Interviewer:
Friends, as you can see, an unknown goddess is being worshiped here at our Gurudev's ashram. We don't know much about this mysterious deity. Today, Gurudev will tell us in detail about this great goddess. We are going to Gurudev now.
Interviewer:
Pranam (salutations), Gurudev.
Guru:
Pranam, Baba. Tell me.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, we just showed an idol of a goddess that has been worshiped in this temple for a long time. Many of us were curious about her appearance and where she came from. You haven't told us before. Today, we would like to hear the detailed description from your lips. Please tell us.
Guru:
Look, we go to Puri once a year to visit the Lord. One year, I went with my friends and followers. After offering our prayers and visiting the temple, some suggested, "Shyamal Da, let's go bathe in the Puri sea." I told them I usually don't bathe in the Puri sea; I prefer Shvet Ganga. I'm not a big fan of those heavy sea waves. But they insisted, "Come on, let's go together. You can stay on the shore while we enjoy the waves."
So, we went. Some of the boys went a bit further into the water. Suddenly, one boy started searching for something. He was diving and surfacing repeatedly as the waves came. He called out, "Look, something is hitting my foot here! There's something like a brick or a stone."
We all went in. The waves were hitting us constantly. In the midst of those waves, we started clearing the sand. As we cleared the sand, we found her—this Mother made of white stone. She came right out from under the sea in Puri. We were astonished to find such an idol there.
I sat there and contemplated. I realized she is Mahagauri herself. Look at her symbol—there is a lion sitting at her feet. It's hard to tell from the weathered stone, but she is "Singhavahini" (one who rides a lion). I estimated that she is Mahagauri—the form Parvati took while performing penance at Gauri Kund to attain Lord Mahadev.
It's possible someone took the Mother home, but they couldn't handle her energy or she didn't "suit" their household, so they left her in the sea. We cleared the sand—it was sand everywhere—and five or six of us pulled her out. I was amazed. It was as if she was destined for us.
We discussed where she should stay and decided she should come to my place for worship. Later, we tried to paint the idol, but the paint wouldn't stick. I don't know what kind of stone it is—it weighs about 10 kilograms—but the paint just peels off. To me, she is Mahagauri, the form of Durga performing penance. We worship her as Mother Durga every day.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, your experience says she is Durga or Gauri. But usually, we don't see Mother Durga in a meditative pose (Dhyana Mudra). This deity is sitting in deep meditation. Could you explain that?
Guru:
Well, whoever sculpted her made her this way. There's no hard rule against it. Mother Durga does sit like this, especially in the context of Gauri Kund where she performed penance for Mahadev. That is the image captured here. Regardless, we worship her as Durga and Gauri, and she resides here with Lord Mahadev. It was a miraculous event for me to find her in the Puri sea.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, tomorrow is Lakshmi Puja, known as "Kojagari Lakshmi Puja" in every Bengali household. You mentioned once that "Kojagari" has a specific meaning. Could you explain it?
Guru:
People say "Kojagari," but the actual meaning is "Ke Jagori?" (Who is awake?). The Mother asks, "Who is awake? I will go to their house." That's the significance of Kojagari Lakshmi Puja. That's why we instruct people to keep their doors open at night after the puja is done.
Don't touch anything once the offering is made; let it stay exactly as it is. Even the priest shouldn't touch it. It should be moved only the next day. Also, in the house where the Mother is worshiped that night, no one should sleep. Mother Lakshmi wanders from house to house to see who is awake and waiting for her.
Interviewer:
Are there any specific rules for the ritual?
Guru:
We advise against using bells or brass gongs. Also, do not use iron or steel plates to serve food; that brings "Alakshmi" (misfortune). The atmosphere must be pure. Do not bring alcohol or anything impure into the house, or Lakshmi will leave and Alakshmi will enter.
Tulsi leaves are generally forbidden for Lakshmi; she gets displeased. However, you can place two Tulsi leaves on the chest or feet of Lord Narayana.
Interviewer:
What is the right time for the puja?
Guru:
It must be performed during the Purnima (full moon) night. The puja happens when the full moon is present at night. If Purnima starts in the evening, you should wait a bit for it to reach its full state. For example, if it starts at 5:25 PM, you shouldn't start immediately. Give it an hour or two for the moon to become "full."
Guru:
(Recites the Lakshmi Dhyana Mantra) "Om Pashaksha Malika Bhoja Shini Bhirjyamasouma... Padma-sthitam Gagan-dhyayeth... Lakshmim Loka-mataram..." (Translates roughly: We meditate on Mother Lakshmi, the mother of the world, adorned with ornaments, seated on a lotus...)
We welcome her with water (Padya) and offerings (Arghya). This puja is not just for priests; the women of the house can perform it. It brings peace to the household. We say, "A happy home is due to the qualities of the woman." Women are the "Grihalakshmi" (the Lakshmi of the home). They should perform the rituals, offer flowers, incense, and food.
Interviewer:
What about the food offerings? Some people offer fish.
Guru:
Different regions have different customs. Some offer Hilsa fish and Khichdi. Others offer Puti fish. It depends on family traditions (Stri-Achar). There is no hard rule; you offer what you can with devotion.
Interviewer:
Can only married women perform the puja?
Guru:
Anyone can, but it is considered especially auspicious for married women. They should wear vermillion (sindoor) and alta (red dye) on their feet. When you see the woman of the house dressed like that, it feels as if Mother Lakshmi herself is present.
Guru:
(Recites the Pranam Mantra) "Namastestu Mahamaye Shree Pithe Surapujite... Shanka Chakra Gada Paste... Mahalakshmi Namostute..."
The most important thing is the prayer: "Mother, stay in my house." Just as we wander to temples like Kalighat or Tarapith looking for God, God also wanders from house to house looking for a good human being. You may not realize it, but Mother is visiting homes to see who is truly awake and ready to receive her. That is "Ke Jagori"—Kojagari.
Interviewer:
We never knew the true meaning of Kojagari until today. "Who is awake?"—that is a wonderful piece of information. Pronam to you, Gurudev.
Guru:
Pranam, Baba. Pronam.