Objective: To perform a sacred fast and worship Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati for victory and success.
Prerequisites/Requirements: Trayodashi lunar day (evening twilight), bath taken one hour before sunset, preliminary worship items (incense, lamp, flowers).
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Fast during the day of Trayodashi.
- Take a bath one hour before sunset.
- Perform preliminary worship to Lord Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Skanda, and Nandi.
- Offer incense, lamp, and flowers seven times in a clockwise direction around Lord Shiva and his family.
- Offer kheer (sweet rice).
- Invoke Lord Shiva into a special kalasha (clay pot or lota) using a betel leaf, betel nut, rice, 5c coin, and flower petals while chanting the invocation mantra: “Om shiva bhagavaan aavaahayaamee sthapayamee”.
- Place the kalasha on a square mandala (optional: draw a lotus in it) covered with darbha (kusha) grass.
- Perform the Puja Proper (see specific steps below).
- Keep a vigil at night.
