How to Worship Goddess Parvati in Hinduism: A Comprehensive Guide
Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, represents fertility, love, beauty, and devotion. She is often invoked for blessings of marital harmony, well-being, and the removal of obstacles. Worshiping Parvati with sincerity and devotion can bring spiritual and material benefits. This guide provides a detailed, eco-friendly, and traditional approach to performing Parvati Puja.
Preparation for Parvati Puja: Cleanliness and Attire
Cleanliness:
- Before starting the puja, it is important to ensure physical cleanliness. Take a bath to purify your body and wear clean clothes.
- Clean the puja area and keep it free from distractions.
- Wash the utensils and puja items with water before starting.
Time for Worship:
- Parvati Puja can be performed at any time, but early morning (before sunrise) or evening (during dusk) is considered auspicious.
- Mondays are particularly auspicious as this day is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Parvati's consort.
Clothing:
- White, yellow, or red clothes are traditionally worn during Parvati Puja.
- These colors symbolize purity, prosperity, and love, respectively.
- Avoid wearing black, as it is often associated with negativity.
Eco-Friendly Traditional Puja Items Required
In keeping with traditional and eco-friendly practices, ensure that all items used are biodegradable, natural, and locally sourced.
Puja Items:
- Murti (Idol) or Picture of Parvati: Clay or brass idols are recommended.
- Kalash (Copper Pot): Filled with water and adorned with mango leaves and a coconut.
- Fresh Flowers (Jasmine, Hibiscus, Rose): Offer flowers without using synthetic dyes or plastic.
- Fruits (Banana, Coconut, Pomegranate): Organic and seasonal fruits.
- Incense Sticks (Agarbatti): Made from natural ingredients.
- Beetle Leaves and Areca Nuts: For offering to the goddess.
- Raw Milk, Honey, Ghee, and Curd: For preparing the Panchamrit (a sacred offering).
- Rice, Kumkum (Vermilion), and Turmeric: For tilak and decoration of the altar.
- Camphor: For aarti.
- Ghee Lamp: Use earthen diyas instead of plastic or metal.
Eco-Friendly Considerations:
- Use cloth or paper bags to store offerings.
- Avoid plastic flowers or synthetic materials for decorations.
Simple Steps for Performing Parvati Puja
Purification and Setup:
- After cleaning the area and yourself, place the idol or picture of Parvati on the altar.
- Set up the Kalash filled with water and place it next to the idol.
- Light the ghee lamp and incense sticks.
Invoking Parvati:
- Begin by chanting "Om Shri Parvatyai Namaha" to invoke the goddess.
- Offer a flower to her while chanting this mantra.
Offering Panchamrit and Other Items:
- Bathe the idol with Panchamrit, made by mixing raw milk, honey, curd, ghee, and sugar. After the abhishekam, wash the idol with clean water.
- Offer turmeric, kumkum, and sandalwood paste to the goddess.
Flowers and Fruits Offering:
- Offer fresh, fragrant flowers to the goddess while chanting her mantras.
- Offer fruits like coconut, bananas, or pomegranate to her.
Prayers and Mantras:
- Recite the following mantras:
- Beej Mantra: "Om Hreem Shreem Parvatyai Namah"
- Parvati Gayatri Mantra: "Om Girijayai Cha Vidmahe Shivapriyayai Cha Dheemahi Tanno Durga Prachodayat"
- You may also recite the 108 names of Goddess Parvati (Parvati Ashtottara Shatanamavali) for a more detailed puja.
- Recite the following mantras:
Aarti:
- Perform aarti by lighting camphor and moving it in a clockwise direction in front of the goddess.
- Sing the traditional Parvati Aarti, praising the goddess for her divine qualities.
Concluding the Puja:
- After completing the offerings, meditate in silence, thanking the goddess for her blessings.
- Sprinkle a few drops of water around the altar and on yourself as a final act of purification.
- Distribute the prasad to all those present.
Prasad to Be Prepared for Parvati Puja
Sweets:
- Coconut Ladoo: Made from coconut, jaggery, and ghee.
- Halwa: Semolina cooked with ghee, sugar, and cardamom.
- Panchamrit: A mixture of milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar, offered as prasad.
Fruit Offerings:
- Fresh seasonal fruits, particularly bananas and pomegranates, are auspicious.
Eco-Friendly Packaging for Prasad:
- Use banana leaves or reusable cloth bags to distribute prasad instead of plastic containers.
Mantras and Prayers
General Mantra for Parvati: "Om Shri Parvatyai Namaha"
- This mantra is often chanted at the beginning of the puja to invoke her presence.
Beej Mantra: "Om Hreem Shreem Parvatyai Namaha"
- A powerful mantra to invoke the blessings of Goddess Parvati.
Parvati Gayatri Mantra: "Om Girijayai Cha Vidmahe Shivapriyayai Cha Dheemahi Tanno Durga Prachodayat"
- A mantra to seek the divine grace of Parvati for protection, peace, and success.
What to Do With Puja Leftovers (Eco-Friendly Disposal)
Flowers and Organic Offerings:
- Bury the used flowers, leaves, and biodegradable items in the soil. This is considered a sacred way of returning the offerings to nature.
- You may also place them in a compost pile if you have one at home.
Remaining Water and Panchamrit:
- Pour the remaining water from the Kalash at the roots of a plant or a tree. This symbolizes offering the divine energy back to the earth.
Non-Biodegradable Items:
- Avoid using non-biodegradable materials. However, if any non-biodegradable items were used, ensure that they are disposed of responsibly through recycling.
Importance and Benefits of Parvati Puja
- Divine Protection: Parvati is known to bless her devotees with protection from harm and negative influences.
- Marital Harmony: Couples often worship Parvati to seek blessings for a harmonious and loving relationship.
- Prosperity and Fertility: Parvati is the goddess of fertility and prosperity, and her blessings can lead to the growth of families and abundance in life.
- Spiritual Strength and Devotion: Regular worship of Parvati enhances spiritual strength, devotion, and inner peace.
- Removal of Obstacles: Like her son Ganesha, Parvati is also worshiped to remove obstacles from the path of success.
Performing Parvati Puja is an act of devotion and gratitude toward the mother goddess. By using eco-friendly and traditional products, we honor both nature and the divine, preserving the sanctity of the earth while seeking the blessings of Parvati. The steps provided in this guide ensure a respectful, simple, and spiritually uplifting experience that aligns with Hindu customs and environmental values.