to keep cutting and pasting from one book to another, so I gave the shell of the puja, and you can supplement as per your desire.

Shrim

2. You have translated Shrim as Increase. Can you help me understand what it increases?

   Anything you want. Actually Sh means peace; r means your mind; ii means your intuition; m means perfection. That which brings your mind and intuition to perfection (increase) is Shrim. It is the bija mantra of Lakshmi.

   Lalita

3. Can we recite Lalita Sahasranaam before the altar of Durga?

   Absolutely. There is no scripture that the Gods and Goddesses do not like to hear!

4. Swamiji talks about chanting the 300 names of Lalita as greater and fruitful than Her 1000 names. Does this mean the thousand names are not as powerful as the 300 names? Or has Swamiji made it easier for those who don't have time to chant 1000 names?

   No, verse 103 specifically states that the recitation of the 300 names is 10 million times more fruitful than the 1,000 names. And if we recite them both, we receive 110% of the fruits of sadhana.



Vishnu

5. In chanting the Vishnu Sahasranam, if you only have a limited amount of time, is it better to chant just the thousand names or just the puja?

   If you really are short on time can you break up the chanting of the thousand names into two separate sittings and should you do puja before both?

   It would be best to continue to practice each section, until it flows comfortably. Then link them all together, and the recitation will be yours.

Satyanrayan Vrat

6. I have seen the video on Satyanarayan Vrat. But it doesn't give the instruction on how to perform the puja. Is it possible to get the instruction on how to perform the Satyanarayan puja?

   The actual puja is the vow to speak and act in truth. The Vishnu puja in the beginning of the book is sufficient to ratify that sankalpa. Then read the Vrat, the story of other people who observed the vow.

Maha Saraswati and Maha Kali

7. Saraswati is giving us knowledge and yet Maha Kali is Jnana Shakti. How do we understand this?

   Watch and hear Swamiji's answer by clicking on this icon: .

Tara

8. I would like to modify the Beginner Durga Puja to pray to Tara Devi. Can you please tell me the Gayatri Mantra and Pranam for Tara Ma? Also any stotram that I can chant in her praise. Thank you

   Tara Gayatri: Om Tarave vidmahe, mahaugrave dhimahi, Tanno Tarah prachodayat.
   Pranam : Om Treem Tarave namah.
   Stotram : You can use any Kali stotram, or any generic Devi stotram
   

Dasa Mahavidya Puja

9. Is the puja to the Dasa Mahavidyas done as a whole?

   You can perform either individually for each deity or collectively as a whole.

Santoshi Maa

10. I'm about halfway through performing the 16-week Santoshi Mata fast,and now am starting to get a little worried about how I will be able to get the udyapan performed to conclude the fast. I am supposed to feed eight boys with kheer and gram curry and be sure that none of them eats any sour food for the entire day.

    I don't personally have any boys to invite/feed, and have no one among my family or friends who would understand or partake of this kind of thing. Does Swamiji have any suggestion on how to perform this udyapan? Is it possible to have this done at a temple in the US or India, or is there an alternative ceremony that I could do that doesn't involve feeding Brahmin boys (since I don't know any)?

    Yes, you can perform this udyapan at a local temple. Call the priest and ask how he or she can help you organize the puja and what would be appropriate in their tradition.

    If you choose, we could help organize the puja here.

11. I have a question about Santoshi Maa. I'm confused as to whether she is a Devi conceived by the popular bollywood movie of the same title, or if there are historical references to Santoshi Maa before the movie. From what I had read, I had understood that the former was the correct assertion.

    Santoshi Maa was a Goddess long before there were movies. The movie is a depiction of some of the main stories of her katha.

12. I was watching a program on Santoshi Maa and it was mentioned if one kept a fast for 8 continuous Saturdays, Santoshi Maa has never failed to give her devotees the desires of her heart. Could you please give me more information.

    That is written in Her Katha, the story of Santoshi Maa. However, I don't think that it would be enforceable in a court of law. The devotee requires the right motivation, the right concentration, the right planning and execution. But it is written.

Indra

13. Following Maa's request to do daily recitation of Indra mantra for rain, it has been raining well in Georgia, USA. What is the best way to thank Indra to show him how grateful we are?

    Continue to recite the mantra at least one mala each day.