How to Celebrate 170th Swami Samarth Prakat Din in California , USA
Its like a story my friend told me how they celebrate Swami Samarth Prakat Din in United States of America every year.
So my friend told me not to give his details but told to share why they do Swami Samarth Prakat Din Pooja in House and what functions are arranged in near temples or community hall , he told how to go to shopping for this everything.
I felt very suprised by observing their efforts to keep our Indian Marathi Culture growing in California.
My friend is settled in USA and he lives with his आई ( Mother ) , सासू ( Mother-In-Law ) , बायको ( Wife ) , 2 kids and 2 Sister.
Both of his Aai and Sasu do Swami Samarth Seva daily from Brahma Muhurat and also full family follows Swami Samarth , this is to show us their life and trust in Swami Samarth , their प्रचिती ( Prachiti )
Important Alert about Swami Samarth Prakat Din Seva Timings for California Swami Bhakts
This Information was shared by Friend that in USA , California there is specific timing of Swami Seva so make sure to note it down.
So in California (PST), the Tithi is active at sunrise on Friday, March 20, but actually ends at 1:57 PM and Try to finish your main Puja and Naivedya before 1:57 PM on Friday to align perfectly with the Tithi.
पूजा समग्री ( Pooja Samagri ) (Ritual Items) required for Swami Samarth Prakat Din Seva
My friend told me that in USA there is no Kirana Shop like India just in front of house which is open whole day , but in USA there are big shopping mall few kilometers away from house.
They now all Pooja Samagri required to go to shop on weekend so this year Swami Samarth Prakat Din is on 20 March Friday they will go for shopping on 14th Saturday or 15th March Sunday.
So it will like family trip and they also follow no Non-Veg diet during अनुष्ठान - Anushthan period from 28th Feb to 20 March.
Complete पूजा सामग्री (Pooja Samagri) Checklist for USA Bhakts
The Pooja Items as given as per Pooja stages that is for स्थापना -Sthapana , अभिषेकम - Abhishekam , गंध आणि शृंगार -Gandha & Shringar (Decoration) , धूप-दीप Lighting & Fragrance , नैवेद्य Naivedya (Food Offerings) ,वाचन आणि जप Seva Essentials (Reading & Chanting)
The Altar & Deity (स्थापना)
Check for Sthapana what Pooja Samagri is required and why it is required ? , know the purpose behind it.
Photo , Idol , Yantra
If you have one of these its ok , sometimes you may have either Photo , Idol or Yantra.
Photo is required as during meditation and chanting it serves as केंद्रबिंदू (त्राटक) Trataka
Photo of Swami Samarth sitting Abhaya Mudra signals our mind to be fearless so all negative thoughts gets wipe out.
मूर्ती - Idol is like Swami Samarth gives Prachiti in front of us and telling us "Bhiu Nakos, Mi Tuzya Pathishi Aahe."
Yantra Swami Samarth Siddh Yantra is most powerful copper plate chip that on activation creates 24/7 protection from Swami Samarth.
My friend being pakka Indian that too pure Maharashtrian from Satara and his family with same indian culture have brought these things from India,he got photo , Murti ana Yantra from Akkalkot.
(चौरंग) Chaurang or (पाट)Paat
Chaurang and Paat is a tribute to pay respect the Idol - Murti inform of Guru as our belif is that Gurusthan is the highest above us so to perform pooja we sit on ground while Guru is virahmaan (Sitting) on Chaurang / Paat showering his divine energy on us.
Its made up regular wood but my Ajji use to say that in olden days Maharaja used to make Churang and Paat from Sandal Wood and Golden design used be made on it with gems ingraved on it and auspious hindu Swastik was carved in middle.
We Swami Bhakts uses Chaurang as Simhasana (Throne) and we do Rajopachara Pooja in our own simple way.
पिवळे वस्त्र Yellow Cloth (Pivale Vastra)
My Ajji use to say that Yellow Color is color of गुरुतत्व Guru Tattva so by placing the Yellow Vastra on Chaurang or Paat it attracts the energies and vibrations of Guru , as Yellow repreents ज्ञान, पवित्रता आणि ध्यान - Knowledge , Purity and Mediation.
So Yellow is placed on chaurang and on yellow cloth Swami Samarth's Murti , Photo or Yantra is placed depends which of these you have.
It must be made of Cotton and it is used to place under the Swami Samarth's Murti and its also used to clean the Paanchamrut.
तोरण (Toran)
My American friend said that Toran making is most entertaing family activity that they do , his Aai and Sasubai go around there garden and gather (झेंडू फुले) yellow Marigold flowers and Mango leaves and then whole family sits and with thread and niddle is called दाबण - Daaban in marathi one flower and one Mango leave and thread in between like garland is made but not joined it then fixed around chaurang or paat and also at the main door.
For Sthapana Swami Samarth's Photo OR Swami Samarth's Murti Or Swami Samarth Yantra is required if you anyone of it then use it andif you have all then please do Pooja with all , Once my American friend told me that in covid they took printouts Swami Samarth Photo and disributed to his other friends but they did Swami Seva.
अभिषेकम - Abhishekam
Abhishekam is the holy bath given to Swami Samarth's Idol or Sometimes if Idol is not they my friend said that they have given bath to photo inside good frame when they just arrived in California that year as they did not knew much aboyt it. So yes for holy bath these things are required ताम्हण /Abhishek Patra / Tamhan , शंखा Shankha (Conch) , पंचामृत Panchamrut , गंगाजल GangaJal ,टॉवेल Cotton Towel
ताम्हण /Abhishek Patra / Tamhan
Tamhan must be of pure 100% Copper it can like big shallow dish or Nice Royal look Abhishek Patra the purpose of it is to collect Panchamrut and Gangajal after Abhishekam so that is used as तीर्थ / Tirth. I met one guruji from Dadar Swami Samarth Math he once told me that Copper is good conducter of energy once the Panchamrut , Gangajal is poured on Swami Samarth's Murti or Yantra it get charge with Sattvic Energy so it has Swami's prachiti in it.
शंखा - Shankha (Conch)
The Shankh is an essential part of the Abhishekam and the Aarti.
Shankh is used pour Gangajal and Paanchamrut as part of Abhishekam .
Dakshinavarti Shankh (right-handed conch) or a specially prepared natural white conch is used for these rituals.
Shankh represents purity, auspiciousness, and the sound Om.
Shankha is present in every Hindu house in California my friend told every hindu blows Shankha while pooja everyday to clear negative energy and to keep hindu culture presence in USA.
पंचामृत - Panchamrut
Panchamrut means made from 5 Ingredients which forms Amrut , So when Cow's unboiled milk is mixed with Curd (Dahi) , Ghee (Tup) , Honey (Madh) and Sugar (Sakar) is forms Amrut by Ajji use to tell us.
So this Paanchamrut is poured during Abhishekam through Shankha on Swami Samarth Murti.
Make note of this to prepare Paanchamrut there is the list.
Unboiled Cow Milk (न उकळलेले गाईचे दूध)
Curd (Yogurt)(गायीचे दही)
Cow Ghee - Clarified Butter (गायीचे तूप)
Honey(मध)
Sugar(साखर)
Only Cow Milk Products are Used in Pooja
In Hindu Sanatan Dharma Cow is Gomata - गोमाता , Cow is Sacred Animal but considered as Symbol of Earth in which 33 crore Devi Devta live inside her.
Cow Products are Sattvic , they are the highesr form of Purity so they are used in every Pooja and Seva.
Even Cow Dung (शेण) and Urine (गोमूत्र) are used to Purify the place of worship.
गंगाजल GangaJal
Gangajal purifies the everything on which it is pour , any type for bad energy can be cleaned by showering few drops of Gangajal.
In Swami Samarth Prakat Din Seva it is used to Purification (Shuddhikaran) before starting Abhishek , its spread on area where the pooja will be done.
Aachaman when you take few drops of Gangajal on right palm and sip it to purify our body before Chanting Shri Swami Samarth.
Prokshanam is when Ganagajal is sprinked over the Chaurang and on Murti and in house so that all Vastu Dosh is removed by its Divine Power.
टॉवेल Cotton Towel
Towel must be of yellow color and its called as उपरणे/अंगवस्त्र (Uparane/Angavastra) , When Abhishek is done of Swami Samarth Murti with Paanchamrut the Idol is is cleaned with this cloth the process of cleaning is called Angaprokshanam (अंगप्रोक्षणम).
Only Cotton material is used for towel as cotton is Organic and Yellow is required color.
It has 2 uses so it the to keep under the Swami Samarth's Murti on Chaurang and also to clean the Murti
गंध आणि शृंगार - Gandha & Shringar (Decoration)
Gandha & Shringar is like decoration or like makeup its more than it our emotions to make our Swami Samarth Mauli look more Beautiful as Swami Samarth is like mother and Father to us.
My Ajji use to say that Swami Samarth maza aai baap bhau bahin ahe Swamich maza Samarth ahe means everthing is Swamich.
For Gandha & Shringar these things are required Ashtagandha / Chandan , Ittar , Flowers , Tulsi Leaves , Pita (Yellow) Flowers.
Ashtagandha / Chandan Paste
Ashtagandha is in shape of soap which is rubbed with Gangajal on hand and Chandan Paste is made which then is applied on Swami Samarth's Forehead on Idol and also its applied on forehead of Bhakts.
Ashtagandha is Ashta means Eight and Gandh means Fragance so it made up of Eight Fragrances Chandan (sandalwood), Kesar (saffron), Kapur (camphor), Agar, Musk, Tulsi, Durva, and Bel.
Chandan (Sandalwood): Provides a cooling base.
Kesar (Saffron): Adds color and aroma.
Kapoor (Camphor): Purifying and fragrant.
Agar (Agarwood): A fragrant wood resin.
Tulsi (Holy Basil): Sacred and aromatic.
Durva (Bermuda Grass): Symbol of auspiciousness.
Bel (Bilva leaves): Used in worship.
Heena or Musk: Common final aromatic additions.
Ittar
Ittar is used to enhance the feeling of positivty around Swami Samarth so that Divine Energy is attracted as the Ittar is made up of sandelwood , rose water and Heena flowers.
My Ajji use to say that Ittar represents the Smell of earth to please Swami Samarth.
As our Brain senses good energy from the Good Fragrance so as the Swami Samarth feel Good by the Smell of Ittar.
Flowers
Flowers are used in Pooja after Aarti everyone takes Flowers in hands and offer Pushpanjali to Swami Samarth Idol , Mostly Yellow color flowers are used in Prakat Din Seva.
Only Scented folowers that are handpicked are used make sure about it.
Flowers and Tulsi are in full stock in friends garden so his Aai and Sasubai have the duty to handpick the flowers.
Tulsi Leaves
A few Tulsi leaves are added to the Panchamrut and Gangajal during the holy bath as Tulsi the most Sattiv plant in Hindu Dharma.
In Californa my friend has planted lots of Tulsi Plants in this garden many of this friends come and take Tulsi leaves whenever there is any kind of holy function in there Home as in this region Tusli plant is in very small quantity.
धूप-दीप Lighting & Fragrance
Whenever there is pooja you will see aroma smoke coming in creating very auspicious climate so in Swami Samarth Seva धूप-दीप which are 100% organic create Sattvic energy around us. In Swami Samarth Seva this items are required make note of it निरंजन /Niranjan / Diya , अगरबत्ती / Incense Sticks (Agarbatti), धूप / Dhoop , माचिस /Matchbox / Lighter.
नैवेद्य Naivedya (Food Offerings)
My Califorian friend said that they prepare Puran Poli , Pineapple shira , Basundi , Shrikhand Puri Naivedya offering to Swami Samarth but they also make Pitla Bhakri (Bajri / Johar) as Swami Samarth use to love it and serve Water in copper Tambya and Vida.
For Naivedya Puran poli and Pitla bhakri , Water and Vida is required.
Puran poli and Pitla bhakri
A Guruji once told me that some rich bhakts used to offer Puran poli to Swami Samarth and poor Bhakts use to offer Pitla bhakri to Swami , but Swami wants the real feel from that Bhakt , real effort and devotion everyone is same for him.
Vida
Vida is made up of Two Betel Leaves (विड्याची पाने) , Betel Nut (सुपारी) , Slaked Lime (चुना) , Catechu (कात) , Cardamom & Clove (वेलची आणि लवंग) its actually offered after Naivedya for Good digestion.
Its actually Paan that people eat but is do not contain Tobacco.
Naivedya and Vida is a message that you must eat Simple and Satvik food and have Vida for good health so you have good health and good thoughts.
वाचन आणि जप Seva Essentials (Reading & Chanting)
By Chanting Shri Swami Samarth mala and reading Swami Samarth Tarak Mantra and reading Shree Swami Charitra Saramrut (श्री स्वामी चरित्र सारामृत) , Swami Aarti attracts the Divine Energys come smoothy around you to protect you like strong Shield.