Kedhara Gowri Vrath

Hi Friends,

I want to start a Kedhara Gowri Vrath -deepavali nombu from this year. Googled and got some information. Want to know the procedure for vrath and neivedhyams etc. Can we buy a nombu threads from shop or we should prepare in home? Help me!

Significance of kedAra (gauri) vratam - Deepavali
History of deepavali
History of Diwali (deebavali) - kedhAra (gowry) vratam

KedhAra Gowri vradham familiarly known as dIpAvaLi (Diwali) is celebrated throughout India in a grand manner. Without Caste creed, rich - poor differences people obeserve this festival. Infact very few people know that it is one of the important Saivite vratas. Brungi rishi is a great Shiva bhaktha. When he prays to Lord, he prays only to Lord Shiva and ignores Shakti. Angered by his act Shakti devi removed the energy from his body. He was not able to stand. He prayed to Lord Shiva. God gave him a stick to support his body. Shakti wanted to become part of Lord's body. She observed the kEdhAra vrata, one of Gods favorite vratas. Pleased by Her austerities God gave the left part of His body to shakti and became ardha nArIshwara(1). The vrata is then called kEdhAra gaurI vrata since Gowri observed it.
When observed

This kedhara vratam is observed for twenty one days starting from shukla paxa aShTami (Eighth moonday in its growing phase) in the month of purattAchi (mid Sep to mid Oct). The final day (dIpAvaLi) also should be observed in great devotion.
How to observe this vratam
mantras to perform this pUja (pUja vidhAnam)

Install Lord kedhArIshvara svAmi in a filled pot (kalasham). Make a roof (manTapa) above the kalasham. Make vrata threads - 21 fibers having 21 knots. The 16 courtesy worship has to be done for 21 days starting from the purattAchi shukla paxa dasami to aipachi amarapaxa chaturdashi (dIpAvaLi) or amAvAsya. On the culmination day (21st) in a clean decorated area devotionally install the kalasham over the grains spread in a banana leaf and offer various food and fruits to the Lord as offering and donate to others.
Glory

The glory of this vratam is very splendid as shri gauri devi observed this vratam in full devotion and got to be in half the body of Lord Shiva !! viShNu became Lord of vaikunta observing this vratam. braHma got hamsa vehicle, the guards of the eight directions got rid of the bane they got from braHma, bhagyavati and puNyavati got lots of wealth all due to the glory of this vratam. One who observes this vratam with devotion pleases Lord shiva.

See Also:
1. kEdhAra vradha pUja - in Tamil
2. pUja procedure for kEdhAra gauri vratam

) - kedhAra (gowry) vratam[/url]
3. ardhanArIshvarar
4. kEdhAram padhikam - cambandhar
5. kEdhAram padhikam - cundharar

source :www.shaivam.org - Devoted to God Shiva

kedhAreshvara vratam -mantra
(Told in skAnda purANam )

This has been transliterated from a thamiz script. So very likely that this would have misspelt words. It would be a great service if you could mail, the corrections.

\engtitle{.. kedAreshvara vrataM ..}##
\itxtitle{.. kedAreshvara vrataM ..}##\endtitles##
##(Told in skAnda purANaM )
Do the sa.nkalpaM as prescribed below:
##
shubhe shobhane muhUrte AdyabrahmaNaH dvitIyaparArdhe
shveta varAhakalpe vaivasvata manva.ntare kaliyuge
prathamapAde jaMbU dvIpe bhAratavarShe bharatakhaNDe
asmin vartamAne vyavahArika ##------## nAmena saMvatsare
##------## ayane ##------## R^itau ##------## mAse
##------## paxe asyAM ##------## vAsarau shubhanaxatra
shubhayoga shubhakaraNa evaMguNa visheShaNa vishiShTAyAM
shubhatithau shrI parameshvara prItyarthaM mama xemasthairya
vijayAyurArogyaishvaryApi vR^iddhyarthaM dharmArtha
kAmamoxa chaturvidha phalapuruShArtha siddhyarthaM
iShTa kAmyArtha siddhyarthaM mama samasta duritopa
shaantyarthaM samasta ma~NgaLa vAptyarthaM varShe varShe
prayukta shrI kedAreshvara devatAmuktisya shrI
kedAreshvara devatA prItyarthaM saMbhavitA niyamena
saMbhavitA prakAreNa saMbhavatbhi dravyaiH saMbhavatbhi
rupachAraishcha kalpokta prakaraNe yAvachchaktya
dhyAnAvAhanAdi ShoDachopachAra pUjAM kariShye ||

namaH |
##
Now do the kalasa pUja, gaNapati pUja.
Keep a decorated kalashaM (water filled pot) and a
grind stone (ammik kuzavi).
Do the prANa pratiShTA of kedAreshvara svAmi and
perforM a simple pUjA with dhUpadIpaM and fruit offering

Meditate on Lord kedAreshvara with this shloka:
##
shUlaM Damaruka~nchaiva tadAnamhastayugmake
kedAradevamIshAnaM dhyAye tripurakkAdhinaM ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || dhyAyAmi ||

kailAsa shikhare ramye pArvatyA sahitaprabho |
Agachchhdevadevesha madbhaktyAM chandrashekhara ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || AvAhayAmi ||

surAsurashiroratna pradIpitapadAmbuja
kedAradevamaddatta AsanaM pratigR^ihyatAM ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || AsanaM samarpayAmi ||

ga~NgAdhara namastestu trilochana vR^iShadhvaja
mauktikAsana samstApya kedArAya namo namaH ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || pAdayoH pAdyaM samarpayAmi ||

arghyaM gR^ihANabhagavan bhaktyA dattaM maheshvara
prayachchhame manastuShTiM bhaktAnAmiShTadAyaka ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || arghyaM samarpayAmi ||

munibhir nAradaprakGYe nityamAkhyAta vaibhavaM |
kedAradevabhagavan gR^ihANAchamanaM prabho ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || AchamanaM samarpayAmi ||

kedAradevabhagavan sarvalokeshvara prabho |
madhuparkaM pradAsyAmi gR^ihANatvaM shubhenavai ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || madhuparkaM samarpayAmi ||

snAnaM pa~nchAmR^itaM deva ****ashuddhodakairapi |
gR^ihANa gaurIramaNa tvadbhaktena mayArpitaM ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || pa~nchAmR^ita snAnaM samarpayAmi ||

nadIjala samAyuktaM mayAdattamanuttamaM |
snAnaM svIkuru devesha sadAshiva namostute ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || shuddhodakasnAnaM samarpayAmi ||

vastrayugmaM sadAshubhraM manoharamidaM shubhaM |
dadAmidevesha bhaktyedaM pratigR^ihyatAM ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || vastrayugmaM samarpayAmi ||

svarNa yaGYopavIta~ncha kA~nchanamchottarIyakaM |
rudrAxamAlayAyuktaM dadAmi svIkuruprabho ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || yaGYopavItaM samarpayAmi ||

samasta gandha dravyANAM devatvamasijanmabhUH |
bhaktyA samarpitaM prItyA mayA gandhAdi gR^ihyatAM ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || shrI gandhAn samarpayAmi ||

axato sidvabhAvena bhaktAnAM axataM padaM |
dadAsinAtha maddattaiH axataiH priyatAbhavAn ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || axatAn samarpayAmi ||

kalpavR^ixa prasUnaistvaM pUrvairabhyachitassuraiH |
ku~NkumaiH pArthivairebhiritAnImarchadAmmayA ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || puShpANi pUjayAmi | ||



tataH indrAdi aShTadigpAla pUjAM kuryAt ||

indrAya namaH
agnaye namaH |
yamAya namaH |
niruR^itaye namaH |
varuNAya namaH |
vAyave namaH |
kuberAya namaH |
IshAnAya namaH |

shivasya daxiNabhAge brahmaNe namaH |
uttarabhAge viShNave namaH |
madhye kedAreshvarAya namaH |

athaA~Nga pUjaa ||

maheshvarAya pUjayAmi | pAdau pUjayAmi |
IshvarAya namaH | ja~Nghe pUjayAmi |
kAmarUpAya namaH | jAnunI pUjayAmi |
harAya namaH | UrU pUjayAmi |
tripurAntakAya namaH | guhyaM pUjayAmi |
bhavAya namaH | kaTiM pUjayAmi |
ga~NgAdharAya namaH | nAbhiM pUjayAmi |
mahAdevAya namaH | udaraM pUjayAmi |
pinAkine namaH | hastAn pUjayAmi |
shivAya namaH | bhujau pUjayAmi |
****ikaNThAya namaH | kaNThaM pUjayAmi |
virUpAxAya namaH | mukhaM pUjayAmi |
trinetrAya namaH | netrANi pUjayAmi |
rudrAya namaH | lalATaM pUjayAmi |
sharvAya namaH | shiraH pUjayAmi |
chandramauLaye namaH | mauLiM pUjayAmi |
pashupataye namaH | sarvANya~NgAni pUjayAmi |
##
PerforM the shivAShTottara sata or sahasra nAmAvaLi pUja. (1) (2).

Performing the pUjA for the holy threads - sUtragra.nthi pUjA
##
shivAya namaH | prathamagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
shAntAya namaH | dvitIyagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
mahAdevAya namaH | tritIyagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
vR^iShabhadvajAya namaH | chaturthagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
gaurIshAya namaH | pa~nchamagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
rudrAya namaH | ShaShTagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
pashupataye namaH | saptamagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
bhImAya namaH | aShTamagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
tryaMbakAya namaH | navamagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
nIlalohitAya namaH | dashamagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
harAya namaH | ekAdashagra.nthiM pUjayAmi | |
smaraharAya namaH | dvAdashagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
bhargAya namaH | trayodashagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
shaMbhave namaH | chaturdashagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
sharvAya namaH | pa~nchadashagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
sadAshivAya namaH | ShoDashagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
IshvarAya namaH | saptadashagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
ugrAya pUjayAmi | aShTAdashagra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
shrI kaNThAya namaH | ekonaviMshatigra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
nIlakaNThAya namaH | viMshatigra.nthiM pUjayAmi |
mR^ityu~njayAya pUjayAmi | ekaviMshatigra.nthiM pUjayAmi |

dhUpa dIpa naivedyAni |

dashA~NgaM dhUpamukya~ncha hya~NkAra vinive****aM |
dhUpaM sugandhairutpannaM tvaMprINayatu sha~Nkara ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || dhUpamAghrApayAmi ||

yoginAM hR^idayenaiva GYAnadIpA~NkurotviSha |
bAhyadIpo mayAdatto gR^ihyatAM bhakta gauravAt ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || dIpaM darshayAmi ||

trailokyamapi naivedyaM tatetR^ipti sadAbahiH |
naivedyaM bhaktavAtsalyAt gR^ihyatAM tryambakatvayA ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi ||
nAnAvidha phalAni bhaxyabhojya nivedanaM nivedayAmi ||

nityAnanda svarUpastavaM yogihR^id kamalesthitaM |
gR^ihANa bhaktyA maddattaM tAmbUlaM pratigR^ihyatAM ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || tAMbUlaM samarpayAmi ||

arghyaM gR^ihANa bhagavan bhaktyAdattaM maheshvara |
prayachchhame manastuShTiM bhaktAnAmiShTadAyaka ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || punArghyaM samarpayAmi ||

karpUra chandrashaMkAshaM jyotissUryamivoditaM |
bhaktyA darshayAmi karpUraM nIrA~njanamidaM shiva ||

kedAreshvara svAmine namaH | karpUra nIrA~njanaM darshayAmi ||

bhUtesha bhuvanAdhIsha sarvadevAdi pUjita |
pradaxiNaM karomitvAM vrataM me saphalaM kuru ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || pradaxiNAM samarpayAmi ||

harashaMbho mahAdeva vishveshAmara vallabha |
shivasha~Nkara sarvAtman nIlakaNTha namostute ||

shAntaM padmAsanasthaM shashidharamakuTaM pa~nchavaktraM trinetraM |
shUlamvajra~ncha khaDgaM parashumabhayataM daxabhAge vaha.ntaM ||
nAgaMpAsha~ncha kha.nDAM Damaruka sahitaM chA~NgushaM vAmabhAge
nAnAla.nkAra dIptaM sphaTika maNinipaM pArvatIshaM namAmi ||

kedAreshvara svAmine pUjayAmi || namaskArAn samarpayAmi ||

abhiiShTasiddhiM kurume shivAvyaya maheshvara |
bhaktAnAM iShTatAnArthaM mUrtIkR^itakaLeparaM ||
iti prArthanA |

kedAra devadevesha bhagavan aMbikApate |
ekaviMshat dinetasmin sUtraM gR^ihANmyahamprabho ||

sUtragR^ihaNaM |
##
(Take the holy thread of this vratam)

(Chant the following mantra while tieing the thread.
Receive the thread froM priest or elderly people along
with axata and their blessings. Tie it keeping fruit
or coconut in hand)
##
Ayushcha vidyAnycha dattA sukha~ncha saubhAgyavR^ittaM gurudevadeva
saMsAra ghoraMbu nittau nimagnaM mAm raxa kedAra namostute ||

doraba.ndhanaM |

kedAra pratigR^ihNAtu kedArovai tatAdicha |
kedArastArako pAbyAM kedArAya namopUjayAmi ||

uvAyanadAnaM |

kedArapratimA yasmAt rAjya saubhAgya vardhanI |
tasmAdasya pradAnena mamAstushrI rasa~nchalA ||

iti pratimAdAna mantraH |
##
(donate the pradhima)

(Now the kedAra vrata story could be listened to. While listening keep the axata
inhand. Finally submit the axata on the Lord and salute.)
##
| iti kedArapUjAvidhAnaM sampUrNaM |
## continued