~~OM~~

Question: My current sadhana consists of the Ganesha and Shiva pujas of the Shiva puja text, and then Chandi recitation. So I am worshipping mother father and their beautiful son. I am wondering if there is something I can say in the sankalpa to include them as a trinity to worship, or should I make separate sankalpa? Thank you for shining all of your light!

Swamiji's response:

Your sankalpa could read ... Sri Chandika kamah cha Shiva kamah cha Ganesh kamah puja karmaham karishye.

Many of the mantras and prayer are in Sanskrit . I know many sages and gurus reiterate that the benefits are manifold when the mantras/slokas are chanted with understanding of their meaning.
In that context, is is okay to read Chandi or any scripture in English than Sanskit. Is it okay to chant a mantra in "English meaning" form than transliteration or original sanskrit form? will the benefits be same ?

Swamiji says: It is definitely important to understand what we are saying.
When we recite the Sanskrit sounds, we get great benefits on many levels. When we recite with understanding we get even greater benefits on many more levels.
It is more than OK to recite the translations as well as the original texts. It is preferred. After some time of reciting both the Sanskrit and the translations, we will find the correspondence between the two, and intuit the meanings on a multitude of levels.
Highly recommended.

Would just listening to a scripture - like the 300 names or 1000 names of Lalita or even Chandi Paath, also be as fruitful as much as reading it?

Swamiji says:
Yes, it is written so in Chapter Twelve (of the Chandi). However, it means to hear and understand and internalize, not just to have a tape or CD playing in the background

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 3oo names? Or has Swamiji made it easier for those who dont have time to chant 1000 names?

Swamiji says: 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.

In the video "Om Namah Shivaya", I noticed that Maa uses the thumb and index fingers to move the mala. I have heard that index fingers are not to touch the mala. Can Swamiji please comment.
Swamiji says:
That is the method that Shree Maa uses to worship Shiva. But the important thing is not which finger you use, but that you do the japa. So many people waste so much time debating which finger to use, that they do not perform the practices.


Could Rudraksha beads be used for Narasimha mantras, and Ganesha/Lakshmi mantras?
Swamiji says:
Yes. More traditional would be a tulasi mala, but followers of Shiva and Shakti can definitely use rudraksha.


Is it forbidden to eat meat when using Rudraksha?
Swamiji says:
Is the question, "At the same time," or "While wearing?"
Generally, there are vegetarians and non-vegetarians. There is nothing "Forbidden." It is just a question of the practices one observes.
Vaishnavas forbid. Shaivites and Shaktis request us to use our discrimination.

We suddently lost our dog, that has been with us for almost 10 years. Is there any puja or mantra that I could do, and also can a dog attain liberation.I have always offered my pet ,a part of the prasad from my worship, will this in anyway help the next birth of the dog.

Swamiji says:
It would be appropriate to chant Mahamrityunjaya Mantra.
Animals do not attain liberation. They become reborn in another form - possibly human.
It is appropriate to offer prayers and to perform pujas for the upliftment of that soul.

I have seen the video on Satyanarayan vrat ( http://www.shreemaa.org/drupal/node/721) but it doesnt give the instruction on how to perform the puja. Is it possible to get the instruction on how to perform the Satyanarayan puja?

Swamiji says: 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.

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.

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

During Purascharana, when the mantra is chanted at high speeds, there is a chance that Mantras are repeated incoherently. Are these chants of any use? Doesn't the Mantra's Deity know that the chant is directed towards Him or Her and accepted anyway? Or is Mantra Sabda Spashtatha (Clarity of Sound of Mantra) of prime importance with Guru Mantra.

Swamiji says:
There are many aspects of our worship to which we are required to pay attention simultaneously: asana, pranayam, intonation, meaning, method, order, etc.
If we make mistakes, which invariably we will, then we beg forgiveness. BUT we ware trying with sincerity. That is the greatest exemplification of our devotion.
How many times did Shankaracharya write: I don't know mantras, yantras, tantras, worship, etc. But I am going to keep on trying to worship you anyway.

There are many stories that I have heard when the Deity is not pleased with the person who is chanting. What is the right attitude and right method of chanting?

Swamiji says:
The best attitude I can suggest is:
Dear God,
I am going to do the best I can to please you through my worship. If you are pleased, then please grant me the fruit of my worship. If you are not pleased, then please teach me how to worship in such a way that you will become pleased.