Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Barwa- 12th day puja for my Nani

 

 

“Barwa” means twelfth, the 12th day of mourning. According to hindu beliefs, the journey of the soul takes 12 days to leave this planet and become one with its ancestors. In its human incarnation the soul goes through 16 stations or rites of passage (sanskaras) from conception to cremation. After cremation, last station or rite of passage(antim sanskara) and immersing  the ashes in a river/lake, a puja is performed on the 12th day for the dear departed one's soul. 

The future of the soul depends on the person’s deeds in this world – good and bad. If good deeds outnumber the bad the person attains “moksha” – liberation form the cycle of birth and death. If not, then the person is reborn. When our near one passes away we do feel sad, but with prayers and donations on behalf of the soul, we add to the good deeds of the deceased and help them attain moksha. The family therefore does the following on each of the 12 days and then monthly for the a whole year; Take a bath in the morning, say prayers, feed animals like cows, crows, dogs and  brahmin( priest) or a needy person before eating. 

 

Since people may find it difficult to do it every month, they can instead combine the 12 monthly offerings into one offering on the 12th day. Food, clothes and cash are offered to the brahmin(s) doing the puja. During the puja 42 dough balls are made  which is symbolism for the offerings to cows, crows, dogs and other living beings for each of the 12 days and the the 12 months. After the puja they are given to the animals or dispersed in a water body.Havan ceremony is performed. Fire worship purifies as it burns away everything. Every time swaha is recited, offering has to be made of rice and ghee. Sweet Prasad is offered. Nani's favorite food items were prepared for the brahmin’s meal.  Food is also  offered in memory of ancestors and their names were recited to pray for them along with nani's who will be re-uniting with them.

It has been mentioned in Bhagavad Gita that Lord Krishna used to worship and feed cows everyday, for his ancestors.. 

Peace prayer, Gayatri mantra, and Mahamrityunjaya mantra were recited. 

Om Namo Bhagvate Vasudeva is mantra for Lord vishnu  

Mahamritunjaya  for Shiva  

Gayatri  mantra for Godess Gayatri  

Peace prayer was chanted.  Intention of the prayer was set by saying the name of the soul (nani) and name of person( Arnav) who is praying. Since the journey to moksha needs the soul to be resolute, the nearest ones offer to give up something in order to strengthen the soul’s resolve. Yashasvi(mom) gave up eating eggplant. And Karishma( Barkha maasi) is gave up tea. Both also resolved  to fast on the 24 “EkaDashi” days in the coming year. Ekadashi is the 11th day of each moon phase. On Ekadashi  days, both will observe a grain-free fast and only consume fruit/juices/milk. After the 24 fasts the fruits will be offered and distributed at the temple. 


The family expressed gratitude for all the sacrifices nani made. Moment of silence was observed. Hemant Maharaj sang a beautiful poem in praise of mothers.

माँ

माँ संवेदना है, भावना है, अहसास है माँ

माँ जीवन के फूलों में खाुशबू का वास है माँ


माँ रोते हुए बच्चे का खुशनुमा पलना है माँ

माँ मरुथल में नदी या मीठा सा झरना है माँ


माँ लोरी है, गीत है, प्यारी सी थाप है माँ

माँ पूजा की थाली है, मंत्रों का जाप है माँ


माँ आखों का सिसकता हुआ किनारा है माँ

माँ गालों पर पप्पी है, ममता की धारा है माँ


माँ झुलसते दिनों में कोयल की बोली है माँ

माँ मेहंदी है, कुमकुम है, सिंदूर की रोली है माँ


माँ कलम है, दवात है, स्याही है माँ

माँ परमात्मा की स्वयं एक गवाही है माँ


माँ त्याग है, तपस्या है, सेवा है माँ

माँ फूंक से ठंडा किया हुआ कलेवा है माँ


माँ अनुष्ठान है, साधना है, जीवन का हवन है माँ

माँ जिंदगी है, मुहल्ले में आत्मा का भवन है माँ


माँ चूड़ी वाले हााथों पे मजबूत कंधों का नाम है माँ

माँ काशी है, काबा है, चारो धाम है माँ


माँ चिंता है, याद है, हिचकी है

माँ बच्चे की चोट पर सिसकी है


माँ चूल्हा, धुआँ, रोटी और हाथों का छाला है माँ

माँ जिंदगी की कड़वाहट में अमृत का प्याला है माँ


माँ पृथ्वी है, जगत है, धूरी है

मां बिना इस सृष्टि की कल्पना अधूरी है


तो माँ की यह कथा अनादि है, अध्याय नहीं है

और माँ का जीवन में कोई पर्याय नहीं है


तो माँ का महत्व दुनियाँ में कम हो नहीं सकता

औ माँ जैसा दुनियाँ में कुछ हो नहीं सकता


तो मैं कला की पंक्तियाँ माँ के नाम करता हूँ

मैं दुनियाँ की सब माताओं को प्रणाम करता हूँ

"Maharaji ji, thank you"   First food was set aside for a nyaani( girl child). Then the priest was offered food. Nani's favorite items were made, dahiwada( soft like cotton), seera( halwa-made by dad) puris, green dal, jeera rice & aloo curry. Food was packed and given for the Maharaj's family. Also nani's favorite Hersheys almond chocolate, low salt potato chips, as well as bedsheet set, blanket, slippers, cash and a few other items were given to the Maharaj( priest).All the puja items were offered to the pond. 

All the water used during puja was offered to plants. 

Burn him not up, nor quite consume him, Agni: let not his body or his skin be scattered,
O all possessing Fire, when thou hast matured him, then send him on his way unto the Fathers.
When thou hast made him ready, all possessing Fire, then do thou give him over to the Fathers,
When he attains unto the life that waits him, he shall become subject to the will of gods.
The Sun receive thine eye, the Wind thy Prana (life-principle, breathe); go, as thy merit is, to earth or heaven. Go, if it be thy lot, unto the waters; go, make thine home in plants with all thy members.

— Rigveda 10.16




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Prayer-and-smriti-satsang-for-my-nani


By Hemant Ramrakhiyani Maharaj(USA)

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