Puja Format

Dear Friends,
Your feedback makes me very happy & I feel more so because I put in a lot of effort for this - much more than for my recipes !
I was not sure if this had to be posted, since this is not everybody's cup of tea !
But still, I remembered how I struggled with various formats to arrive at a simple common one. So I thought that even if a handful of you enjoy it, my job is done !
Just take a print out, laminate & start using it - you will get it effortlessly ! God is grace personified & will surely excuse us if we make mistakes ! This is what my guru tells me. There is no need to get doubts at every stage - just follow the thoughts which " strike your comfort zone" in your mind & heart. All will be well.
Any doubts, please remember, I am always around to help you with my " two cents" !
Go ahead & start on the new moon day. Good luck, God speed.
Love & regards,
Chithra.

Dear Mrs.Chithra,
After having known you, my life has become so much fuller and now with this topic you have won a place in my heart permanently.I kid you not.I have always wanted to do poojas and chant slokams like my mother but my awareness is limited and i try to do the best i can.Its the festivals i especially feel bad about because i have no idea what to do and everytime i have to depend on my mom to give me directions.Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for unknowingly you have become a mother to everyone of us here and you have blessed our lives in more ways than one.
My question is ,is there any way i can read the slokams you have written in tamil for i don't want to go wrong reading it in english.Whats ur suggestion?

Love,
Suba.

Dear Suba,
Sanskrit shlokams are better written in english than in tamil. But if you still want, I can write them below in tamil as well. Let me know.
Love & regards,
Chithra.

Dear Mrs.Chithra,
I will clear my doubts with u if i have any.No point in repeating it twice.
Thanks for offering. Mrs.Chithra,i feel gratitude should not go unexpressed especially for someone who is doing it all from behind a computer screen.

Love,
Suba.

Hi Chitra mami,
Pooja steps are very easy and good, keep posting pooja steps for other poojas too. It helps a lot of people like me, who do not know how to read the slokams in indian languages..

thanks heaps Chitra mami.

regards
Kalpana.

Light the lamp and chant the Deepa Shlokams I have already given.
Then chant the following lines:
1 -
Om s(h)ree Agra Roopaya namah
Salutations to the prime force in creation.
Om s(h)ree Matr(u) Pithr(u)byo namah
Salutations to my parents.
Om s(h)ree Gurubhyo namah
Salutations to my Gurus.
Om s(h)ree Kula Devathaayai namah
Salutations to my Kuladevatha
Om s(h)ree Ishta Devathaayai namah
Salutations to my Ishta devatha
Om s(h)ree Maha Ganapathayae namah
Salutations to Sree Maha Ganapathy
Om s(h)ree Krishnaaya Paramaathmanae namah
Salutations to Lord Krishna
2 -
As(h)vathi Nakshathrebyom namah
Salutations to all stars
Maeshaadi Raas(h)ibyom namah
Salutations to all Ras(h)is
Sarva Dig Devathaabhyom namah
Salutations to all the 8 ( cardinal & intercardinal) directions
( mention the tamil year's name) Naama Samvathsaraaya namah
Salutations to the ongoing year
3 -
Uththarayanaaya namah
Salutations to Utharayanam
Dakshinaayanaaya namah
Salutations to Dhakshinaayanam
Sarva Rh(u)thubhyom namah
Salutations to all Seasons
Sarva Maasaebyom namah
Salutations to all Months
S(h)ukla Pakshaaya namah
Salutations to S(h)ukla Paksha
Krishna Pakshaaya namah
Salutations to Krishna Paksha

Next, do the naivedyam. For daily use any dry fruit is enough. Chant any of the naivedyam shlokas.
Now light the camphor , hold the camphor stand in the right hand and ring the bell with the left hand.
In front of the deity make three clockwise rounds chanting
Na thathra suryo bhaathi na chandra thaarakam
naemaa vidyutho bhanthih kutho(a)yayamagnih
Thamaevabaavamanubhaanthi sarvam
Thasya bhaasaa sarvam ivam vibhaathi
Now turn to
East and say Indraaya namah
Southeast - Agnayae namah
South - Yamaaya namah
Southwest - Nirrh(u)thayae namah
West - Varunaaya namah
Northwest - Vaayavae namah
North - Kubaeraaya namah
Northeast - Ees(h)aanaaya namah
After saying this take the camphor stand in a clockwise direction all round the house, ringing the bell simultaneouly with the left hand. When you go to the main entrance door, step out, show the camphor to the entrance, praying in the mind that only positive vibrations should enter the house through the main door.Then go back to the deity.

Completion of daily puja:
Prayers for prosperity and welfare of all humanity:

Svasthi prajabhyah parpaalayanthaam
Nyaayyaena maargaena maheem maheeshah
gobrahmanaebhyas(h)s(h)ubhamasthu nithyam
Lokaassamasthaassukhinobhavanthu

May there be happiness for all people
May the rulers righteously rule the earth
May all beings ever attain what is good.
May all beings be prosperous and happy

Kaalae varshathu parjanyah pr(u)thvee sas(h)ya s(h)aalinee
Des(h)o(a)yam kshobha rahithah brahmanaassanthu nirbhayaah

May the clouds pour rain in time.
May the earth be blessed with crops.
May our country be free from calamity.
May holy men live without fear.

Sarvae bhavanthu sukhinah sarvae santhu niraamayaah
Sarvae bhadraani pas(h)yanthu maa kas(h)chid dukkhabhaag bhavaeth

May all be happy. May all be free from disease.
May all realise what is good. May none be subject to misery.

Asathomaa sadgamaya thamaso maa jyothirgamaya
mr(u)thyormaa(a)mr(u)tham gamaya

From the unreal lead me to the Real.
From darkness lead me to Light.
From death lead me to Immortality.

Om Poornamadah poornamidam poornath poorna mudachyadae
Poornasya poornamaadaaya poornamaevaavas(h)ishyathae
Om s(h)anthih s(h)anthih s(h)anthih

All that is invisible is verily the Infinite Brahman.
All that is visible is also the Infinite Brahman.
The whole Universe has come out of the Infinite Brahman.
Brahman is infinite although the whole universe has come out of it.
Om, peace, peace, peace.

Love and regards,
Chithra.

This is a simple Rama shlokam, yet very powerful.
1 - Aapadaam apaharthaaram daathaaram sarvasampadaam
Lokaabhiraamam s(h)ri ramam bhooyo bhooyo namaamyaham

ஆபதா(3)ம் அபஹர்தாரம் தா(3)தாரம் ஸர்வஸம்பதா(3)ம்
லோகாபி(4)ராமம் ஸ்ரீராமம் பூ(4)யோ பூ(4)யோ நமாம்யஹம்

2 - Aarthaanaam aarthihanthaaram bheethaanaam bheethi naas(h)anam
dvishadaam kaala dandam tham raamachandram namaamyaham

ஆர்த்தானாம் ஆர்த்திஹந்தாரம் பீ(4)தானாம் பீ(4)தி நாச(H)னம்
த்(3)விஷதா(3)ம் காலத(3)ண்ட(3)ம் தம் ராமசந்த்(3)ர நமாம்யஹம்

3 - Sannaddha kavachee khadgee chaapa baana dharo uvaa
Gachchan mamaagratho nithyam raamah paathu salakshmanah

ஸன்னத்(3)த(4) கவசீ கட்(3)கீ(3) சாப பா(4)ண த(4)ரோ யுவா
க(30ச்சன் மமாக்(3)ரதோ நித்யம் ராம: பாது சலக்ஷ்மண:

4 - Namah kothanda hasthaaya sandhee kr(u)tha s(h)araaya cha
khandithaakhila daithyaaya raamaayaapan nivaaranae

நம: கோத(3)ண்ட(3) ஹஸ்தாய ஸந்தீ(4) க்ருத ச(H)ராயச
கண்டிதாகில தை(3)த்யாய ராமாயாபன் நிவாரணே

5 - Raamaaya raamabadraaya raamachandraaya vaedhasae
Ragunaathaaya naathaaya seethaayaah pathayae namah

ராமாய ராமப(4)த்(3)ராய ராமசந்த்(3)ர வேத(4)ஸே
ரகு(4)நாதாய நாதாய ஸீதாயா: பதயே நம:

6 - agrathah pr(u)shtathaschaiva paars(h)vathascha mahaabalow
Aakarnapoornadhanvaanow rakshaethaam raama lakshanow

அக்(4)ரத: ப்ருஷ்டதச்(H)சைவ பார்ச்(H)வதச்(H)ச மஹாப(4)லௌ
ஆகர்ண பூர்ணத(4)ன்வாநௌ ரக்ஷேதாம் ராமலக்ஷ்மணௌ

1 & 2 are specially chanted when we are confronted with fear, problems & danger.
Rama destroys all distress of the distressed.
We pray to Rama to be always ready to help us when we need him.

5 & 6 are chanted whenever we step out of the house to go anywhere, including daily outings, journeys etc. In this shloka, we pray to Rama & Lakshmana to protect us from all visible & invisible forces.

The offerings To Lord Rama are, panakam, neer mor & cucumber kosemalli.
Whole moong payasam is offered in many families.This payasam,panakam & cucumber kosemalli are given in Ask Chitvish.
For neer mor, blend 1 cup curds ( after removing malai ) with salt, hing, curry laves with 3-4 cups of water. Tempering 1/2 tsp mustard seeds in a few drops of oil is optional.

Love & regards,
Chithra.

Dear Mrs Chithra,

I will be grateful if you can clarify this doubt. On a normal day when I chant slokams, I read for different Gods like Ganapathy, Sastha, Devi, Narasimhar, Krishnar etc. When it comes to naivedyam, I offer one fruit or milk for all Gods.

My athai keeps a plate with many small cups (like yummy thali meals) and offers milk from each cup to each God as she finishes the slokam.

What is the right way? This has been bugging me for long.

thanking you
sincerely
Vidya

There is only one common naivedhyam ! What you describe is new to me ! Daily I offer boiled milk with a drop each of honey & ghee first thing in the morning. Then after the puja, I offer - 1 tbsp of rice cooked separately with a few grains of dhal & a dash of salt & a drop of ghee. After naivedyam, this is then offered to the crows.
On Fridays, for puja, I make any one payasam, specially for Devi. Ofcourse for major pujas, it is customary to offer payasam, vadai, sundal etc. Infact Bhagavathsevai has panchamrutham as well. But for daily puja, any one is fine - I gave dry fruit since that is the only non-cooked naivedyam easy for everyone ! Fresh fruit is also fine.
I plan to post Panchamrutham recipe now, since it is a good offering for any puja.
Do you like the daily puja routine ? I have had no feedback !
Love & regards,
Chithra.

Dear Mrs Chithra,

Thanks for this clarification on naivedyam. I have also seen no else except my athai do this, so I had to get an expert opinion.

Sorry abt the second pooja format feedback. In fact, I like it even more than the first one since the second one seems more attuned to Nature and God. God willing, I want to do the second one daily and the 16 step pooja on special days. Looking forward to Panchamrutam recipe.

warm regards
Vidya