How to Worship Goddess Bhargavi in Hinduism – A Comprehensive Guide
Goddess Bhargavi, often associated with Goddess Lakshmi, is revered as the embodiment of grace, prosperity, and auspiciousness in Hinduism. Worshipping her is believed to bring blessings of wealth, happiness, and spiritual well-being. Here’s a detailed guide on how to worship her in a traditional, eco-friendly manner.
1. Benefits of Worshipping Goddess Bhargavi
- Wealth and Prosperity: Being the consort of Lord Vishnu, Bhargavi is the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Her worship is said to bring financial stability.
- Peace and Harmony: She is also known for bringing peace and harmony into family life.
- Spiritual Growth: Goddess Bhargavi blesses her devotees with wisdom, spiritual insight, and a calm mind.
- Health and Protection: Many devotees seek her protection for health, and she is often worshipped for overall well-being and a peaceful mind.
2. Cleanliness and Preparation for Worship
- Clean the Puja Area: Ensure that the area where you’ll be performing the puja is clean and free of clutter.
- Personal Cleanliness: Bathing and wearing clean clothes are essential to start the worship with purity and respect for the goddess.
- Eco-Friendly Decoration: Use fresh flowers (especially lotus flowers) and traditional, natural decorations like mango leaves, which are easily biodegradable.
3. Suitable Time for Worship
- Morning or Evening: Early morning during Brahma Muhurta (before sunrise) is ideal, or you can perform the puja during the evening.
- Friday: Goddess Bhargavi is especially worshipped on Fridays, which are considered auspicious for her.
4. Attire for Worship
- Color: Red or yellow clothes are traditionally worn when worshipping Goddess Bhargavi, as these colors are believed to be auspicious for her.
- Comfortable and Clean: Choose simple, comfortable attire, as comfort and cleanliness hold spiritual significance.
5. Required Puja Items (Eco-Friendly)
- Eco-Friendly Lamp and Incense: Use earthen lamps (diyas) with ghee or oil, and organic incense sticks (agarbatti) made from natural ingredients.
- Flowers: Lotus, marigold, jasmine, or rose. Avoid plastic or synthetic decorations.
- Sandalwood Paste: Use natural sandalwood paste for marking the forehead (tilak) and for offering.
- Kumkum and Turmeric: Pure kumkum and turmeric powder for applying on the deity’s image or idol.
- Fruits and Sweets: Fresh fruits, especially bananas, and traditional sweets like jaggery or coconut-based sweets.
6. Simple Steps for Performing Bhargavi Puja
Step 1: Setup and Invocation
- Place a clean cloth on a small table or altar.
- Place an image or idol of Goddess Bhargavi (or Lakshmi if Bhargavi’s image isn’t available).
- Light the diya and incense, setting a sacred atmosphere.
Step 2: Offerings
- Offer flowers, sandalwood paste, kumkum, and turmeric to the goddess.
- Place fruits and sweets as offerings on the altar, as these are considered the prasad for the goddess.
Step 3: Chant Mantras and Prayers
- Mantra for Goddess Bhargavi:
- Repeat this mantra 108 times using a mala (rosary) for focus.
- Recite simple prayers to Goddess Lakshmi (or Bhargavi) asking for her blessings of prosperity, peace, and well-being.
Step 4: Meditation and Reflection
- Sit in meditation for a few moments, focusing on the qualities of the goddess – her compassion, abundance, and grace.
Step 5: Aarti
- Conclude the puja by singing aarti, a devotional song in praise of Goddess Bhargavi. Rotate the diya in a clockwise direction in front of the deity while singing.
7. Prasad to Be Prepared
- Traditional Sweets: Ladoo, kheer (rice pudding), or coconut-based sweets are ideal.
- Fruits: Offer bananas, apples, and other seasonal fruits.
- Note: Make sure prasad is prepared in a clean environment, using organic ingredients where possible.
8. Concluding the Puja
- Thanksgiving Prayer: Offer a heartfelt prayer of gratitude, thanking the goddess for her blessings and presence.
- Distribution of Prasad: Share the prasad with family members and distribute some to friends or neighbors, if possible.
9. Importance of the Puja
Performing puja for Goddess Bhargavi is believed to invite prosperity, joy, and good fortune into the home. It also fosters a sense of spiritual connection, gratitude, and mindfulness, which strengthens the family unit.
10. Eco-Friendly Disposal of Puja Leftover Items
- Flowers: Compost the flowers or offer them to a local water body (without plastic coverings).
- Ash and Incense Residue: Ashes from incense can be mixed into garden soil.
- Earthen Diyas: Reuse them whenever possible or place them in the soil to decompose naturally.
By following these steps, devotees can perform an authentic, eco-friendly puja that honors Goddess Bhargavi while respecting the environment. This approach not only enhances the spiritual experience but also reinforces the values of sustainability and reverence for nature in the Hindu tradition.