Kanya Puja

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. 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

3. 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 Shrijagadambaprityartham Kumaripujanam 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)

4. Invitation

Om Agachchha Kumarike, Grihana Matkritam Pujam ||

O Kumarika, come and accept the worship I offer.

At the door of the house, apply tilak to 9 girls (about 2–10 years old) and 1 boy (Languria/Batuk Bhairav) and respectfully invite them in. Forms by age (Devi Bhagavata tradition): 2 years Kumari, 3 Trimurti, 4 Kalyani, 5 Rohini, 6 Kalika, 7 Chandika, 8 Shambhavi, 9 Durga, 10 Subhadra.

5. Washing the Feet

Om Kumarikayai Namah | Padaprakshalanam Samarpayami ||

Saluting the Devi in the form of a young girl, I wash her feet.

Wash the feet of all the girls and the boy with clean water and dry them with a clean cloth — a sign of the highest respect.

Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon

6. Seating

Om Kumarikayai Namah | Asanam Samarpayami ||

I offer a seat to the Devi in the form of a young girl.

Seat the girls in a row on clean seats and the Batuk on a separate seat.

Samagri: Seat (kusha grass or wool)

7. Tilak

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Matrirupena Samsthita | Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah ||

To the Devi who dwells in all beings as the Mother — salutations, salutations, salutations again and again. (Devi Sukta)

Apply a tilak of roli/kumkum and akshat on each girl's forehead, remembering that they are the living form of the Divine Mother.

Samagri: Roli/kumkum, akshat (unbroken rice)

8. Raksha Sutra & Shringar

Om Kumarikayai Namah | Rakshasutram Shrringaradravyani Cha Samarpayami ||

I offer the protective thread and adornments to the Devi in the form of a young girl.

Tie mauli on the wrist; as you are able, give a chunari, bangles or small adornments.

Samagri: Mauli/kalava thread, red chunari

9. Flower Offering

Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vichche | Pushpani Samarpayami ||

With the Navarna mantra I offer flowers to the girls who are forms of the Devi.

Offer flowers, join your hands and remember the nine forms of the Devi.

Samagri: Fresh flowers

10. Feeding

Om Annapurnayai Namah | Idam Naivedyam Nivedayami ||

I offer this meal in the name of Annapurna.

Serve the traditional bhog — halwa, puri and black chickpeas — with love; give the Batuk the same meal.

Samagri: Halwa, puri and black chickpeas

11. Dakshina & Gifts

Om Kumarikayai Namah | Dakshinam Samarpayami ||

I offer dakshina to the Devi in the form of a young girl.

After the meal, give dakshina and gifts (clothes, toys, books) as you are able.

Samagri: Dakshina (coin/money)

12. Farewell

Om Jagadambe Namastubhyam Bhuyo Bhuyo Namo Namah ||

O Jagadamba, salutations to you again and again.

Touch the feet of the girls and the Batuk, take their blessings and respectfully see them to the door.