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

Kala Bhairava Yagya - Kanchipuram- September 2005

Kala Bhairava Temple Yagya takes place every year on the 8th day after the full moon in September. The yagya is for the form of Shiva called Kala Bhairava who, among other things, controls the passage of time.



From a planetary perspective time is controlled by Saturn. This yagya directly eases the influence of Saturn in our lives, removes obstacles, and increases our enjoyment.



The yagya took place in a beautiful old temple in Kanchipuram, about 1 hour from Madras in South India.



As always, Ganesha is the first deity honored to remove all obstacle to the successful completion of the yagya.



The Kala Bhairava murti is always shown with a dog, because the dog is the vedic symbol of dharma; the natural order of life. In one of his right hands, you see Shiva's trident.



The yagya consisted of a fire yagya (homam) followed by the ritual bathing of the deity called an abishekam.



This yagya requires many different ingredients; specific seeds, leaves, twigs, bark, spices plus all the liquid ingredients for the abishekam.



Of course there are lots of fresh flowers and beautiful flower malas.



Everyone gets involved in the preparations.



First pujas are done in front of the Shiva temple. As is traditional a water pot (kalasha) with a coconut on top is used to invoke the deity. The purified and enlivened water will later be used in the abishekam.



Then the homam takes place.



At the end of the homam a small bundle of cloth with a coconut and various offerings is prepared and offered into the yagya fire to conclude the ceremony.



Afterwards, the priests take the water in a rather grand procession to the Kala Bharaiva temple. The Vedic tradition considers the god to be in the water pot, so he is carried carefully on the head of the priest and is shaded from the hot sun by a colorful umbrella.



At the temple the murti is first rubbed with sesame oil.



and then washed with water.



Milk is poured over the deity.



Then turmeric (haldi) is mixed with water and offered.



Then sandalwood.



Then scented sandalwood.



Then pancha amritam; a sweet mixture of chopped fruits, yogurt, ghee, and honey is offered by being smeared over the deity.



It is then washed off and the deity is sprinkled with vibhuti; sacred ash that is a favorite of Shiva.



Then the deity is dried off, dressed and decorated particularly with lots of fresh flower malas including a garland of lemons.



The yagya concludes with chanting the 1008 names of Kala Bhraiva.



Special ghee lamps are prepared.



The event concludes with special pujas and the recitation of special mantras while the ghee lamps are waved in front of the deiy.

Navagraha Temple Yagya-Kanchipuram-September 2005

September is turning out to be a really busy month starting with the Ganesha Chaturthi Yagya, the Navagraha Temple Yagya, and the Kala Bhairava Temple Yagya at the end of the month.

This yagya was for the Navagraha (9 planets) because of the intensity of combinations of Saturn, Mars, and Rahu/Ketu.



The day began with our priests chanting for several hours and continuing with a full series of pujas, one for each of the planets.



The pile of flowers being offered got quite high!



Then the homam (fire yagya) was performed at our own facility.



During the day, the priests went all over the place obtaining the most traditional ingredients and flower malas.



In the following photo you can see milk, rose water, various fruits, sandalwood, turmeric, coconut, dried fruits, dried leaves, fresh banana leaves, kumkum, vibhuti, ghee, sesame oil, etc. Its a lot of shopping!



Each planet has specific grains associated with it, as well as a color of cloth. During the homam, these items are offered into the yagya fire.



Once they reached the temple, the homam was repeated.



The effect of the fire offerings and the chanting of the mantras enlivens and purifies the temple atmosphere. The kalasha pot contain water which is also viewed as a container for the purity that is generated. So the priests take the water pots to the area of the temple where the navagraha murtis are located.




The abishekam portion of the yagya begins with pouring water, and then milk over the murtis.




Then various other offerings are made. In this photo, the murtis are sprinkled with vubhuti; sacred ash.



At the conclusion of the abishekam, each murti is dressed in a new cloth and decorated with sandalwood, and fresh flower malas. Ghee lamps are lit surrounding the murtis.



Since the navagraha puja is being performed this month in honor of Jupiter as he changes signs from Virgo to Libra, his decorations receive special attention.



Obviously yellow is his color!