Namah Parvati Pataye! Hara! Hara! Mahadeva!
MAHASIVARATRI: GUIDELINES FOR PUJARIS
Thank you for participating in the upcoming Sivaratri. Here are a few details to review.
The attached outline can be helpful in organizing your puja. Please note that
Amritapaneeyam, Naivedyam and rose petals will be provided. Pujaris/assistants are
asked to set up and clean up their respective pujas.
For Abhishekam, pujari/assistant select six pourers, one for each of the offerings.
Rinsing and drying of the Lingam will be done by _________ or assignee, together with
the pujaris. This is the order:
Short Rinse
Milk (1 cup) followed by short rinse
Yogurt (1 cup prepped to pour easily) followed by short rinse
Ghee (1/4 cup approximately heated prior to pour easily)
Honey (1/4 cup approximately diluted with little hot water followed by a
full rinse and wiping of the Deity with towel)
Ganga Water
Rose Water followed by complete drying of Deity and removal of
Abishekam bowl, then Deity is installed on the altar.
Pujaris, please review the procedure for pouring with the selected devotees. The areas to
be covered are:
¥ Use right hand only, supported by left hand.
¥ Refrain from touching Lingam with pitcher.
¥ Pour steadily and slowly over the top of the Lingam.
with full mindfulness and devotion.
Other Points to remember:
¥ OM HREEM NAMAH SIVAYA mantram is repeated all
through the Abishekam and up to the Naivedyam offerings.
¥ Archanam: two to offer petals alternately (if enough petals,
then simultaneously). The attached Holy Names of Lord Siva
may be repeated 54 times in Sanskrit or English.
¥ Camphor Arathi may be accompanied by the “Om Namah
Sivaaya Chant”.
¥ After closing slokas:
1. All Chant Shambo Mahadeva…
2. Previously selected devotees come forward to hold petal
baskets, distribute holy ash, sandalpaste, kumkum, holy
water, ahbishekam and naivedyam food prasad. (Please
put towel in front of person applying the red kumkum to
prevent staining of the carpet)
3. In order to prevent confusion, please invite devotees to
offer petals only after the people in (2.) are in place.