Some Tips on Worship Which I Would Like to Share

[Khoo Hock Leong]

Hi Learned Members

Through God's grace, I have been given the enlightened path towards the worshipping of God which I would like to share with readers.

As you know, there are a couple of things that never change. But you can improvise in the case for people from other's cultures.

As you know before you step out of bed, Guru must be worshipped. After which Ketu etc. One way this can be improvised is to get a set of Yantras with Shri Yantra in the centre and give prayers in your own words so that the Yantras can benefit you. Accordingly, you should do it for at least 40 days for the Yantras to work, but since we are are using it to propitiate to the various deities in general, you can do it every day.

Then prayer to your Ishata Devata follows. As indicated in one of the posts by one forum member, the Ishta Devata is determined by the 12th house from the Karakamsa.

Then prayers to the deity for any doshas in your chart.

Remember all chants should be at least 108 times since there are 9 planets and 12 signs. But no harm on doing it some extra times. When your worship, your thoughts should be on God. Do it so that is audible to you IN YOUR HEART so the decibel level is actually immaterial. But for a start it should be audible enough for you to hear it so that the proper pronounciation is ingrained on you. After which it can even be silent depending on your comfort level for the audibility.

Prayers should be done during Jupiter (1:30 am to 4:30 am for India) or Sun (4:30 am to 7:30 am for India) times. However, you may choose the one that is more benefic in your chart. And that can mean Sun or Jupiter is participating in a good yoga, ruling good houses, in 8th, 9th, 1st, 5th and 12th houses ie. Moksha or dharma. Avoid the one that is placed in kama houses if possible.

Remember all the qualifications in Lal Katib. For example, never have a temple (anything tangible for worship) in the home if Jupiter is in the 8th bhava (in this case for Jupiter in the 8th, yantras are excepted since the above procedure you are not worshipping the yantra in mantras but just a little prayer you evoke to give power to the yantras so you are still actually directing your prayer to the deity himself). In other cases where temples are allowed in the home, yantras, idols, shiva lingams etc. can be set up in the worship room. You can follow the proper pooja procedures but as stated in the ancient texts, in Kali Yuga what counts is the chanting of Lord's name (devotion would give added power but again it is he Lord's name that is uttered that will seal the deal).

All prayers should be done facing East. Others like to Ganesha should be towards South as Ganesha likes to face his parents in the North. (So theoretically speaking if you have a Ganesha idol for worship, it should be separated out from the rest, but there are other schools of thought).

Prayers to the Sun can be done in the evening in case Saturn or Rahu is causing affliction to your Sun. Saturn time is 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm for India and Rahu time is 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm for India.

Other things to consider :

It is better to eat only after all your morning prayers are done. But drinking of water should be OK especially if you are chanting yourself and there is a need to quench the thirst of your throat.

Be clean in your dressing before you pray. You can bathe but not really necessary but you must not be dirty.

Have some meditation quiett time before you pray.

Fasting is very helpful on the day for the planet that is afflicted in your chart. It can work wonders and work in consort with whatever prayers you have.

Best Regards
Khoo