Sunday, October 16, 2005

Navaratri Yagya - Kanchipuram - Oct. 2005

Navaratri takes place every fall for a series of nine nights. The yagya series honors Lakshmi, Durga, and Saraswati as being the major forms of the goddess that support and protect all areas of life; Lakshmi for prosperity, Durga for purity and strength, and Saraswati for wisdom and enlightenment.



The priests created a beautiful yantra using the grains that are associated with the nine planets.



Each day consisted of both morning and evening events. Here Seetharam performs the Rudra Abishekam in the morning yagya.



The yagyas used a LOT of ingredients!



Each bowl along the wall contains a different seed or grain which are used to create the offering plates that you see in the foreground.



On the last day, the yagya is really extensive and took from 8 AM to after 3 PM. The yagya included all 700 verses of the Devi Mahatmyam with special offerings at the conclusion of each Chapter. Here you see the offerings of differnt colored cloths with various seeds, grains, leaves, nuts, and other items.




Seetharam and Sampath performing a preliminary part of the yagya. Note that the homa kund (yagya fireplace) has been extended upwards because the fire is so large that extra room was needed for the wood and other ingredients.




There is a tradition of performing a Sumangali puja at the end of Navaratri (on Vijaya Dashami Day) to honor women. Here you see beautiful silk saris that will be given as a part of this puja.



Women of all ages are honored even the very young!



The priests also work very hard, so we given them a new dhoti (a traditional gift).

Ganesha Modaka Yagya - Kanchipuram - Oct 9, 2005

This yagya was performed as a part of the Navaratri Celebrations. It honors Ganesha as the remover of obstacles to the prosperity, strength, and wisdom that Lakshmi, Durga, and Saraswati bring as a result of the Navaratri Yagyas.



Modaka balls are a sweet treat that is a favorite of Ganesha.



There are 1,008 different mantras (names) for Ganesha and one modaka was offered into the yagya fire with each mantra.



In addition, there were a total of 11 ingredients offered in this yagya. Here are coconut slices.



And bananas...




Tat Purushaya Vidmahe
Vakratundaya Deemahi
Thanno Danti Prachodayat