Worshipping Goddess Devasena, who is often revered as the divine consort of Lord Murugan (or Kartikeya), holds special significance in Hinduism. She embodies grace, prosperity, and strength. Devotees seek her blessings for happiness, familial harmony, health, and courage. This guide provides an eco-friendly approach to worshipping Goddess Devasena with step-by-step instructions, emphasizing cleanliness, specific colors, and traditional puja practices.
1. Benefits of Worshiping Goddess Devasena
- Harmonious Relationships: Invoking Devasena promotes peace and strengthens family bonds.
- Prosperity and Success: Devotees believe she grants success in personal and professional pursuits.
- Courage and Confidence: Worshiping her instills strength and self-assurance.
- Spiritual Fulfillment: Regular worship brings spiritual contentment and inner calm.
2. Cleanliness and Preparation
- Clean the puja space thoroughly to maintain purity.
- Take a shower and wear clean, preferably new or freshly washed clothes.
- Ensure all puja items are prepared and arranged in advance to avoid any disturbances during the ritual.
3. Timing for Puja
- The most auspicious time to worship Goddess Devasena is early morning after sunrise, ideally between 6:00-9:00 AM.
- Fridays are considered particularly favorable, especially during auspicious festivals like Navaratri, Thaipusam, or Skanda Sashti.
4. Color of Clothes to Wear
- White, light yellow, or pink are ideal colors to wear during the puja. These colors symbolize purity, devotion, and calm, aligning with the goddess’s peaceful and graceful nature.
5. Eco-Friendly Traditional Puja Items Required
- Incense sticks made of natural ingredients.
- Brass or copper puja thali (plate) for arranging items.
- Fresh flowers (rose, jasmine, or lotus) without plastic or synthetic decorations.
- Turmeric and kumkum (vermilion) in natural, chemical-free forms.
- Camphor or cotton wicks for the lamp.
- Coconut, bananas, and betel leaves for offering.
- Small diya (lamp) filled with ghee or sesame oil.
- Fruits like apples or pomegranates, ideally sourced locally and organically.
- Eco-friendly idols (if you’re not using a permanent deity statue) made of clay.
6. Simple Steps for Performing Devasena Puja
- Clean and Prepare: Clean the puja area and yourself. Arrange all puja items on a puja thali.
- Arrange Deity: Place an idol or picture of Goddess Devasena in a clean spot, adorned with flowers.
- Light the Lamp: Light the diya and incense sticks to purify the space.
- Offering Flowers: Offer fresh flowers to the goddess while chanting her name.
- Apply Kumkum and Turmeric: Place a small amount of kumkum and turmeric on the idol’s forehead as a mark of respect.
- Offer Naivedyam (Prasad): Place prepared prasad in front of the deity. Offer water, fruits, and coconut as symbols of gratitude.
- Recite Mantras and Prayers: Chant simple mantras and prayers (see section 8) in devotion.
- Perform Aarti: Move the lamp in a circular motion in front of the deity while singing an aarti or simply offering thanks in your own words.
7. Prasad to Prepare
- Sweet Pongal or Payasam (Kheer) made with rice, milk, jaggery, and cardamom.
- Coconut Rice or Lemon Rice as a savory option.
- Bananas or other fresh fruits for a simple offering.
8. Mantras and Prayers
Simple Invocation Mantra:
This mantra invokes her blessings for all auspiciousness and prosperity.
Goddess Devasena’s Prayer:
These are simple and easy-to-recite mantras that can be repeated 11 or 21 times.
9. How to Conclude the Puja
- After completing the aarti, bow down in reverence to Goddess Devasena.
- Pray for the goddess’s blessings, expressing gratitude for her protection and grace.
- Offer the prasad to family members and partake in it as a symbol of divine blessing.
10. Importance of Goddess Devasena Puja
- Worshipping Goddess Devasena helps one connect with divine femininity, fostering qualities of nurturing, courage, and wisdom.
- Her puja strengthens familial harmony, brings mental clarity, and encourages a disciplined, righteous path in life.
11. What to Do with Puja Leftover Items
- Flowers and Offerings: Return flowers, leaves, and any perishable items to nature by composting or placing them under trees.
- Water and Fruits: The water used in puja can be poured on plants. Fruits and prasad are best consumed by family members or shared with neighbors.
- Eco-Friendly Disposal: Avoid using plastic. Ensure leftover items, such as coconut shells, flowers, and prasad, are disposed of in an eco-friendly way, emphasizing natural, respectful practices.
This puja brings peace and happiness into the household when done with a pure heart and respect for nature, reflecting Goddess Devasena’s values of grace, strength, and prosperity.