Mangala Gowri Puja is dedicated to Goddess Gowri or Parvati and done with the intention that Goddess Gowri will bless the house with auspiciousness, material prosperity, health and long life. This vrata is mentioned in the Bhavishyoththara Purana / Hindu religious texts and is traditionally performed by women for the first five years of their married life. It is also observed by married women desiring the good health and long lives of their spouses and for the welfare of their families.
Mangla Gauri Pooja Story
Long
long ago a boy who was studying under a guru went from house to house
seeking alms. This was atradition then and the Guru and shishya only
took what was needed for the day. But strangely this boy refused alms
given by the queen of the land and took alms from other women. The king
and the queen of the land were staunch Shiva devotees but did not have
any children.
The
queen and the king discussed this strange incident and the next day,
the queen again offered rice to the young boy. But the boy did not
accept it.The king came and asked why he was not taking the rice from the queen.The boy said that the king and queen did not have children and it would not be wise to take alms from a couple who is unlucky.
The
king got angry and said only Lord Shiva can decide who should be lucky
and unlucky. The king who was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva soon
realized that the boy was Shiva in disguise. He then prayed to forgive
his arrogance and asked to be blessed with a child.
Shiva blessed the couple but said their child will only live for sixteen years.A
boy, Chandrasekhar, was born to the couple and soon time passed by and
the boy became a teenager. The king and the queen remembered the words
of Shiva and decided to send young Chandrasekhar, who was fifteen, to
Kashi. It is believed that those who die at Kashi will never beborn
again.
Young
Chandrasekhar was informed about his fate and without any other option
he followed his uncle to Kashi. On the way, the young boy saw several
new things. In a garden, they met a lovely princess. The boy and the
uncle heard the princess discussing the glory of Mangala Gowri Puja.
It
was the Shravan month and the girls were performing the Mangala Gowri
Vratha. The princess was saying that whoever she marries will live a
long life because she performs the Mangala Gowri Puja with pure heart
and devotion.
The
boy and the uncle moved forward and they met a prince who was sick. He
explained to them that he was to marry the princess of the kingdom
tomorrow but he was ashamed to go in front of people as he has fallen
sick. The prince asked Chandrasekhar to help him out by appearing in
themarriage function. Candrasekhar agreed.
Young
Chandrasekhar appeared as the groom and the first day of the marriage
function passed away smoothly. That night Chandrasekhar was to turn
sixteen. He explained about his fate and about the real prince to the
princess and decided to leave next morning to Kashi.
But
that night the princess saw a snake approaching Chandrasekhar; she
grabbed a handful of unbroken grains used to perform Mangala Gowri Puja
and threw it on the snake. The snake fell dead. She took the snake and
hid it in the Kalash used to perform the Mangala Gowri Puja.
Chandrasekhar
left the next morning and he left his wedding ring there. The other
prince took the place for the day’s wedding ceremony but the princess
was not ready to marry him. She said firmly that Chandrasekhar was her
husband and she will only sit next to him.
Chandrasekhar
reached Kashi and a year passed. He did not die. The strength and
devotion with which the young princess performed the Mangala Gowri Puja
saved him. While returning back to his kingdom, Chandrasekhar again
reached the same spot. He longed to see the young princess even though
he believed that she was happily married to the prince.
Chandrasekhar
heard that the princess was in the habit of feeding all the people who
passed by her kingdom. He went and sat among the people who was par
taking the food offered by the princess. Soon the princess appeared. She
was closely examining all the people who were eating. She has been
doing this from the day Chandrasekhar left; she was sure that one day he
will pass by her kingdom.
In
no time, the young princess recognized Chandrasekhar. She showed him
the wedding ring. The young Chandrasekhar could not control his tears.
He said he did not die. The princess said she knew it and explained what
happened on the night when he turned sixteen.Soon they got married and lived happily there after.
After reading and the story, mangala gawri kajal is made.In
some regions Women hold the 16 deepas lit for the Mangala Gowri puja.
keep a steel spatula smeared with betel leaves juice on the aarathi to
get a black soot, which is mixed with Ghee and applied as kajal /
eyeliner.
The
procedure is rub a ladle with betel leaves.Then hold it on the flame of
the lamp.The flame will leave a black patch(kajal like) on the ladle.It
is then applied to the Gowri’s and we are supposed to sport the kajal.
Invite
women (Sumangali) to hom offer Mangala drowya, betal leaves, fruits,
kumkum and Haldi(Turmeric), sandalwood paste and do namaskara /
obeisance to god and all the elders in the house. By observing this
vrata, women believe that they will be blessed with long lasting and
successful married life.
Mangla Gauri Pooja Method
The method of performing Mangala Gowri puja varies from region to region. This is just to give an idea about the ritual. You can always be flexible in all Hindu rituals what matters more is devotion. And one should not ponder too much over the correct performance of rituals. A simple prayer consisting of lighting a lamp and offering a fruit is more than enough.
Before starting the puja clean the puja room and take make rangoli. Keep a flat wooden platform/ plate spread a blouse piece over it. Over the blouse piece spread a cup of rice . Place a cloth and spread some raw rice on it and place kalash on it.
The Kalash is half-filled with water and decorated with betelleaves, usually five in number.The Kalash tray can be filled with turmeric, kumkum, sandalwood and other Pooja items.Now close it with with coconut with red cloth folded like pyramid.
Keep either a silver Mangala Gouri or a Turmeric Gouri. Keep a mirror behind the Mangala Gouri and two blouse pieces, which are folded in a triangle shape on either side of the mirror. Keep 16 betel leaves and 32 betel nuts over it, and a whole dry coconut in a tray, some people halve the dry coconut and fill with rice and keep it on either side of the Gouri.
Decorate the Idol with flowers. Keep fruits , coconut, or offer payasam made payasam( dhal+rice payasam) and rice+dhal along with fruits/dry fruits as prasadam.
Mangla Gauri Pooja Song
Varava Kodi Thayi, Varava Kodi
Varava Kodi Gowri Varava Kodi
Kattida Mangalya Karimani Gaajina Bale Sthiravagi Iruvantha
Varava Kodi
Arisina Kumukuma
Aralu Mallige Davana
Sthiravagi Mudivanta
Varava Kodi
Mahadi Maneya Mele
Jodu Thottila Katti
Jogula Haaduvantha
Varava Kodi
Godana, Bhudana
Griha Dana
Kanya Dana Maduvantha
Varava Kodi
