Holi Puja Vidhi (Holika Dahan): Know the Pooja Samagri, Holika Sthapana and Pooja Mantra
It is said that performing Holika Puja during Holi can help people overcome their fears. Holika Puja bestows power, money, and fortune. Holika is said to have been designed to protect people from all kinds of fear. As a result, Holika, although being a Demon, is worshipped with Prahlada before Holika Dahan.
Holika Puja is recommended before Holika Dahan in religious literature. After consulting the Hindu Panchang, Holika Dahan should be performed at a suitable time. It is critical to executing Holika Dahan at the correct time, as doing so at the incorrect time may result in disaster and misery. Please go to Holika Dahan Muhurat to find out when Holika Dahan falls in your city.
Holika Puja Samagri
For Puja, the following Samagri or materials should be used: one bowl of water, cow dung beads, Roli, unbroken rice (also known as Akshat in Sanskrit), perfumes such as Agarbatti and Dhoop, flowers, raw cotton thread, turmeric bits, unbroken Moong lentil, Batasha, Gulal powder, and coconut. Puja items can also comprise fully grown grains of freshly farmed crops like wheat and gram.
Holika Sthapana
The location where Holika is stored is cleansed with cow dung and Ganges holy water. A wooden pole is placed in the center and is surrounded by beads or garlands of cow dung toys known as Gulari, Bharbholiye, and Bakula. On top of the stack, Holika and Prahlada idols, traditionally made of cow dung, are placed. Shields, swords, the sun, moon, stars, and other cow poo toys adorn the Holika pile.
The idol of Prahlada is taken out at Holika Dahan. Before the bonfire, four beads of cow dung are also kept safe. One is guarded in the name of the ancestors, the second in the name of God Hanuman, the third in the name of Goddess Sheetala, and the fourth in the name of the family.
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Holika Dahan Puja Vidhi
We’ve compiled a collection of Sanskrit mantras and explained what each one means. If one cannot chant the Mantras in Sanskrit, he or she might chant them in his or her native tongue in the same spirit.
- Arrange all of the ingredients for the Puja on a plate. Puja Thali goes well with a little water pot. Sit in a position that faces either the East or the North when at the Puja site. Then, while repeating the Mantra thrice, sprinkle some water over the Puja Thali and yourself.
ऊँ पुण्डरीकाक्ष: पुनातु। x 3 Times
Before beginning any fortunate work, remember Lord Vishnu and seek his blessings with the above Mantra. It’s also done to keep the worship space clean.
- Take Sankalp with the water, rice, flower, and some money in your right hand.
ऊँ विष्णु: विष्णु: विष्णु: श्रीमद्भगवतो महापुरुषस्य विष्णोराज्ञया अद्य दिवसे (संवत्सर का नाम लें e.g. विश्वावसु) नाम संवत्सरे संवत् (e.g. 2069) फाल्गुन मासे शुभे शुक्लपक्षे पूर्णिमायां शुभ तिथि (e.g. मंगलवासरे) गौत्र (अपने गौत्र का नाम लें) उत्पन्ना __ (अपने नाम का उच्चारण करें) मम इह जन्मनि जन्मान्तरे वा सर्वपापक्षयपूर्वक दीर्घायुविपुलधनधान्यं शत्रुपराजय मम् दैहिक दैविक भौतिक त्रिविध ताप निवृत्यर्थं सदभीष्टसिद्धयर्थे प्रह्लादनृसिंहहोली इत्यादीनां पूजनमहं करिष्यामि।
By chanting the aforementioned Mantra, one is reciting the current Hindu date, site of worship, family surname, and name, as well as the purpose of Puja and to whom Puja is offered, so that the worshipper receives all of the blessings of Puja.
- Now, think of Lord Ganesha, who is holding a flower and rice in his right hand. While remembering Lord Ganesha, say the following mantra:
गजाननं भूतगणादिसेवितं कपित्थजम्बूफलचारुभक्षणम्।
उमासुतं शोकविनाशकारकं नमामि विघ्नेश्वरपादपमजम्॥
ऊँ गं गणपतये नम: पंचोपचारार्थे गंधाक्षतपुष्पाणि समर्पयामि।
Apply Roli and rice to a flower and offer it to Lord Ganesha with fragrance while reciting the following Mantra.
- After you’ve worshipped Lord Ganesha, think of Goddess Ambika and sing the Mantra. Apply Roli and rice to a flower and present it to Goddess Ambika with fragrance while saying the Mantra below.
ऊँ अम्बिकायै नम: पंचोपचारार्थे गंधाक्षतपुष्पाणि सर्मपयामि।
- Now chant the following Mantra to commemorate Lord Narasimha. While saying the Mantra below, put Roli and rice to a flower and offer it to Lord Narasimha along with fragrance.
ऊँ नृसिंहाय नम: पंचोपचारार्थे गंधाक्षतपुष्पाणि समर्पयामि।
- Now think of Prahlada, the devotee, and sing the Mantra. While saying the Mantra below, put Roli and rice to a flower and offer it to devotee Prahlada along with fragrance.
ऊँ प्रह्लादाय नम: पंचोपचारार्थे गंधाक्षतपुष्पाणि समर्पयामि।
- Now, with folded hands, stand in front of Holi and ask for your wishes to be granted while saying the Mantra.
असृक्पाभयसंत्रस्तै: कृता त्वं होलि बालिशै:
अतस्त्वां पूजयिष्यामि भूते भूतिप्रदा भव:॥
- Provide rice, scents, flowers, and unbreakable containers. To Holika, add moong lentils, turmeric, coconut, and Bharbholiye (a garland composed of dried cow dung also known as Gulari or Badkula). While circumambulating the Holika, three, five, or seven rounds of raw yarn are knotted around it. Then, in front of Holika’s pile, empty the water pot.
- After that, Holika is burned. The fire from the public bonfire is usually transported home and used to burn Holika. Following that, all men are required to wear the auspicious Roli mark and seek blessings from elders. People make a circle around Holika and offer new crops to the campfire to burn. Holika Prasad is the name given to the toasted grains.
The ash from the bonfire is gathered and rubbed on the body the next morning, on the day of wet Holi. The ash is regarded religious, and it is thought that by applying it, the body and spirit are purged. Many treatments are offered by astrologers utilising the ash from a bonfire.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I do Holi Pooja?
People place roli, akshat, flowers, raw cotton thread, turmeric, moong dal, batasha, peanuts, and gur in the stacked woods before igniting the fire. Then participants sing the mantra, light the fire, and pray for their health and happiness five times around the bonfire.
2. Can we do Holi Pooja in periods?
The bonfire is ignited on the eve of Holi, usually at or after sundown, to symbolise Holika Dahan. The rite represents the triumph of good over evil. Around the fire, people sing and dance. People also do fire parikrama.
3. What should we do on Holika Dahan?
The four Vedas never say that a woman’s body is impure or that she can’t perform poojas when she’s on her period. Women may have been subjected to restrictions in the past, but they were always related to their health.
4. Was Holika good or evil?
Holika (Sanskrit: ), also known as Simhika, was a demon who was burned to death in Hindu texts. Holika Dahan (Holika’s death) is a storey about good triumphing over evil. The yearly bonfire on the night before Holi, the festival of colours, is associated with Holika.