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Devi Mandir

Temple of Divine Mother

  • देवी मंदिर हिंदी में
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Shivaratri Questions and Answers with Swamiji

Abhishekam

Question:

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?

Swamiji Says:

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.

Question:

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 is early because of how many people come, but I was curious as to why I see so many places do one at 1 AM instead of at Midnight. Same with 3 AM instead of 4 AM?

Swamiji Says:

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.

Question:

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

Swamiji Says:

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.

Offerings

Question:

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

Swamiji Says:

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

Question:

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?

Swamiji Says:

Yes.

Question:

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

Swamiji Says:

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.

Bhajans

Question:

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?

Swamiji Says:

Just sing about God!

Join Online Satsangha

Click HERE for online satsangha with Shree Maa and Swamiji. Class is held every day in the morning and evening at 7:30a (PST) and 8:00p (PST).

Miss a class or want to stream them on your devices? Please click HERE.

Jai Maa!

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  • Home
  • About Us
  • What’s New
  • Ways to Worship
    • Cosmic Puja Presentation
    • Goddesses
      • Annapurna
      • Chandi
      • Durga
      • Gayatri
      • Kali
      • Lakshmi
      • Lalita
      • Saraswati
    • Gods
      • Ganesh
      • Hanuman
      • Krishna
      • Navagraha
      • Rama
      • Shiva
      • Vishnu
    • Gurus
    • Mantras
    • Philosophy
  • Spiritual Life
    • Astrology
    • Cooking
    • FAQ
      • FAQ Deities
      • FAQ Festivals
      • FAQ General Philosophy
      • FAQ Scriptures
    • Presentations
    • Sanskrit
    • Spiritual Business
    • Stories and Articles
    • Travel
    • Wisdom on Relationships
    • Yoga
  • Free Classes
    • Video Classes
      • Introductory
        • Shiva Puja
        • Durga Puja
        • Ganesha Puja
        • Guru Gita
          • Guru Gita – 2013
          • Guru Gita – 2006
        • Ramakrishna: The Nectar of Eternal Bliss
        • Swami Purana
        • Tattva Jnana 
      • Intermediate
        • Annapurna Sahasranama
        • Bhagavad Gita
          • Bhagavad Gita – 2013
          • Bhagavad Gita – 2006
        • Gayatri Sahasranam
        • Hanuman Puja
          • Hanuman Puja – 2006
        • Kashyapa Sutra
        • Lakshmi Puja
        • Lalita Trishati
          • Lalita Trishati – 2013
          • Lalita Trishati – 2006
        • Pronunciation and the Chandi Samputs
        • Satyanarayan Vrat Katha
        • Sundar Kanda
      • Advanced
        • Aparajita Stotram
        • Chandi Path
          • Chandi Path – 2010
        • Cosmic Puja
        • Devi Gita
          • Devi Gita – 2013
          • Devi Gita – 2007
        • From Birth to Death: Sixteen Initiations
        • Kali Puja
        • Rudrashtadhyayi
        • Shiva Puja and Advanced Yajna
          • Shiva Puja and Advanced Yajna – 2006
    • Video Excerpts
    • Podcast Commentaries
      • Introductory
        • Bhuta Shuddhi
        • Ramakrishna Series
        • Sadhu Stories from the Himalayas
        • Sandhi Puja
        • Shree Maa on Gurus
      • Intermediate
        • Bhagavad Gita
        • Lalita Trishati Stotram
      • Advanced
        • Chandi Path
        • Devi Gita
        • Devi Yajna
        • Five Fires Sadhana
        • Kali Puja
        • Rudrashtadhyayi
        • Sahasra Chandi Yajna
    • Podcast Chanting
      • Introductory
        • Durga Mantra
        • Ganesha Mantra
        • Mahamrtyunjaya Mantra
      • Intermediate
        • Hanuman Puja
        • Lalita Trishati Stotram
      • Advanced
        • Advanced Shiva Puja
        • Chandi Path
        • Cosmic Puja
        • Rudrashtadhyayi
        • Sundar Kanda
    • Swamiji’s Bhava Videos
      • Puja Techniques
      • Sahib Sadhu
      • Shivaratri Q&A
      • Swami Ramkripalu Visits
      • The Story of Two Men and the Prostitute
  • Shree Maa Sings
    • Shree Maa Sings (audio)
    • Shree Maa Sings (video)
    • Shree Maa Bhava Videos
  • Our Store
  • Get Involved
    • Contact Us
    • Devi Mandir Facebook Page
    • Continuing Education Credit
    • Sponsor/Donate
    • Food Sponsorship: Devi Mandir Food Program
  • Other Languages