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Being a Hindu, we conduct pujas our houses and some times in
groups at social functions or festivals. There is a common denominator
in these Puja is that either the purohit or maharaj or the person who conducts
the puja invariably chant number of spiritual poems and prayers either in his
own language or in Sanskrit. The poems ( slokas) read in Sanskrit are more
spiritual as well as valued and requires a stipulated way of singing
the poems.
But one thing is most important that if you do
any Puja without certain guidance or knowledge, there are occasions even today
that the reverse will happen instead of what you are looking for! So never
attempt to do some thing new - totally untested Mantra or Sloka or
Prayer - but go by the experienced people's suggestion.
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Not everybody - as per Manu - is authorized to chant some of
the spiritual and sacred mantras and not all these sacred mantras are to be
chanted 24 hours in a day. Every deity and every prayer has
got its prescribed timings and system attached to it.
In Kaliyuga - that is in the present days - one need not go to Himalaya or any
other forbidden places and they need not chant or conduct Yajna or Yaga by
killing the goats or any animal or one need not do any Aswamedha or
Dasaswanedha etc., as it is not possible and prohibited to send a horse and
then win over the land in these days.
Having seen and anticipated the unprecedented change thousands of years back,
our ancient people thought and gave us some concessions and reservations
etc., like our present Government. As you are well aware, the commercial
business or politics are being played in the name the God and earlier He used
to appear before us, whenever we call for him in distress, now that is not
possible.
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But then chanting Sri Vishnu Sahasranaamam or Sri Venkateswara
Suprabhatam and others requires no traditional introduction, but keeping it in
a certain time and system for that is necessary to get right
results. The problem is that every road side book seller is printing and
selling these books - and we take them with care and love - without knowing and
understanding the errors or omissions in the text. That is
some what dangerous.
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There was a say that any thing which was told by a mother is
pure and sacred. That itself is like upasana, and no other special upasana is
required. For a Brahmin - the Father is better Guru and for any other cast -
either mother or the Teacher - and when you are selecting a teacher, better get
hold of the teacher who taught you in the elementary school - because they are
the Teachers who paved the way for the knowledge. If not, you can go to a
Temple Pujari - but then, better verify his antecedents - like whether he is a
daily visitors of the nearest bar or the brothel house or whether he has got
any police cases like that - mere chanting and reeling out vocabulary doesn't
make him reliable. Take it granted that there is no saint in this world.
So rest is your decision.
Whatever has been informed here - are suggestions. You need some one like your
father or mother to address you to do that! That is sufficient.
What I find with my experience is that there
are few keerthans both in Tyagaraja as well as Annamacharya - they are written
in Sanskrit. If you can read them in certain occasions - like when you are in
distress, trouble or worried about some thing - then that will give right
results.
So the essential aspect of puja is not congregational worship but an
individual's offering to a deity. Stotras are Hindu prayers
that praise aspects of God, such as Devi, Siva, or Vishnu. Stotras, according
to Swami Tapasyananda, are invariably uttered aloud and consist of chanting
verses conveying the glory and attributes of God.
The God makes no distinction between one religion and another.
People can worship Him in any form they wish. The form of worship does not
matter; but what matters is the quality of love which is expressed in worship.
He accepts every kind of worship, because He is supreme.
You can offer a leaf, or a flower, or even a little water; that doesn't matter
but the devotional spirit and love is more important. What you are offering is
a via media that you have come, stayed there, and had the darshan; It's symbol
of your attendance! God is looking for pure heart and a mind hungry for truth.
Whatever you do, or eat, or give, let it be an offering to Him; and whatever
you suffer, then suffer it for His sake.
Never change the God! Better you change the religion - if you
want. Never change or mix the Gods with human saints or sages! Never try and
follow the ancient rituals and hymns when you are praying for the saints, sages
or seers! That is unpardonable.
It has become a fashion in recent times that people started
leaving their own ancient God and going after new variety of Gods. That is okay
for others but if your family was tradionally religious and with strict
observance of rules and traditions, then migrating to another God just to speed
up the things will give unexpected misery. The tradition has to be maintained
by doing just prayers but not wholesome migration - just becuase you went USA
or Canada - you cann't change your blood and your family leanings.
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So when you want to do Prayer - ask your self - about
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For what the prayer
for.
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Do I have the pure
devotion towards the God - whoever you want to
pray
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Am I doing the daily or
weekly prayers in my house
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Whether the present
enviornment is not suitable for that
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What I would like to
derive from these prayers
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Am I asking one God or
several others - as you dont' want to take
chance with one God!
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Are You doing these
prayers or some one insisted you to do?
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Is it as a ritual or out of love and devotion
Once you ask these questions, you will know ehere you are!
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