Comprehensive Guide to Worship on the Eighth Day of Navratri in Hinduism (Ashtami)
Navratri, the nine-day Hindu festival, is dedicated to the worship of the Goddess Durga and her nine forms, each day signifying a different manifestation. The eighth day of Navratri, known as Ashtami or Mahagauri Puja, is particularly auspicious as it is dedicated to Goddess Mahagauri, symbolizing purity, peace, and wisdom. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to conduct eco-friendly and spiritually significant worship on this day.
1. Preparation for Worship
Cleanliness and Purity:
- Personal Hygiene: Begin by bathing early in the morning and wearing clean clothes. White or light-colored traditional clothing is preferred on Ashtami to signify purity.
- Puja Room: Thoroughly clean the space where you will be performing the puja. Set up an altar or puja area with an idol or image of Goddess Mahagauri.
Time for Puja:
- Best Time for Puja: The morning hours, preferably after sunrise, are ideal for performing the Ashtami puja. However, evening time, especially during the sandhi (transition between Ashtami and Navami), is also considered auspicious.
2. Eco-friendly Puja Items Required
To ensure the worship remains eco-friendly and in harmony with nature, use the following traditional items:
- Brass or copper kalash (holy water vessel)
- Cotton wicks and natural ghee for the lamp (diya)
- Flowers: Use fresh, locally grown flowers (jasmine, lotus, marigold, etc.)
- Fruits: Seasonal fruits like bananas, pomegranates, and apples
- Beetle leaves and nuts (paan and supari)
- Holy water (Ganga Jal) – stored in copper or earthen vessels
- Sandalwood paste, turmeric (haldi), and kumkum (vermilion) for tilak
- Eco-friendly incense sticks made from natural herbs
- Coconut, rice, and jaggery as offerings
- Durva grass and Bilva leaves for symbolic worship
- Natural colors made from turmeric, sandalwood, and other organic ingredients for rangoli decoration
Eco-Friendly Tip: Avoid using plastic or synthetic items in your puja setup. Use clay or brass containers instead of plastic, and ensure that your incense and dhoop are natural and chemical-free.
3. Simple Steps of Puja
Step-by-Step Puja Instructions:
Purification of the Place:
- Sprinkle the space with water mixed with a few drops of Ganga Jal to purify it.
Kalash Sthapana (Installing the Sacred Pot):
- Place a kalash filled with water, mango leaves, and a coconut on the altar, symbolizing the presence of the Goddess.
- Apply turmeric, kumkum, and sandalwood paste to the kalash.
Lighting the Diya:
- Light a cotton wick soaked in ghee or sesame oil in a brass or clay lamp. This signifies the presence of divine energy.
Invocation (Dhyana):
- Meditate upon the form of Goddess Mahagauri and invite her presence into your home. Chant:
- “Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah”
This mantra invokes the blessings of the Goddess.
- “Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah”
- Meditate upon the form of Goddess Mahagauri and invite her presence into your home. Chant:
Offering Flowers and Prasad:
- Offer flowers, fruits, sweets, and coconut. You can chant the 108 names of Durga or simply chant "Om Mahagauryai Namah" repeatedly while offering.
- Keep the offerings simple and eco-friendly: fruits, jaggery, or sweets like kheer made from natural ingredients.
Aarti:
- Perform aarti with the ghee lamp while singing the traditional Durga Aarti. A popular one is:
- Jai Ambe Gauri, Maiya Jai Shyama Gauri,
- Tumko Nish Din Dhyavat, Hari Brahma Shivaji
- Move the lamp in a circular motion in front of the Goddess's image or idol.
- Perform aarti with the ghee lamp while singing the traditional Durga Aarti. A popular one is:
Mantras and Prayers:
- Chant the Mahagauri Ashtami Mantra:
- "Shwete Vrishesamarudha Shwetambaradhara Shuchih | Mahagauri Shubham Dadyanmahadeva Pramodada ||"
- Recite the Durga Saptashati or specific chapters of it (especially chapter 11), which glorifies the various forms of Goddess Durga.
- Chant the Mahagauri Ashtami Mantra:
Offer Bhog (Prasad):
- Offer a sweet dish like Halwa-Puri or Kheer, made from natural and locally sourced ingredients, to the Goddess as Bhog.
- Distribute this prasad among family members and visitors after offering it to the Goddess.
4. Prasad to Be Prepared
Suggested Prasad Dishes:
- Kheer (Rice Pudding) made from milk, sugar, rice, and dry fruits.
- Halwa and Puri: Traditional offerings prepared with whole wheat flour, ghee, and sugar.
- Fruits: Banana, apple, and coconut pieces.
Ensure the prasad is vegetarian, cooked in clean utensils, and prepared with a lot of love and devotion.
5. How to Conclude the Puja
- Shanti Path: Conclude the puja by chanting the Shanti Mantra:
- Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramaya, Sarve Bhadrani Pashyantu, Ma Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhag-Bhavet.
- Offering the Final Aarti: Perform the final aarti, and offer flowers to the Goddess.
- Seeking Forgiveness: End by chanting a prayer for forgiveness for any mistakes made during the worship.
- “Kshama Prarthana” ("O Mother, please forgive me for any errors in my devotion or worship.")
6. Eco-Friendly Disposal of Puja Items
- Flowers and organic waste: Bury used flowers, leaves, and organic materials in your garden or compost bin. This ensures that the offerings return to nature without causing harm.
- Incense sticks: Ensure that incense sticks and ashes are placed in a compostable bin.
- Unused food: If there are leftover fruits or food from the prasad, share them with family, neighbors, or animals, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
- Eco-Friendly Tip: Avoid immersing non-biodegradable items in water bodies.
7. Importance and Benefits of Ashtami Puja
- Spiritual Cleansing: Worshipping Goddess Mahagauri on the eighth day helps to remove negativity and impurities from one's life.
- Blessings of Peace and Prosperity: The Goddess bestows wisdom, spiritual growth, and material well-being on her devotees.
- End of Sins: Mahagauri’s worship is believed to absolve past sins and helps devotees progress toward a life of purity and virtue.
8. Key Benefits of Worshiping Mahagauri
- Mental Clarity: Helps in achieving peace of mind, mental clarity, and purity of heart.
- Success and Happiness: Blessings for achieving success, overcoming obstacles, and gaining family happiness.
- Health and Longevity: Devotees who worship on Ashtami are believed to be blessed with good health, happiness, and long life.
Summary of Eco-Friendly Puja Steps
- Clean the space and purify it with natural ingredients.
- Set up an altar with eco-friendly items.
- Perform the puja with simple mantras, flowers, and natural ingredients.
- Offer prasad made from locally sourced, natural ingredients.
- Conclude the puja with prayers for peace and forgiveness.
- Dispose of the items in an eco-conscious manner, ensuring no harm to the environment.
By following this guide, you will celebrate the eighth day of Navratri in a way that is both spiritually uplifting and eco-friendly, in alignment with the principles of simplicity and purity.