Rama Navami (Sanskrit: राम नवमी, rāma navamī) celebrates the day of Śrī Rāma’s birth to King Daśaratha and Queen Kausalya in the city of Ayodhya – the Place of Perfect […]
Krishna Janmashtami
The holy day of Sri Krishna’s birth, called Krishna Janmashtami (Sanskrit: कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी, kṛṣṇa janmāṣṭami), is celebrated with joyous feelings throughout India and the world on the 8th day of […]
Monthly and Weekly Worship of Lord Shiva
Mondays are special days for Lord Shiva as are the 13th and 14th days of the Lunar Fortnight. These days are perfect opportunities to worship and cook for Lord Shiva. […]
Saraswati Puja
On the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Magh we celebrate our annual Sarasvatī Pūjā. On this day, Swamiji establishes a pot for Mother Sarasvatī and we perform a […]
Monthly Worship of Saraswati
The fifth day of each bright and dark fortnight considered very auspicious for the worship of Mother Sarasvatī. On these days we can use the Cosmic Puja book and/or the […]
Annapurna Puja
At the Devi Mandir, Navaratri (the Nine Nights of Worship of Divine Mother) is celebrated four times a year — in fall, winter, spring and summer. Every Navaratri, devotees dedicate […]
Monthly Kali Worship
We pray to Mother Kālī to take away our darkness and reveal truth, love and wisdom in our hearts and minds. The 14th day of each lunar fortnight and the […]
Kali Puja
The Kālī Pūjā Festival is a held every year on the new moon night in the month of Aśvin (October-November). For this occasion, Shree Maa decorates the temple with paintings […]
Navaratri
Four times a year, we celebrate “Navaratri,” or the nine night celebration of Divine Mother. These celebrations, also known as Durgā Pūjā, occur from the first to the ninth night in […]
Chaturthi
Lord Ganesh won the boon from Lord Shiva that He would be the first to be worshipped in any puja. Regardless of the occasion or scripture, we begin all our […]
Tarpan Viddhi
Navaratri is preceded by Mahaloya, the Great Dissolution, when we dissolve all our attachments to the creation, and in this way dissolve creation itself. Our last act in the old creation is to express our appreciation to our ancestors for preparing such a wonderful path for us. Now we can worship without obstruction for the Festival of Nine Nights.
Shivaratri Video: Q&A with Swamiji
Swami Satyananda Saraswati discusses why and how we worship on Shivaratri. He answers questions about the holy day’s pujas, the symbolism of Shiva’s madness following the death of Sati, and tells one of the many stories regarding the origin of Shivaratri.
Maha Shiva Ratri, March 2011
~~OM~~ The Worship of Lord Shiva Early in the morning of Shivaratri, we saw our beloved Swamiji sitting in asan by the sacred fire and chanting many, many scriptures – […]
Celebrating our ancestors
Photo of the week – Oct 12 – Oct 18 2007
(Picture taken October 10, 2007)
On October 10th we celebrated Mahalaya, the great Dissolution, and honored our ancestors thanking them for leading us here.
We performed puja with special ladhus that we offered at the altar, at the fire and then to nature.
Pranams to all the great souls that preceded us and brought us to the Devi Mandir!
Guidelines for Observing Navaratri
Question:
When is Navaratri celebrated ? Could you please let me know if there are six Navaratris and are they Varsha, Sharad, Shishir, Hemant, Vasant, Grishma?
Swamiji says:
Navaratri can be celebrated at any time. Most often it is observed from Pratipad to Navami or from Shashti to Purnima or Amavashya. There are four Navaratris which are special: Magh, Chaitra, Ashadh, and Ashvin. These correspond to winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Question:
Can you please suggest any guidelines for people wishing to observe the Navaratri fast in the same way that you do. (24 hours X 9 days. No water, no food)
Swamiji says:
Start off small and be content with small steps. Observe 24 hours with only water, then drink. Actually you will probably want salt more than water. Then try three days. And eat only fruits and water one time a day for the remainder of the nine days. Slowly you will extend it.
Question:
It is my understanding that no grains, or salty food is to be eaten during Navaratri. It is a symbolic giving up for the goddess. Are fruit and vegetables ok? To fast completely is for a greater tapas, and austerity. Is this correct?
Swamiji says:
The fasting gives forth a number of benefits. We suggest that everyone observe the vow according to their own capacity: the needs of the body, the activities in which the body must engage during the vow, etc. Some will give up grains and pulses, some will only take fruit and dairy, some will only take water: each according to his or her own capacity.
Question:
How do we count Navratri? Sundown to Sundown? Sunrise to Sunrise? Or Sunrise to Sundown?
Swamiji says:
We use a Panchanga, an almanac timed according to the phases of the moon.
Question:
Does one fast for 9 days during Navraatri without food, only water?
Swamiji says:
Some will fast on only water.
Question:
I would like to know is it possible to do homa of 108 names of Durga Ma from the Chandi Path for Navaratri?
Swamiji says:
Yes.