When is Mahanavami or Ayudha pooja is celebrated ?
“Ayudha Pooja” or “astra pooja” is part of Dasara festivals. This is celebrated on Ashwayuja Shudda Navami popularly called as Mahanavami Day. During Ashwayja Masa shukla paksha padya for nine days it is a festive period. During this period, pooja done to any devate will be fruitful. Daana – snaana – japa done during this period would give more than lakh time punya.
Whom to worship on this day ?
We have to worship Durgadevi whose name is “Subadra”. Mahishasura mardini Durga with the name Chamundeswari also born on this day. As Durgadevi has 8 arms, we have to worship the weapons in her arms viz., arrow, shanka, chakra, gadha, etc.
Why we have to worship weapons?
On this day, if we worship the weapons which we are using, our ishtaartha siddi will be there. There will be daridrya parihara. There will not be any fear from our enemies, fire, water, wind, thieves, etc.
What is Ayudha Pooja? – It is a worship of whatever implements, one may use in our day to day life. It will also help one to maintain constant remembrance of the divine. In India it is customary for one to prostrate before the tools one will use before starting one’s work each day; this is an expression of gratitude to God for helping one to fulfil one’s duties. Almost all the weapons which we use in our day to day use like knife, scissors, stoves, and in factories all machineries, computers, vehicles will be washed and done the pooja with a request and nothing harm shall be done from these utensils and do good to everything.
1. This Ayudha puja is being celebrated since ancient times. The importance of Ayudha Puja on this occasion may also be due to the fact that on the Vijayadasami day, Arjuna took back his weapons which he had hidden in a SHAMEE VRUKSHA in order to lead a life in disguise for the promised period of exile. It is believed that one who begins or renovates his learning to work on the Vijayadasami day will secure a grand success as Arjuna did in Kurukshetra war.
2. According to Hindu Mythology, after the killing of Mahishasura and other rakshasas by Mahishasura mardhini – Chamundeswari, there was no more use for her weapons. So the weapons were kept aside and worshiped. This Ayudha puja is being celebrated since time immemorial.
3. In ancient times, Kings and soldiers used to perform Ayudha Puja for their weapons. They considered their weapons as their protectors and as Gods. Nowadays, people related to mechanical and electrical work, keep their operators and instruments in their puja room and worship them with utmost devotion.
4. The tools and all implements of vocation are first cleaned. All the tools, machines, vehicles and other devices are then painted or well polished after which they are smeared with turmeric paste, sandalwood paste (in the form of a tilak and kumkuma. Then, in the evening, previous to the puja day, they are placed on an cleaned platform and decorated with flowers. In the case of weapons of war, they are also cleaned, decorated with flowers . On the morning of the puja that is on the Mahanavami day, they are all worshipped along with the images of , Lakshmi, Saraswathi and Parvati. We have to do the worship these deities with the anusandhana of Parvatyantargatha Shivantargatha, Saraswathi Bharathi deviantargatha Mukhyapranthargatha, Sri Lakshmi Narayana. We have to place Books and musical instruments on the pedestal for worship. On the day of the puja, these are not to be disturbed. The day is spent in worship and contemplation.
ಆಯುಧ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನ –ಸರ್ವಾಯುಧಾನಾಂ ಪ್ರಥಮಂ ನಿರ್ಮಿತಾಸಿ ಪಿನಾಕಿನಾ |
ಶೂಲಾಯುಧಾನ್ ವಿನಿಷ್ಕೃತ್ಯ ಕೃತ್ವಾ ಮುಷ್ಠಿಗ್ರಹಂ ಶುಭಂ |
ಛುರಿಕೆ ರಕ್ಷಮಾಂ ನಿತ್ಯಂ ಶಾಂತಿಂ ಯಚ್ಚ ನಮೋಸ್ತು ತೇ | ಕಲಶ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನ –
ದೇವದಾನವಸಂವಾದೇ ಮಧ್ಯಮಾನಾಂ ಮಹೋದಧೌ |
ಉತ್ಪನ್ನೋಸಿ ತದಾ ಕುಂಭ ವಿಧೃತೋ ವಿಷ್ಣು ಸ್ವಯಂ |
ತ್ವಯಿ ತಿಷ್ಟಂತಿ ಭೂತಾನಿ ತ್ವಯಿ ಪ್ರಾಣಾ: ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಟಿತಾ: |
ತ್ವತ್ಪ್ರಸಾದಾತ್ ಇಮಂ ಯಜ್ಞಂ ಕರ್ತುಮಿಹೇ ಜಲೋದ್ಭವ| आयुध प्रार्थन –
सर्वायुधानां प्रथमं निर्मितासि पिनाकिना ।
शूलायुधान् विनिष्कृत्य कृत्वा मुष्ठिग्रहं शुभं ।
छुरिकॆ रक्षमां नित्यं शांतिं यच्च नमोस्तु ते । कलश प्रार्थन –
देवदानवसंवादे मध्यमानां महोदधौ ।
उत्पन्नोसि तदा कुंभ विधृतो विष्णु स्वयं ।
त्वयि तिष्टंति भूतानि त्वयि प्राणा: प्रतिष्टिता: ।
त्वत्प्रसादात् इमं यज्ञं कर्तुमिहे जलोद्भव। āyudha prārthana –
sarvāyudhānāṁ prathamaṁ nirmitāsi pinākinā |
śūlāyudhān viniṣkr̥tya kr̥tvā muṣṭhigrahaṁ śubhaṁ |
churike rakṣamāṁ nityaṁ śāṁtiṁ yacca namōstu tē | kalaśa prārthana –
dēvadānavasaṁvādē madhyamānāṁ mahōdadhau |
utpannōsi tadā kuṁbha vidhr̥tō viṣṇu svayaṁ |
tvayi tiṣṭaṁti bhūtāni tvayi prāṇā: pratiṣṭitā: |
tvatprasādāt imaṁ yajñaṁ kartumihē jalōdbhava|