Archive for April, 2007

  • Mantra Japa

    Mantra Japa

    As a part of every yagya there is a section where mantra japa (repetition) is performed for the deity that is being honored. Interestingly, the tradition is that the number of mantra repetitions is counted on a small rosary (called a mala), but that it must be hidden from view. So, as you see here, [...]

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  • Puja Coconut

    Puja Coconut

    This image shows the beginning of a Shiva Puja with the lingam on the left and on the right a kalasha pot with coconut on top. All traditional yagyas begin with a Ganesha puja followed by kalasha puja. The kalasha puja honors the seven sacred rivers of India and invokes the god of water, Varuna [...]

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  • Final aarti

    Final aarti

    At the end of a yagya there is one final segment when the last mantras are being chanted and little chunks of camphor are burned and waved in front of the deity.  It is a nicely dramatic moment and only take a couple of minutes.  Afterwards the still burning aarti plate (seen below) is passed [...]

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  • Before and After

    Before and After

    Pujas and Yagyas are very precise procedures and yet…there is something gloriously chaotic about them as the following photos demonstrate. Before a Navagraha Yagya: And after a Navagraha Yagya:

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  • In the Middle of the Ganges

    In the Middle of the Ganges

    Our September trip to Varanasi will include special pujas that are supposed to take place while standing on one of these little islands in the middle of the Ganges river.  It is timeless and beautiful.

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  • Vibhuti – Sacred Ash

    Vibhuti – Sacred Ash

    Vibhuti is the sacred ash associated with Shiva and every now and then at the end of an abishekam it is sprinkled over either Ganesha or a Shivalingam.  Note that the priests have carefully cleared away Ganesha’s eyes, so that he can “see”.  Notice that they have also added a dot of red kumkum on [...]

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  • More Purnadhuti

    More Purnadhuti

    The final offering in a yagya is called, as you saw in my previous post, purnadhuti.  It is a mixture of various ingredients that is offered into the yagya fire at the end of a yagya.  It is usually accompanied by special mantras and frequently, loud music when musicians are present.  In looking through my [...]

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  • Elaborate Offerings

    Elaborate Offerings

    During the March yagya series, our priests performed a yagya called Chandi Havan. This yagya is based on the use of Chandi Path as the source material for the mantras. Chandi Path is 700 verses long and tells the story of the Divine Mother in the form of Durga. This yagya is much more elaborate [...]

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  • Purnadhuti – the final offering

    Purnadhuti – the final offering

    At the end of the yagya performance, there is a section called Purnadhuti where the final offering is made in to the yagya fire. There are special mantras that are chanted at that time and frequently special offerings as well. In the first photo, you see a small yagya, and the offering is appropriately simple, [...]

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  • Raksha – Armor

    Raksha – Armor

    In the temples that I have visited in Tamil Nadu, the deities all have sometimes elaborate sets of silver or gold armor (called “raksha” in sanskrit). I suppose it is symbolic of their strength and invincibility. In the photo above you see Ganesha riding on Mushika, his mouse and both are clad in their raksha.

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