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