Full Moon Puja

Full moon puja was conducted by Sri Narayani Amma on Monday February 9th, 2009 in the Yagashala at the Sri Narayani Peedam. As usual there was a huge gathering of devotees who came to witness this auspicious event and to receive Amma's Divine blessings.

Amma's Full Moon (Pournami) Message - 09.02.2009

"Om Sarva Mangala Mangalye,

Shive Sarvatha Shaadhike,

Sharanye Triambake Gowri,

Narayani Namostute"

In every town, village or city there are many temples and places of worship. We can almost say that there isn't a place without a temple. These temples may be honouring Ganesh, Perumal or the Devi, yet all of the temples do not get the same number of devotees or receive the same recognition.

There are some temples which have many devotees and have grand rituals. These temples may not even have time to perform regular rituals such as Nivedyam (Feeding of the God) because a large crowd is waiting for the deity's dharshan. At the same time, there are temples that do not have any devotees or even perform basic rituals. It is just the temple and the deity.

When all of the Gods are the same, why is it that a few temples get a lot of recognition, fame and crowds and the others don't? The reason for this difference is that the temples where prayers are being answered attract a larger number of devotees to that temple. People like to go to the temple where they receive a solution to their problems and relief from their sufferings. These temples also have divine energy and power which increases within the devotees, making the temple become grand and decorated.

In Sanskrit, this divine energy or power is called SANITHYAM. A temple builds Sanithyam when the temple follows all the rituals and procedures as per the Vedas. The temple is cleaned everyday, Abhishekams and Nivedyams are performed regularly, Vedas are chanted correctly and the Yagams are performed as per the Vedic specification. The mantras that are chanted in the temples bring goodness to not only those who chant, but also to the place and to those who listen to the chants.

All of these rituals increase the temples divine strength and it is this strength that helps to dispel the sufferings of mankind. Devotees become very happy. Their prayers are answered; they have relief from their suffering and a solution to their problems. They feel blessed as they enjoy the peace and happiness they have received from coming to the temple and having dharshan of the deity.

Divine energy is not restricted to temples but can also reside in our homes. How does divine power reside in our home? In a temple, Sanithyam is present because of the regular cleaning, Vedic chants, Abhishekams, etc. In the same way, the divine Sanithyam energy can be present in our homes.

Those houses where the ladies get up early in the morning, clean the house, light a ghee or oil lamp in their puja room or at their altar, ring the divine bell, chant the Vedas or Gods' names, sing songs and bhajans in praise of God and use good words, the house itself becomes filled with divine Sanithyam. In this way, the home gains divine strength and we receive peace of mind, a sense of happiness, good health, wealth and prosperity to the family.

It is not necessary for only the women of the house to perform all of the rituals to bring Sanithyam. Any or all of the family members can bring this energy. If done as a family it brings more benefits. Apart from the cleaning, and chanting one should also do service for the needy to receive further benefits. There is an old saying "Every action is the reflection of your thoughts". If one has good thoughts, those good thoughts will cause him to do good deeds. Divine energy will grow within him and around him and he will receive goodness in his life.

If a family home is having health problems, financial troubles, a decline in business or hindrance in goodness, it is because the house is filled with the energy of Jheshtadevi, a form of Moodevi. The negative energy of Jheshtadevi resides in the house that is not clean, not maintained properly or where the residents use bad words or have bad thoughts. When Jheshtadevi's energy fills the house one will always want to sleep, will feel lazy or will not like to do their duties.

The opposite form of Jheshtadevi is Mahalakshmi. When a home has the divine blessings of Mahalakshmi, Her divine strength brings peace, happiness and joy to the home. Mahalakshmi will reside in homes which are clean and where regular pujas and yagams are performed. It is believed that if an individual performs yagams at home, he is blessed ten fold. If he does the yagam in the puja room, the blessing is 100 fold. But if he attends a yagam that is performed in a temple then he is blessed 1000 fold. The temple provides more benefits because the Sanithyam Sakthi is higher there.

Each person must have good thoughts, good actions and good deeds. When you practice all three of these aspects everything that happens around you will be good and all bad will immediately disappear. To have these good aspects one should have the divine blessings of Amma. To receive the divine's blessings you require the divine's grace. To receive the divine's grace you should do regular pujas, keep your home clean, and chant Gods' names. To receive these blessings, the place to start is in ones home.

One's thoughts will depend on the place where he is. For example, in the kitchen one thinks of the food he wants. In the bedroom one wants to sleep. When one attends a yagam he wants blessings from God. In the same way, if our home is filled with good energy it allows the family members in that home to think good, speak good and do good as well as clear away the bad. The place where we live is very important.

If our houses are clean, have auspicious sounds and smells and are filled with good thoughts then our house will receive divine energy and strength. This energy will bring peace, happiness and joy.

Amma blesses all beings to be peaceful and happy.