Compiled by

Dr. Naresh Mintri, RMP (AM)

66B Jatin Das Road, Kolkata 700029

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 In this series of compilations, I have relied heavily

on my old notes, books

and texts on Hinduism.

All explanations given are as per my understanding

of the texts which may vary

with the interpretations of others.

Readers are advised to use their

discretion in the understanding

of this material.

I am indeed grateful to

Pt. Aditya Narain Mulla of Kanpur,

a senior Reiki Master and Shakti Sadhak

for his encouragement and guidance in my compiling

this text and also permitting me to use material from his notes.

This

compilation is my humble offering

in the lotus feet of

Devi Durga.

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 MAHALAYA

The period between full moon and new moon, in the month of Ashwin, according to the Indian Almanac,
is considered a period when all ancestors are believed to visit Planet Earth and pay a visit to the homes
of their descendants, to see if they are remembered or not. This period is also called Pitri Paksha and
used to pay our respects to all of them. The way it is done, in most Hindu homes is by offering Tarpan,
Panchabali and Brahmin Bhojan.

Tarpan is performed by offering water and black sesame seeds to the ancestors. It is an elaborate ritual,
but with the paucity of time and the rush of having to leave for work, prevents many to follow the full
ritual. Also the paucity of Brahmins, well versed in the rituals, is a hindrance. During this process,
offerings are made to three generations, the parents, grand-parents and great grand-parents from both
the fathers and mothers lineage.

(The simplified version given below has been shared by Pt. Aditya Narain Mulla, a senior Reiki Master,
Healer and Teacher from Kanpur).

This is a simplified version of Tarpan (Was given for NRI's and western people in consultation with the
well known Guru Dr. Pillai )
Please Note: If Tarpan material is not available, the ritual can still be performed with just black sesame
seeds and water. (Beige sesame seeds are ok, if there are no black sesame seeds.)

How to Perform Tarpan Short Version

Materials Needed:

Glass of Water
Raw rice or white rice flour
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Black sesame seeds (health food or Indian stores carry them)
1 coin (dime, rupee, peso etc), a gold coin if available, (coins can be reused)
Optional: Dharba (Durva) grass (if available)

Tarpan Offering:

Place a tablespoon of sesame seeds, rice, coin and a few small pieces of dharba grass on the palm of
your right hand.
Take a glass of water and sprinkle a few drops over the offerings.
Make a heartfelt prayer to your ancestors as you pour water over your hand and say, "I invite you to
take this offering, 7 generations of ancestors on my father's side and 7 generations of ancestors on my
mother's side. Please accept this offering and be at peace and be healed, cross into the light, and please
bless me." (You may name family members that have passed on.)
Pour the rest of the water over right hand and let the offerings wash off completely. (The coin may be
reused, just rinse it off)

How to Perform Tarpan Long Version

Perform the longer version of the Tarpan Ritual now or you may do it once a month on a New Moon
day.

Materials Needed:

Glass of Water
Raw rice or white rice flour
Black sesame seeds (health food or Indian stores carry them)
18 coins (dime, rupee, peso etc), (coins can be reused)
Sandalwood powder (you can buy at any Indian market)
Flowers or petals
Optional: Dharba (Durva)grass (if available)

Prepare the offering:

Cut the Dharba (Durva) grass into 7 equal pieces, around 4 inches long. (This represents 7 generations
on both sides of your family)
Line up vertically the 7 pieces of Dharba (durva)grass on a plate, or large leaf, leaving a little space
between each
Make a paste with sandalwood powder by adding water to it; spread the paste onto the Dharba(Durva)
grass
Place 3 nickels(Coins) on each piece of grass at the top, middle and bottom
Sprinkle flowers over these items
Place a tablespoon of white rice flour mixed with a teaspoon of sesame seeds in the palm of your right
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hand (don't worry about the amount).

The Offering:

Sprinkle a few drops of water on the rice flour and sesame seeds in your right hand.
Say the following: "I invite 6 generations of my ancestors on my mother's side and 6 generation of
ancestors on my father's side to take this offering".
Take the glass of water with left hand and pour it over the mixture in your right hand, and let everything
fall onto the dharba (Durva) grass, coins and flowers.

Say a sincere prayer: "Use this energy and be healed, be at peace, cross into the light and please bless
me and your progeny."

Make sure everything is washed off your right hand.

You may re-use the coins, or discard everything at a river, beach or in nature. You may accumulate
offering remnants and discard later.

Tarpan for Your Ancestors Helps:

Liberate your ancestors from any curse

Bring the gifts of peace and longevity
Resolves issues related to lack of money, poor health, bad relationships

During this period a clear communication channel will open which makes it the best time to venerate
your ancestors. During Mahalaya the ancestors visit the earth plane and stay with their biological
relatives from sunrise to sunset. The purpose of doing this ritual is to release your ancestors so they can
move to a higher plane of existence. From this higher dimension they can in-turn bless you.

Among most Hindu families, this ritual is performed on the tithi (date of the fortnight) when the
ancestor moved on. If for some reason this date is not known, or the rituals could not be performed on
that date, it is done on Mahalaya (the new moon day in the month of Ashvin). In some regions in India,
it is done only on Mahalaya day. On this day, all the ancestors, are reported to once again re-visit their
descendants and wait for the offerings, bless them and move back to the dimensions from where they
came. It is also known as the Pitri Visarjan day.

This ritual is also performed by most Hindu families on the actual tithi when they moved on and also
during the Pitri Paksh tithi, i.e. twice a year.

It is said that offerings made in the first prahar (three hours from sunrise) reaches them as amritam
(Nectar), as milk in the second prahar, water in the third and thereafter as food for rakshasas (demons).

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 THE ADVENT OF DEVI DURGA

In Eastern India, particularly, the day of Mahalaya, signifying the end of Pitri Paksha also signifies the
start of Devi Paksha, or the fortnight for Devi. This period is better known as Navratri, when starting
from the day after New Moon, Pratipada, Devi Durga is worshipped for nine days and nights, in her
various forms, known as Nav Durgas.

Navratri is celebrated in the month of Chaitra and in Ashvin. The Chaitra Navratri is known as Basanti
(Spring) Navratri and the Ashvin Navratri as the Sharadiya ((Autumn) Navratri.

Legend has it that prior to his battle with Ravana, the Demon King of Lanka, Lord Rama performed this
Navratri Puja, to propitiate Devi Durga and seek her blessings. Since it was performed at a time when
Navratri was not supposed to have been celebrated, it is also known as Akaal Bodhan or untimely
calling.

The advent of Devi Durga is more fully described and explained in ch 2 of the Durga Saptashati, a
compilation of 700 shlokas (verses) in praise of Goddess Durga. It is said that after a battle which lasted
almost 100 years, the gods, led by Indra, lost to the demons, led by Mahisasura and having conquered
the gods, Mahisasur became lord of the entire Universe. The gods, led by Brahma went to where Lord
Vishnu and Lord Shiva were seated and narrated their woes. Hearing all this, Lord Vishnu became so
angry that a bolt of energy moved out from his face, as also similar bolts of energy from Lord Shiva,
Brahma and the gods Indra, etc. All this energy collected in one place and took on a female form.

The energy from Lord Shiva formed the face; Yamas energy her hairs; Lord Vishnus the arms; Moons
energy her breasts; Indras energy the waist; Varuns (water) energy the thighs and ankles; Brahmas
energy the feet and toes; Vasus energy the fingers of the hand; Kubers energy her nose; the teeth
from the energy of Prajapati; and the three eyes from the energy of Fire (Agni); eyebrows from Sandhya;
nose from Vayu (Air); and the other parts and organs from the energies of the other gods.

Having taken a radiant form, all the Gods were happy with her, and decided to arm her for conflict with
Mahisasura. Lord Shiva took a replica of his trishul (trident) and presented it to her. Lord Vishnu gave
her a replica of his sudarshan chakra, Varun presented her with a shankh (conch shell) and Agni
gave her energy; Vayu gave her bows and arrows; Indra gave her a lightning bolt, his weapon, as also a
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bell from his mode of transport, the elephant, Airawat; Yama gave her a stick; Varun noose; Prajapati
crystal necklace; Lord Brahma a kamandalu (water container), Sun filled her hairs with his energy;
Time(Kaal )presented her with shield and sword; Ocean gave her a beautiful necklace and two sets of
dresses which never got dirty, a tiara, ear-rings and bangles, half moon, and ornaments for her arms and
feet; Vishwakarma gave her a scimitar; Himalaya gave her a lion, her transport, and other gods gave her
many other weapons and ornaments.

Bedecked with all these finery and energised with the combined energies of all the gods, Devi Durga, as
she was known, went to battle with Mahisasura. It is said that the battle continued for 9 days and 9
nights (hence the name Navratri), after which on the 10th. Day, she conquered him. This day is also
referred to as Vijaya Dashami, the 10th day of victory!

Since Devi Durga fought and conquered Mahisasura, she is also referred to as Mahisasura Mardini. A
poem in praise of Durga, as Mahisasura Mardini, is reported to have been composed by Adi
Shankaracharya way back in 810AD. A video recording of this is available at

http://youtu.be/1X2kjzMjMC4

The written version, in Sanskrit, with English Transliteration and meaning is available at

http://www.hindudevotionalblog.com/2008/09/mahishasura-mardini-stotram-lyrics.html

I suggest that you listen to this strotra daily during these nine days, and if possible make it a habit of
listening to it on a regular basis, for in this episode of the battle between Durga and Mahisasura, or the
one between Lord Rama and Ravana, Mahisasur and Ravana depict the evil and negativities in us, while
Durga and Rama represent the good and positives. Listening to this strotra, the positive energies destroy
the negatives within us and make us a better human being.

If you can arrange it, a reading of the entire 700 shlokas of the Durga Saptashati, one reading per day,
during the nine days propitiates the Devi and brings about health, wealth and prosperity for the
devotee.

According to tradition followed in Bengal (India), the eyes of the Devi are painted onto the idols
prepared for the ensuing Durga Puja festivals, on Mahalaya day, signifying the complete formation of
the Devi. Also in the morning of Mahalaya, an abridged reading of the Durga Saptashati, invoking the
energies of the Devi, awakening her and inviting her to visit Planet Earth (considered to be the home of
her father) is listened to in Eastern India, and a recording of this is available at

http://youtu.be/-uwjlI82yzk

This is in Bengali, you may find it difficult to follow, nevertheless, listen to it, it is very very powerful.

During Navratri, Durga is worshipped in her nine forms. We will bring you details about these
subsequently.

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