Sadhana

Sadhana (spiritual practice)

Ritual

rituals in Ajah Dharma can run from traditional to complete informality.

In other words you should make them special in your own way.

The Shiva sutras state

“what is perceived, as external is truly internal.”

one regular part of Ajah ritual is promoting joy&love to all involved..

Group practices, include rituals, festivities,initiations, etc. The purposes of this practice are the initiation of novices, the expansion of consciousness and expression of the bliss already attained as participants become more and more advanced.

The key to the effectiveness of group practice is held to reside in the harmony of minds and hearts of the participants. When a compatible spiritual group is created, it can greatly accelerate the spiritual evolution of its members. It is said that such a group can enter a state of oneness and universal consciousness without effort.This is explained by the notion of reflection (pratibimba), a process of unification, an effortless overflow of spiritual energy.

A ritual is a ceremony that a person does for a specific purpose. The purpose of a religious or spiritual ritual is to experience, understand and feel the connection to the deities. During ritual,Ajah honuor or worship the divine. The following are the most basic steps for conducting a ritual.

1. Decide why you want to conduct a ritual. Make sure that your intention is clear.
2. Decide how you want to perform your ritual: write the words you want to use during the invocation and other steps.
3. Decide when to do the ritual: for example, you may want to time your ritual to a specific moon phase or Wiccan Sabbat.
4. Decide where to do the ritual, set up an altar, and assemble the tools and other necessary objects.
5. Purify the space
6. Purify yourself
7. Cast a circle to create sacred space
8. Invoke, evoke, or welcome Goddess and/or God according to you beliefs
9. Conduct a ritual observance (for example, celebrate a Sabbat or esbat) if you desire.
10. Raise power & meditate
11. Earth the power
12. Thank (or dismiss) Goddess and/or God.
13. Take down the circle.

Of course, this is only a very simple ritual layout, and as many steps as you like can be either added or taken away as you see fit and to match your beliefs.

Invocations to the Three Shaktis

this is a call to the three aspects of the goddess, they are consorts of the three dieties, but as previously stated there is one God, and all dieties are this same God. So these three faces of the goddess are the one goddess, as well as the trimurti is the three faces of the one god.

And the god and the goddess are the two faces of the One God.

Praise be to the divine Mother whom is all immanent creation.

I invoke the white goddess Saraswati, Consort of Brahma the Creator.

She who rides the swan, who bears lute, rosary, and palm-leaf book.

Oh, Jnana Shakti (the Power to Know), garlanded with letters of Poetry!

Grant me wisdom, success in competition, and inspiration in the arts and sciences.

Mother of Memory, I offer you the ringing of bells, and the brightness of lamplight.

Come, dwell forever on the tip of my tongue.

OM AIM SARASVATYAI NAMAHA!

I invoke the red goddess Lakshmi, Consort of Vishnu the Preserver.

She who rides the owl, who bears lotuses, treasure vase, and gestures to grant boons and remove fear.

Oh, Kriya Shakti (the Power to Act), garlanded with blossoms of Nature!

Grant me serenity, abundance, and luck in the achievement of material blessings.

Mother of Satisfaction, I offer you the caress of flower petals, and the savor of sweet fruit.

Come, dance eternally in the temple of my heart.

OM SHRIM LAKSHMYAI NAMAHA!

My obeisances to the Birth-giver of true Wealth!

I invoke the black goddess Kali, Consort of Rudra the Destroyer.

She who dances on corpses, who bears a bloody sword, a demon’s head, and gestures to remove fear and grant boons.

Oh, Iccha Shakti (the Power to Desire), garlanded with skulls of Eternity!

Grant me courage, your protection, and release me from all that is not divine.

Mother of Transformation, I offer you the fragrance of musk incense, and the heady exaltation of wine.

Come, arise in laughter through the vortexes along my spine.

OM KRIM KALIKAYAI NAMAHA!

My obeisances to the Timeless Dark Dancer!

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Ganja ritual

ganja (from the Sanskritword Ganjika, used in ancient India), is a spiritual act, often accompanied by scriptural study; it is a sacrament that cleans the body and mind, heals the soul, exalts the consciousness, facilitates peacefulness, brings pleasure, and brings us closer to God, or one should say realize unity further. They often burn the herb when in need of insight from Ajah. The herb is the most sacred form of the mother (matter) when it is burned it and the solid matter transforms into smoke it symbolizes how though material birth we reach spiritual liberation. Personal consumption for religious purposes is a valid reason for partaking in the smoking of ganja. It is not being abused using it in this way, and to the Ajah is not seen as intoxicating but enlivening, as it is a gift from the mother-earth given to us to nurse the spirit.

In Hindu mythology shakti(matter) sees her husband(Shiva/consciousness) suffering and gives him ganja to eat and smoke. Once taken Shiva fell into deep meditation….

Herb (marijuana) is a Godly creation from the beginning of the world. It is known as the weed of wisdom, angel’s food, the tree of life and even the “Wicked Old Ganja Tree”. Its purpose in creation is as a fiery sacrifice to be offered to our Redeemer during obligations. The political worldwide organizations have framed mischief on it and called it drugs. To show that it is not a dangerous drug, let me inform that it is used as food for mankind, and as a medicinal cure for diverse diseases. Ganja is not for commerce; yet because of the oppression of the people, it was raised up as the only liberator of the people, and the only peacemaker among the entire generation. Ganja is the sacramental rights of every man worldwide and any law against it is sin.

The ritual goes as such;

1.the bowl is packed/the joint rolled,

2. the honored (usually the most deserving) says a mantric-prayer and takes the first hit,

3.the mantric -prayer “ommm Shiva Shankara hari hari ganja” it means Shiva the joy giver grant us infinity from the ganja..

4. and the the sacrament is smoked.

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Food blessing

when food is blessed it is given to god, and we feed god by eating. Food blessed feeds the inner divine as well as the outer divine… all food left unblessed and knowingly consumed only feeds the body, and is said to be consuming sin.

To bless a meal focus on the food as God.

Say a mantric-prayer “om Annam Brahma, bishor bhokta debo jenadanahi awaem gyantwa

to yo bhunkt ann doshorn lipyate.”

it means the food that sustains god, is god, all is god.

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Simple pooja

Pooja is the Hindu way of worshiping gods. These may be as simple or as elaborate as you choose. However, an elaborate one done without complete proper understanding is inert. It’s best to keep worship simple and in love. The pooja presented here can be done by one person or a few close friends or family members together. Some elaborate poojas done in temples are done with thousands of people!

Preparation

Take a ritual bath. A bath is prepared to the temperature of your liking. It is scented with essential oils or bath salts. The person sits in the tub, relaxes, clarifies their mind for the purpose of the ritual, and gets in the mood for it. This can be done with the lights dimmed or with candlelight, if preferred.

The ritual area is swept, and perhaps otherwise cleaned. It must be free of debris, dirt, and clutter.

The altar is set up. It does not have to be elaborate. A small wooden table with one candle, statue of a god or goddess, 2 pieces of cloth, essential oil, flowers, incense, potable water, food for offering, and a musical instrument. None of this has to be elaborate. Or, a small area on a floor or the ground will do nicely as well. The altar may stay up, or it may be taken down when not in use, as per needs and preference.

The working area is not of a set size. It should accommodate a circle large enough for the participants and the altar. This may be as small as about 4 ft in diameter, or may be hundreds of feet in diameter. The size should make it feel “cozy” and “intimate” with the persons celebrating. Personally, I have never done this other than alone or with one other person at a time.

Note that all of the ritual tools used in this ceremony are optional. If you do not have them, use something else in its place, such as you may substitute a drawing of a deity for a statue. If there is nothing you can use in its place, you can imagine it to be there. In fact, you can do this entire ritual in your mind if you want or need to.

Method

  1. We purify ourselves and the area where we sit or stand too pray and worship by walking docile or clockwise around the circle sprinkling water from a lota or cup with the following mantra:

    • AUM APAVITRA PAVIRITO, SARV VASTHAM GATOPIVA. YEA SAMRET PUNDRI KAAKSHAM, SAR-BHYAA BHAYAANTRAM SUCHE.

  2. Take a little water in the right palm three times and sip after these three mantras. This is to purify our inner parts, allowing our awareness to improve.

    • AUM AMRITO PASTARN MASI SWAHA

    • AUM AMRITO APIDAAN MASI SWAHA

    • AUM SATYAM YA SAHREE MY SRI SHRITAAM SWAHA

  3. Take a little water in the left palm, and with the right ring finger, touch the water to various parts of the body – making these the instruments of the Lord or Lady.

    • AUM WANG ME AASEY ASTU (mouth)

    • AUM NAASUR MEY PRANO ASTU (nose)

    • AUM KAARNU MEY STROTRAM ASTU (ears)

    • AUM BAAHUR MEY BALAM ASTU (shoulders)

    • AUM ORWO MEY ORJO ASTU (legs, feet)

    • AUM ARISHT THAANI MAY ANGAANI TANUS TANTWA WA AMEY SAHAA SANTU (sprinkle water over the entire body with both hands)

      • You may wish to offer other prayers at this time.

  4. Offer the Lord or Lady a seat, either as the statue or in your mind with this mantra:

    • AUM RAMBYAM SHASHO BANHAM DIVYAM, SARV SOWKYAM KARAM SHUBAM, AASANAM TWAM MAYAA DAATAM GREY-HARN PARMESHWARAA.

  5. You may wish to wash the Lord’s or Lady’s feet in adoration with this mantra:

    • AUM PAADYAM PAADYAM SAMARPYMI, SRI SEVAAYE NAMO NAMAH Note: This is written as a pooja to Lord Shiva. One may substitute or RAMAAYE, SITA, TARA, BHAGALA, for SEVAAYE as per the divine form worshiped at a given time.

  6. You may wish to offer the Lord or Lady a bath by sprinkling water over the statue or in your mind with this mantra:

    • AUM GANGEY CHA YAMUNA CHAIVEY GODAAVAREE SARASWAATI, NARADEY SIDHU KAVAAREE, JALEY AASMIN SANAAN NIDHI KURU

  7. Offer flowers to the deity with this mantra:

    • AUM MAALKAANI SUGHANDINI MAALYADINI VINAI PRABH, MAAYA HIRTAANI POOJARTAM, PUSP PAANI PRATI-GREY-HEY TAAM

  8. You may wish to offer chandan or tilak on the deity’s forehead (and your own to signify yourself as a devotee) thus:

    • AUM SHRI KHANDANAM CHANDANAM SAMARPYAAMI, SRI SEVAAYE NAMO NAMAH
      Again, substitute the name for another deity if not worshipping Lord Shiva with this particular puja or ritual.

  9. You may wish to offer essential oil as perfume thus:

    • AUM ATARAM SAMARPYAAMI, SRI SEVAAYE NAMO NAMAH

  10. Light incense, and go around the circle docile (clockwise) with this mantra:

    • AUM BANASPATI SODA BHUTU, GANDHA YO GHANDHAA OOTHAM, AGRIYAA SARV DEVAAM DHOOP POYAM PRAT-GREY-HEY TAAM

  11. Offer food with this mantra:

    • AUM TWADIYAM VASTU GOVINDA, TUBYA MEWAA SAMAR PAYAA GREY-HAN SAM MUKHO BHUKTWAA, PRASEEDAM PURSHOTAMAA

  12. Offer light from candle or oil lamp with this mantra:

    • AUM YAANI KAANIS CHA PAA-PAANI JANMANTUR KIRTAANI CHA TAANTAANI VINAISHANTI PRADAK-NAAMI PADEY PADEY.

  13. Pray for whatever it is that you want, or whomever or whatever you want at this time. Eat the prasad or offered food.

  14. Offer music. Sing, play the instrument(s), or however you wish to make this music. It is MUCH better if the music is made by you rather than played by mechanical reproduction, even if you are not a good performer. It is the intention that counts. If the Gods wanted you to be a better performer, they would have already helped you to become so. Or, you could ask Them for some talent during the prayers.

    This can be as long or as short as you wish it to be. If it is going to be long, you may wish to save some of the prasad. or some of the water to sip for refreshment.

Prasad may be anything you wish to eat. Often, this is of fresh fruits or vegetables, or butter, or milk. It can be baked goods or cooked foods as well. It should not be meat, fermented, spoiled food. However, ANYTHING you offer in love will be accepted

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Sadhana ritual

sadhana means ritual work or holy act. And is a way to cleanse and renew…

Preparation

One meal of only Satvic, or light foods should be eaten during the day. These can be fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, or butter. Nothing should be heavy or starchy.

This ritual is done at night. Starting at 10:00 pm. local time, take a ritual bath. A bath is prepared to the temperature of your liking. It is scented with essential oils or bath salts. The person sits in the tub, relaxes, clarifies their mind for the purpose of the ritual, and gets in the mood for it. This can be done with the lights dimmed or with candlelight, if preferred.

Loose clothing of an appropriate color for the deity involved is worn.

The ritual area is swept, and perhaps otherwise cleaned. It must be free of debris, dirt, and clutter.

The altar is set up. An altar cloth of an appropriate color for the primary deity worshiped is used. A small wooden table with one candle, statue of the god or goddess to be worshiped, one of Shiva and one of Ganesha as well. A yantra or symbol for the deity primarily worshiped is used. These may be found in any of numerous sites or books about various Gods, or you can even make one up. 2 pieces of cloth, essential oil, flowers, incense, potable water, food for offering, and a musical instrument. None of this has to be elaborate. Or, a small area on a floor or the ground will do nicely as well. The altar may stay up, or it may be taken down when not in use, as per needs and preference.

The working area is not of a set size. It should accommodate a circle large enough for the participant and the altar. As this is normally done solitary, the circle may be as small as about 4 ft in diameter. The size should make it feel “cozy” and “intimate” with the person celebrating.

Method

  1. Facing south, take the cup of water in your left hand, cover it with your right hand, and hold it in front of you. Look at the statue of Shiva and mentally ask Him to take away all impurities. Say AUM NAMAH SHIVAYA 11 times. With your right hand, take drops of water from the cup in your left hand, and sprinkle it over your body.

  2. Take a drop of water in your right hand and sip it. Make no noise as you do this. Then, say each the following mantra once, sipping water between them:

    • AUM EN ATMA TATTVAIYA SWAHA

    • AUM HRIM VIDYA TATTVAIYA SWAHA

    • AUM KLIM SHIVA TATTVAIYA SWAHA


    The inside and outside of your body is now purified.

  3. Take a little water in the left palm. Starting in the south, sprinkle water in that direction as you say AUM NAMAH SHIVAYA Repeat for west, north, east, then finally repeating south.

  4. Worship Ganesha briefly. He is the God of luck. Worshiping Him is auspicious to the success of your ritual.

    Repeat AUM GAM GANAPATYAI NAMAH 11, 21, or 108 times. Offer Him incense, light, rice, flowers, and tilak, as per the simple pooja. Pray to Ganesha in that puja that this sadhana or “Holy action” will be successful.

  5. A vow is taken. take water in the right hand and hold the arm at shoulder level. State the date, place, your name and family, what you intend to do, and that you are going to be successful in the sadhana. Then, let a drop of water roll down your fingers and fall onto the floor to the right side. This must not fall on the altar. Be very determined when you make this vow. The vow, or Samkalpa, makes the siddhi or success.

  6. Guru puja is performed. This is to send energy and thanks to whoever taught you this. You can very well thank the gods Themselves for this. Repeat the mantra AUM PARAM TATVAYA NARANYA NAMAH and AUM GURU BRAHMA, AUM GURU VISHNU, AUM GURU MAHASHVERA”

  7. The yantra, or symbol of the deity is now worshipped by offering incense, light, rice, flowers, and tilak.

  8. Repeat 4 or 11 mala of 100ish mantras of
    AUM PARAM TATVAYA NARANYA GURUBHYO NAMAH
    This is to get the blessing from the TEACHER. The true teacher is not the human being who taught you to do any of this, but rather the divine Itself. There is much confusion over the concept of “guru worship”. You do NOT worship the human being in front of you! No human being deserves worship! It is from the divine Who led you to the teaching. The divine used whatever people or tools He/She/It had most available and most appropriate.

  9. Repeat the mantra for whatever deity you are offering the sadhana, or holy action to 11 or 21 mala of 100ish mantra each. The mantra can be found in various books or websites about particular deities.

    If you do not have a mala appropriate for the deity, or one at all, you may use a crystal mala, or you may have 2 sets of stones on your altar. One set of 100 or 108 stones to count mantra. The other set is of 11 or 21 and is used to count malas.

  10. Repeat 4 or 11 mala of 100ish mantras of
    AUM PARAM TATVAYA NARANYA GURUBHYO NAMAH

  11. When finished, leave the candle or lamp burning until it goes out. Never extinguish this light in any way.

  12. This ritual is done once for a prayoga. For a full sadhana, or holy action to a god, this is done 3, 7, 9. 14. 28, 40, or 108 consecutive days.

  13. The next day after the sadhana is completely finished, wrap all of the unused items – incense, oil, food, yantra, stones, partly burned candles, etc and either bury them or drop them into a river, lake, or stream.

    The sadhana is done. Good luck.

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