#durga mata

[mrityuloknative]

Sheetala Asthami / Basoda Puja

Celebrated 8 days after Holi, this year it falls on 22nd March 2025. Sheetala Saptami and Ashtami are significant Hindu festivals dedicated to Goddess Sheetala, an incarnation of Goddess Durga, who is believed to protect devotees from infectious diseases like smallpox, chickenpox, measles and other heat-borne diseases, marking the start of summer season.

As per the Hindu calendar, Sheetala Ashtami takes place on the eighth day of Krishna Paksha (the waning moon) in the Hindu month of Chaitra or Phalguna.

This festival is also known as Basoda Puja, and it holds special importance in North Indian states such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. Devotees observe this day with great devotion, offering prayers and following age-old rituals to seek divine blessings for health and well-being.

Skanda Purana goes on explaining the worshipping method of Sheetala Mata. Skanda Purana mentions Sheetala Mata Stotra written by Lord Shiva. It is also known as ‘Sheetalashtak’.

Khadi, rabbadi, khichiya, and sweetened rice are foods traditionally offered and consumed.

Old people too are given food so that they can offer their blessings to the people around junior to them.

One of the unique aspects of Basoda Puja is that families do not light fire for cooking on this day. Basoda means “the previous night”. So, they prepare food a day before and consume it as prasad. After this day, stale food is not to be eaten.

Many idols and images of the Goddess show her with either four or two hands. When depicted with four hands, she holds a short broom, a fan, neem leaves, and a Kalash (pot). She has a pot of medical fluid in one hand and a broom or neem twigs in the other, to represent her ability in purifying the surroundings. Besides these, her vehicle is a donkey. Goddess Sheetala blesses her devotees and wards off all kinds of heat-generated diseases or ailments.

[navratri2k24]

शारदीय नवरात्रि २०२४

तृतीय रात्रि पूजन आरती

सर्व मंगल मांगल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थ साधिके। शरन्ये त्रयम्बिके गौरी नारायणी नमोस्तुते।।

अयि गिरि नन्दिनी नन्दितमेदिनि विश्वविनोदिनि नन्दिनुते गिरिवर विन्ध्यशिरोधिनिवासिनी विष्णुविलासिनि जिष्णुनुते । भगवति हे शितिकण्ठकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकृते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

सुरवर वर्षिणि दुर्धर धर्षिणि दुर्मुख मर्षिणि हर्षरते त्रिभुवनपोषिणि शङ्करतोषिणि किल्बिष मोषिणि घोषरते। दनुजनिरोषिणि दितिसुतरोषिणि दुर्मदशोषिणि सिन्धुसुते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते।।

अयि रणदुर्मद शत्रुवधोदित दुर्धरनिर्जर शक्तिभृते चतुरविचार धुरीणमहाशिव दूतकृत प्रमथाधिपते। दुरितदुरीह दुराशयदुर्मति दानवदूत कृतान्तमते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

अयि शरणागत वैरिवधुवर वीरवराभय दायकरे त्रिभुवनमस्तक शुलविरोधि शिरोऽधिकृतामल शुलकरे। दुमिदुमितामर धुन्दुभिनाद महोमुखरीकृत दिङ्मकरे जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

अयि मयि दीन दयालुतया कृपयैव त्वया भवितव्यमुमे अयि जगतो जननी कृपयासि यथासि तथानुमितासिरते। यदुचितमत्र भवत्युररी कुरुतादुरुतापमपाकुरुते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं संसारसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम्। सदा बसन्तं हृदयारबिन्दे भबं भवानीसहितं नमामि।।

“मंगलम भगवान् विष्णु, मंगलम गरुड़ध्वजः। मंगलम पुन्डरी काक्षो, मंगलायतनो हरि॥”

सर्व मंगल मांग्लयै शिवे सर्वार्थ साधिके | शरण्ये त्रयम्बके गौरी नारायणी नमोस्तुते ||

त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव त्वमेव बंधू च सखा त्वमेव त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव त्वमेव सर्वं मम देव देव

कायेन वाचा मनसेंद्रियैर्वा बुध्यात्मना वा प्रकृतेः स्वभावात करोमि यध्य्त सकलं परस्मै नारायणायेति समर्पयामि ||

ॐअपराधसहस्राणिक्रियन्तेऽहर्निशंमया | 

दासोऽयमितिमांमत्वाक्षमस्वपरमेश्वरि || १ || 

आआवाहनंनजानामिनजानामितवार्चनम| 

पूजांचैवनजानामिक्षम्यतांपरमेश्वरि || २ ||

मन्त्रहीनंक्रियाहीनंभक्तिहीनंसुरेश्वरि |  

यत्पूजितंमयादेविपरिपूर्णंतदस्तुमें || ३ || 

अपराधशतंकृत्वाजगदम्बेतिचोच्चरेत् | 

यांगतिंसमवाप्नोतिनतांब्रह्मादयःसुराः || ४ ||

सापराधोऽस्मिशरणंप्राप्तस्त्वांजगदम्बिके | 

इदानीमनुकम्प्योऽहंयथेच्छसितथाकुरु || ५ || 

अज्ञानाद्विस्मृतेर्भ्रान्त्यायन्न्यूनमधिकंकृतम् | 

तत्सर्वंक्षम्यतांदेविप्रसीदपरमेश्वरि || ६ ||

कामेश्वरिजगन्मातःसच्चिदानंदविग्रहे | 

गृहाणार्चामिमांप्रीत्याप्रसीदपरमेश्वरि || ७ || 

गुह्यातिगुह्यगोप्त्रीत्वंगृहाणास्मत्कृतंजपम् | 

सिद्धिर्भवतुमेंदेवित्वत्प्रसादात्सुरेश्वरि || ८ || 

नमः पार्वती पतये हर हर महादेव:

जय मां भवानी जय गजानन जय श्री भैरव जय बजरंगबली🙏🏼

अनेन पुजनेन श्री दुर्गार्पनमस्तु 🙏🏼

[shivaom99]

You Must Never Lose Courage” ~ Yogananda’s letter to Ananda Mataji

YOU MUST NEVER LOSE COURAGE. Divine Mother sent me to pilot you out of the clouds of your mind. Everybody’s difficulty is different, and he or she has to win that test of karma and Divine Mother.

Overcome all by constant inward calling on God and utmost devotion in words, thought, action, and obedience to Guru. God does not talk readily to the devotee, but a Guru does, and the easiest way out of all difficulties is to listen to him and obey him. Your troubles I do not mind. I will never give up my job about you. It is better to conquer evil and not go on living with it forever. Never for a moment identify yourself with momentary flashes of error. Have no fear, even when I am gone and no longer visible in your eyes. You will never be alone; I may not scold you then, but I shall ever be with you, and through Divine Mother guard you from all harm, and will constantly whisper to you guidance through your loving self.

So do not make life discouraged and tired, but be ever interested in doing for Divine Mother, no matter if war, sickness, and death dance around you. That is the secret of victory over delusion and all troubles. Be cut to pieces, but never give up. Be a divine leech — suck at the blood of wisdom even though torn to bits. A smooth life is not a victorious life. And I will give you lots of good karma, so you will get through. I will not only ever forgive you, but ever lift you up no matter how many times you fall. Keep unceasingly trying to conquer; then not only will I invisibly help you, but visibly through many here, all of whom know your inner self and love you very deeply. They all know what I think of your spiritual qualities. It is in kindness and continuous good behavior that you shine with happiness. Divine Mother will help you to win, through your own efforts and the blessings of the great Gurus. I am not building a mansion for you, or giving you riches that will perish; but I am making an imperishable home with all riches for you in my Divine Mother’s mansion.

Unceasing Blessings,

Paramahansa Yogananda

See also~

Stories of ANANDA MATA ~ Bro. Anandamoy

ANANDA MATA, “Her whole life was guru-bhakti” ~ Mrinalini Mata

Back To~

STORIES of the Gurus and Monastics

YOGANANDA’S DIRECT DISCIPLES

[bolguru-com]

(via Happy Navratri wishes)

[mrityuloknative]

Dwatrinsha Namavali of Goddess Durga

32 names of Goddess Durga

This is recitation of the 32 powerful names of Durga Ma

Each of these names highlights a unique aspect of her divine persona—from her nurturing love to her fierce protection. These names represent Durga’s multifaceted role as a mother, warrior, nurturer, and savior. They are often recited in prayers to invoke her strength and blessings, especially during times of adversity.

[bolguru-com]

Jai Mata di! Chaitra navratri ki shubhkamnaye!!

[bolguru-com]

Jai Mata di Shri Durga Maa Aarti जगजननी जय जय l माँ जगजननी जय जय l भयहारिणी, भवतारिणी, भवभामिनि जय जय। जगजननी जय जय तू ही सत्–चित्–सुखमय, शुद्ध ब्रह्मरूपा। सत्यसनातन, सुन्दर पर–शिव सुर–भूपा॥ http://bolguru.com/durgamaaaarti/

[bhajanbhaktisongs]

Jai Ambe Gauri Aarti By Anuradha Paudwal | Bhajan Bhakti songs

Experience the Bhajan Bhakti songs of Durga Mata with this beautiful Navratri Special Bhajan – “जय अम्बे गौरी”. This sacred Durga Mata Aarti is one of the most powerful devotional bhajans sung during Navratri, Durga Puja, and daily prayers. Listen to this Jai Ambe Gauri Aarti and feel the spiritual energy of Maa Durga, the goddess of strength, protection, and positivity.