Worship of Amåteça Måtyuïjaya

Garuòa Puräëa Part I Chapter 18

Süta said, "I shall now expound the process of worship of Måtyuïjaya (the conqueror of death) narrated to Kaçyapa by Garuòa. It is holy, has redeeming features and covers all the deities."

Oà should be placed first. Juà next and the third is saù

Oà juà saù

Supressess death and poverty.

This mahämantra is the Lord of Nectar. It consists of three syllables. The recital and worship of this mantra are equally efficacious. By its recital, people can become free from death and all kinds of sins.

108 (One hundred and eight times) three times during the dawn, midday and dusk, he can conquer death and enemies.

8,000 (Eight thousand times) three times a day for a month conquers old age, death, pestilence and enemies. It accords peace and benevolence to all living beings.

100,000 (One hundred thousand times) a man attains the fruits of the recital of Vedic passages or pilgrimage to holy places.

Contemplation:

Varada Deva, the giver of boons, who is seated on a white lotus indicating fearlessness through gestures. The Lord of Nectar should be thought of as holding the jar of nectar with both hands. Contemplate on the Goddess of Nectar, True of Speech, seated on his right limb holding the jar in the right hand and the lotus in the left.

Rites:

The worshipper should know the following:

- A good site of a place of worship.

- The consecration of the murti.

- The checking of breath

- the proximity, the placing,

- the water for washing the feet, the water for ritualistic drink with the palm, the water for bathing,

- the materials of worship

- the applications of unguents, the holy lamp, cloth, ornaments, food offering

- water for drinking (offered to the deity)

- The mäträs or quantities
- mystical signs and gesticulations
- Gifts for the Priests
- Ghee offerings in the fire (yagna)
- mantra
- playing on musical instruments, vocal music, kirtan
- assignment of fingers (mudras) etc.,
- the proper assemblage; going round in reverence, kneeling down
- chanting of mystic syllables, sacrifices
- the process of worship (kavacha) involving the use of six limbs-ñaòaìgas viz two thinghs, two arms, head and heart (navel) as mentioned in order and emanated from the mouth of the great Lord.
- offering obeisances and final Visarjana.

First of all, arghya should be offered and päçärcana¹ performed, then fanning is done with a piece of cloth. It is then purified with the kavaca mantras followed by the rite of Amåtékaraëa.

The follows the worship of Ädhäraçaktis (the presiding goddesses of the materials of worship), Präëäyäma (holding the breath), yogic postures, purification of the Piëòa (ball of food) for the manes by drying it up. Then remember the soul as in the form of god, assign the various gestures with fingers of the hand, pray to the soul in the form of refulgence in the middle of the lotus of the heart.
Then he should scatter brilliant flowers on the idol or on the ground all round. For the worship of its Dvära (entrance-passage), the soul and the Ädhära-çaktis are worshipped.
Then follows sännidhyakarana of the devas (invoking them to be near the person) and the worship of the followers. For the püjä of the six limbs the quarters are divided.
Dharma and others, Indra and others are duly worshipped along with their weapons and followers. Worship of the cycles, the Vedas and the muhürtas yields enjoyment and salvation.
The groups of Mothers Nandé and Gaìhä, Mahäkäla and and amunä are to be worshipped at the threshold.

Om obeisance to Bhairava the lord of Nectar. Similarly, Om juà saù obeisance to the Sun.

In the same manner he should perform the worship of Çiva-Kåñëa, Brahman, the Guëas, Caëòikä Sarasvaté, Mahälakñmé and others.

1 Päçärcana: arghyapätåärcanaà dadyadastreëaiva tutäòanam