GRAH SHANTI

In Garuda Puran the remedy for unfavourable grah dosh has been given.

As per Yagyavalka Rishi,those who desire peace, wealth and happiness have to compulsorily perform Yagya for favourable planetary conditions. Below listed are the names of the grah, it's colours and the metal to be used to prepare the statue required for puja.

NAME      COLOUR     METAL

-----------    ---------------  --------------

Surya          Red           Copper

Som             White         Sfatik

Mangal        Red             Red                               

Buddha       Yellow      Gold

Brahaspati  Yellow      Gold 

Shukra         White      Silver

ShanI            Black        Iron

Rahu             Black       Glass

Ketu              Black        Kasya

The dravya or the offerings should also be of the same colour of the statue. 

As mentioned in the Shashtra's all the rituals have to be performed for stapna or establishing the statue that we do generally. Follow it up with Yagya or havan. The other offerings include Gold, Clothes, Flowers, Scents, Dhoop, Guggul etc. 

Then with the chanting of mantras for that particular grah make the offerings. Below are the mantras meant to be chanted for the concerned Grah's.

For Surya

ॐ आकृष्णेन रजसा

For Som or chandra 

ॐ इमं देवा

For Mangal 

ॐ अग्नि्र्मूर्धादिवः ककृत्

For Buddha

ॐ उदबुध्यस्व 

For Brahaspati

ॐ ब्रहस्पते

For Shukra

ॐ अन्नात्परिस्त्रुतम

For Shani

ॐ शं नो देवी

For Rahu

ॐ कयानिश्च

For Ketu

ॐ केतुं कृण्वन

Next l have listed the name of the wood for havan and the offerings to be made. 

GRAH            WOOD   OFFERINGS

----------          ------------   -------------------

Surya            Mandar      Jaggery

Chandra       Palash         Rice

Mangal         Khair           Payas

Buddha         Apamarg    Rice. 

Brahaspati   Pipal            Curd rice

Shukra          Gular          Ghee

Shani             Shami         Pua or Sweet Puri

Rahu              Durva         Pulp of fruits

Ketu               Kusha        Cooked mixed grains

After the havan if you donate or give the following things to the priest,your grah shanti is complete.

GRAH              TO BE DONATED

-----------------   ------------------------

Surya                  Cattle

Chandra             Conch/Shankh

Chandra             Bull

Mangal               Gold

Buddha              Clothes

Brahaspati        Horse

Shukra               Black Cow

Shani                 Weapons

Rahu &Ketu      Goat

(SOURCE-GARUD PURAN)

* * * *

NAVRATRI & KANYA PUJAN

Twice a year in the season of sharad and vasant, in the months of Ashwin and Chaitra, Maa Bhagwati visits our home for nine days. The Navratri days are the most sacred days as even devtas worship Durga Bhagwati on these days.

Her blessings are all the more important since this time of the year brings diseases due to weather changes.

The following puja of  Navratri is mentioned in Devi Puraan. 

King Sudarshan, a descendant of Shri ram had done this puja at Kashi to honour the Aadi Shakti who had destroyed the evil Shatrujit at Kashi, followed by King Subahu. Shri Ram had also performed Devi puja at Kishkindha when he went in search of Sita.

The nine-day puja should be done as per the shashtra. It is better to arrange the required materials a day prior to Navratri.

First, select a clean spot for the creation of a vedi or platform. Ideally, the floor should be applied a paste of cow dung and white mud along with pillars decorated with dhwaja and streamers. Cover this erected vedi with a silk cloth.

Place the Devi statue in the centre, and a Kalash next to it. The Kalash should be filled with the sacred water of a river. On top of the Kalash insert five leaves (Betel, Mango, etc). You can also put a Navarna yantra instead of a statue.

The ideal muhurat for this Ghut sthapana is Nanda tithi in Hast nakshatra. Make the offerings of Chandan, Agar, Camphor, Flowers of Mandaar, Champa, Bilwa leaves along with Dhoop and Deep. For Havan prepare a triangular kund with a separate vedi or platform.

Thrice a day puja is ideal. The Yajman has to sleep on the floor all the nine days. If you cannot fast all the nine days, last three days of Saptami, Ashtami and Navmi also give you the desired results. Remember all the devtas too are busy worshipping the Aadi shakti.

KUMARI PUJAN:-

Actually, you have to start Kumari puja by worshipping one Kumari on the first day, two on second and likewise go on increasing the numbers as per day. So on the last day you worship nine Kumarika's. Offering should be of food clothing and Jewellery.

If you are unable to do Kumari puja each day then,you can perform this on Ashtami since Bhadrakali had appeared on that day to destroy the havan kund of Daksha. Give the things as per your ability.The minimum age for a Kumari should be two years of age and above and the maximum age should not exceed ten years. Following is the table indicating the name and age of Kumarika.

Age      ...          Name

3 years     -      Trimurti 

4 years    -       Kalyani

5 years     -       Rohini

6 years      -      Kalika

7 years       -     Chandrika

8 years      -      Shambhvi

9 years       -       Durga

10 years     -      Subhadra

Trimurti puja destroys your enemies, diseases and makes you wealthy.

Kalyani pujan gives you knowledge, victory and happiness.

Rohini pujan gives you happiness and wealth. 

Kalika pujan gives you name,fame and health.

Shambhvi pujan destroys poverty and makes you wealthy.

Durga pujan destroys cruel enemies and makes your journey to the other world pleasant.

Subhadra pujan destroys your enemies.

Source-Devi Puran

* * * *

Janeu (Yajñopavit)

We have seen many people Tie a thread from left shoulder to right hand this thread is called Janeu.

Janeu is made up of three thread This is called Yajñopavit in Sanskrit, which is wrap around their left shoulder and under right hand. This is sacred thread which is made up of cotton. It is wrapped up in such way that it stays above left shoulder.

Symbolic meaning of Yajñopavīta, it is in "left shoulder, it represents responsibility, the thread goes over heart towards waist, thread going over heart represent carrying that responsibility wholeheartedly and knot at waist represents dedication."

Why 3 threads?
Janeu has mainly 3 threads in it. These three threads are symbol of Devrina, Pitrarina, Rishirina and these also symbolize Satva, Raja, Tam. It is also a symbol of three parts of Gayatri Mantra.

This is also a symbol of three Ashrams, in Sanyas ashram it is taken off.

9 Threads: There are 3 threads in every thread of Janeu that's how the number of threads become nine.

There are total nine openings in body including mouth, two eyes, two nostrils, two ears, one
for urine and one anus.

5 knots: There are 5 knots in Yagyopaveet which are the symbol of Brahm, Dharma, Kama, Artha, Moksha. These also depicts 5 Yajnas, 5 sense organs and PanchKarmas.

This Mantra is chanted while putting on Yajñopavit.
ॐ यज्ञोपवीतं परमं पवित्रं प्रजापतेर्यत्सहजं पुरस्तात्।
आयुष्यमग्रयं प्रतिमुञ्च शुभं यज्ञोपवीतं बलमस्तु तेजः ।।
यज्ञोपवीतमसि यज्ञस्य त्वा यज्ञोपवीतेनोपनह्यामि।।

[पार० गृ० २.२.११]

Meaning :- (यज्ञोपवीतं परमं पवित्रम्) Yajñopavit is a very Sacred thread. (यत् पुरस्तात् प्रजापतेः सहज) which is originated in the beginning of the Shrishti along with Prajapati which means it is a Vedic Act and in practice from the beginning.

This Yajñopavit give us (अग्र्यम् आयुष्यम्) Long age(शुभ्रम्) and provide us Great and bright Character(प्रतिमञ्च) And give us Tej and Force(बलं तेजः अस्तु) means we become contained with all these qualities.

(यज्ञोपवीतम असि) This is suitable in putting on in UpvitYajña (यज्ञस्य त्वा) This is why i put it on to do Yajña, Rituals and great Karmas (यज्ञोपवीत उपनयन में) I cover myself with Yajñopavit as well as its Qualities

Only those people were allowed to wear Janeu who were worthy, hence Shudras were not allowed (Here shudra is someone who is not eligible but it isn't birth based but Karma based anyone could go into any varna just by its Karma).

The other reason for Shudras were not allowed is Urine and fieces are high pollutants that come out of our body. It needs to be controlled. This was most important for Brahmins due to functional reasons. This thread acts as a control.

Once you are habit usted, you cant visit toilet until the thread is tied to the ear. But for Shudras, it was not that necessary. Firstly, because of hard labour, their digestive capacity and immunity is very high.

Secondly, unlike Brahmins, they do not stay in temples near the deity, where absolute purity is needed. Thirdly, this practice may create problems for them while on work. Till they find a suitable place with water facility, they can't even urinate.

So they did not requirement this. As you can see, they have not been prohibited. Only their requirement is omitted.

*Special Note: Here Shudra dosen't mean for someone born in any specific caste. Caste does not matter in this even caste system is not .

Varna dosen't depend on Birth instead it is based on Karma. So it clearly means that anyone could interchange into varna by changing its Karma*

Only after wearing Janeu a Dwij Balak can be perform any Yajnna or Swadhyay.Dwij means born again. Even girls are eligible to wear Janeu

Scientific benefits from Janeu :

before engaging in any activity of excretion people use to tie Janeu on their ear.

there are many health related benefits of it like.

1. It cures Heart related decease, Blood pressure(In Ayurveda blood pressure is not a decease it is related to heart related problems).
2. It strengthens Heart and improve
lood circulation.

3. It prevents the stomach related decease which are the root cause of all type of health problems. It also prevents Piles.

4. It prevents from Skin related problems.

5. Decreases the chances of cancer.

6. It also helps in better sleep.

Our ancestors gave their lives but did not let anyone take their Yajñopavit.

Yajñopavit is more valuable than our lives, its symbol of learning and responsibility, its symbol of our culture.

Thanks for reading 🙏