Comprehensive Guide on How to Worship Goddess Matangi in Hinduism
Goddess Matangi is one of the ten Mahavidyas and a form of Goddess Saraswati. She represents wisdom, learning, music, and art, and is often referred to as the goddess of the outcasts or the unconventional. Matangi is worshipped for acquiring knowledge, power, and control over speech. Here's a detailed guide on how to worship Goddess Matangi, with an emphasis on cleanliness, eco-friendly practices, and traditional methods.
1. Importance of Cleanliness and Preparation
Cleanliness is essential for any Hindu worship. The place where the puja (worship) is to be performed must be thoroughly cleaned. The following practices can ensure a sacred and serene environment:
- Personal Hygiene: Take a bath before starting the puja and wear clean clothes.
- Sacred Space: Clean the puja room or area with water, and if possible, purify the space with water mixed with Ganga Jal (Ganges water).
- Eco-Friendly Setup: Use only natural materials like banana leaves, copper vessels, and organic flowers for the puja.
2. Best Time to Worship Matangi
The most auspicious times to worship Goddess Matangi are during early morning hours (Brahma Muhurta) or in the evening during twilight. Worshipping her on Fridays, during the waxing phase of the moon, and on the night of the new moon (Amavasya) is especially powerful.
3. Dress Code: What Color Clothes to Wear
Traditionally, green is considered an auspicious color while worshipping Goddess Matangi, as it represents nature, fertility, and wisdom. You can also wear clothes that are:
- White for purity and simplicity.
- Yellow or Saffron if you’re focusing on spiritual growth and wisdom.
Always wear fresh and clean cotton or silk garments, preferably handwoven or organic, to maintain harmony with eco-friendly practices.
4. Puja Items Required
For the puja of Goddess Matangi, only natural, biodegradable, and eco-friendly materials should be used. Avoid plastic or synthetic items.
Essential Puja Items:
- Matangi idol or photo (made of clay or eco-friendly materials like wood or natural paints).
- Banana leaf or brass plate for offering items.
- Eco-friendly incense sticks made from natural herbs.
- Pure ghee lamp for aarti.
- Organic flowers such as hibiscus, jasmine, or lotus.
- Organic turmeric and sandalwood paste for tilak.
- Rice and sesame seeds for offering.
- Beetel leaves and betel nuts.
- Natural camphor for the aarti.
5. Simple Steps of Puja
Dhyana (Meditation): Start by meditating on Goddess Matangi. Sit calmly, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. Invoke her presence in your heart and mind.
Sankalpa (Intention): After meditating, express your intention for the puja. This could be for wisdom, creativity, or resolving specific problems.
Kalash Sthapana (Water Pot Setup): Place a kalash (copper or clay pot filled with clean water) in front of the Goddess. Decorate it with mango leaves and a coconut on top.
Invocation (Avahana): Invoke Goddess Matangi by chanting her mantra:
"Aim Hreem Shreem Namo Bhagavati Ucchista Chandalini Matangini Sarvajanavashankari Swaha"
(This mantra is to call upon her grace for wisdom, control over speech, and attraction).Offering Flowers (Pushpanjali): Offer organic flowers like hibiscus, jasmine, or lotus to the Goddess while reciting her 108 names or mantra.
Lighting the Lamp (Deepa Aradhana): Light a ghee lamp and place it in front of the deity. Rotate it in a circular motion while singing hymns or mantras dedicated to her.
Offering Prasadam: Prepare sattvic (pure) food as prasad. Some simple and traditional prasad include:
- Sweet rice (payasam) made with jaggery, rice, and milk.
- Fruits such as bananas or mangoes.
- Coconut ladoos or tilgul made with sesame seeds and jaggery.
Mantra Recitation: Recite the following Matangi mantra at least 108 times (1 mala): "Om Hreem Aim Shreem Namo Bhagavati Matangini Swaha"
Aarti (Worship with Light): After the mantra recitation, perform the aarti. Light natural camphor and wave it in a clockwise direction in front of the idol or photo of Goddess Matangi, singing devotional songs or the Matangi aarti.
6. Prasadam (Offering to the Goddess)
Traditional prasad should be prepared using organic and pure ingredients. Some examples include:
- Sweet rice (payasam) prepared using organic jaggery and milk.
- Tilgul (sesame and jaggery sweets).
- Fruit offerings such as bananas, mangoes, or pomegranate.
Always ensure that the food is prepared in a clean environment, with devotion, and without the use of non-biodegradable materials.
7. How to Conclude the Puja
- Prayers and Gratitude: Conclude the puja by offering your prayers to Goddess Matangi. Thank her for her blessings and seek her continued grace and wisdom.
- Aarti: Once again, perform the aarti with natural camphor and sing the final aarti songs.
- Shanti Mantra: End the puja by reciting the Shanti Mantra to invoke peace. "Om Shanti Shanti Shanti"
8. Benefits of Worshipping Goddess Matangi
Worshipping Goddess Matangi bestows several benefits:
- Wisdom, knowledge, and eloquence.
- Creativity and mastery over arts and music.
- Control over speech and effective communication.
- Inner peace, mental clarity, and spiritual growth.
- Resolution of disputes and the removal of obstacles.
She is particularly revered by artists, musicians, and those involved in intellectual pursuits.
9. Eco-Friendly Disposal of Leftover Items
After the puja, it's essential to handle the leftover items responsibly to respect nature and preserve the environment:
- Flowers and Leaves: Collect the organic flowers and leaves, and compost them in a garden or throw them into flowing water (like a river) where allowed, avoiding synthetic materials.
- Water from Kalash: Pour the kalash water into plants or trees.
- Leftover Prasadam: Share the prasad with family members and neighbors, or offer it to animals and birds.
- Ashes from Camphor or Incense: The ash can be sprinkled in plants as a natural fertilizer.
Make sure not to pollute rivers or other water bodies with non-biodegradable materials. Always aim for sustainable, eco-friendly worship practices.
Worshipping Goddess Matangi involves devotion, purity, and attention to both spiritual and environmental well-being. By following eco-friendly and traditional methods, we honor not just the divine but also the Earth. Through consistent practice, the blessings of Goddess Matangi can help you develop wisdom, creativity, and control over your mind and speech, all while fostering an appreciation for nature and sustainable living.