K.A.Viswanathan
Bhagavati Seva puja is conducted in all temples and houses during the Tamil month of Aadi. It is a divine Devi pooja for protection from miseries, fulfillment of wishes, and spiritual benefits. It is performed in the evenings, preferably on Fridays by the Malayalees and Tamil Brahmins. This was conducted at Sri Shankara Mattham, and Sri Marubai temple at Matunga.
Before starting the pooja the priest draws a special kolam design (Sri Chakram) drawn on a clean floor using rice powder, turmeric powder, Kumkum and other colour powders. This is named as Padmam, which is the main kolam. On either side of the Padmam two smaller Kolams are made and filled with color powders. The Pooja starts with lighting of the three brass lamps by the priest. The priest recites Devi Mahatmyam describing the Goddess as the supreme power and creator of the universe.
He then recites the Lalitha Sahasranamam and does archana using varieties of fragrant flowers. Arali is the preferred flower. This follows with Kumkum archana reciting the Lalitha Astothram and then later on he recites the Lalitha Trishathi which is also called sarva poorthikara stotram. The lamp looks beautiful at the end of the pooja with all the flowers heaped around it.
The eleventh chapter of the Devi Mahatmyam is recited at the end the Bagavathi Seva. While reciting the priest and all those present do Namaskaram at the end of each verse ending with Narayani Namosthudhe. Thus it is also called Namaskara Japam.
After the pooja devotees are given nei payasam, the traditional sweet offering as prasadam , vada and panchamruda made out of fruits and honey.
