The Bhagavathi Seva is an ancient Vedic pooja ceremony done to restore balance in the environment and bring peace within us. It balances the malefic effects of the planets. Bhagavathi Seva means worship or service to Goddess. By performing this pooja with devotion, the devotees and their families get the blessings of the Goddess and obtain longevity, health, wealth and happiness by obtaining riches and overcoming enemies.
Performing this pooja at home brings in good vibes at home and removes any negative energy. When this pooja is performed in the temple, the power of the deity is increased considerably. Before starting the Bhagavathi Seva, the priest creates a design called Padmam (lotus). This is normally done using rice powder, turmeric powder, leaf powder, black powder. The design of the padmam may be as simple as Swastika or as complex Ashtadala Padmam. During the pooja the Goddess is invoked and seated on this Padamam. Four lamps are placed at the four corners and a major one at the center.
Process
The pooja commences with the priest cleaning himself with ablution. The priest wears new clothes, since he is undertaking a great religious rite. As this is done in the evening, the priest is seated facing west. He protects himself by chanting mantras, so that he can perform the pooja without any disturbance. The presence of Goddess is invoked with the power of an appropriate mantra, which varies depending upon, for which Goddess is being worshipped to arrive in the padmam. After invoking her presence, she is also protected by the mantras. It is important to chant them with the correct pronunciation and intonation, and the person chanting should have the concentration and devotion.
The Goddess is offered water for cleansing herself and naivedyam, which is converted into Amritam with the chanting of appropriate mantra. A manasa pooja is offered to the Devi. When the Devi is pleased with such service a Prasanna pooja followed by Pushpanjali is performed appropriately for the result desired. While the priest is performing pushpanjali, it is customary for devotees to recite various stotrams. It is auspicious to recite Devi Mahatmyam, Lalitha Sahasranamam, and Soundaryalahari. When the pushpanjali is completed, the Goddess is sent back to her abode. The wicks of the center lamp are grouped together and put out to signify that the holy flame associated with the Goddess is put out. The wick is again lit as an ordinary lamp to be used for ordinary use.
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