How to observe Vaikunta Ekadasi?

Vaikunda Ekadashi fasting

Vaikunta Ekadashi, is the most important of the twenty four Ekadashi observances in South India. Fasting and all night prayer dedicated to Lord Vishnu is the main observance of the day. It is believed that venerating Lord Vishnu on Vaikunda Ekadasi will help to free soul from cycles of rebirth and grant moksha. Another important belief is that Vaikunta Dwara, the doors of heaven, will open on this day and give easy access to Lord Vishnu.

Those visiting Vishnu Temples like Tirupati or Srirangam on Vaikunta Ekadashi can pass through the Vaikunta Dwara, the door through the inner most sanctum sanctorum. In South India, Vaikunta Ekadashi is also known as Mokshada Ekadasi. In 2014, Vaikunta Ekadasi is on January 11.

How to observe Vaikunta Ekadasi?

Vaikunta Ekadashi falls on the eleventh day of Pushya Shukla Paksha.

Things needed for Puja and Prayer

• A picture or photo or idol of Lord Vishnu
• Fruits
• Tulsi leaves
• Betel leaves (optional)
• Betel nuts (optional)
• Yellow bananas
• Unbroken coconut (optional)

Observance

• Wake up early in the morning. Take bath and offer prayers.
• You can perform a simple puja to Lord Vishnu at home by offering fruits and Tulsi leaves.
• You can just light the lamp and prayer or meditate for few minutes – or the normal ritual you do daily. Only difference is that today it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
• If there is a Vishnu temple nearby visit the temple and witness morning pujas and rituals.
• Complete fast or upavasam on the day is the main observance.

Fasting

Fasting for 24 hours. It is believed that a partial or total abstinence from food on Ekadasi is rewarded with bliss.

If you have any health problem or are taking medicines, please consult your doctor before deciding on fasting. You can also opt for a partial fast by avoiding food made of rice.

Do not eat food made from rice on Ekadashi.

Evening Prayers

• Take a bath in the evening.
• Repeat the morning puja to Vishnu
• Visit Vishnu temple and witness the evening puja and rituals.

Prayers for Vaikunta Ekadasi

• Vishnu Ashotharam
• Vishnu Sahasranamam
• Or Simple Chanting of – Om Namo Narayana
• No Sleep
• Staunch devotees who observe Vaikunta Ekadasi fasting do not sleep on the day. They spend the whole night at Vishnu temples or by singing prayers or listening stories dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Next Day Morning

The fast is broken on the next day (Dwadashi) after taking bath. Offer prayers to Lord Vishnu by lighting a lamp and then you can break the fast.

Tulasi Vivah on Uthana Dwadasi

This festival comes on Shukla Paksha Dwadasi, in the month of Karthik. This happens to be the last day of chatur maasa . On Uthana Dwadasi day Lord Vishnu is supposed to get up from sleep. It is said that a year in a humans life is one day to the gods. On Uthana Dwadasi day Lord Vishnu is stirring from his sleep. There are some stories connected to this too.

How to perform Tulasi Vishnu Vivaha

• On this day, Saligrama puja is important and Tulasi puja. In most houses Saligrama puja is performed and brahmin couples are given festival food and Tulasi Vivah is performed in the evening. After food, this couple are given thamboola and a minimum of blouse piece if not sari and shalya is presented along with Kheer Dana.
• For the evening naividya, 4/5 different kind of laddus and sweets are made, and also a flavored milk boiled well with sugar saffron and cardomom added. Koshambari is also made.

• An arathi is prepared as follows. On a plain silver or pithal plate draw a rangoli design with honey using a matchstick or a new toothpick. Over this sprinkle some Gasagase (poppey seeds) all over and then gently tap out the extra gasgase. You will now have a beautiful decoration on the plate. Over this arrange 5 amlas and wicks soaked in ghee over the amlas. 
• For the Amlas in the Arati, make a dough with Haldi posder and water. Prepare equal sized balls and over this place the Amla and the wick soaked in oil. This will help balance the Amlas and prevent them from rolling over.
• Decorate the frontyard of the house with mango leaves and rangoli. 
• Decorate the tulasi vrindavan - draw rangoli in front of the vrindavan. If there no place in the back yard for this , one may keep the pot or a small vrindvan with a tulasi plant near the god, for the puja.
• In the Tulasi vrindavan a small branch of amla is kept, a few amlas have also to be in the branches. Keep a small idol of Krishna in the Vrindavan, next to the plant and perform puja. Light as many lamps as possible. 
• You will need to get ready the naividya, the arathi, sweet smelling flowers, a pair small garlands. 
• Decorate the tulasi and put a few abharana( jewels, like we would decorate a bride). Sing songs and stotras to Tulasi and Krishna and Lakshmi, nd perform the puja.
• After the puja and before the various arathis, offer to the Lord and Tulsi, a sari and blouse and pair of dhotis offer haldhi kumkum and on to plate do the offer Mangala Dravya for Tulasi, then the naividya and the arathis. Puja is to performed with haldhi kumkum etc as we perform Lakshmi puja.

Prayers for Tulasi Pooja

Tulasi Praathane namah tulasi kalyaaNi namo vishhnu priye shubhe |namo moksha pradaayike devi namaH sampatpradaayike ||

Tulasige Namaskara
Yanmule sarva thirthani yanmadye sarva devatha |yadagre sarva vedashcha Tulasi thvam namam mayham ||

Tulasi Dyana
dyayescha tulasim devim shyamam kamala lochanamprasannam panmakalhara varabhaya chaturbhujakiritahara keyura kundaladi vibushitamdhavalankusha samyuktam nishedushim

Tulasi Ashhtottara Shatanamavali 

Click here for Tulasi Ashtottara Shatanamavali in English and Kannada 

The second half of Ashwija maasa and Kartic maasa are the darkest months of the year. Before the times of kerosene lamps and electric lights, it would have been very difficult to sight a village. When lamps are lit and kept in front of the houses in the evenings and early mornings the travellers could easily sight the village.

Amlas are given importance, as the coming months are cold with fog, which will cause cold etc. Amlas are an excellent source of Vitamin C, a preventive for winter ailments in the olden days.

In places where a Amla tree is present, it is worshipped and revered. It is said that every house must have an Amla tree, a parijatha flower tree and a tulasi plant. Some even say that a house without a tulasi plant, is equal to cemetery.

Growing a tulasi plant is not at all difficult only it needs to be watered every day.The plant has also be planted in a fairly big pot or brindhvan, so the plant will space for the roots to spread.

Any plant for that matter is like child. take care of it and it will grow well. The plant also needs to kept in sunny place. In summer when it is very hot, it can be watered twice or shifted to a shade.

Do grow a tulasi plant where ever you are.

How to perform Lakshmi Puja at home during Diwali?

Lakshmi Puja is an important ritual during Diwali or Deepavali.  The ritual varies from region to region. But here is a simple guide to perform Lakshmi Puja during Diwali. In 2013, Diwali Lakshmi Puja is on November 3.

First and foremost step is to clean the house. Through the puja we are inviting Goddess Lakshmi to our house and she likes everything to be neat and clean. In some communities, even the broom is worshipped on the Lakshmi Puja day. This symbolically represents the need for cleanliness. 

Three forms of Shakti – Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswathi and Goddess Durga –Lord Ganesh and Lord Kubera are worshipped on the day. No puja is performed without paying customary tributes to Lord Ganesha. Lord Kubera, represents wealth, and he is the treasurer of Gods. In homes, usually the locker or safe in which gold and cash is kept symbolically represents the seat of Kubera. 

Important Items Needed For Lakshmi Puja

Kalash

Mango leaves

Idol or picture of Goddess Lakshmi

Milk, curd, honey, ghee

Puffed rice

Usual puja Sweets

Coriander seeds

Cumin seeds

And other daily puja items

Lakshmi Puja Process

• First decide on a place to perform the puja.
• Spread a clean cloth and create a bed of rice.
• A Kalash (pot) is placed on the bed of rice.
• Fill about 75% of the Kalash with water.
• Put a betel nut, flower, a clean coin, and some rice in the Kalash.
• Now arrange mango leaves around the opening of the Kalash.
• Place a Thaali (a small plain plate) on the Kalash.
• On the Thaali, draw a lotus with turmeric powder and place the idol or small photograph of Goddess Lakshmi.
• Place some coins on the Thaali.
• On the right of Kalash, place the idol of Lord Ganesha.
• If you need, you can also place the idols of Saraswathi and your favorite deities.
• Create a peaceful and calm atmosphere. The best way is to close the eyes and meditate on ‘om.’
• Take some water and sprinkle on all puja items to purify them.
• Do puja with haldi, kumkum and flowers on the Kalash.
• Light a lamp.
• Now take some flower and rice in the hands and close the eyes and meditate on Goddess Lakshmi. You are now invoking Goddess Lakshmi. If you know mantras, recite them. Otherwise just simply meditate on Goddess Lakshmi. Here is a simple Sanskrit mantra dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi.

Namosthesthu Maha Maye,
Shree padee, sura poojithe,
Shanka, Chakra, Gadha hasthe,
Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe

• Now sprinkle the flowers and rice on the idol of Goddess Lakshmi.
• Take out the idol of Goddess Lakshmi and place it on a Thaali. Clean the idol with water, then with milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar. Then clean the idol again with water.
• Place the idol back on the Kalash.
• Now offer garlands made of marigolds or leaves of bel tree, sandalwood paste, kumkum and other daily puja items including lighting incense and agarbhatis.
• Now make offerings of coconut, fruits, sweets, betel nuts and betel leaves.
• Next make offerings of Batasha sweets, puffed rice, coriander and cumin seeds.
• Lastly, perform a silent Arati for Goddess Lakshmi. And meditate on Goddess Lakshmi.
• Take some of the ‘prasad’ (that will stay for long period of time) and place it at the place where ornaments and cash is usually kept.
• Business people also worship the account books on this day along with Goddess Lakshmi. 

This is only a guideline. You can show flexibility in the puja process. Some of the items needed might not be readily available. But you can keep the house and surrounding clean. Finally, if you can’t perform the puja, wherever you are simply mediate on Goddess Lakshmi.

How to perform Saraswati Puja during Navaratri?

Saraswati Puja is an important part of the Navaratri festival, especially in South India. Saraswati Puja is observed at different times in different parts of India. The last three days of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Saraswati Puja is also observed in Gujarat during the same period but in a different manner. Below is a step by step guide to how Saraswathi Puja is observed in South India.

In Karnataka, Saraswathi Puja is observed on the Saptami (Oct 10, 2013). The last day of Navratri, which is also the Mahanavami day, is  also observed as Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja. Books and tools are placed in the puja room or in front of the idol or painting of Goddess Saraswati on the previous day evening. The books and tools are not touched untill the Mahanavami day and they are removed from the pooja on the Vijayadashami day. On Vijayadashami, you can open the books are read a few pages - this is the day of Vidya Arambha. 

Vijaya Dashami day is considered auspicious for initiating the children into writing and reading, which is called Vidyarambham. Tens of thousands of children are initiated into the world of letters on this day in Kerala.

Requirements

• Image or idol of Goddess Saraswati
• A white cloth (vastram)
• Flowers – louts, lilies or jasmine.
• Mango leaves or other decorations
• Turmeric
• Kumkum
• Rice
• Bananas
• Locally available Fruits

If you are preparing prasada or neivedya – then the ingredients of what you wish to cook. Usually, people make Vade, Payasam using split peas or green gram or simple jaggery sweet.

Getting Ready

• If you are already doing Navratri Puja, then you can use the same decorations etc.
• If you are only doing Saraswati Puja, then get your house cleaned.
• Keep all the books arranged.
• Clean all the tools.
• Keep the computer and laptop clean.
• Everything must be ready by the evening of the 8^th day of Navratri.

On the Saptami day (or Mahanavami for some, ninth day of Navratri), books and tools that are kept for Saraswati puja should not be touched.

Saraswati Puja

Most people do the Puja on evening of the eighth day of Navratri and on the Mahanavami day the books and tools are not touched.

• If you are already doing Navratri Puja, then you can place the idol of Goddess Saraswati in front of your Navratri Bombe display. If not, then you can place the idol in prominence in the puja area.
• Decorate the image or idol of Goddess Saraswati using flowers, garlands etc.
• A white cloth is used to cover the idol of the Goddess. If you are using an image you can skip the white cloth or place it on tray near the image.
• Pray to Lord Ganesha first by chanting a simple prayer.
• You can light the lamp.
• Next venerate Goddess Saraswati with flowers, agarbhatis, incense and chanting any shloka dedicated to Goddess.
• Now that you have invoked the Goddess, you can keep books and other objects that you wish to keep for puja before the idol.
• Sprinkle some flowers on the books and objects.
• You can also apply a small dot of turmeric paste and kumkuma on books and objects; but turmeric stains are hard to remove so do it carefully.
• After this you can place some flowers and akshata (uncooked rice with turmeric) on the deity.
• You can offer the prasada or neivedya that you have made.
• You can chant any shlokas or remain in meditation for sometime.

Some people do Saraswati Daana (offering/blessing) to a young girl on the day which includes dress material, betel leaves, betel nuts, bananas, bangles and cosmetics.

The books and tools are removed on the Vijaya Dasami day after prayers and lighting a lamp.

How to Observe Navaratri Vrath?

Navratri Vrat or Navaratri Vratha is an important fast observed by Hindus during Ashwayuja. Navratri 2014 begins on September 25 and ends on October 4. It is believed that those devotees who perform Navratri fasting will find happiness on earth and will receive ‘moksha.’ Legend has it that, how to observe the Navarathri Vratha was once narrated by Goddess Durga to one of her ardent devotee. The Vratha is observed by both men and women and Navratri mantra is repeated during the period.

Navratri Fast

The Navratri fast is observed from the first day to the ninth day of Ashvin month. People take bath in the morning and evening during this period and some even drink water only after the ritual bath in the morning.

Most devotees take only a single meal during the day. Non-vegetarian food is totally avoided. Some people confine to milk and fruits during the nine days. 

Some devotees only observe fast during three days i.e., first fast during any one of the first three days and second fast during any one of the next three and last in any one of final three days.

How to perform the rituals?

A Kalasha is prepared at home and the water is changed daily for nine days. The kalasha is placed on grains on raised platform or in the Puja room. Goddess Durga is worshipped during the first three days, Goddess Lakshmi for the next three days, and Goddess Saraswathi during the last three days. (Some people make clay figures of the Goddesses during the period).

Each day fresh flowers and fruits are offered to the Goddess. Arati is performed and bhajans are recited.

The Mantras and Bhajans to be recited

Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati) and Sri Lalita Sahasranama are recited during the period. The important Navratri mantra is ‘Aaim hreem kleem chamundayai vichche.’

Some devotees conduct special homas and pujas during the period. 

On the ninth day, all books, pen and whatever implements that a person uses for his/her livelihood is worshipped and is not touched on the day.

On the tenth day, that is the Vijayadashami day in South India, especially in Kerala, young children are initiated into the world of learning. 

There are no hard and fast rules for any fasting in Hindu religion. There is always scope for flexibility. Some people just abstain from non-vegetarian food during the period. Some people just visit temples all the nine days. Some people read Bhagavad Gita or other holy books during the period.

How to perform a simple Ganesha Chaturthi Puja at Home?

Ganesha Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi is one of the most colorful and widely celebrated festivals in India. Large number of people observe Ganesha Chaturthi poojas at home. Here is an explanation on how to perform Ganesha puja at home as mentioned in Hindu scriptures.

Ganesha puja on the Chaturthi day is usually performed at noon but nowadays people perform it when all the family members are present. 

Requirements

• A Clay image of Lord Ganesha.
• Red flowers
• Druva Grass blades
• Modak (jaggery filled sweet)
• Coconut
• Red chandan (Sandalwood paste)
• Incense and agarbathis

The Puja

• First clean the house and take a bath.
• A Clay image of Lord Ganesha is installed in a raised platform.
• Pray to Lord Ganesh and you can recite mantras or bhajans dedicated to Lord Ganesha.
• Next step is to invoke Ganesha into the image. This is known as pran-prathishta. The Pran Prathista mantra in Sanskrit to be invoked is found in the Rig Veda and is part of Ganesh Suktha.

ganananh tva ganapatim havamahe kavim kavinam - upamashravastamam |
jyeshhtharajam brahmanan.h brahmanaspata A nah shrivnvannutibhih sida sadanam || 
(Rig Veda 2.23.1)

ni shhu sida ganapate ganeshhu tvamahurvipratamam kavinam |
na rite tvat.h kriyate kinchanare mahamarkam maghavan.h chitramarcha || 
(Rig Veda 10.112.9)

We invoke You, O Ganapati of the ganas (Lord Shiva attendants), Who are Brahmana-spati of the brahmas (prayers), the wisest among the wise, Who abound in treasure beyond all measure, the most brilliant one. Do listen to our prayers, come with Your blessings and assurances of protection into our home, and be seated. (Rig Veda 2.23.1)

Sit down among the worshippers, O Ganapati, the best sage among the sages. Without You nothing can be done here or far. Accept with honor, O wealthy One, our great and variegated hymns of praise. (Rig Veda 10.112.9)

• Now Ganesha is installed in the idol and one can perform arati and light the lamps. Some people perform the shhodashopachara, which are 16 forms of paying tribute to Ganesha. (This ritual is usually performed by the priests, you can skip this.)
• Offer 21 blades of Druva Grass.
• Offer 21 modakas
• Offer red flowers
• Apply a tilak using red Sandalwood paste.
• Break the coconut or just keep it along with the idol. You can also keep fried grains. (The food of the rat – the vehicle of Ganesha).
• You can also recite the 108 salutations dedicated to Lord Ganesha or read the Ganesha Upanishad or just simply pray.

The number 21 signifies - the five organs of perception, five organs of action, five vital airs (pranas), five elements, and the mind.

While performing Ganesha Puja at home, you can always be flexible. The strict rituals are meant for Vedic priests. All you need to be careful is to perform the pujas with a clean body and clean mind.

What is more important is devotion not the ritual.

Try to be simple. Concentrate on your prayers not on decoration and other ritualistic details.

How to observe Swarna Gowri Vratha?

Gowri Habba or Swarna Gowri Vratha is dedicated to Goddess Paravati, also known as Gowri. The ‘Vratha’ is mainly observed by married and unmarried women and is mainly performed in Karnataka and other places in South India. An answer to How to do the Gowri Habba or Swarna Gowri Vratha is bit complex as there are numerous regional and community variations in performing the ritual. The festival is also known as Ganesha Gowri or Ganesh Habba as Ganesh Chaturthi falls on the next day.

Performing Gowri Habba

On the Swarna Gowri Vratam day, the house is cleaned thoroughly. After bathing married women and young girls in the family dress up neatly. Some people perform the puja at home; others at the houses of relatives or friends and some opt for the nearby temples.

A small temporary shrine is erected using banana leaves and banana stem. This is decorated with mango leaves, turmeric, tulsi and sandalwood paste. Those who already have a puja cabinet perform the ritual in it or in a separate temporary area.

Next is the installation of the idol of Goddess Parvati or Gowri. There are several methods for this. The indigenous method is to make an idol of Gowri with turmeric. Nowadays, people opt for the ready made idols of Goddess Gowri which is available in market. Some people opt for the family owned Swarna or gold idol of Gowri.

The idol of Gowri, which is decorated neatly with clothes, is placed on a bed of rice or wheat or other cereals. Some people place a Shiva linga and Ganesha idol along with the idol of Parvati. Flowers and green leaves are mainly used to decorate the idols. Some people also opt for a Purna Kumbh. A mirror is placed along with the idol.

A 16-knotted thread is prepared for the puja and some people tie it on their hands. (Perhaps indicating the 16 long years of intense austerities performed by Goddess Parvati to obtain Lord Shiva as husband).

Morada Baagina 

Next is the preparation of special puja plates or thalas with various puja items also known as ‘Gowri Morada bagina.’ The pooja thala or plate consists of turmeric, kum kum, a mirror, bangles, comb, various cereals, coconut, fresh cloth, rice, jaggery, the 16 knot thread, 16 different leaves and fruits. Some people prepare just one pooja thala for Goddess Parvati. Some prepare several ‘bagina’ and distribute among married women. (Please note that the number of items and those used varies from region to region.)

The main puja ceremony involves bathing the idol in milk, ghee, curd, honey and water. Some people only perform the simple Aarti and sing bhajans.

After the pooja, women exchange decorated bamboo plates (mora) filled with nine types of grain (navadhanya), along with Jaggery, bangles, turmeric, a blouse piece, kumkum, betel leaves, fruits and nuts and dakshina/money. This is known as Morada Bagina. Women perform the pooja at their maternal homes as a mark of respect and gratitude to their parents.

Then the prepared bagina is offered to Gowri and people recite the prayers dedicated to Parvati or the special phrases used during the occasion like ‘Savitri, Savitri, Bagina Togo.’ While taking away the bagina repeat the same prayers or say ‘muthaiyde, muthaiyde bagina kodu.’

Gowri Habba Feast

Delicious food is prepared on this day and offered to the goddess. Dishes like Chitranna (colored rice), Payasa (pudding), Kayi Holige (a sweet bread stuffed with coconut mixture), Tovve, Saru /RasamKayi Kadabu, Palya (Vegetable dish), Kosambari (salad) and Ambode or bhajj are prepared and relished together by everyone at home.

Another important custom on the day is the sending of gifts by married women’s parents. Newly married girls also present ‘bagina’ to married elderly women.

It is believed that by performing this puja unmarried girls will get good husbands and married women will have a healthy and peaceful family life.

Visarjana 

The next day, Gowri is given a warm visarjana/ send off by offering Udi (offering all the sacred items like Turmeric, Flowers, Vermilion, Blouse piece, Rice, Betel nuts and leaf, Turmeric root and dry Coconut) and the clay idol is immersed in water along with Lord Ganesha’s idol. In some areas, people immerse the Turmeric idol along with Ganesha. (Gowri Habba is followed by Ganesh Chaturthi).

Gowri habbada mangaladravya

Another specialty of this festival is that the 'tavaru maneyavaru' (the married woman's parents and brothers) send gowri habbada mangaladravya to the married women of their family. Some send money as a substitute for mangaladravya. This good practice remains unchanged and keeps people closer. Newly married women give 16 jothe baagina to sumangalis (married women) and obtain their blessings. One baagina is kept for Gowramma. 


It must be remembered here that all these rituals are man made. It is easy to observe these rituals when you live along with relatives and friends. Today, most people live alone that too in countries alien to such rituals. A simple prayer to Goddess Parvati will be more than enough. Always remember the core concept of Santana Dharma is Brahman – the supreme soul present in all living and non-living - and realization of it is the ultimate aim.