ESSENCE OF PURANAS SERIES
Chapter 12: Worships of Deities coinciding with Month-Star Unions (Constellations)
Condensed English Translation by Sri V.D.N. Rao
Ashaadha maasey sampraapyam Swati yogam tathaa Dwija,
Vayu sampujanam kaaryam Gandhairmaalyai Dwijotthama/
Bhurinaa Paramaannecha saktunaa vividhenicha,
Sumanobhirvichitraischa Kusumescha tathaa paraih/
(Vayu Deva should be worshipped in Ashadha month in union with Swati with Gandha and Pushpa maalas, ‘Paramaanna’ or Rice cooked in milk along with dry cashew and other dried fruit-nuts; apart from flowers of variegated colours). At the time of Dakshinayana when the movement and course of Surya Deva changes downward to Southern direction, the Deity should be worshipped commecing from Solar Snaanaas and Surya Puja, besides charities to Brahmanas a range of material:
Saktan Gorasa saammisraan Brahmanebhyah pradaapayet,
Himam cha sharkaram chaiva shaakam harithatham tathaa,
Chhatro -paanaha maalyaadi Dakshinaayanaavasarey
( milk-mixed grains, ice, sugar, green vegetables, Chhatra, footwear, and containers with cold water at the Dakshinayana).
At the Rohini-Ashadha Purnima Union, Prajapati Kashyapa, the founder of Kashmira should be worshipped as affirmed by King Nila to Chandra Deva; Kashyapa should be revered with ‘Gandhamaalya Naivedyas’ besides ‘Sa-Vatsaka Go-daana’ (charity of Cow with calf) to an accomplished Brahmana. In fact, the time of the constellation of Rohini with Chandra was always considered as an extremely significant and auspicious time, when devotees should take bath at the confluence of Rivers Vitasta and Sindhu and recite / listen to renderings of Sama Veda and purify themselves as the Rohini constellation was in the vicinity of Shravana Month and it was on the Krishnaastami day during the Rohini Star that Janaardana descended as the incarnation of Shri Krishna:
Shraavanaayaam samateetaayaam yaa syaat Krishna Ashtami,
Tasyaamutpadyatey Devo Maanushyo Madhusudana/
Bhaara avataaranaartham hi tasyaantu Dwijasattama,
Ashtavimshey tu sampraaptey Dwaparaantey cha nah shrutam/
Tatraahani tu kartavyam tasmaatkaala -attadaa param,
Pujanam Devadevasya Devuaaschaiva yathaa vidhi/
Devaki cha Yashodaacha tathaa pujey Dwijotthama/
Gandhairmaalyairstathaa Bhakshairyava godhuma sambhavaaih,
Sagorasairbhakshya bhojjaih phalaischa vividharstathaa/
( It was learnt from ‘Dwijotthamaas’that Madhusudana was born in human form as an ‘Avatara’ on the Krishnaashtami day of Shraavana month to unburden the evil forces on Earth by the end of Dwapara Yuga; accordingly, the devotees should formally worship Devis Devaki and Yashoda as prescribed by way of Gandha, Pushpamaalaas, Bhakshyas made of Yava (Barley) and Godhuma (Wheat), milk products, ‘Bhakshya bhojyaas’, fruits and so on). After performing the Puja, the devotees would rejoice the Jamsashtami as a memorable festival through out the night with music, song and dance and the next full day by sporting new dresses, meeting relatives and friends and eating sweets, savouries and lot of butter and sugarcane. Pitra Constellation with Amavasya of Shraavana Month,‘Shraaddhas’ and ‘Tarpanas’should be duly executed to the Pitras who included Subhashitas, Barhishads, Agnishvaatthas, Kravyadas, Upahutas, Ajyapas, Sukalinas, and other Pitruganas; they should be worshipped with lot of veneration by way of offering flowers, prescribed food material, Tila seeds and Gandhas. Their satisfaction would bestow boons for the fulfillment of the devotee’s desires.
In the Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada Month, Sachi Devi the consort of Mahendra was worshipped and so was Mahendra along with his ‘Ganas. Reverences to Nagas were to be paid during this period; Shraddhas should be performed to those fallen in battles preferably on the Trayodashi of the Krishna Paksha of the month. On the fourteenth day of the Paksha, there should be a puja of Ayudhas (weapons) in the night at a Durga Temple; this should be performed by the descendants of Kashyapa who should be well versed with ‘Shalihotra’ performances, besides knowledge of astronomy and Kalpa Sutras related to Atharva Veda; this function was called ‘Niranjana’.As Surya enters Kanya Rasi, Sage Agastya should be venerated with flowers, grains, pots of water, cows, bulls, cooked rice and fruits; the thousand-hooded Ananta Deva and ‘Dikpalakaas’ with ‘Dhupamaalyaalepana’ and cooked rice with jaggery; and Varuna Deva was so worshipped too. On sixth of day of Ashvauja, pujas would be performed to Goddess Ashokika by men, women, ‘Kanyas’ and children freshly bathed and decorated with vermillion along with services of Dhupa-Deepa-Pushpa-Naivedyas, while singing, dancing and rejoicing with great devotion to the Deity.
Celebrating the Birth Day of the Sacred River Vitasta on the Trayodashi of Shukla Ashvauja, a week long Festival was traditionally observed-three days before and three days later.
Pujaneeya Vitastaa syaattathaa tam dinasaptakam,
Gandhairmaalyaih sanai vedyairdeepa daanaaih sushobhanaih/
Pataakaabhirvichitraabhee rakta sutraih sa kankanaih,
Phalaischa vividhairBrahman vahni brahmana tarpanaih/
( River Vitasta should be worshipped for seven days with ‘Gandhamaalyaas’, ‘Naivedyas’, different kinds of ‘Pataakaas’/ flags, ‘Rakta Sutras’/ red threads, ‘Kankanaas’/ wrist- wears, a variety of fruits, oblations to Agni and tarpanas to Devas to make Brahmanas happy). Devotees were advised to observe fasting on Dwadashi day and pray to Narayana; if there were to be a constellation of Budha on that day there would be a double benefit, especially when a person observed ‘Snaanam’, ‘Daanam’, ‘Japam’ and ‘Shraaddha’.
Proktavaan Dwadashagunam swayam mey Madhusudanah,
Budha Shravana samyukaa Dwadashi Dwija saa yadi/
Atyanta mahati naama tasyaam Sarvamathakshayaam,
Tasyaam snaatwaa Narah Samyang Nadi dwitaya Sangamey/
Phalamaapnoti yatproktam saanihatyaam Ravigrahey,
Upaanahou tathaa chhatram purnakumbham tathaiva cha/
Vastra yugmam tathanaadhyam yah prayacchati vai tadaa,
Seshaanaam yadi chet kartaa Shwetadwipey mahiyatey/
( As Madhusudana himself asserted, Budha and Shravana constellation on Dwadashi would yield the benefit twelve times higher once the above sacrifices were performed; if there were to be a Solar Eclipse on top of it on that day and charities were effected of ‘chhatram’, ‘purna kumbham’, a pair of clothes and ‘Bhojan’ after taking bath, then that person would be esteemed in ‘Swetadwipa’!At the constellation of Chandra and Swati during the first half of Ashvauja, oblations to Agni with appropriate Mantras should be addressed to Vayu, Varuna, Surya, Indra, Vishnu, Vishwa Devas and to Agni too. In the same period Chandra-Shakra combination, prayers should be made in favour of horses and elephants, while Pujas to Bhadrakaali would help artisans.
Vayu sampujanam kaaryam Gandhairmaalyai Dwijotthama/
Bhurinaa Paramaannecha saktunaa vividhenicha,
Sumanobhirvichitraischa Kusumescha tathaa paraih/
(Vayu Deva should be worshipped in Ashadha month in union with Swati with Gandha and Pushpa maalas, ‘Paramaanna’ or Rice cooked in milk along with dry cashew and other dried fruit-nuts; apart from flowers of variegated colours). At the time of Dakshinayana when the movement and course of Surya Deva changes downward to Southern direction, the Deity should be worshipped commecing from Solar Snaanaas and Surya Puja, besides charities to Brahmanas a range of material:
Saktan Gorasa saammisraan Brahmanebhyah pradaapayet,
Himam cha sharkaram chaiva shaakam harithatham tathaa,
Chhatro -paanaha maalyaadi Dakshinaayanaavasarey
( milk-mixed grains, ice, sugar, green vegetables, Chhatra, footwear, and containers with cold water at the Dakshinayana).
At the Rohini-Ashadha Purnima Union, Prajapati Kashyapa, the founder of Kashmira should be worshipped as affirmed by King Nila to Chandra Deva; Kashyapa should be revered with ‘Gandhamaalya Naivedyas’ besides ‘Sa-Vatsaka Go-daana’ (charity of Cow with calf) to an accomplished Brahmana. In fact, the time of the constellation of Rohini with Chandra was always considered as an extremely significant and auspicious time, when devotees should take bath at the confluence of Rivers Vitasta and Sindhu and recite / listen to renderings of Sama Veda and purify themselves as the Rohini constellation was in the vicinity of Shravana Month and it was on the Krishnaastami day during the Rohini Star that Janaardana descended as the incarnation of Shri Krishna:
Shraavanaayaam samateetaayaam yaa syaat Krishna Ashtami,
Tasyaamutpadyatey Devo Maanushyo Madhusudana/
Bhaara avataaranaartham hi tasyaantu Dwijasattama,
Ashtavimshey tu sampraaptey Dwaparaantey cha nah shrutam/
Tatraahani tu kartavyam tasmaatkaala -attadaa param,
Pujanam Devadevasya Devuaaschaiva yathaa vidhi/
Devaki cha Yashodaacha tathaa pujey Dwijotthama/
Gandhairmaalyairstathaa Bhakshairyava godhuma sambhavaaih,
Sagorasairbhakshya bhojjaih phalaischa vividharstathaa/
( It was learnt from ‘Dwijotthamaas’that Madhusudana was born in human form as an ‘Avatara’ on the Krishnaashtami day of Shraavana month to unburden the evil forces on Earth by the end of Dwapara Yuga; accordingly, the devotees should formally worship Devis Devaki and Yashoda as prescribed by way of Gandha, Pushpamaalaas, Bhakshyas made of Yava (Barley) and Godhuma (Wheat), milk products, ‘Bhakshya bhojyaas’, fruits and so on). After performing the Puja, the devotees would rejoice the Jamsashtami as a memorable festival through out the night with music, song and dance and the next full day by sporting new dresses, meeting relatives and friends and eating sweets, savouries and lot of butter and sugarcane. Pitra Constellation with Amavasya of Shraavana Month,‘Shraaddhas’ and ‘Tarpanas’should be duly executed to the Pitras who included Subhashitas, Barhishads, Agnishvaatthas, Kravyadas, Upahutas, Ajyapas, Sukalinas, and other Pitruganas; they should be worshipped with lot of veneration by way of offering flowers, prescribed food material, Tila seeds and Gandhas. Their satisfaction would bestow boons for the fulfillment of the devotee’s desires.
In the Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada Month, Sachi Devi the consort of Mahendra was worshipped and so was Mahendra along with his ‘Ganas. Reverences to Nagas were to be paid during this period; Shraddhas should be performed to those fallen in battles preferably on the Trayodashi of the Krishna Paksha of the month. On the fourteenth day of the Paksha, there should be a puja of Ayudhas (weapons) in the night at a Durga Temple; this should be performed by the descendants of Kashyapa who should be well versed with ‘Shalihotra’ performances, besides knowledge of astronomy and Kalpa Sutras related to Atharva Veda; this function was called ‘Niranjana’.As Surya enters Kanya Rasi, Sage Agastya should be venerated with flowers, grains, pots of water, cows, bulls, cooked rice and fruits; the thousand-hooded Ananta Deva and ‘Dikpalakaas’ with ‘Dhupamaalyaalepana’ and cooked rice with jaggery; and Varuna Deva was so worshipped too. On sixth of day of Ashvauja, pujas would be performed to Goddess Ashokika by men, women, ‘Kanyas’ and children freshly bathed and decorated with vermillion along with services of Dhupa-Deepa-Pushpa-Naivedyas, while singing, dancing and rejoicing with great devotion to the Deity.
Celebrating the Birth Day of the Sacred River Vitasta on the Trayodashi of Shukla Ashvauja, a week long Festival was traditionally observed-three days before and three days later.
Pujaneeya Vitastaa syaattathaa tam dinasaptakam,
Gandhairmaalyaih sanai vedyairdeepa daanaaih sushobhanaih/
Pataakaabhirvichitraabhee rakta sutraih sa kankanaih,
Phalaischa vividhairBrahman vahni brahmana tarpanaih/
( River Vitasta should be worshipped for seven days with ‘Gandhamaalyaas’, ‘Naivedyas’, different kinds of ‘Pataakaas’/ flags, ‘Rakta Sutras’/ red threads, ‘Kankanaas’/ wrist- wears, a variety of fruits, oblations to Agni and tarpanas to Devas to make Brahmanas happy). Devotees were advised to observe fasting on Dwadashi day and pray to Narayana; if there were to be a constellation of Budha on that day there would be a double benefit, especially when a person observed ‘Snaanam’, ‘Daanam’, ‘Japam’ and ‘Shraaddha’.
Proktavaan Dwadashagunam swayam mey Madhusudanah,
Budha Shravana samyukaa Dwadashi Dwija saa yadi/
Atyanta mahati naama tasyaam Sarvamathakshayaam,
Tasyaam snaatwaa Narah Samyang Nadi dwitaya Sangamey/
Phalamaapnoti yatproktam saanihatyaam Ravigrahey,
Upaanahou tathaa chhatram purnakumbham tathaiva cha/
Vastra yugmam tathanaadhyam yah prayacchati vai tadaa,
Seshaanaam yadi chet kartaa Shwetadwipey mahiyatey/
( As Madhusudana himself asserted, Budha and Shravana constellation on Dwadashi would yield the benefit twelve times higher once the above sacrifices were performed; if there were to be a Solar Eclipse on top of it on that day and charities were effected of ‘chhatram’, ‘purna kumbham’, a pair of clothes and ‘Bhojan’ after taking bath, then that person would be esteemed in ‘Swetadwipa’!At the constellation of Chandra and Swati during the first half of Ashvauja, oblations to Agni with appropriate Mantras should be addressed to Vayu, Varuna, Surya, Indra, Vishnu, Vishwa Devas and to Agni too. In the same period Chandra-Shakra combination, prayers should be made in favour of horses and elephants, while Pujas to Bhadrakaali would help artisans.