Narrator:
Intensive Sanskrit chanting of mantras dedicated to Goddess Kali and other deities. The sound of a ritual fire (Homa) and ceremonial bells in the background.
Host:
Friends, as you can see, a very special Homa is being performed today. Today is Maha Panchami, and we are celebrating the worship of Goddess Skandamata. On this occasion, this special Homa is being dedicated to Her. Skandamata is the fifth form of Goddess Durga. As you can see, two priests are participating in this ritual.
Host:
Gurudev, prostrations to you. We are witnessing this beautiful Homa today.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Blessings to you. Yes, this Homa is performed every day because Navratri has begun. Today, we are worshipping Skandamata, and this Homa is for Her. She is a form of Goddess Durga. According to the scriptures: first is Shailaputri, second is Brahmacharini, third is Chandraghanta, fourth is Kushmanda, fifth is Skandamata, sixth is Katyayani, seventh is Kaalratri, eighth is Mahagauri, and ninth is Siddhidatri. Our worship and rituals have been ongoing since the first day of the festival.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
This is called "Navratri" (Nine Nights). Each day is dedicated to a different form of Goddess Durga. Just as Goddess Kali has her ten Great Wisdoms (Dasha Mahavidya), Goddess Durga has her nine forms. Rituals and the chanting of the Chandi Path continue late into the night. Today is Panchami, the fifth day.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The scale of the Homa will increase as the days progress toward the final days of the festival. Many disciples will gather, especially during the last three days—Saptami, Ashtami, and Navami—to participate in the Homa and the chanting of the Chandi Path. We have celebrated Navratri with great devotion for many years.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Currently, a disease has taken a firm grip on the world and doesn't seem to want to leave. It has disrupted our celebrations. People usually go out for four or five days to see the Goddess, but now, due to court orders and health concerns, that is restricted. We must follow the rules. Therefore, I say to everyone: worship Goddess Durga in your own homes. Place a picture of the Mother, offer what you can, and pray. You don't need to know every complex mantra.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
If you want to make an offering, use "Kashi sugar"—it is a very fine, pure sugar available in the market. Regular processed sugar is often not preferred for ritual offerings. Offer a sweet (Sandesh), some Kashi sugar, and honey. Honey is the primary food of the Mother. When she fought the demon Mahishasura, she said: "Roar, you fool, for as long as I drink this honey!" She is the destroyer of the demon Madhu, so honey and lotus flowers are essential for her worship.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Worshipping the Mother is not restricted to any caste. Whether you are a Brahmin, a Baidya, a Kayastha, or any other group, anyone can call upon the Mother. There is no need for status, only for devotion. She is the creator of this world and also the one who can remove this disease from the earth. We pray to Her to take this illness away.
Host:
Gurudev, since many people cannot go to the temples this year, could you please recite the "Maha Ashtami Anjali" (flower offering) mantra so that everyone can perform it at home?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Certainly. Even if you cannot go to a marquee (Pandal), you can offer Anjali at home. Place a picture of Goddess Durga, offer some flowers and a lotus if possible, and follow these words. First, wash your hands and perform a simple purification (Achaman) by chanting the name of Lord Vishnu.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Remember, you are not offering this for yourself alone, but for the welfare of all. The mantra says: "Om Sarva Mangala Mangalye..." (To the most auspicious of all auspicious beings). It doesn't matter if you feel "impure" or "pure" externally; by remembering the Mother, you become pure within.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now, take some flowers and bael leaves in your hands, sprinkle a bit of sandalwood paste to sanctify them, and repeat after me. The three stages of the Pushpanjali mantras include prayers for health, wealth, success, and the removal of sins and diseases.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
After the offering, we perform Kirtan. In this age of Kali, the chanting of "Hare Krishna" and the names of the Mother are the only paths. We must keep our souls dedicated to the Mother, the remover of all sorrows, until our very last breath. There is no other way but to call upon the Divine.
Host:
Gurudev, thank you. We have learned so much about the Maha Ashtami Anjali from you. It has been a pleasure. Prostrations to you.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Blessings to you, my son.