Durga ashtami puja vidhi | How to do ashtami puja at home - Durga Ashtami is one of the most auspicious days during the Navaratri festival, dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga, who symbolizes strength, courage, and the triumph of good over evil.
Durga ashtami puja vidhi | How to do ashtami puja at home
Performing the Durga Ashtami Puja is a sacred ritual that allows devotees to connect with the divine and seek blessings for health, prosperity, and protection. This day is marked by vibrant festivities, heartfelt prayers, and traditional offerings. The puja involves specific rituals and mantras, each carrying profound meanings and significance. By following the prescribed steps with devotion and sincerity, devotees can honor Goddess Durga and invite her divine grace into their lives, ensuring a year filled with positivity and strength.
Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide for performing Durga Ashtami Puja, along with the associated mantras and their meanings:
Durga Ashtami Puja Vidhi - Step by Step
Required Materials:
- Idol or picture of Goddess Durga
- Kalash (a pot filled with water)
- Vermilion (Sindoor)
- Flowers (preferably red or yellow)
- Oil lamp (Deepak with cotton wicks)
- Fruits (apples, bananas, pomegranates, etc.)
- Sweets (like laddus or any preferred sweets)
- Incense sticks (Agarbatti)
- Rice and other Puja items
Step-by-Step Puja Procedure:
- Purification (Snaan):
- Before the Puja, take a bath to purify yourself and wear clean clothes. This symbolizes spiritual cleanliness.
- Establishing the Kalash:
- Place a Kalash filled with water in your Puja area. This Kalash represents the divine presence of Goddess Durga.
- Mantra:
"ॐ जलस्य मे सुराय नमः।"
(Om Jalasya Me Suraya Namah)
Meaning: "I offer my respect to the water, which is sacred."
- Installing the Idol of Goddess Durga:
- Place the idol or picture of Goddess Durga on a clean altar. Decorate it with flowers and adorn it with beautiful clothing and ornaments.
- Mantra:
"ॐ दुर्गायै नमः।"
(Om Durgaayai Namah)
Meaning: "I bow to Goddess Durga."
- Lighting the Lamp:
- Fill the oil lamp with oil and light it. The lamp symbolizes the dispelling of darkness (ignorance) and the arrival of light (knowledge).
- Mantra:
"ॐ दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तुते।"
(Om Deepajyotir Namah)
Meaning: "I bow to the light of the lamp."
- Offering Incense:
- Light incense sticks and wave them in front of the Goddess, creating a fragrant atmosphere.
- Mantra:
"ॐ तन्मन्त्रं तस्मै देव्यै नमः।"
(Om Tanmantram Tasmai Devyai Namah)
Meaning: "I offer my respects to the goddess through this fragrance."
- Offering Flowers and Naivedya:
- Offer flowers to the goddess and present fruits and sweets as Naivedya (food offering).
- Mantra:
"ॐ महा त्रिपुर सुन्दरीyai नमः।"
(Om Maha Tripura Sundaryai Namah)
Meaning: "I bow to the great goddess Tripura Sundari."
- Performing Aarti:
- Sing the Aarti (a devotional song) while holding the lighted lamp in your hands, circling it in front of the goddess.
- Aarti Example:
"जय दुर्गा माँ, जय दुर्गा माँ।"
(Jai Durga Maa, Jai Durga Maa)
Meaning: "Hail Mother Durga!"
- Praying for Blessings:
- After Aarti, pray to the goddess for blessings, strength, and well-being for yourself and others.
- Mantra:
"ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः।"
(Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah)
Meaning: "May all beings be happy."
- Offering Vermilion (Sindoor):
- If you are a married woman, offer vermilion to the Goddess, signifying your marital bliss.
- Mantra:
"ॐ महाक्रूरीं नमः।"
(Om Mahakroorin Namah)
Meaning: "I bow to the great goddess."
- Distributing Prasad:
- After the puja, distribute the offered Prasad (blessed food) to all attendees, symbolizing sharing divine blessings.
- Meditation and Bhajans:
- After the puja, sit in meditation and chant bhajans (devotional songs) in praise of the goddess.
Conclusion
The Durga Ashtami Puja is an important ritual that symbolizes devotion, strength, and faith. By following this detailed procedure, one can seek the blessings of Goddess Durga for strength, wisdom, and prosperity in life. Performing the puja with a sincere heart and devotion is believed to bring peace and positivity to the worshipper and their surroundings.
