Baghavathy Seva

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“Bhagavathi Sevai" is a special type of Puja based on Tantrik rituals and Agama Principles of worship. Bhagavathy Sevai is a worship to Devi Durga. 

This Puja normally does  in temples and at home and performs in the evening.There is no harm if the pooja isbconducted in the morning.

Earlier days many families used to conduct Bhagavathi Sevai all the days in Aadi Maasam.  Some families used to perform Bhagavathi Sevai for 11 Days,  all days in Navaratri and in Thai masam (Makaram) especially Fridays, Tuesdays, Pournami and respective nakshatra birthdays. Nowadays it is conducted only once or twice in a year.

This Pooja is not a Social function. It should be done at individual home with utmost dedication and devotion with participation of close relatives, who also has devotion towards this Puja. 

When  Bhagavathi Sevai is being performed pin drop Silence has to be maintained.

A swasthi Padmam  is drawn for Lord Ganapathy and Durga Padmam is drawn for Durga Devi. Some Brahmin sects / gotras have ancestral Tradition of lighting three or more Nila Vilakku accordingly Padmams  are drawn for other Devathas like Murugan Shastha, Guru, Etc., by the Vadhyar. Padmams are drawn using only inhouse make pure coloring material like rice flour, turmeric powder and kumkum (inhouse made by turmeric powder and chunnnambu).

 

 A Nilavilakku is decorated with Silk Pavaadai, chandanam , Kumkum,  gold ornaments,flower garland and kept at one side of the  Padmam without scattering the padmam. It is believed  that when Devi has to be invoked, she has to be decked up in her favourite colours and ornaments.

The Big Nilavilakku is placed on the Durga Padmam which will  have 5 thiris(Anchu Mukham) with Pure Gingley oil (Til Oil). The North Side Vilakku with east facing thiri is for Ganapathi and the South Side Nilavilakku with east facing thiri Represents Murugan, Shastha , Guru.. etc.

 

On Bhagavathi Sevai  Evening everybody in the family must take bath before the Pooja begins and they should follow shudham and should be fully devotional till the pooja gets over.

The Vadhyar performs the pooja after a quick bath followed by his Nithya Karma Anushttanam.

This  Pooja has to be performed with utmost devotion and concentration

The Puja starts with lighting of the Vilakku. First Puja is done for Ganapathi in simple manner with Shodashopachara Pooja and Vettillai, Pakku, Banana , Coconuts as Neivedyam

Immediately after Ganapati pooja Next pooja is for the  other Devathas like Murugan,  Shastha, Guru etc...worshipped in  simple manner with Shodashopachara Pooja and  Vetillai Pakku, Banana,,Coconuts as Neivedyam.

Then starts Bhagavathi Pooja. In this Puja  Durga Devi is invoked in the Durga Padmam,  panchamrutham  Neivedyam is offered and then worshipped elaborately with Shodashopachaara Pooja.  

In detailed Puja vadhyar chants Moola Manthra Archana for 108 or 336 or 1008  times accordingly.

Some places there might be another vadhyar to chant Devi Mahatmyam throughout pooja.

 

Then the special Nei Payasam divided in small vessels for Ganapathi and other Devathas Seperetely and the whole Payasam  (in which the payasam is made originally from the kitchen) is offered to Devi As Neivedyam. 

Then Vadhyar chants Sahasranama, Ashtotharam and Thrishatha Archanai using a lot of fragrant flowers and  Kumkumaarchana.

After the Archanai 16 or 32 , 54 or 108 Namaskarams  to be done to Devi with Sukthams,,Mantras, Devi Slokams, Devi Mahatmyam  in praise of Devi.

 

After Namaskarams  Urad Dal Vadai, (Some Places Chundal are also offered)Cocunut, Fruits, Milk and Vetttila Paak  are Offered as Neivedyam for all Devathas. Finally  Maha Mangalarathi is to be done.

When  we perform this pooja  properly, we can feel the presence  of Devi  throughout this function. Devi is requested to return to her abode with the "yathasthanam”

 

Vadhyar does the Drishti Nivruthi(Evil eye) with flowers used in the pooja

Finally when the Vadhyar apply bit milk in all vilaku and  pooja ends.

 

After that Sumangalis are  offered with vettilai pakku  kumkum, Flower. Mangala Dravyams  Panchamrutham, Nei Payasam,  vadai etc are to be distributed among devotees. 

Genarally the ratio of rice and Jaggery to making this nei Payasam is 1:5 and coconut slices fried in ghee and lots of ghee is used to make perfect consistency of paysam and whole house will be filled with its aroma.

This Payasam, Panchaamrutham and Vadai has a very unique taste and it cannot be described in words. It depicts the blessings we have upon us by goddess Devi.

Lokah Samasthaha Sukhino Bhavanthu

For any clarifications  with regard to Bhagavathi Sevai please call me

With Thanks

Sreekanth Vadhyar

94480 40504