Saturday, October 16, 2010

10th day Alamkaram ~ Sri Rajarajeshwari Devi

Last and the final day of Durga Navratri is Vijaya Dashami or Dasara. In 2010, Vijaya Dashami day is on October 17th. Goddess Rajarajeshwari Devi is worshipped on this day. Mother Goddess is decorated and worshipped in the form or alankaram of Raja Rajeshwari Devi in South Indian temples especially Vijayawada Kanaka Durga temple and this is the Prayer to the Goddess Sri rajarajeshwari devi.Follow to listen this Sacred Chants  &  Ashtakam also.

Rajarajeshwari holds a noose in her hand. The noose tells us about the power she has on the whole universe which she can control by her determination and love. The goad is the indication for power of knowledge. The sugarcane stem draws out the mind principle of man. The five flowered arrows (Pushpa Bana) indicate the five senses – sound, touch, form, taste and smell.

Goddess Rajarajeshwari has three manifestations or forms or aspects – Sthula Shareera (physical aspect), Sukshma Sharira (astral form) and archetypal form of the macrocosm and microcosmic creation.

Vijayadashami is the final day of Durga Navaratri. On this day Durga Visarjan or Udvasan is performed. Shami Puja and Ayudha Puja are also performed on Dasara. Shami tree (botanical name of Shami tree – Prosopis spicigera) is worshipped on this day. Simollangan ritual is observed in Maharashtra on this day. Shami Puja is called as Banni Tree Puja (Banni Puja) in Karnataka (Kannada name of Shami tree is Banni). Banni Puja is celebrated in grand manner as the concluding event of Mysore Dasara festival.There is a popular legend associated with Vijaya Dashami tells us about another ritual ‘Shami Puja.

Legend of Vijayadashami and Shami Puja:

Apart from the story of Lord Ram and Ravan about Vijayadashami, another legend is mentioned in Mahabharata. Pandavas underwent aranyavaas (exile) for a period of time. Pandavas kept their weapons on Shami tree and went to exile incognito. At the moment when they hid their weapons on the tree they performed puja to the tree to guard the weapons safely. At the end of the year, they returned and found their weapons safe. They again worshipped Shami tree for guarding their weapons. They also performed Durga Puja to guide them in the battlefield to beat Kauravas.

In the battlefield, Pandavas were succeeded in defeating Kauravas and since then the day is celebrated as Vijayadashami. And the Shami Puja became a main ritual during Vijayadashami. On this day, leaves of Shami tree are exchanged among friends and relatives as gold. They wish their friends and relatives to get success in every aspect of life.

Vijaya Dashami, also known as Dasara or Dussehra, is concluding day of Durga Puja. Many rituals are performed on Vijayadashami day. Simollanghan, Shami Puja, Aparajita Puja, Rajarajeshwari Puja, Kamalatmika Puja, Ayurdevi puja, Ayudha Puja, etc are observed on Vijaya Dashami day. Aparajita Puja is the culmination of four-day Durga Puja in Orissa, Bengal, Assam, and other Eastern parts of India.

Rajarajeshwari Puja is observed on Vijayadashami in Vijayawada Kanakadurga temple. Durga mata is decorated and worshipped as Goddess Rajarajeshwari (Rajarajeshwari alankaram) in most of the South Indian temples. Kamalatmika or Kamala Puja is observed as part of Dasamahavidya worship. Ayurdevi is the Ashtamatrika Goddess to worship on Vijayadashami.

Sri Shirdi Saibaba Punyatithi (Shirdi Saibaba Maha Samadhi day) is observed in all Saibaba temples on Vijayadashami. It is a four-day festival in Shirdi Saibaba temple.

Vidyarambham or Ezhuthiniruthu is the initiation ceremony of education and knowledge to children below 5 years. Vidhyarambham is celebrated on Vijaya Dashami in grand manner in Kerala, and some parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Some Popular temples of Sri Rajarajeshwari Devi :

* Rajarajeshwari Temple is situated at Polali in Kariyangala village in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka state.
* Sri Raja Rajeshwari Temple, Palarivarrom near Kochi, Kerala
* Sri Raja Rajeshwari Temple, Bangalore.

Click here  for Today's  Naivedyam.

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