Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 5 • CHAPTER 34
Ch 34 Verse 1 Verse
५.३४ चतुस्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः । भगवत्याः पूजाराधनविधिवर्णनम् । राजोवाच । भगवन्ब्रूहि मे सम्यक्तस्या आराधने विधिम् । पूजाविधिञ्च मन्त्रांश्च तथा होमविधिं वद ॥ १ ॥
The King said :-- O Bhagavān! Kindly narrate to me in detail now the methods how to serve and worship the Goddess and the Mantrams that are used on such occasions.
Ch 34 Verse 2 Verse
ऋषिरुवाच । शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि तस्याः पूजाविधिं शुभम् । कामदं मोक्षदं नॄणां ज्ञानदं दुःखनाशनम् ॥ २ ॥
The Ṛṣi said :-- O King! I am now describing the method how to worship the Goddess. Hear. This leads to the fulfilment of all desires, to the liberation from one’s bondage, to self-realisation and to the destruction of all miseries.
Ch 34 Verse 3 Verse
आदौ स्नानविधिं कृत्वा शुचिः शुक्लाम्बरो नरः । आचम्य प्रयतः कृत्वा शुभमायतनं निजम् ॥ ३ ॥
The worshipper has to perform his bath; then putting on a white cloth, he will have to perform his Vaidik and Tāntrik Sandhyā; then he should, with his heart controlled, perform his Ācamana ceremony and select a good auspicious site for his own Poojā purposes.
Ch 34 Verse 4-12 Verse
ततोऽवलिप्तभूम्यां तु संस्थाप्यासनमुत्तमम् । तत्रोपविश्य विधिवत् त्रिराचम्य मुदान्वितः ॥ ४ ॥ पूजाद्रव्यं सुसंस्थाप्य यथाशक्त्यनुसारतः । प्राणायामं ततः कृत्वा भूतशुद्धिं विधाय च ॥ ५ ॥ कुर्यात्प्राणप्रतिष्ठां तु सम्भारं प्रोक्ष्य मन्त्रतः । कालज्ञानं ततः कृत्वा न्यासं कुर्याद्यथाविधि ॥ ६ ॥ शुभे ताम्रमये पात्रे चन्दनेन सितेन च । षट्कोणं विलिखेद्यन्त्रं चाष्टकोणं ततो बहिः ॥ ७ ॥ नवाक्षरस्य मन्त्रस्य बीजानि विलिखेत्ततः । कृत्वा यन्त्रप्रतिष्ठाञ्च वेदोक्ता संविधाय च ॥ ८ ॥ अर्चां वा धातवीं कुर्यात्पूजामन्त्रैः शिवोदितैः । पूजनं पृथिवीपाल भगवत्याः प्रयत्नतः ॥ ९ ॥ कृत्वा वा विधिवत्पूजामागमोक्तां समाहितः । जपेन्नवाक्षरं मन्त्रं सततं ध्यानपूर्वकम् ॥ १० ॥ होमं दशांशतः कुर्याद्दशांशेन च तर्पणम् । भोजनं ब्राह्मणानाञ्च तद्दशांशेन कारयेत् ॥ ११ ॥ चरित्रत्रयपाठञ्च नित्यं कुर्याद्विसर्जयेत् । नवरात्रव्रतं चैव विधेयं विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ १२ ॥
Next he should plaster the site with cow-dung and spread his sacred carpet (Āsana) whereon he is to take his seat with a cheerful mind and sip water for Ācamana three times. Then he is to collect the articles for worship according to his best capacity and place them duly in their respective positions. He is to perform Prāṇāyāma (regulate his breath); and then follows the Bhuta-Śuddhi, the purification of the old and the formation of the celestial body and Jīva-Śuddhi by which the Sādhaka becomes the Devatā-maya; he then proceeds to Mātrikā Nyāsa (i.e., setting mentally in their several places in the six Cakras and then externally by physical action the letters of the alphabet which form the different parts of the body of the Devatā. He then places his hand on different parts of his body, uttering distinctly at the same time the appropriate Mātrikā for that part). Bhuta-Śuddhi :-- Dissolve earth into water, water into fire, fire into air, air into ether; ether into Ahamkāra, Ahamkāra into Maḥat and Maḥat into Prakriti, the final Cause. This process is called Bhuta-Śuddhi. He is to mention then the time, date, tithi, and month of the year and make his Saṅkalpa; then he will have to assign to the different parts of his body the Mātrikā Mantrams duly as well as his own Mantram; next he is to meditate in his own body the seat of the different Devatās and do the internal worship. He is to breathe life into the Deity outside to be worshipped as well as within himself to be meditated and worshipped; then he is to do the same with the articles for worship and purify them by sprinkling with water and Astra or Phaṭ Mantram, thus removing all sources of obstacles that are likely to interfere with the act. Next, on an auspicious copper plate, he is to draw inside a six-angled (hexagonal) figure (two triangles crossing each other with their vertices one upward and the other below) with white sandal paste or with eight perfumed things and outside this figure, an octagonal figure of eight petals; outside this he is to draw the boundary lines that is called the Bhūpura. On each of the eight petals he is to write each letter of the nine-lettered Vīja (Seed) Mantram and the ninth letter in the central ovum. Next by the Mantram by which breath is infused or by the Vedic Mantram he will have to place the Yantra in the proper position and then worship the Ādhāra Śakti (the vital Force) in the central ovum and the holy seat with the Pīṭha Mantrams. He will have to invoke the Devī, uttering the Seed Mantram over a golden plate or figure and carefully worship Her by offering seats and other articles duly as enunciated in the Yāmala Tāntras, etc. Then he will have to perform the six-fold worship of the Gaṇas in the six angles and worship Indra, etc., and Vajra and others in the Bhūpura (the boundary) and thus finish the Poojā of the Yantra. (For the Poojā see the Prapañca Sāra. ) Note :-- Bhūpura is what is thought over outside front or in the beginning. Here the Gaṇa Devatās are first thought over and worshipped. Worship outside, worship inside and See the Deity in and out, everywhere and be free is the motto of the worship. In the absence of the Yantra, one will have to make a metalled image of Bhagavatī and worship Her with the greatest caution with the Mantras as expounded by Śiva in the Tantrams (of Jāmalā and others). Note :-- Yantra is that which restrains. This human body is the Yantra. And its imitation is placed outside in various shapes and figures. The Yantra is the mystical diagram used by the devotees for worship. Or one may use the Vaidik Mantrams in worshipping the Deity in accordance with the prescribed rules and with his mind controlled; then, merged in meditation, one is to mutter silently (perform the Japam of) the nine-lettered Mantram. (The Mantram is Krīm Dakṣiṇe Kālike Svāhā). Japam (muttering or repeating silently the Mantram) is of two kinds :-- Nitya (daily) and Pauraścaranik (repetition of the name of the deity accompanied with burnt offerings). In the Nitya Japam, Nitya Homas are performed and in the occasional Pauraścaranik Japam, one tenth of this is offerred; Abhiṣeka, too, is one-tenth of this Homa; Tarpaṇam is one-tenth of Abhiṣeka and the feeding of the Brāhmaṇas is one-tenth of what is done in the Tarpaṇam. O King! Thus completing the Japam one is to read daily the Caṇḍī (do the Caṇḍīpāṭha) where the three glorious deeds of the Devī are narrated; next he will have to allow the Deity invoked to depart to Her own place. The Navarātra Vrata (nine night vow) is next to be observed according to the proper rites and ceremonies. Hrīm Mahiṣa Mardinyai Svāhā is the Mantra.
Ch 34 Verse 13 Verse
आश्विने च तथा चैत्रे शुक्ले पक्षे नराधिप । नवरात्रोपवासो वै कर्तव्यः शुभमिच्छता ॥ १३ ॥
In the bright fortnight of the month of Āsvin or Caitra, is to be observed the fasting of the Navarātra by those who desire for their own welfare.
Ch 34 Verse 14 Verse
होमः सुविपुलः कार्यो जप्यमन्त्रैः सुपायसैः । शर्कराघृतमिश्रैश्च मधुयुक्तैः सुसंस्कृतैः ॥ १४ ॥
Homas are to be offered, many in number, and Mantrams are to be recited, the same as in one’s own Mantram, good Pāyasam with sugar, ghee, and honey mixed is to be offered in this ceremony.
Ch 34 Verse 15 Verse
छागमांसेन वा कार्यो बिल्वपत्रैस्तथा शुभैः । हयारिकुसुमै रक्तैस्तिलैर्वा शर्करायुतैः ॥ १५ ॥
Goat meat, or holy leaves of the Bel tree, or red Karavīr flowers or til (sesamum seed) mixed with honey can be used instead in the Homa ceremony.
Ch 34 Verse 16 Verse
अष्टम्याञ्च चतुर्दश्यां नवम्याञ्च विशेषतः । कर्तव्यं पूजनं देव्या ब्राह्मणानाञ्च भोजनम् ॥ १६ ॥
The special days for the worship of the Devī are the eighth, ninth, or fourteenth day (tithi) of the half month. The feeding of the Brāhmins must be done on each occasion.
Ch 34 Verse 17 Verse
निर्धनो धनमाप्नोति रोगी रोगात्प्रमुच्यते । अपुत्रो लभते पुत्राञ्छुभांश्च वशवर्तिनः ॥ १७ ॥
O King! Thus the poor become wealthy, the diseased get cured, and the persons that have no issue get obedient and well qualified sons.
Ch 34 Verse 18 Verse
राज्यभ्रष्टो नृपो राज्यं प्राप्नोति सार्वभौमिकम् । शत्रुभिः पीडितो हन्ति रिपुं मायाप्रसादतः ॥ १८ ॥
The King, expelled from his kingdom, gets back by the grace of Mahā Māyā, dominion over the whole earth and becomes able to destroy all those enemies of his, by whom he was before vanquished, when he worships the Devī.
Ch 34 Verse 19 Verse
विद्यार्थी पूजनं यस्तु करोति नियतेन्द्रियः । अनवद्यां शुभा विद्यां विन्दते नात्र संशयः ॥ १९ ॥
The persons, desirous of learning, get undoubtedly the learning honourable and auspicious, provided he worships the Devī with his senses restrained.
Ch 34 Verse 20 Verse
ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रो वा भक्तिसंयुतः । पूजयेज्जगतां धात्रीं स सर्वसुखभाग्भवेत् ॥ २० ॥
Persons of all castes, Brāhmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas or Śūdras can become masters of all pleasures and happiness provided they worship with devotion the Devī, the Preserver of the World (the Jagaddhātrī).
Ch 34 Verse 21-22 Verse
नवरात्रव्रतं कुर्यान्नरनारीगणश्च यः । वाञ्छितं फलमाप्नोति सर्वदा भक्तितत्परः ॥ २१ ॥ आश्विने शुक्लपक्षे तु नवरात्रव्रतं शुभम् । करोति भावसंयुक्तः सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् ॥ २२ ॥
A man or woman whoever performs the Navarātra vow always full of devotion, gets all the desired fruits. Whoever celebrates the holy Navarātra ceremony in the bright fortnight of the month of Āśvin with his heart full of the thought of the Devī, gets all his desired fruits.
Ch 34 Verse 23 Verse
विधिवन्मण्डलं कृत्वा पूजास्थानं प्रकल्पयेत् । कलशं स्थापयेत्तत्र वेदमन्त्रविधानतः ॥ २३ ॥
O King! Now I am describing the rites and ceremonies; here a square raised platform or altar is to be made according to the prescribed rules; a water-jar is then to be placed on it with the Vedic mantrams and due rites and ceremonies.
Ch 34 Verse 24 Verse
यन्त्रं सुरुचिरं कृत्वा स्थापयेत्कलशोपरि । वापयित्वा यवांश्चारून्पार्श्वतः परिवर्तितान् ॥ २४ ॥
One will have to make a beautiful Yantra according to the previously laid rules and the water-jar is to be placed on it; then spread the beautiful Yava grains all around the jar.
Ch 34 Verse 25 Verse
कृत्वोपरि वितानञ्च पुष्पमालासमावृतम् । धूपदीपसुसंयुक्तं कर्तव्यं चण्डिकागृहम् ॥ २५ ॥
An awning or pandal is to be erected over the altar and the place of worship, and the site is to be decorated with flowers. Lights and Dhūpas, incense and perfumes are then to be used in the hall of the Caṇḍikā Devī.
Ch 34 Verse 26 Verse
त्रिकालं तत्र कर्तव्या पूजा शक्त्यनुसारतः । वित्तशाठ्यं न कर्तव्यं चण्डिकायाश्च पूजने ॥ २६ ॥
O King! The Devī is to be worshipped thrice; morning, midday and evening; no miserliness is to be shown in spending wealth for this purpose.
Ch 34 Verse 27 Verse
धूपैर्दीपैः सुनैवेद्यैः फलपुष्पैरनेकशः । गीतवाद्यैः स्तोत्रपाठैर्वेदपारायणैस्तथा ॥ २७ ॥
Light, dhūp, good presents of rice and other edibles, flowers, and fruits of various kinds are to be offered in this worship of the Devī; the chanting of the hymns of the Vedas, songs, and music with the various instruments are to be done and a grand festivity is to be made.
Ch 34 Verse 28-29 Verse
उत्सवस्तत्र कर्तव्यो नानावादित्रसंयुतैः । कन्यकानां पूजनञ्च विधेयं विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ २८ ॥ चन्दनैर्भूषणैर्वस्त्रैर्भक्ष्यैश्च विविधैस्तथा । सुगन्धतैलमाल्यैश्च मनसो रुचिकारकैः ॥ २९ ॥
Moreover, note this carefully that virgins are to be worshipped duly with sandal, ornaments, clothings, various edibles, sweet scented oil, and beautiful garlands. (This worship of the virgins is one of the essentials.)
Ch 34 Verse 30 Verse
एवं सम्पूजनं कृत्वा होमं मन्त्रविधानतः । अष्टम्यां वा नवम्यां वा कारयेद्विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ ३० ॥
Thus completing the worship of the Devī, Homa is to be done duly with Mantrams and other necessary articles on the eighth or the ninth tithi.
Ch 34 Verse 31 Verse
ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्पश्चात्पारणं दशमीदिने । कर्तव्यं शक्तितो दानं देयं भक्तिपरैर्नृपैः ॥ ३१ ॥
Lastly the Brāhmins are to be fed duly; then the worshipper is to take his first meal after fasting (i.e., make pāraṇam) on the tenth day; then presents and various articles are to be offered to the Brāhmin, according to one’s might and with devotion.
Ch 34 Verse 32 Verse
एवं यः कुरुते भक्त्या नवरात्रव्रतं नरः । नारी वा सधवा भक्त्या विधवा वा पतिव्रता ॥ ३२ ॥
O King! Any man, or any chaste married woman or a chaste widow whoever performs thus the Navarātra Vrata gets in this world all the desired fruits and enjoys all sorts of enjoyments and gets unbounded happiness and after death goes to the highest place.
Ch 34 Verse 33-34 Verse
इह लोके सुखं भोगान्प्राप्नोति मनसेप्सितान् । देहान्ते परमं स्थानं प्राप्नोति व्रततत्परः ॥ ३३ ॥ जन्मान्तरेऽम्बिकाभक्तिर्भवत्यव्यभिचारिणी । जन्मोत्तमकुले प्राप्य सदाचारो भवेद्धि सः ॥ ३४ ॥
And if, owing to some cause or other, he has to take his birth again in this world, he would be born in an excellent family and would become endowed with good conduct and qualifications and get the unflinching devotion towards the Ambikā Devī.
Ch 34 Verse 35 Verse
नवरात्रव्रतं प्रोक्तं व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम् । आराधनं शिवायास्तु सर्वसौख्यकरं परम् ॥ ३५ ॥
O King! I have thus described to you the rules of the Navarātra ceremony; this vow is the best of all; highest and greatest pleasures and happinesses are obtained in worshipping thus the auspicious Mahā Māyā.
Ch 34 Verse 36-37 Verse
अनेन विधिना राजन् समाराधय चण्डिकाम् । जित्वा रिपूनस्खलितं राज्यं प्राप्स्यस्यनुत्तमम् ॥ ३६ ॥ सुखञ्च परमं भूप देहेऽस्मिन्स्वगृहे पुनः । पुत्रदारान्समासाद्य लप्स्यसे नात्र संशयः ॥ ३७ ॥
O King! Better worship Caṇḍikā duly according to the prescribed rules; then you would be able, by Her grace, to conquer all your enemies and you will regain your excellent dominion, unshaken by any, and you will get again the highest pleasure and happiness when you will be reunited with your wife and sons in your own palace; there is no doubt in this.
Ch 34 Verse 38 Verse
वैश्योत्तम त्वमेवाद्य समाराधय कामदाम् । देवीं विश्वेश्वरीं मायां सृष्टिसंहारकारिणीम् ॥ ३८ ॥
O Vaiśya! You, too, better worship the same Mahā Mayā, the Goddess of the Universe, worshipping Whom leads to the fructification of all desires.
Ch 34 Verse 39 Verse
स्वजनानां च मान्यस्त्वं भविष्यसि गृहे गतः । सुखं सांसारिकं प्राप्य यथाभिलषितं पुनः ॥ ३९ ॥
You will then be able to regain all your worldly pleasures in your own home and be respected by your relatives and acquaintances and finally, after your death, you will go to the holy abode of the Devī.
Ch 34 Verse 40 Verse
देवीलोके शुभे वासो भविता ते न संशयः । नाराधिता भगवती यैस्ते नरकभागिनः ॥ ४० ॥
There is no doubt in this. Those that do not worship the Devī, go to Naraka or hell; moreover they suffer much from various diseases in this world.
Ch 34 Verse 41 Verse
इह लोकेऽतिदुःखार्ता नानारोगैः प्रपीडिताः । भवन्ति मानवा राजञ्छत्रुभिश्च पराजिताः ॥ ४१ ॥
Those that do not worship the Devī are always defeated by their enemies, are void of wife and sons, become stupid and suffer pains from their unsatisfied desires.
Ch 34 Verse 42 Verse
निष्कलत्रा ह्यपुत्राश्च तृष्णार्ताः स्तब्धबुद्धयः । बिल्वीदलैः करवीरैः शतपत्रैश्च चम्पकैः ॥ ४२ ॥
And those that worship the Preservrix of this world with the Bel leaves, Karavīra flowers, Śatapatra and Champaka flowers, that blessed man, devoted to the Devī, gets filled with all sorts of enjoyments.
Ch 34 Verse 43-44 Verse
अर्चिता जगतां धात्री यैस्तेऽतीव विलासिनः । भवन्ति कृतपुण्यास्ते शक्तिभक्तिपरायणाः ॥ ४३ ॥ धनविभवसुखाढ्या मानवा मानवन्तः सकलगुणगणानां भाजनं भारतीशाः । निगमपठितमन्त्रैः पूजिता यैर्भवानी नृपतितिलकमुख्यास्ते भवन्तीह लोके ॥ ४४ ॥
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चमस्कन्धे भगवत्याः पूजाराधनविधिवर्णनं नाम चतुस्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः ॥ ५.३४॥
O King! What more can I say than this, that those who have worshipped the Devī Bhavānī with the Mantrams approved by the Nigama Śāstras, those very persons get honour in this world and are filled with all sorts of power and wealth. Verily, they stand foremost in the rank of best men, becoming the only repositories of all the best qualities in this world. Here ends the Thirty-fourth Chapter of the Fifth Book on the methods of the worship of the Devī in Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, the Mahā Purāṇam of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.