Comprehensive Guide to Worship Goddess Rati in Hinduism
Worshiping Goddess Rati, the Hindu deity of love, passion, and beauty, is a beautiful and meaningful practice. Rati is often worshiped with her consort, Kamadeva, the god of love, to promote harmony, love, and affection in one’s relationships. Below is a comprehensive guide that covers the essential aspects of her puja (worship), focusing on eco-friendly practices and traditional rituals.
1. Cleanliness and Preparation
Before starting the puja, cleanliness is of utmost importance. Clean yourself and your surroundings, as purity is essential in all Hindu rituals.
- Clean the Puja Room/Altar: Sweep the area, and wipe surfaces where the puja will be performed. Set up a clean, dedicated space.
- Personal Hygiene: Take a bath and wear clean clothes, preferably made of natural fibers like cotton or silk.
2. Time of Puja
There is no strict rule for worshiping Goddess Rati, but the best time for her puja is during the early morning hours after sunrise or in the evening during sunset.
- Preferred Days: Fridays and days of full moon (Purnima) are particularly auspicious, as these are associated with feminine energy and love.
3. What Color Clothes to Wear
During Rati puja, it is recommended to wear:
- Red: Symbolizes love, passion, and auspiciousness.
- Pink or Yellow: These colors represent compassion, beauty, and prosperity.
- Always wear natural fabric clothes like cotton or silk, supporting eco-friendly and traditional practices.
4. Puja Items Required (Eco-Friendly)
Using natural and biodegradable materials is important to preserve the environment. Here's a list of eco-friendly items you will need for the puja:
- Picture or Idol of Goddess Rati: Place a clean and simple image or idol of the goddess on a puja altar.
- Natural Clay Lamp (Diya): Light an earthen diya with sesame oil or ghee.
- Eco-friendly Incense Sticks: Use incense made from organic herbs.
- Fresh Flowers: Red roses, jasmine, hibiscus, and marigold are traditionally used.
- Natural Kumkum and Turmeric: Made from organic ingredients.
- Beetle Leaves, Fruits, and Betel Nuts: Offer fresh fruits like pomegranates, bananas, and coconuts.
- Rice: Use natural rice, preferably unpolished.
- Camphor (Karpooram): Use natural camphor for the aarti.
- Handmade Cotton Wicks: Use these for lighting the diya.
- Earthen or Metal Pot: Filled with clean water for the ritual sprinkling.
All these items should be eco-friendly, ensuring no harm to the environment. Avoid plastic products, synthetic fragrances, and chemically processed items.
5. Simple Steps of the Puja
Step 1: Setting the Altar
Place the image or idol of Goddess Rati at the center of the altar. Arrange the diya, incense sticks, flowers, and other items around it.
Step 2: Lighting the Diya
Light the clay lamp with ghee or sesame oil to symbolize purity and divine presence. Light the incense sticks and offer them to the goddess.
Step 3: Offering Flowers
Offer fresh flowers, starting with rose petals, hibiscus, and jasmine, symbolizing love, beauty, and devotion.
Step 4: Offering Fruits and Sweets
Offer fruits such as pomegranates, bananas, and coconuts. You can also offer homemade sweets like kheer (rice pudding) or ladoo made from organic ingredients.
Step 5: Reciting Mantras and Prayers
Recite the following mantras dedicated to Goddess Rati:
Rati Mantra for Harmony in Relationships:
ॐ रत्यै नमः Om Ratyai Namah
Kamadeva-Rati Prayer:
कंदर्पायै नमो रत्यै Kamadevaaya Namo Ratyai
After chanting the mantras, you can also recite prayers from scriptures that invoke Goddess Rati and Kamadeva’s blessings for love, attraction, and unity in relationships.
Step 6: Aarti
Perform the aarti by circling the diya clockwise in front of the idol or picture of Goddess Rati, accompanied by the ringing of a bell. Offer the burning camphor as a final gesture of respect and devotion.
6. Prasad to Prepare
Prepare a simple yet delicious prasad (offering) that can be shared with others. Some ideas include:
- Kheer (rice pudding made with organic milk, rice, and sugar).
- Ladoo (made from jaggery and organic flours).
- Fresh Fruits (like pomegranates, bananas, and coconuts).
These items should be prepared with devotion, avoiding artificial ingredients, and using natural products whenever possible.
7. Concluding the Puja
After offering prasad and completing the aarti:
- Thank the Goddess: Express your gratitude for her blessings, and request her to remove any obstacles to love, beauty, and harmony in your life.
- Sprinkle Water: Sprinkle the water from the earthen pot around the altar and in all four directions as a symbol of purity and completion.
- Pray in Silence: Conclude the ritual by meditating on Goddess Rati and seeking her divine grace.
8. What to Do with Puja Leftover Items (Eco-Friendly)
After the puja:
- Flowers and Organic Items: Collect flowers, fruits, and leaves, and respectfully offer them to nature by placing them under a tree or in a flowing stream. This practice allows them to return to the earth, supporting the natural cycle of life.
- Water: Water used during the puja can be used to nourish plants or poured into the garden.
- Oil Lamps: Reuse the clay diya for future rituals.
- Incense Ash: The ash from incense sticks can be sprinkled in the garden or mixed with compost.
Avoid disposing of anything in plastic or harmful materials, and aim to return all natural items back to nature.
9. Importance and Benefits of Worshiping Goddess Rati
Worshiping Goddess Rati brings the following benefits:
- Harmony in Relationships: She blesses devotees with loving, affectionate, and peaceful relationships.
- Enhancement of Beauty and Attraction: Her divine energy enhances inner beauty, attraction, and charm.
- Emotional Fulfillment: Devotees experience emotional fulfillment and joy.
- Love and Compassion: Her worship opens the heart to deeper love and compassion for others.
Worshiping Goddess Rati also helps in resolving conflicts in relationships, promoting forgiveness, mutual respect, and understanding.
By incorporating eco-friendly practices, this worship becomes not only a spiritual experience but also an environmentally responsible one. Following these guidelines ensures that your devotion aligns with the values of preserving nature while honoring the divine.