Here's a comprehensive guide on worshipping Goddess Umiya, including details on worship items, prayers, benefits, and eco-friendly practices.
Who is Goddess Umiya?
Goddess Umiya, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, is a revered deity of the Patidar community, particularly worshipped in Gujarat, India. She is considered the universal mother and is believed to bestow blessings for prosperity, strength, unity, and protection from negative influences.
Benefits of Worshipping Goddess Umiya
Worshipping Goddess Umiya with faith and devotion is believed to bring:
- Inner Strength: She blesses her devotees with resilience to overcome obstacles.
- Prosperity and Wealth: Umiya Devi is associated with material and spiritual abundance.
- Harmony and Unity: Particularly among families and communities.
- Protection: She guards against negative energies and evil influences.
- Good Health and Wellness: Regular prayers are thought to protect against ailments.
Time, Cleanliness, and Dress Code for Worship
- Time: Early morning is considered ideal. The hours between 4-6 AM are best, as they are thought to be the most spiritually potent.
- Cleanliness: Ensure the space for worship is clean. Take a bath before starting the puja, wear fresh clothes, and wash your hands and feet before touching any puja items.
- Dress Code: It is auspicious to wear yellow, orange, or red clothes while performing the puja, as these colors are associated with positive energy and purity in Hinduism.
Puja Items Required (Eco-Friendly Options Only)
- Picture or Idol of Goddess Umiya – Preferably made of clay or metal.
- Kalash (Copper Pot) – Filled with water, a coconut, and mango leaves, symbolizing abundance.
- Fresh Flowers and Leaves – Use eco-friendly flowers like marigolds, jasmine, and hibiscus.
- Fruits – Choose seasonal fruits to offer as prasad.
- Incense Sticks – Use natural, chemical-free incense sticks or dhoop.
- Diya (Oil Lamp) – Use clay lamps with ghee or coconut oil.
- Camphor – For aarti, as it’s a traditional, biodegradable offering.
- Sandalwood Paste and Kumkum – To mark the idol and the devotees’ foreheads.
- Eco-Friendly Rangoli Colors – For decoration.
- Prasad Ingredients – Homemade sweets like laddus, halwa, or panchamrut.
Steps of the Puja
Preparation:
- Set up a clean, quiet space for the puja, facing east.
- Place the picture or idol of Goddess Umiya on an elevated platform covered with a clean cloth.
- Place the Kalash next to the deity.
Invocation (Dhyana):
- Sit comfortably and invoke the presence of Goddess Umiya by mentally visualizing her form, offering your prayers to invite her blessings.
Offering of Flowers and Fruits:
- Offer flowers and fruits as symbols of gratitude and devotion. Arrange them neatly in front of the deity.
Offering Sweets and Prasad:
- Prepare traditional sweets like laddus, halwa, or panchamrut, a blend of milk, yogurt, honey, ghee, and sugar.
- Place a portion in front of the goddess.
Aarti and Lighting the Diya:
- Light the diya (oil lamp) and incense sticks, waving them clockwise in front of the deity.
- Sing or recite the aarti or chant the mantra while performing this gesture.
Mantras to Chant:
- Recite the following mantras with devotion, offering flowers or rice grains after each line:
- Om Umiya Devi Namah
- Om Parvati Namah
- Om Mataji Namah
- For enhanced blessings, chant the 108 Names of Devi or listen to Durga Saptashati.
- Recite the following mantras with devotion, offering flowers or rice grains after each line:
Aarti and Concluding the Puja:
- Perform aarti using camphor, again circling clockwise.
- Offer the aarti flame to family members to receive the goddess’s blessings.
- Conclude with a heartfelt prayer, asking for peace, strength, and prosperity.
Prasad Preparation
Prepare simple, homemade sweets like halwa, panchamrut, or laddus. Avoid packaged products and synthetic ingredients. After offering, distribute the prasad among family members.
What to Do with Leftover Puja Items (Eco-Friendly Practices)
- Flowers and Organic Offerings: Use leftover flowers and leaves for compost in your garden or scatter them respectfully in a river or natural water body.
- Diya Wicks and Ashes: Place used wicks and ashes around the base of trees, symbolizing respect for nature.
- Food Offerings: Consume all food items offered, distributing them to family members or, if possible, to neighbors or in the local temple.
Importance of Umiya Puja
Worshipping Goddess Umiya strengthens a devotee’s connection with the divine, reinforcing values of discipline, family unity, and personal growth. Regular pujas remind devotees of resilience and harmony, especially beneficial for families and communities that seek unity, success, and blessings.
By performing this puja with devotion and eco-friendly practices, you respect both the divine and the environment. May Goddess Umiya shower her blessings on you and your loved ones.