Ahoi Ashtami

1. Pavitrikaranam

Om Apavitrah Pavitro Va Sarvavastham Gato'pi Va | Yah Smaret Pundarikaksham Sa Bahyabhyantarah Shuchih ||

Om Pundarikakshah Punatu | Om Pundarikakshah Punatu | Om Pundarikakshah Punatu ||

Pure or impure, in whatever state — whoever remembers the lotus-eyed Lord becomes pure within and without. May the lotus-eyed Lord purify us.

Take water in the left hand and, with the fingers of the right hand, sprinkle it over yourself, the seat and the puja items.

Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon, Ganga water

2. Achamanam

Om Keshavaya Namah | Om Narayanaya Namah | Om Madhavaya Namah ||

Om Hrishikeshaya Namah | Hastam Prakshalayami ||

Sipping water thrice with salutations to Keshava, Narayana and Madhava for inner purity; hands are washed with Hrishikesha's name.

Take a little water in the right palm (gokarna mudra) and sip it three times, once with each name; then say 'Hrishikeshaya Namah' and wash your hands.

Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon

3. Deepa Prajvalanam

Shubham Karoti Kalyanamarogyam Dhanasampada | Shatrubuddhivinashaya Dipajyotirnamo'stu Te ||

Om Dipajyotishe Namah ||

Salutations to the lamp's flame, which brings auspiciousness, well-being, health and wealth, and destroys hostile thoughts.

Light the ghee lamp and place it to the deity's right (your left); an oil lamp goes to the deity's left. Bow to the lamp.

Samagri: Ghee lamp with cotton wick, matchbox

4. Sankalpa

Om Vishnurvishnurvishnuh | Shrimadbhagavato Mahapurushasya Vishnoragyaya Pravartamanasya Adya Shribrahmano Dvitiyaparardhe Shrishvetavarahakalpe Vaivasvatamanvantare Ashtavimshatitame Kaliyuge Kaliprathamacharane Jambudvipe Bharatakhande Bharatavarshe Aryavartaikadeshe (city/village) nagare (samvatsara) namasamvatsare (ayana) (ritu) (month) mase (paksha) pakshe (tithi) tithau (weekday) vasare (gotra) gotrotpannah/utpanna (your name) Namaham Santanasukhasamriddhyartham Ahoi-Ashtamivratapujanam Karishye ||

Say the words in ( ) — the Panchang and your gotra — yourself; ▶ Listen to sankalp asks you for them. Your name and city come from your profile.

I (name, gotra), at this time and place, resolve to perform this puja for the stated purpose.

Take water, akshat, flowers and dakshina in the right hand and read the sankalp (the app fills in your town, tithi, name and gotra); at the end, release the water onto the ground or into a copper plate.

Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon, akshat (unbroken rice), fresh flowers, dakshina (coin/money)

5. Ganesha Smaranam

Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha | Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarvakaryeshu Sarvada ||

Om Gam Ganapataye Namah | Gandhakshatapushpani Samarpayami ||

O curved-trunked, mighty Lord, radiant as a million suns — make all my undertakings free of obstacles, always.

Before any puja, meditate on Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, and offer akshat and flowers. (In Ganesha Puja this step is part of the main worship.)

Samagri: Akshat (unbroken rice), fresh flowers, roli/kumkum

6. Ahoi Mata Chitra

Ahoi Mata is regarded as the protector of children (folk tradition).

Draw Ahoi Mata, the syau (porcupine) and her young on the wall with red ochre (geru), or put up an Ahoi calendar picture; place a water-filled karva in front.

Samagri: Red ochre (geru), clay karva (with lid)

7. Dhyanam

Sarvamangalamangalye Shive Sarvarthasadhike | Sharanye Tryambake Gauri Narayani Namo'stu Te ||

Om Parvatyai Namah | Dhyayami ||

Meditation on the form of the deity.

Join your hands, close your eyes and recite the dhyana shloka while picturing the deity's form in your mind.

8. Gandha

Shrikhandam Chandanam Divyam Gandhadhyam Sumanoharam | Vilepanam Surashreshthe Chandanam Pratigrihyatam ||

Om Parvatyai Namah | Gandham Samarpayami ||

Divine, fragrant, delightful sandal paste for anointing — O best of gods, accept it.

With the ring finger, apply a tilak of sandalwood/roli to the deity.

Samagri: Sandalwood, roli/kumkum

9. Pushpani

Malyadini Sugandhini Malatyadini Vai Prabho | Mayanitani Pushpani Grihana Parameshvari ||

Om Parvatyai Namah | Pushpani Pushpamalam Cha Samarpayami ||

Fragrant garlands and flowers such as malati I have brought — O Lord, accept them.

Offer fresh flowers and a garland to the deity (for the deity's favourite flowers see Sheet 13).

Samagri: Fresh flowers, flower garland

10. Syahu Mala Puja

The syau necklace is a symbol of the wish for the children's long life.

Worship the silver syau (pearl necklace) with roli and akshat and wear it; by tradition a pearl is added each year according to the number of children.

Samagri: Silver syau (pearl necklace), roli/kumkum, akshat (unbroken rice)

11. Dhupa

Vanaspatirasodbhuto Gandhadhyo Gandha Uttamah | Aghreyah Sarvadevanam Dhupo'yam Pratigrihyatam ||

Om Parvatyai Namah | Dhupam Aghrapayami ||

This incense of fine fragrance, made from plant resins and fit for all the gods, please accept.

Light dhoop/incense and, ringing the bell with the left hand, wave the incense before the deity with the right hand.

Samagri: Dhoop/incense sticks, bell, matchbox

12. Deepa

Sajyam Cha Vartisamyuktam Vahnina Yojitam Maya | Dipam Grihana Deveshi Trailokyatimirapaham ||

Om Parvatyai Namah | Dipam Darshayami | Hastaprakshalanam ||

A lamp of ghee and wick, lit with fire, that dispels the darkness of the three worlds — please accept.

Show the ghee lamp to the deity, then wash your hands.

Samagri: Ghee lamp with cotton wick

13. Naivedyam

Sharkarakhandakhadyani Dadhikshiraghritani Cha | Aharam Bhakshyabhojyam Cha Naivedyam Pratigrihyatam || Om Pranaya Svaha | Om Apanaya Svaha | Om Vyanaya Svaha | Om Udanaya Svaha | Om Samanaya Svaha ||

Om Parvatyai Namah | Naivedyam Nivedayami ||

Accept this food offering of sugar, sweets, curd, milk, ghee and dishes. It is offered to the five vital breaths.

Place the plate of bhog before the deity and circle it with water (for Vishnu, Krishna and Rama, place a tulsi leaf on it), then recite the pancha-pranahuti mantra.

Samagri: Naivedya (sweets/bhog), water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon

14. Mantra Japa

Om Gauryai Namah

Repetition of the deity's root mantra.

Chant the deity's mool mantra on a japa mala — Short mode 11, Medium 21, Full 108 times.

Samagri: Japa mala (108 beads)

15. Katha / Path

Listening to the katha or reciting the stotra completes the fruit of the puja.

Read or listen to the katha: Ahoi Ashtami Katha (folk tale) — summary in Sheet 19. (The katha is essential in this vrat.)

Samagri: Sacred book

16. Aarti / Nirajanam

Kadaligarbhasambhutam Karpuram Tu Pradipitam | Arartikyamaham Kurve Pashya Me Varada Bhava ||

Om Parvatyai Namah | Arartikyam Samarpayami ||

With lighted camphor I perform the aarti — look upon me and be the giver of boons.

Wave the aarti plate of camphor or ghee 4 times at the deity's feet, 2 times at the navel, once at the face and 7 times over the whole form; sing the aarti while ringing the bell.

Samagri: Aarti plate, camphor, bell

17. Arghya to the Stars

Om Nakshatrebhyo Namah | Arghyam Samarpayami ||

I offer arghya to the stars.

In the evening, when the stars appear, offer arghya to them with water from the karva and break the fast.

Samagri: Clay karva (with lid)

18. Kshama Prarthana

Avahanam Na Janami Na Janami Visarjanam | Pujam Chaiva Na Janami Kshamasva Parameshvari || Mantrahinam Kriyahinam Bhaktihinam Sureshvari | Yatpujitam Maya Devi Paripurnam Tadastu Me ||

Anena Pujanena Ahoi Mata (Parvati) Priyatam, Na Mama ||

I know not how to invoke, bid farewell, or worship properly — forgive me. Though lacking in mantra, rite and devotion, may my worship be complete. May the deity be pleased; the fruit is theirs, not mine.

With joined hands ask forgiveness for any mistakes in the puja; finally, releasing water, offer the fruit of the puja to the deity.

Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon

19. Prasada

Receiving the sanctified offering.

Take the charanamrit/prasad yourself and share it with the family.

Samagri: Naivedya (sweets/bhog)