Shaligram Puja/ शालिग्राम शिला की पूजा कैसे कर

JAMDAGNYA-DWADASHI

This austerity is related with the worship of lord Parshuram who is also famous as Jamdagnya. It is celebrated on the twelfth day of the bright half of the hindu month-vaishakh. Before commencing the rituals, a devotee should purify himself by taking a bath and then worship an idol of lord Parshuram kept on a pot filled with water. While worshipping he should make offerings of various articles tothe deity-flowers, sandalwood,ardhya,etc. It is mandatory to remain awake for the whole night. On the following day,he should donate the idol to a brahmin. A devotee who observes a fast on this day gets all his wishes fulfilled and attains to Brahma loka.

DHARNI-VRATA

This particular austerity is observed in the hindu month of Kartik. The rituals commence by worshipping various organs of lord Narayan amidst the chanting of different mantras which are as follows- om sahastra shirse namah - head om purushay namah - arms om vishwa rupine namah - throat om gyanastray namah - weapons om shri vatsaaya namah - chest om jagad grasishnave namah - abdomen om divya murtaye namah - waist om sahastra paday namah - feet. Similarly,srikrishna dwadashi is celebrated in the hindu month of Ashadh,shukla- paksha. A devotee should worship lord Krishna on this day and observe a fast.

SUBH-VRATA

This particular austerity on the first day of the hindu month-margashirsh. It is related with the worship of lord Vishnu and the rituals have some special characteristics-having one meal on the eleventh day of the month(ekadashi),donating barley to brahmins,worshipping the idol of goddess Prithvi on 'ekadashi', etc. The austerity concludes on dwadashi. On ekadashi,goddess Prithvi is also worshipped alongwith lord Vishnu. Both the idols are installed side by side and covered with white clothes. After that some rice grains are scattered in front of both the idols. As per the norms of the rituals,a devotee is required to remain awake for the whole night. Next morning,he should invite twenty-four brahmins and feed them. He should also donate a cow,apparels,ornaments,an umbrella,woodden sandle and similar articles to them. A devotee who observes a fast on this auspicious day enjoys prosperity.

DHANYA-VRATA

This particular austerity is a form of 'nakta-vrata', which means observing fast for the whole day and breaking it in the night. The austerity commences on the first day of the bright half of the hindu month-aghan and lasts for a year. Rituals include worshipping Agnideva-an embodiment of lord Vishnu, chanting of certain mantras praising the glory of the deity and performing 'havan'. There are specific instructions on the type of food a devotee should have during the course of this austerity-for four months(chaitra to ashadh) he should have delicacie s like 'kheer' seasoned in pure ghee. From shravan to kartik he should have food-items prepared from gram-flour. This way,the austerity lasts for one year whereby a devotee observes fast on the first day of every month that follows. The austerity concludes by worshipping an idol of lord Agni made of gold. The idol is adorned with a piece of red-cloth and red-flowers are offered to the deity while worshipping. After the rituals are accomplished,the idol should be donated to a brahmin. The observance of this particular austerity brings good fortune to a man and makes him prosperous.

PADMANABH-DWADASHI

This austerity is related with the worship of lord Padmanabh-an epithet of lord Vishnu and is observed on the twelfth day of the bright half of the hindu month-ashwin. One important charecteristic of the ritual is that all the organs of lord Padmanabh is worshipped. The idol is placed on a pot filled with water and while worshipping offerings of various articles are made-flowers, fruits,sandalwood,etc. On the following day the idol is donated to a brahmin. One who observes a fast on this day enjoys a prosperous life and attains to the abode of lord Padmanabh.

BUDDHA-DWADASHI VRATA

Lord Buddha is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The austerity begins on the eleventh day of the bright half of the hindu month-shravan. On this day lord Vishnu is worshipped with appropriate rituals and by making offerings of various articles like flowers, fruits, incense, etc. The following mantras should be chanted while worshipping the various organs of lord Vishnu - om damodaray namah - feet om hrishikeshay namah - waist om sanatanay namah - abdomen om shri vatsadharine namah - chest om chakrapanaye namah - arms om haraye namah - throat om manju keshay namah - head om bhadray namah - top-knot(shikha).After the accomplishment of the rituals,the idol should be donated to a brahmin.

PUTRA-PRAPTI VRATA

This austerity commences on the eighth day of the bright half of the hindu month-bhadrapad. The rituals consist of taking a 'sankalp' on the preceding day(saptami)and worshipping lord sri Hari on the next day with appropriate rituals. Offerings are made to the sacrificial fire,which usually consist of articles like barley,sesame seeds,ghee,etc. The austerity concludes by feeding the invited brahmins and making donations to them. This way,the austerity continues for a year whereby a devotee observes fast on 'ashtami' of every month. A sonless person is blessed with a son if he observes this austerity with total devotion. This austerity, which is popularly known as 'Krishna ashtami'also helps a devotee to become absolved of gravest of sin. KANTI-VRATA

This austerity is related with the worship of sri Krishna and Balaram. It commences on the second day of the bright half of the hindu month-kartik and lasts for a year whereby a devotee observes fast on the second day (bright half) of every month that follows. While worshipping Balarama,a devotee should chant-'om baldevay namah'and while worshipping sri Krishna he should chant-'om keshavay namah'. Subsequently,'ardhya'is offered to both the deities. A devotee should have food prepared from barley-flour in the night but those devotees who have resolved to observe this austerity for four months beginning from 'falgun' should live only on 'kheer'. Offerings of rice and sesame seeds are made in the sacrificial- fire during the months of 'aghan' and 'kartik' respectively. The rituals conclude by worshipping the deity 'Chandrama'at the end of the year. Finally all the three idols (sri Krishna,Balram and Chandrama) should be donated to brahmins. A devotee who observes this austerity is bestowed with a charming personality.