When do I break my salt-less fast Navaratri vrat?
Answer: If you had observed a salt-less vrat then break your vrat with salted foods after your Vijaya-dasami prayers. Many staunch devotees do break their salt-less fast after sunset on Vijaya Dasami.
* If you are implying about breaking with non-veg foods then I am not the appropriate person to answer that. I am an advocate of vegetarianism.
My dad/mother/family member passed away a few months ago. Can I still perform my NAVARATRI PUJA as normal?
Answer: Garuda Purana, Preta Kanda Chapter 29 verse 12 Lord Vishnu said, “In death O Garuda, impurity lasts only for 10 days.” In the Garuda Purana, Lord Vishnu states quite clearly that the “ashucha” (contamination period) starts from the day of the funeral (more specifically when the body enters the furnace) and lasts for 10 days, but all other prayers only resume when the 12th / 13th days (Sapindi) puja is completed and thus the family is then re-integrated into society. Do note the 12th day is observed by Brahmins and the 13th day by non-Brahmins.
Lord Vishnu said to Shree Garuda (His eagle bird carrier), “Offering of Ashirbaad (blessings), Deity worship, direct contact with the public, giving of Daan (charity/gifts), Hawan (Homa), Tarpana (offering of water), Fasts (like Krsna astami, Raam Navami etc), and Brahmin bhojan (feeding Brahmins) are forbidden in the 10 days period”. (Garuda Purana Preta Khanda chapter 13 verses 20-21).
CONCLUSION: The period of 12 or 13 days applies to the family of the deceased individual only. Other prayers like NAVARATRI PRAYERS and so forth resume as normal once the 12th / 13th days puja is completed.
I just got my menstrual cycle this morning. Am I allowed to still keep my Navaratri fast and observe all the rituals?
Answer: YES. To read up more on this subject matter, kindly click on the links below on DIPIKA.
1. http://dipika.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Hinduism-s-views-on-Menstruation.pdf
2. http://dipika.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/When-the-Divine-Mother-performs-Her-yearly-menstruation.pdf
Which of the Navaratri days is most auspicious to perform my Devi puja?
Answer: Every day in Navaratri is auspicious.
I understand from Dipika’s articles that offering dhaar to Devi is allowed for unmarried females, however I wanted to inquire if unmarried females, men and widows can also complete the full puja at the end of Navaratri?
Answer: YES, most certainly.
Must I also offer Dhaar to Sairee-Dee(Deeha) Baba daily during Navaratri or do we just offer to Devi?
Answer: This is optional but there is no harm to also do his prayers as well. This is the appropriate time to focus on Devi and it is also Devi’s time to be glorified in all her glory.
Does dhaar have to be offered onto any specific plant?
Answer: I suggest not on a plant (that poor plant may drown with the excess water that’s poured on it daily) but on a Devi thaan and Dee(Dee-ha) Baba thaan (a place where you should be offering your Dhaar).
Can Dhaar be offered after 18h00?
Answer: Yes, however not on a plant rather in your Devi Thaan.
What age does a female need to be to offer Dhaar?
Answer: From the time she is able to. Meaning even at two years old is quite acceptable. Why just females? My son has been offering Dhaar himself since he was around two.
Can an unmarried female/widow/unmarried male etc. partake in the Halwa puri prashad?
Answer: YES, most certainly. As it states above it is PRASHAD. This means it is blessings from the Mother Herself. Our merciful mother DOES NOT discriminate. She loves all her children.
Can females partake in the Sairee devi-Dee Baba Halwa puri prashad?
Answer: YES, most certainly. As it states above it is PRASHAD. This means it is blessings from the “protection” couple themselves.
I am an unmarried female and want to prepare Halwa puri as an offering. Please advise if I can do so myself? My mother resides in Durban and it is difficult for her to travel to Gauteng.
Answer: YES, it is totally acceptable for you to prepare and offer your Halwa Puri offerings whether you are married or not. So kindly go ahead and offer it with love to the Mothers. And yes you can even dot the Puri with Sindhoor, and add bangles and Tikli.
My mother is of the opinion that because Sindhoor is offered on the puris that I cannot do this puja as I am unmarried.
Answer: NO, she is incorrect in her train of thought. But it isn’t her fault really. I am sure she didn’t have the proper “open minded” guidance.
I am a widow/unmarried lady/divorced lady etc. Can I prepare the Halwa Puri offerings and later partake in the offerings as well?
Answer: Most certainly, YES. Devi in her widow form is called Dhumavati devi. To read up more on Dhumavati devi kindly click on these links below on DIPIKA.
1. http://dipika.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Widows-and-their-place-in-Hinduism-.pdf
2. http://dipika.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Widows-FAQ-S-and-their-place-in-Hinduism.pdf
Can a widow offer the Jaiphal (nutmeg) in Devi puja and can she cut it as well?
Answer: Most certainly, YES. And also read the links provided above.
Please let me know how many sets of puris do I offer as I was confused about the picture I saw on DIPIKA.
Answer: One should offer nine sets (of two puris) for the Mother and two sets (optional) for Sairi-devi and Dee Baba. Sairi-devi is the spouse of Dee Baba. Hers, you set as you do with the Mother sets (meaning bangles etc). Dee Baba’s set there is no Bangles, Sindhoor and Tikli. Kindly view the photo attached.
To read up more on “The step by step set-up of your HALWA PURI offerings to Devi (Durga/Bandi, etc…) kindly click on the link below on DIPIKA.
http://dipika.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/The-step-by-step-setup-of-your-Halwa-Puri-offerings-to-DEVI.pdf
Do I offer with plastic bangles, glass or metal?
Answer: Best results would be to offer glass bangles.
The three gunas are called: sattva (goodness, calmness, harmonious), rajas (passion, activity, movement), and tamas (ignorance, inertia, laziness).
Effects of plastic and glass bangles
Plastic bangles: Plastic bangles are Raja-Tama-dominant. Hence, Raja-Tama-dominant vibrations in the environment are attracted to such bangles and are absorbed by the woman who wears them. As a result, there is a possibility of the woman experiencing distress such as pressure on the head or the body, fatigue etc. This explains why one feels distress while looking at plastic bangles.
Glass bangles: Glass bangles have sattvikta, Devi Principle and Chaitanya in them. Due to these, sattvik and Chaitanya-dominant waves in the environment are attracted to the glass bangles. In addition, due to the sound generated by the glass bangles, the negative energies back off. This explains why one feels good while looking at glass bangles.
It is evident from this experiment that it is more beneficial for a woman to wear glass bangles, rather than plastic bangles. Out of ignorance about this science, today many women wear plastic bangles. Fashion is also one of the reasons for this. Some women wear plastic bangles because the glass bangles break often. In doing this, they deprive themselves of the benefit that is obtained from wearing glass bangles, and harm themselves.
Metal bangles: Optional.
A Few Amazing Tips
1. Offer metal bangles to the Mother and keep the bangles by her Kalsa for blessings. After your Vijay Dasami prayers you can then keep the bangles in your vehicle cubbie, in your purse, wallet, behind your door or anywhere you think that needs protection; you keep it there. Kindly do not use plastic or glass bangles for obvious reasons in these places.
2. Keep a 9 colour string or red string around Devi’s Kalsa and after your Vijaya Dasami prayers you can then tie it around your wrist, on your car steering wheel or anywhere you think that needs protection.
3. Write a note to Devi and keep it by Devi’s Kalsa. Write down all the things you would like Devi to assist with, for example good health and protection, and then burn it on Vijaya Dasami.
Jaya Durga Ma
Jaya Lakshmi Ma
Jaya Saraswati Ma