Today is Ashtami or the Eighth Day of the Navrattas. Ashtami Puja As on Saptami, on Ashtami too both the Mahasnan and Shodashopacharapuja are done. \ In addition, nine small pots with flags of different colors are installed and the nine Shaktis are invoked in them and worshipped. Then sixty-four yoginis are worshipped followed by the worship of Nava Durga (nine aspects of Durga) and Goddesses Jayanti, Mangala, Kali, Bhadrakali, Kapalani, Durga, Shiva, Kshama, Dhatri, Svaha and Svadha. Ashtami Puja concludes with Bhog (prasad offering) and arati. A special feature of this day is Kumari Puja wherein a young girl is worshiped as the Devi. Sri Ramakrishna said the Divine Mother manifests herself to a greater degree in a pure-hearted girl and so...Kumari Puja is done. Thakur would bow down before little girls looking upon them as manifestations of the Divine Mother. When Durga Puja was done at Belur Math for the first time, Swami Vivekananda worshiped several Kumaris. Today, only one Kumari is worshipped. The offerings made to the Kumari are exactly those offered to the Maa Durga and then arati is sung to her. The President of the Ramakrishna Order and senior monks offer flowers at her feet. Sandhi Puja : The last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami (a total of 48 minutes between the two lunar days) constitute the Sandhi or Sacred Juncture. It is considered a most auspicious time. At this time Durga is worshipped as Chamunda (that is, Kali who killed the demon Chanda and Munda). This Puja is considered to be the high point of the whole Durga Puja. It is customary to perform bali or an animal sacrifice at this sacred juncture. When the first Durga Puja was celebrated at Belur Math in 1901, Swami Vivekananda wanted to observe this ritual. But Holy Mother prohibited it and, in obedience to Holy Mothers injunction, animal sacrifice is never done at Belur Math. Instead, a banana is ‘sacrificed as a symbolic bali.
Posted on: Sat, 12 Oct 2013 13:25:36 +0000
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