Photos of deities

dear chitra,

all murugan photos and details are wonderful .

raji

 

Hi, I am giving the links, go thro. and decide for urself.

(links are not allowed & hence deleted)----------------------

I give importance to the pooja and offer prasad both in the morning and the evening. sundal, payasam, kheer or what people like at home or to the liking of friends. I do not go the book as for as prasad is concerned. people should enjoy what we give and it should be palatable. I normally prepare at home because of the upbringing and madi. I do believe all these.

Lakshmi Puja is one of the most important pujas performed by Hindus. It is done to seek blessings and favor from Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. Based on the Puranas, each Hindu deity has favorite flowers and leaves and it is used for pujas and other rituals. Lakshmi puja is mainly performed during Diwali or Deepavali. Another major Lakshmi Puja is the Varalakshmi Puja during Sravana or Sawan month in South India.


Here is a list of flowers and leaves that are used in Lakshmi Puja:


Lotus: Goddess Lakshmi is associated with Lotus and she is portrayed. Lotus is Kamal in Hindi, Ambuja, Padma, Pankaja, kamala in Sanskrit, Ambal and Thamarai in Tamil, Kamala and Tavaregadde in Kannada, Thamara and Senthamara in Malayalam, Padam in Oriya, Padma in Bengali, Kamala in Marathi, Lalung and Erra Tamara in Telugu and Suriyakamal in Gujarati.


Durva Grass (Dhruva) is an important offering to Goddess Lakshmi. This grass is an important element in most Hindu pujas. It is known as arugam pul in Tamil, Dhub, Durva and Haritali in Hindi (North India), Hariali in Kannada. Bermuda or Bahama Grass is the English name.


Fragrant Screw Pine: There are numerous myth in Hinduism associated with screw pine. It is used in several pujas and avoided by some deities. It is Umbrella Tree, Screw pine and Screw tree in English, Keora (Hindi), Mugali (Telugu), Ketuki (Bengali), Thazhampoo (Tamil, Kannada), Kaita (Malayalam), Kevada (Marathi, Gujarati), Ketaki (Sanskrit).


The flower that is usually avoided during Lakshmi puja is Thumba poo a small white bell-shaped flower.


The flowers used also vary from region. Lotus is considered to be most important flower in Lakshmi Puja.

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regarding dolls, pray with what u have, marapacchi means wooden dolls, they are considered to be good especially during navarathri pooja. If u have, pray with what u have. dolls can be of any make.

reg. gods face in kalsam, change according to durga, lakshmi, saraswathi days and pray.

we do kolam in front of the house everyday. in front of kolu, new kolam everyday. can be small, nothing to worry?

Kannika girl can be small or un-married, depending on availability, very sacred pooja.

Normally we put off the oil lamp in the night mainly for safety reasons, If u feel u r safe, no need to diffuse.

Regarding gifts, I do not follow the old system of only mirror, jacket etc., main Item is haldi and kumkum for ladies. I buy and keep materials which will be of use like Kolathattu,
Maavilai thoranam, pooja vidhi/prayer books, material which are useful to kids ( if we give to kids), sometimes grownup children, u can give calculator, ipod, items useful for children according to age, anything according to ur affordablity, main thing is it should be useful and not recycled or thrown in the attic.

I sometimes give prayer cds/dvds, to selected few. I do not give same item to everyone. it differs. I go to different temples down south, kumbakonam/thanjavur belt, pondicherry, diff. places in kerala and karnataka, andhra to name a few. I buy idols which are rare like navarathna ganesha, amman in different forms, rare deities and give the same to people who believe and cherish. they will keep and pray and remember. I try not to repeat the same every year.
Try to be innovative and creative. I buy kolam stickers of different deities and distribute, these are not costly but will be of help to all especially people who reside outside India. u will succeed and enjoy. people who receive also will benefit and they may follow u.

best wishes for ur poojas. / pray for me too.

chitra.g/reply?

 

Dear Chitraji,

Thanks for providing very good information about Navarathri and the link provided by you is very nice.

Thanks a lot for helping us out by providing very nice and wonderful information.

 

The Krishnar photos and the pdf file given by you are very good. No words to praise your work.

The Murugar pictures are very good. Thanks a lot.

 

Aananda Valli Stotram
[Prayer to the Goddess of Happiness]

Namasthe Lalithe Devi,
Srimath Simhasaneshwari,
Bhakthanam ishtathe matha,
Sri Ananda valli namosthute. 1

I salute Goddess Lalitha
Who is the one who sits on the throne,
And who is the beloved mother to her devotees,
Ananda Valli, to you are my saluutations.

Chandrodayam kruthavathi,
Thadangena Maheswari,
Ayur dehi Jagan Matha,
Sri Ananda valli namosthute. 2

Oh great Goddess, who made,
Moon to rise with your ear studs,
Please grant me long life,
Ananda Valli, to you are my salutations.

Agasthyesa Sri Kanthe,
Saranagatha vathasale,
Arogyam dehi may nithyam,
Sri Ananda valli namosthute. 3

Oh Goddess who is consort of Lord of Agasthya,
Who loves dearly those who completely submit to you.
Please grant me health,
Ananda Valli, to you are my salutations.

Kalyani Mangalam dehi,
Jagath mangala kaarini,
Iyswaryam dehi may nithyam,
Sri Ananda valli namosthute. 4

Oh Kalayani give me good,
For you are the maker of good to the universe,
Please grant me daily wealth,
Ananda Valli, to you are my salutations.

Chandra Mandala madhyasthe,
Maha Tripura sundari,
Sri Chakra raja nilaye,
Sri Ananda valli namosthute. 5

Oh Greatest beauty of Tripura,
Who is in the middle of the moon,
And who lives as queen in the Sri Chakra,
Ananda Valli, to you are my salutations.

Rajeeva lochane poorne,
Poorna chandra vidhayini,
Soubhagyam dehi may nithyam,
Sri Ananda valli namosthute. 6

Oh Complete goddess with lotus eyes,
Who looks like the full moon,
Please grant me luck,
Ananda Valli, to you are my salutations.

Ganesa skanda janani,
Veda roope dhanseswari,
Keerthi, vrudhim cha may devi,
Sri Ananda valli namosthute. 7

Oh mother of Ganesa and Subrahmanya,
Who is the form of Vedas,
Who is the goddess of wealth,
Please grant me fame and betterment,
Ananda Valli, to you are my salutations.

Suvasinee priye matha,
Soumangalya vardhini,
Mangalyam dehi may nithyam,
Sri Ananda valli namosthute. 8

Oh mother who loves ladies,
Who increases their luck,
Please give me all that is good, daily,
Ananda Valli, to you are my salutations.

Parvaradhanai bhakthya,
Ishtanaam ishta daayithe,
Sri lalithe dhanam may nithyam,
Sri Ananda valli namosthute. 9

She who gives salvation through devotion,
She who gives what they want, to them whom she likes.
Oh Lalitha, please give me wealth daily,
Ananda Valli, to you are my salutations.

Sri Ananda valleer idham stotram,
Ya padeth shakthi sannidhou,
Ayur balam Yaso varcho,
Mangalam cha bhaveth sukham. 10

If this prayer addressed to Ananda Valli,
Is read in the temple of the Goddess Shakthi,
Long life, strength, fame, wealth,
All that is good and pleasant life would be granted.

best wishes/reply/chitra.g

rare photo of Saint Thyagaraja-the great!

 

Dear Chithra,

Many Thanks for the wonderful stothram of Aananda Valli.

Warm regards
Saras

Aananda Valli Stotram
[Prayer to the Goddess of Happiness]

 

Dear Uma,

Thanks for the lovely photos of Santana laxmi.
and many thanks for sharing.


Warm regards
Saras

 

Maa Maha Kali Aarti
[Worship of Mother Kali in Hindi]



Prema Sahitha nita karun aarthi,
Maha kali maiya ki,
Arid ala daranii, mangala bharani,
Dukh hrini, sukhadaiyaa ki. 1

Daily I will Worship with love,
The great mother Kali,
Who tears her enemies to pieces,
Who bestows blessings on her devotees,
Who is the destroyer of sorrow,
And creator of pleasure.

Tumahi aagama bhava bharne vali,
Tumahi jagatha laya karne vali,
Thumahe kashta lagee bhatana para.
Aakara turata sahaiyya ki. 2

You are the one who populates the universe,
You are the one who dissolves the universe,
You are the one who helps fast,
Your devotees in distress.

Tumhin prabala ho hari ki Shakthi,
Rudra bhava shankara ki bhakthi,
Thumhin janani patavaraa bani,
Ika sevaka Sundara naiyaa kii. 3

You are indomitable power of Hari,
You are the devotion to the angry shankara,
And you are mother the pedal that steers,
The boat of life of this devotee Sundara.


Bow to Maa's feet/chitra.g /reply?

 

Dear ILites , I recd. a query today like this?

I am having a doubt. I am doing vaibhavalakshmi puja on Friday evenings. While preparing the Kalsam, I am not able to get Mavilai(Mango leaves.) Instead, shall I use verrtelai underneath the coconut above the Kalasa?(verrtelai means betalnut leaves we use for Thambulam).


I am a tamilian and I know vetrilai, thengai etc., funny that in chennai it is difficult to obtain Maa ilai. No problem. u can use vetrilai. but i have a suggestion, Maa ilai is available in silver at most of the jewellery shops. U can buy and use them along with vetrilai. U get vilvam, lotus flower, arugampul etc in silver. I recommend my friends who go abroad to buy and take since they are not heavy and very useful items. see the pictures i have posted, u get even banana leaf. check with the people who are selling silver as well as gold items. it is available in silver as well as gold or gold plated? let us buy useful things for pooja rather than keeping in the cupboard or in locker. let us present the kids or friends such useful items.

I am not a master in this subject. but I have consulted elders and friends who are seniors before writing this. I have a suggestion to all. Now most of our children are working away from India. they want to follow our culture. I have purchased arugampul, vilwam, flowers in diff. forms for pooja, betel leaf etc., and given to them as present. I sincerly request all elders to consider to present the children at the time of marriage all these than some old items which may not be of use. they are small and very useful.

U get rice, pipal leaves and so many other items as a travel kit. check and buy, very useful. see the kumbha with silver mango leaves.

hope the suggestion is useful and comments welcome?

best wishes/chitra.g

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Annapurna Devi Aarthi
[The Prayer to Goddess Annapurna]

[Aarthi are Hindi prayer songs, sung in a chorus with the waving of lamps before gods. This prayer is addressed to Goddess Annapurna, the presiding Goddess of Benares.]

Bharambhar pranaam maiya, Bharambhar pranaam,
Jo dhyave thumhi Ambike, kahan use vishram,
Annapurna devi naam thiharo, leth hoth sab kaam,
Pralaya yuganthar aur janmanthar, kalanthar thak naam,
Sur surom ki rachanaa karthi, kahan Krishna kahan ram,
Choomhi charan chathur chaturanan, charu chakradhar shyam,
Chandra chood chandranan chakar shobha laghi salaam,
Devi deva dayaneeya dasa mein, dhaya dhaya thab jama,
Thrahi, thrahi saranagath vathsal, sharanaroop thava dhaam,
Sri hi sradha, sri iye vidhya, sri kallee kamal kaam,
Kaanthi bhaanthi mayeekaanthi shaanthi sayovar dethu nishkaam.

Again and again, I salute you, mother, again and again,
He who thinks of you Oh goddess, where is need for rest for him,
Take the name of Annapurna and all your jobs will be done,
Till the deluge, from time of birth and from the beginning of time, your name,
Would compose the music of Gods and where is Krishna, where is Rama,
Your feet are kissed by the four handed Lord Brahma,
And the pretty black God who holds the holy wheel,
The great God who wears the moon is getting his brightness by saluting you,
Oh Goddess, in bad straits the devas are gathering your mercy by praying you,
Please save me, save me oh Goddess who loves those who surrender to you,
For your temple is nothing but the great personification of your devotees,
She is the only attention, she is the only knowledge,
Her job is to make this Kali age blossom like lotus,
Oh goddess who is like light, please give me the light of peace and make me without work.

 

Hello Chitraji...very nice of you to suggest about silver items for daily puja. I have ceratin items but not all. While coming here i was able to get few things (since out of stock at shops).

Can u please suggest me a shop where can i get all these at Bangalore...my Inlaws might come in August, so i can tell them to purchase it from there.

I need to buy silver Mango leaves for kalasham, Bilva leaves 108 in numbers, Those lotus (108) flowers are really good, Hanuman Yantra, Silver coins for arachanai (108), mangal Sutra for Gowri puja, Dhurva grass(garike - for ganesha) haara, Modakas (5/7 in number) and also Saraswati face (for sticking to kalasham) Plz suggest me a shop at bangalore....to buy all these.

And thanks a lot for clearing all my doubts regarding navarathri puja thanks so much. The face to be stuck we can change every 3 days right? but I have lakshmi face, gowri face I can use it for Durga right? for saraswati i have not sen any face (sticking to kalasham) ... if u have picture of it plz do share.


And one more thing is ... for lakshmi puja and other pujas we keep the ornaments we wear for kalasha alankaram... but some people say we r not supposed to ... should keep separate set of jewellery for God/goddess/kalasham... what do u say?