Jyotish-Yagya

The clay pot and coconut in front of the effigy of Durga is an essential part of the altar.

The coconut wrapped in a red cloth, then covered with flowers sits on top of the kalash-a round clay water pot. The coconut looks like a wisened old woman wrapped in her shawl.

The coconut and kalash contain the oldest, most basic symbols of life and fertility: Water, food plants, a round pot, red cloth, herbs. It sits on the bare earth at the beginning of the Navaratra.

Watch the transformation:

In the same way, by our repeated Sacred Acts, we water our souls. Watering the root brings growth. Notice how each day the decoration ( the respect that is celebrated) changes. In the background, un-noticed, growth happens.

Yagyas are an intensive way of watering the soul and promoting spiritual growth.

In contrast to the performance of the Pujas, Pandits chanting for their clients is very quiet.

Pandits chanting for their yajmans (clients)

Notice the huge bags stacked against the left wall of the Yagya Hall. Those are bags of rice. They will be served to people from the surrounding communities on March 25th, the dedication day of the new Temple at the Ashram. 25,000 hungry people are expected. Durga Devi is out of the picture to the left.

This is one of three areas in the Ashram where yagyas are chanted. The other two are the old yagya hall and the new Homashala.

Pandits chanting in old Yagya Hall

New Red Homasala on the left, Marble Temple in the background, split Mango wood in the foreground, ready for the fire ceremony.

Homasala, Temple, Mango wood

This next image gives an idea of how big Durga Devi is in the Yagya Hall.

Posing with Durga Devi

The first day of Navaratra is devoted to enlivening the sense quality of Sound. The chanting defies adequate description. It’s one of those things that ‘you’ve gotta be there!’

But since you’re not, I’ve been making some recordings. Here is the first one, the Purification Mantra that begins the Devi Puja.

Purification Mantra at the beginning of Devi Puja

Here is the mantra, as well as a translation, both from Jeffrey Armstrong. The mantra is written in paired lines.

The first line is the actual mantra. The second line is the mantra split up into phonetic syllables. Pronounce each syllable.

The Purification Mantra

AUM Shanti Shanti Shantihi
om shan ti shan ti shan ti hi

Translation to English:
Everything that is not pure becomes pure
and all things that are impure, wherever they are,
go away.  May Lakshmi and Vishnu the maintainers
of all bless us and bring us peace.

If you would like to listen to the complete pujas, just let me know an I’ll post the Devi Puja and Shiva Pujas to the website. Devi Puja is about 20 minutes long and Shiva Puja is about 40 minutes long.