DEVI NAVARATHRI - 2012

This year Navarathri starts on 16th October. Devi puja which begins on Pratamai thithi and performed on
all nine days, is shortened by a day this year too like last year. We have only eight days puja followed by
Vijaya Dasami on 25th October. On 5th day of Navrathri, that is, 20th October, both Panchami and Shasti thithi combines, hence on 21st Sapathami thithi has to be followed. On 20th October Panchami thithi rules upto 7.07 AM (IST), followed by sashti thiti which lasts upto 3.35AM of 21st october. As the thithi at the time of sunrise is taken into account,  sashti thithi on 21st october is not considered. Thus sashti thithi puja will be missed.
I am posting the chart giving details of the various ways of worship including the prasadams to be offered
to Devi, on day to day basis starting from Day 1 to Day 9 of Navarathri this year too. I tried to give the
details of the Navrathri celebrations,  the ways to worship Goddess Durga, the spritual force, Goddess Laxmi, giver of wealth and Goddess Saraswathi giver of wisdom in my previous posts from 2009 onwards.
The chart each year will undergo changes, as the combination of prasadam each day will be different as per the thithi, day of the week and star that rules the nine days of that year.
The main purpose of Navrathri celeberation each year marks the significance of worshipping DEVI (in three forms) and  to seek the blessings of three aspects of devine feminity. They are the three Shakthis namely Eccha sakthi, Kreeya sakthi and Gyana sakthi. Hence the nine nights of worship in  the order of Durga, Laxmi and Saraswathi on first three days, second three days  and third three days respectively.  The idea of giving the chart is to enable to worship and offer in nine ways each day to Goddess, by following the thithi, day, star and putting kolam each day using different material, offering nine flowers, fruits and nine types of food and danyam (pulses). When these are given in a tabular form it is easier to perform and keep things ready in advance without missing out any. I wish this will be of good use to all those who are keen to perform the puja and seek the blessings of DEVI MAA.
Arrangement of dolls in Golu Padi and Kalasa stapana is to be done on the Mahalaya Amavasya Day which is on 15th October this year and it can be done during auspicious time before 18.27 hrs (IST). The Navarathri Puja will begin the next day being Pratamai thithi and last upto Navami thithi on 24th October. The details of Kolam are given in my last year's post during September  and the Kizhamai (DAY) prasadams recipe links were also posted for the seven days of the week.
There are books and CDs giving procedure for performing the Pujai daily. As the practice is,  all the three Devis (Durga,Laxmi and Saraswathi) are prayed together each day. So the offerings made,  based on the kizamai, nakshatram and thithi prasadams are for three Goddesses daily. Apart from this, it is believed and emphasis is given in offering  the prayer to Goddess Durga on first three days as Devi/Annai takes the form of Durgai with a purpose to kill Madhukaidabar and Mahisasuran. Accordingly second three days prayers are for Devi who takes form of Goddess  Laxmi and accepts Devar thuthi , hears Asura's messenger Sukreeva's message and kills Thumralochana. Finally the third three days Devi prayers are offered to Goddess Saraswathi who takes this form with a purpose to kill Sandamunda, Rakthapejan and Sumbha Nisumbha.
Based on the above,  rice prasadam is offered to Goddess Durgai, Lime rice  on day 1 , Ellu (sesame) rice on day 2 and curd rice on day 3. Likewise  Sugar rice on day 4, Paal (milk) rice on day 5 and Kalkandu rice on day 6 is offered to Goddess Laxmi.  Venpongal on day7, coconut rice on day 8 and milk rice on day 9 is offered to Goddess Saraswathi. It is upto individual's convenience and wish, to follow the above. Only this prasadam can be offered  or these can be offered in addition to the ones mentioned in the chart. Pujai in any form with true devotion is accepted by the Goddess and her blessings are always there for her devotees.
Above all the prayers offered gives immense satisfaction of having followed the tradition and it is a pleasure when  the knowledge is shared.
Click on the link below to view the chart.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AlPi-SCjGqUXdHNQOUVJSGctQ3UzcUJZWnl3cXFDUmc

GOLU -2011

GANESH CHATURTHI

OM GAM GANAPATHAYE NAMAHA

Aindu karathanai yanai muhathanai

Indin ilampirai polum aitranai
Nandhi mahanthanai gnanakozhunthinai
Punthiyil vaithadi potruhintenae.

  PAALUM THELITHENUM PAAGUM PARUPPUM EVAI NAANGUM KALANDHU UNAKKU

  NAAN THARUVEN KOLAM SEI THUNGAKARI MUGATHU THOOMANIYE NEE ENAKKU

                                             SANGA TAMIZ MOONDRUM THAA

 VAAKKUNDAAM NALLA MANAMUNDAAM MAA MALARAAI NOKKUNDAAM MENI

               NUDHANGAADHU POKKUNDAAM THAPPAAMAL SAARVAAR THAMAKKU

 The Tamil month Purattaasi is auspicious and devine, with important events like Mahalaya Amavasya followed by Navrathiri. The  whole month is celebrated in Tirupathi, and  Saturdays of this month are significant, not only at the uphills but in most of families whose family deity is Venkateswara.The preparation of  Maa Vilakku and praying Lord is followed in many houses.

This year the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is also in this month. To start any work Ganesha is prayed initially. So let us start this month by offering prayers to Lord Ganesha. I pray for a smooth celebration of Navrathri festival by all friends and relatives.
I am missing the Ganesh festival which is also called as Ganesh Navrathri and in my home town Secunderabad every street has a pandal and the huge idols are placed for nine days and the immersion of the idols is done on the tenth day. They declare holiday for schools on this occasion. We too have the custom of praying to the newly bought clay idol of ganesha and puja is performed duly offering many types of green leaves and flowers which are sold  as a set in the lotus leaf a day before the festival.
My parents used to make us perform this puja under their guidance as this is meant for students. I remember my mother making two types of neivedyam for this. Along with fruits we offer Milk, Honey, Coconut with jagree sweet (the name is Chitturundai) and Kadalai paruppu sundal. The above slokam in tamil , starting as "Paalum, Thelithenum, Paagum (jagree syrup), parruppum (kadalai paruppu). ..... is literally meaning - Lord, when offered with the four prasadam will in turn will give us all the three sanga tamil. This sloka is taught to children when they are kids. I too followed this practice with my kids.

Recipe for sweet coconut urundai/chitturundai

Grated Coconut 1 Cup
Grated Jaggery 1/2 Cup
Oil 2 Tablespoon
Cardamom Powder 1/4 teaspoon

Heat a pan, add 1 cup of water and add grated jaggery.
When the jaggery dissolves completely in water, strain it to remove dust and sand particles.
Add the strained jaggery juice again in the pan, and keep it in flame.
When the the jaggery juice starts to boil and become thick, add grated coconut, cardamom powder and stir well continuously till it roll like a ball and does not stick  to the sides of the pan.
This is the correct consistency to remove from flame. Take this in a plate and allow it to cool ,
Courtisy: Subbus kitchen.com

Kadalai Paruppu Sundal Recipe:

Bengal gram/Kadalai paruppu -1/2 cupGrated coconut - 2 tbsp
Lemon juice - few drops
Oil - 1 tsp 
Mustard - 3/4 tsp
Hing - a pinch
Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
Green chilli - 1 small finely chopped
Red chilli - 1
Curry leaves - few

Soak bengal gram dal for 1 hour. Pressure cook dal with needed salt and less water for 1 or 2 whistles. The dal should be soft but not mushy. You can even cook in a pan. If there is water, drain it and keep it aside.
Heat a tsp of oil, add mustard seeds, when it splutters, add hing, urad dal, green chilli, red chilli and curry leaves.
Then add the cooked kadalai paruppu/dal and mix it well.
Add grated coconut, mix and switch off the flame.
Courtesy:Padus kitchen.com

Modagam or kozukattai is important for Ganapathy. The above two prasadams are used as poornam (for stuffing) in kozukattai.
Once again I wish you all a Happy Ganesh Chaturthi.
After this festival I will be back in India for arranging Golu and perform puja. I am posting the Navrathiri Chart in the following post.