Navavidha Bhakti in Shri Sai Satcharita – 5
Fifth Step – Archan Bhakti
i. Puja and Archana for the love of God are the ways to express devotion, as preached by Parashar (father of Vyasa) and Vyasa (compiler and arranger of Vedas). That is also another form of worship. ll88ll For the sake of the Guru, collect flowers such as the Parijat and others, from the garden, sweep the courtyard of the Guru's abode and sprinkle water and smear it with the wash of cowdung. ll89ll At the outset, bathe and chant the morning mantras; make fragrant paste and annoint the Gurudev with sandalwood, bathe him with the fine nectarial substances (milk, honey, ghee, curd and sugar), burn incense and light the lamp. ll90ll Afterwards offer naivedya (offering of food, such as milk, fruits, honey etc.), then do arati with the lamp and the incense. In this way, doing all the services with love, is called 'archana' (worship). ll91ll Begin the worship by making your heart and intelligence pure and sinless, having an unsullied disposition and invoke the power of the deity within yourself. ll92ll Then recall that divine feeling after the 'archana' is concluded, and in your heart restore the former state (state of purity and sinlessness) and establish it firmly within you. ll93ll – C. 1
ii. Though immutable, He accepted the worship and honours (rituals), according to the faith of the devotees. He accepted (the devotion) in all the different ways. ll45ll Some waved the whisks - some fanned - some played shehnai or drums and auspicious musical instruments and some offered puja. ll46ll Some would lave His hands and feet (to drink the water as tirth) - some annointed Him with attar and sandalwood paste - some offered Him betelnuts made out of thirteen ingredients (supari, white kat, cloves, nutmeg, saffron, dry coconut, camphor, kankol, Jaipatri, cardamom, almond, kasturi, lime) - some offered mahanaivedya (wide variety of delicious foods, which could be as many as sixty items). ll47ll Some applied gandh paste, with two fingers, horizontally across the forehead, as it is done for Shiva linga, without a break - some applied kasturi mixed with perfume - and also, applied sandalwood. ll48ll - C. 11
iii. Taking clean water in his hands, he washed Baba's lotus feet and did puja in the traditional way. Then he offered bananas and coconut. ll60ll He offered incense, light, betel leaf and made a monetary offering; mentally circumambulated, offered a garland of flowers and then, sat near His feet. ll61ll Jog came to the Masjid with sandlwood paste, consecrated rice, flowers, bell, niranjan and the five-wick lamp etc. and asked Baba : ll75ll "What should I bring for naivedya to-day ?" Maharaj instructed : "Bring Me a platterful of sanza. You can do the arati and puja later." ll76ll Since then he was devoted to Baba. He regularly offered agarbattis, coconut and garland. Lakhmichand also prospered. The puja was regular and ritualistic. ll85ll - C. 28
iv. Seeing the beautiful image in the picture, everyone was supremely delighted. Everyone was surprised by the unimaginable way in which all this had happened. ll157ll After placing the picture on the central seat, and doing full ritualistic puja, naivedya was offered with loving devotion. Then everyone started their meal. ll158ll From then onwards, till this day, on every Holi day, the tradition is carried on with all rituals and pujas. ll159ll – C. 40
v. Lakshman Mama was a staunch brahmin and uncle of Madhavrao. After taking a bath in the morning and putting on clean washed clothes, he would take Baba's darshan. ll166ll He would wash Baba's feet, apply sandalwood paste with consecrated rice, offered flowers, leaves and tulsi and afterwards burnt incense, lit the lamp and offered naivedya. Then he offered dakshina. ll167ll After offering eight-fold obeisance with prayers, he took Baba's blessings. Then he would apply the sandalwood paste tilak to all and distribute prasad. Then he would leave. ll168ll – C. 43
vi. He would bring the bel from long distances, get together all the puja paraphernalia completely, and then worship all the village deities, one by one. He would offer to all according to the proper rituals. ll153ll After that, he would come immediately to the Masjid, lovingly bow to Baba's seat, wash His feet etc. and then drink the water as tirth. ll154ll Till Megha was in Shirdi, he performed the noon arati regularly. But, before that he worshipped all the village deities and then went to the Masjid. ll156ll He worshipped Khanderaya and Megha also got rid of his uneasiness. Then Baba allowed Megha to do His puja. ll162ll Then, he did the puja with great reverence with sandalwood paste, flowers and the other eight offerings. He offered dakshina, garlands, fruits etc. according to his means. ll163ll – C. 28
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