AUGUST 10 - 2010 - Bhimana Amavasya - Divasi Pooja - Jyoti Bheemeswara Vratha In Karnataka
This is my first pooja/Vrata after marriage, I came to know about this vrata from my Mother In Law. Before performing this pooja, I wanted to collect some information to be handy, such as stories and audio links, since books based on these poojas are not readily available in US. So, thinking that this info would be helpful to both me and my MIL, I have collected information about the significance of this pooja and katha (story) to be read on this day by sumangalis, along with the rituals, so that every year it wouldn't be a hassle to search for the procedure of this vrata.
This pooja can be done by married or unmarried woman. And a newly married woman should perform this pooja for nine years. At the end of 9th yr pooja, a pair of lamps should be gifted to her brother/ cousin.This pooja is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. It is also called “Pathi Sanjeevini Vratha “ and jyotibimeswara vrata
BHIMANA AMAVASE - DIVASI GOWRI POOJA - JYOTHI BHEEMESWARA AMAVASI
INTRODUCTION : (Reason behind the above mentioned names)
Bhimana Amavase known as gandana pooje or divasi gowri pooje or jyothi bheemeswara pooja is a very important festivals performed in karnataka. Its generally observed on Ammavasya, no moon day, in the month of Ashada (July – August). This time it is on Aug 10th 2010.
It is the last day of the month of Aashada.
Ashadaa Bahula 30th tithi is called Deevasi (Amavasye).
Since the importance of this festival is to mainly worship Lamps, its otherwise known as JyothiBheemeshwara amavasi.
It is believed that AshtA vidha Lakshmi seem to visit houses glittering with Lamps.
LIGHT OF LAMP, gives tejassu:Prosperity,Jnaana, Truth, Holiness (Pavitrate) which are good
characterstics.
Darkness symbolizes,Ajnaana,Ego,poverty,untruth, sorrow.
Lighening Lampsmeans the emission of SadguNa as Aradhana.
Pooja Vidhaana
On this day, the Sumanagalis :
1)Clean the pooja place, put rangoli, on which they place a wooden plank (Peeta/mane).
2)On this wooden plank, place a silver plate with raw rice and place 2 lamps (Mud lamps or silver lamps) along with divasi gowri or mangala gowri idol.
3) Near to it, keep 9 betel nuts, 9 betel leaves and a thread and 1 dry coconut.
4) For neivedyam, a special dish is prepared kucchida kadubu / steamed cakes(kannada) with wheat or rice flour.
5)Immerse the thread in the turmeric paste. Tie 9 knots on the thread with a flower and turmeric root in between and place this near deepa stambha
6)Perform aarti and chant this special prayer
Shalabaranam kala deepika - maadi; Naaru batti neeru ennai nerudhalu.
7) Finally a sacred thread is tied on their right hand wrist by another brahmin woman or by Mother in law.
They offer prayer to God that their house may glitter with happiness and prosperity, peace, like the Lamp.
PROCEDURE:
1. Mangala Snaanam
2. Hosthilu Pooje -(Draw a rangoli, apply turmeric and vermilion to the Hostilu/ gadapa)
Pooja items as per the above audio link:
If one wishes to know the story in detail, its given below :
SIGNIFICANCE OF BHEEMANA AMAVAASYA:
One Haribhaktha has asked a question as to why ladies tie the 9 knot thread to their wrist
on Bheemana amavasya Day. And what is the story behind the festival.
Here is a small note on the “Significance of Bheemana Amavaasya”
It is also called “Pathi Sanjeevini Vratha “
A set of Saints (Rishis) were living in “Namishaaranya”. They were termed as “Shaunakaadhi Mahaa Muni”.
Once Sootha PuraaNika saint came to them as a guest. These rishis questioned him to tell them as to which type of Vratha should ladies perform so that they could get “ Dheerga Sunmangalithwa, happiness, wealth, good husband, etc.
Sootha puraaNik replied that they had asked a very good question and thus in answering , it
would be a great boon, apt, as well as in the interest of to the ladies to perform the Vratha.
That Vratha is called Bheemana Amaavaasya or
Pathi Sanjeevini Vratha , performed on Ashaada maasa Krishna Paksha Amaavasya day.
Saurashtra kingdom was ruled by Vajra Baahu. He was a great warrior,powerful and intelligent. He had a son called Jayasheel. He was handsome and had all the good qualities. But passed away at a young age.It was a great set back for the Raja.
He felt that by his death there would be no body to perform rituals to his ancestors. An idea stuck to him. He decided that by getting married a girl to his dead son, his
“pitrus” would get “ sadgathi”.
He sent word that anyone who would marry his dead son would be given lot of money ,wealth etc. A drummer used to go round cities with his drum , make sound loudly and announce the proclamation made by his king. People listened and nobody was prepared to accept the condition.
There was a poor man by name Madhawa. He had a wife who was very obedient to him. This poor man was also a pundit who was well versed in sanskrit, Veda Shaastra etc, He had 5 daughters and 9 sons. That was his great wealth’
Listening to the drum beat, he thought that he could give one of his daughter to the king. He was in a state of confusion and was thinking as to how open the discussion with his wife. He was walking up and down in the house.
Later he was courageous to tell his wife, about his decision to offer one of his daughter for this sake and to get rid of the poverty life lead by them . His wife agreeing to the
suggestion of her husband ,says that she would feel that one of her daughter had died, in agreeing to get her married to an impotent or, lame , or a blind or an aged person,
The two decided that they should go to the king offering their daughter and thus overcome over
the poverty they were experiencing. He offered his daughter and arranges
marriage with the dead Yuvaraaja for the sake of money. The Raja, felt happy that his wish came true. The poor man came to his village with a lakh of rupee and wealth.
After marriage, the King arranged to shift the dead body to the cremation ground and asked the
newly wed bride to light the pyre. She was decked with full jewels and was at
her height; so far Managakla Dravaya was concerned. With all devotion, offering
prayer to God, she lit the pyre.
Oh! It was a miracle.
Immediately rain came and puts of the fire. The sun disappeared in the west. . The rain was so furious that water gushed everywhere. Pitch darkness prevailed.
In such a situation the king left to his palace, leaving the dead body and the daughter in law in the hands of cruel animals, demons, witches.
Whereas, the “Saadhvi maNi” thought that she could stay there itself
without leaving the dead body on the pyre. She was afraid, to be alone in that place. She offered prayer to God.
She tells the God that Markandeya became Chiranjeevi, Chyavan got Dheeraga Ayush, Agni- Manmatha got Punar janma-Shwethavaahana got PooRNa Ayush,
By his blessings, Rathi Devi, Wife of Maarkandeya, the wives of Agni who are Swaahaa and
Swaadha devi became Sumanagalis and got children,.
She requests god as to why she should be punished for no fault of hers. She requests the almighty to protect her.
Then God, being pleased with her fervent prayer, appears before her with Parvathi and ask her
what she wants. She prays god to give her SauBhaagya samapaththu.
Then Girija Ramana (Shiva) narrates a story:
He tells that for
getting the SauBhaagya Sampath there is an auspicious Vratha.
In Ashada maasa Krishna Paksha Amavaasya day, the lady is supposed to have Managala Snaana. The Pooja room is decorated with mango Leaves, flowers and with Rangavalli.
Rice is spread on the Peeta or a plate.
To place on it Silver or a Bronze deepa Sthamba with flowers tied to it to Pour Ghee with a wick in it. Light the Vick. The Jyothi would come. Perform Awaahane thinking that
Lord Eshwar is there. He is present in that form.
Among Ashta murthy, his friend Chandra is also there. The Jothirmaya is named as BHEEMESHWARA.
The Deepasthamba is ESHWARA and the Jyothi Swaroopa is Chandra. Think these two are Mahaalinga Swaroop[a and with all devotion-Bhakthi Bhaava perform araadhana. You are keeping the two Idols made out of Mud on the rice.While performing peeta Pooja, it says Rathna Simhaayana
Maha. Thanmadhye Bheemeswara Swaaminenamaha,
Then a thread dipped in Turmeric with nine Knots is kept to the right side of the God. That is left side for us. It is called Navadhora Sthaapanam ( Nava means New- not nine)
For 9 years kadabus must be done and neivedya done to God. This could be done from rice Flour also. Danam is an important thing here. By so doing that his husband would come to life
This is the Pooja Vidhaana or Krama narrated by Eshwar and he disappears.
She took bath in the river and molded two lamps and rolled out fiber of a plant to form the wick for the lamps. She poured water into the lamps and also remembered bandara and instead of the wheat / rice steamed cakes, she made mud balls representing bandara.
Lord Shiva and Parvathi were watching all her activities and were extremely pleased with her devotion and blessed her with all their energy. The girl lighted the lamps with water and performed the pooja using wild flowers/grass as flowers and leaves. As she finished her pooja Lord Shiva and Parvathi appeared before her. Lord Shiva broke the mud balls / bandara/ Kadubu and asked her to ask for a boon. She requested them to bring her husband back to life, which was granted.
Immediately there was a change and she was encircled with a fort with many attendants around her. Her husband sleeping on a cot gets up as if he was waking from sleep. He listens to the story narrated by his wife. The king having heard this comes rushing and embracing his son and appreciating the perseverance and devotion of his daughter in law praises her and brings them to his kingdom and they live happily there afterwards.
This is the story told by Sootha PuraaNik to Shaunakaadis in Skaanda PuraaNa.
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