Sri Maha Nava Chandi Yagnam

Sri Maha Nava Chandi Yagnam is conducted with the chanting of the Durga Sapthasathi Mantra(Devi Mahatmayam) also known as Chandi Path.More details on the Saptashati can be found here. The Maha Nava Chandi Yagnam is generally conducted during Sharada Navarathri/Durga Puja/Dussehra and Vasantha Navarathri on the Maha Navami day. It is a practice in our Guru Parampara to perform this Yagna in the evenings.

The major rituals and procedures of the chandi Homam are:

Guru Vandana – The blessings of the Guru are invoked before commencing the yagna.

Punyahavachanam – It is a purification ritual which involves invoking Lord Varuna for purifying the place of Yagna, people associated, pooja materials with vedic mantras such as Varuna Sukhtam, Pavamana Sukhtam.

Maha Ganapathy Pooja – As with any pooja, the Yagna commences with Maha Ganapathy Pooja to remove all obstacles.

Maha Sankalpam – Sankalpam is a vow or a prayer. In our Chandi Yagnam, Maha Sankalpam is the done as a Loka Kshema Sankalpam. It is an over all Prarthana for Global well being and Universal peace.

Mandapa Puja – Seventy seven kalashas of various Parivara Devatas of Goddess Chandika Parameshwari are kept around the Mandapa in which the homam is to be done. The Devatas are invoked in their respective kalasas.In addition, Stamba Pooja is performed for the four entrances and eight directions indicating the four vedas and ashtadik balaks.

Sri Chandika Parameshwari Avahanam – Goddess Chandika Parameshwari in invoked in the Main Kalasa. Surrounding it at the eight kalashas representing Ashta Bhairavas( Asitanga Bhairava, Ruru Bhairava, Chanda Bhairava, Krodha Bhairava, Unmatta bhairava , Kapala Bhairava, Bhishana Bhairava and Samhara Bhairava) and Ashta Dik Balas(Indra, Agni, Yama, Niruthi, Varuna,Vayu, Kubera, Isana) .Sri Maha Ganapathy is invoked in another Kalasa. The Navagrahas(Surya,Chandra,Mangal,Budha,Brihaspati, Sukra, Shani, Rahu and Ketu) are invoked in nine kalasas which are positioned as per shastras. Special herbs are added to the water in these kalasas.

After the Dhyana mantras are chanted, Avahana is peformed using Prana Pradishta mantra and Avahana Mantras. Purusha Sukhta and Sri Sukhta Vedic Hymns are used to do Shodasha Upachara Pooja. Archana is done starting with Maha Ganapathy, Navagrahas and to Goddess Chandika parameswari with Sri Lalitha Sahasranama or Sri Lalitha Trishati.

Agni Mathanam & Agni Pradhistai – Agni mathanam is getting the holy fire for the Yagna by rubbing wood pieces of Peepul Tree and the spark generated is built into a big fire after which Vedokta Agni Pradhista (Invoking Agni) is performed. Such an Agni generated is considered to be very auspicious and pure. This practise is done in major temples, Ashrams on all major occasions like Maha Samprokshanam/Kumbabhishekam, Athi Rudra Homam, Maha Sudarshana Homam etc. In our Parampara it is done during all Chandi yagnams.

Durga NavaVarna Yantra Pooja and Navavarna Homam – Pooja is done to the Sri Chandi Navavarna Yantra while simultaneously Navavarna Homam is done. It is called Navavarna since it contains nine sheats(avarnas) or layers and the Para Bramham, Goddess Chandika sits on the Bindu at the center of the yantra. Poojas are offered for the various deities residing in each of the nine Avarnas of the Yantra with the final pooja being done for Goddess Chandi.

Maha Ganapathy and NavaGraha Homas – Sri Maha Ganapathy Homam is done with the Maha Ganpathy moola mantras and Maha Ganapathy Gayathri. It is followed by the Navagraha Homam with Vedic Navagraha Mantras.

Chanting of Navangam of Devi Mahatmyam – The nine Purvanga Mantras of the Devi Mahatmayam and vedic Ratri Sukhtam are chanted. Chandi Navakashari Moola mantra homam is done and the Nyasas of Durga Saptashati mantra are chanted.

Chandi Homam – Chandi Homam is performed by chanting every verse of the Durga Sapthasathi Mantra and doing an offering into the sacrificial fire. Each chapter has a presiding deity and the offering is made by mentioning the name of the deity and with the sacred Swaha mantra like “Om Maha Kalyai Nama Swaha”.The offering is Sweet Pongal for most of the chapters and for some of them it Ksheerannam (milk pudding). Panchamrutam made of several fruits, Dry Fruits and Honey is offered for verses with a “Uvacha”.

Poornahuti is offered the end of every chapter of the Durga Sapthasathi Mantra with specific fruits. The specific fruits are as ordained by Goddess Chandika Parameshwari to our Guruji Sri Vidyananda Natha swamji & His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Vidya Nrusimha Bharati SwamJi

Chanting of Devi Sukhtam: vedic Devi Sukta Mantra is chanted by vedic priests.

Chandi Navakshari Moola Mantra Homam : The nine lettered Navakshari maha mantra is known by various names such as Chamunda mantra, Navavarna Mantra,Navarna Mantra,Durga Mantra and Chandi Mantra. Various sweets are offered into the sacrificial fire along with the chanting of this mantra.

Suvasini Puja - This Puja is performed to a married women(Sumangali) treating her as mother Goddess. In our tradition, this Pooja is done to young Married Women since the Divine mother is considered as Nitya Sumangali and Yuvathi ( Ever in her youth).

Kanya Pooja – This Pooja is done to a girl child treating her as Goddess. She is presented gifts as per the child’s wish. This puja indicates the presence of Lord everywhere starting from a child.

Vaduka Bhairava Pooja – This Pooja is done to a Bramhachari boy treating him as Lord Kala Bhairava form of Lord Shiva. He is offered dresses and food.

Ashta Dikbala Bali – The Ashta Dik Balas are Indra, Agni, Yama, Niruthi, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera, Isana. Offering of rice balls with mixed Honey, Ghee and Curd are offered to these deities.

Maha Bhairava Bali – Offering of rice balls with mixed Honey, Ghee and Curd is offered to the deities Anantha, Bramha, Vishnu, Ksetra balaka and finally to Kala Bhairav.

Maha Yogini Pooja – The divine mother is considered to have an army of 64(640 million) crore warriors. So she is referred as “Maha Chatusshasti Koti Yogini Gana Sevitha”, in the Lalitha Sahasranama. This entire army is headed by 64 captains. Yogini Pooja is done to these 64 captains. A single Pumpkin is cut into 64 pieces as a representative of 64 yoginis and Pooja is done with Mangala Theertam.

Maha Poornahuti – Maha Poornahuti with offering of Mangala Drayvas (Sacred offerings) which include Fruits, Herbs, Kumkum, Sandal Paste, Dry Fruits, Dry Coconut. Silk Saree and Blouse are offered as Vastras. It is accompanied by the chanting of the Durga Sukhtam. A huge Garland is offered along with the chanting of Vedic Mantra Pushpam. Tamboolam (Karpoora Veetika) is also offered into the Agni.

Vasodhara Homam – Vasodhara is the offering of Ghee (Clarified butter) into the sacrificial fire along with the chanting of the Vedic Rudram Chamakam Mantra. The chanting of Chamakam is a request to the Lord to fulfill all the genuine desires/wants of his devotee. It is followed by the Jayadhii Homam and Agni upasthanam.

Maha Naivedyam – It is the offering of cooked food along with fruits to the Goddess. The Shastras stipulate the minimum amount to be offered. This prasad is later distributed as visesha Annadanam.

Shodasa Upachara and Avatarikai – Various upacharas like Chatram (Umbrella), Samaram, Vyajanam, Mirror,Geetham (Singing of devotional songs),Vadhyam etc are offered to the Divine Mother. It is followed by the Maha deeparadhana or Aarthi. Chaturveda parayanam is performed as a part of the avatarikai.

Sri Chandika Parameshwari Maha Abhishekam with holy Kalasa water – After kalasha Yadhastanam, Abhishekam is done to the Goddess Durga with the the holy Kalash water.

Guru Samarpanam – The Fruits of the Yagna are offered to the Lotus Feet of the Guru and Ambaal who in turn blesses us back with all the benefits of the Yagna. It is followed by Pradakshina and Namaskaram. The teertha prasadam is then distrbuted among devotees. Annadanam is also performed.

The Significance or benefits of a Chandi Homam are immense:

1. It is an Anugraha(complete blessing) for all of those attending the Yagna

2. Repeated conducting of Chandi Homam brings about a positive transformation in society

3. It wards off ill effects of evil forces

4. This Homam removes the malefic effects of all planets, especially Rahu & Ketu

5. Chanting the Devi Mahatmyam and participating in a Chandi Yagnam by a person who is regular in his daily poojas (Nithya Karma) helps him to attain Devata Siddhi, Ishta Siddhi, Karya Siddhi , Mantra Siddhi. This is a secret disclosed by Guruji with the intention that this message should reach humanity

6. This Yagna satisfies all genuine wants of a devotee and finally grants salvation (Moksha).

Durga Sapthasathi Mantra Recital

Worship of the Divine Mother or Goddess worship is one of the six streams of Hindu Devotion. Known by the name of Shaktism or Shakti worship, it has been practiced by various saints. Devi Mahatmayam mantra occurs in the Markandeya Purana, one of the 18 puranas compiled by Sage Veda Vyasa. It is one of the authoritative texts of Shaktism and Mantra Shastra in Hindu religion.

The main text of the Devi Mahatmayam contains 700 mantras. The preliminary mantras are

1. Nyasam
2. Avahanam
3. Namani
4. Argalam
5. Keelakam
6. Hrudayam
7. Dhalam
8. Dhyanam
9. Kavacham

This method of chanting is called as Navanga parayanam since there are nine preliminary stotras to be chanted before chanting the Saptashati. Then Vedic or tantric Ratri Suktam is chanted. It is followed by the Durga Saptashati chapters. The Uttaranga Mantras are Tantric or Vedic Devi Sooktam,Rahasya Trayam(Pradhana Rahasyam,Vaikritika Rahasyam,Murti Rahasyam),Aparadha Kshamapana Stotram.

The Navakshari Mantra ( 9 lettered mantra on Goddess Chandi who is the very embodiment of Maha Kali , Maha Lakshmi , Maha Saraswathi ) is chanted before and after chanting the saptashati. It has to be chanted after taking Mantra Upadesa of Maha Ganapathy Moola Mantra and Chandi Navakshari Moola Mantra from a Guru.

Devi Mahatmayam is called as sapthasathi since it contains 700 verses(saptha means seven). It is also because seven devis – Bramhi, Maheswari, Vaishnavi , Kaumari, Indrani, Varahi, Chamunda, are worshipped in the mantras.

Goddess Chamunda also represents the 3 Shaktis:

• Icha Shakti ( Power of Will) as Goddess Kali or Durga
• Kriya Shakti (Power of Action) as Goddess Lakshmi
• Gyana Shakti (Power of Knowledge) as Goddess Saraswathi

Devi Mahatmayam contains 13 chapters. The Devi Mahatmyam contains the dialogue between a dispossessed king Suratha, a merchant Samadhi betrayed by his family and a sage named Medhas. The sage instructs by recounting three different epic battles between the Devi and various demonic adversaries.The three tales being governed by, respectively, Maha kali (Chapter 1), Maha Lakshmi (Chapters 2-4) and Maha Saraswathi (Chapters 5-13). By doing upasana of Chandika Parameshwari Devi, the king and the merchant regain back their lost possessions and finally liberation. Each chapter of the Saptashati has a presiding deity as described below:

1. Chapter 1 – Madhu Kaitaba Vadham – Sri Maha Kali
2. Chapter 2 – Mahishasura Sainya Vadham – Sri Maha Lakshmi
3. Chapter 3 – Mahishasura Vadham – Sri Shankari Devi
4. Chapter 4 – Chakradhi Stuti – Sri Jaya Durga Devi
5. Chapter 5 – Devi Dhoota Samvadham – Sri Maha Saraswathi
6. Chapter 6 – Dhoomralochana Vadham – Sri Padmavathi Devi
7. Chapter 7 – Chanda Munda Vadham – Sri Raja Mathangi Devi
8. Chapter 8 – Raktabeja Vadham – Sri Bhavani Devi
9. Chapter 9 – Nishumba Vadham – Sri Ardhambika Devi
10. Chapter 10 – Shumbashura Vadham – Sri Kameshwari Devi
11. Chapter 11 – Narayani Stuthi – Sri Bhuvaneshwari Devi
12. Chapter 12 – Devi Charitha Mahatmyam – Sri Durga Devi
13. Chapter 13 – Sri Maha Tripura Sundari Devi

Durga Saptashati is chanted after invoking Goddess Chandika in a Kalasha (gatha stapana). The Kalasha is filled with water and a coconut is placed on the mouth of the kalasha. Maha Ganapathi, Ashta Bhairavas, Navagrahas and Ashta Dikbalas are also invoked along with the Goddess in seperate kalashas. Spiritual herbs are added to the water in the Kalasas and Alankara is done. Vedic Sri Sookta Aradhana along with Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam/Sri Lalitha Trishati Archana and other archanas are performed.

Kala Bhairava Pujai is also performed to get rid of Pitr Dosha, Stree Shapa dosha, Kala Sarpa Dosha etc. Along with Devi Mahatyam other Mantras like Maha Ganapathy Moola Mantra, Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam,Sri Lakshmi Sudarshana Maha Mantra,Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam, Sri Lalitha Trishati,Dhanvantri Mantra could also be chanted. After all the upachara pujas are complete, the holy water from the kalasha is then distributed as prasadam to devotees.