Om Asato maa sad-gamaya; tamaso maa jyotir-ga-maya; mrtyor-maa amrutam gamaya. Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih. O Lord Lead me from the unreal to the real. Lead me from the darkness to light. Lead me from death to immortality. May there be peace, peace, and perfect peace.
From the simple stringing together of lemon garlands for the goddess Durga, to dividing the prasadam or blessed foods for the children first, I came to associate food not only with femininity, but also with purity and divinity
सर्व मंगल मांगल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थ साधिके । शरन्ये त्रयम्बिके गौरी नारायणी नमोस्तुते ।।
“SARVA MANGALA MAANGALYE SHIVEYSARVAARTH SAADHIKEY, SHARNAYE TRAYAMBAKEY GAURI NAARAAYANI NAMOSTUTEY.”
(Oh Narayaani, Oh Shivi, Oh Gauri you filful the desires of all. I pray to you)
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शरणागत दीनार्तपरित्राण परायणे। सर्वस्यातिहरे देवि नारायणी नमोस्तुते।।
“SHARNAAGAT DEENAART PARITRAAN PARAAYANEY, SERVASYARTI HAREY DEVI NAARAAYANI NAMOSTUTEY.”
(You who are perpetually endeavouring to protect the weak and the poor and remove their misery. Oh Narayani, I pray to you)
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सर्वस्वरूपे सर्वेशे सर्वेशक्तिसमन्विते । भयेभ्यस्त्राहि नो देवि दुर्गे देवि नमोऽस्तु ते ।।
“SARVASVAROOPEY SARVESHEY SARVSHAKTI SAMANVIETEY, BHAYEBHYAH TRAAHI NO DEVI DURGE DEVI NAMOSTUTEY.”
(Oh Goddess Durga, please protect us from all kinds of fear. Oh omnipotent Durga I pray to you)
रोगनशेषानपहंसि तुष्टा। रुष्टा तु कामान् सकलानभीष्टान्।।
त्वामाश्रितानां न विपन्नराणां। त्वमाश्रिता हृयश्रयतां प्रयान्ति।।
“ROGAAN SHOSHAAN PAHANSITUSHTARUSHTATU KAAMAAN SAKLAAN BHISHTAAN, TVAAM AASHRITAANAAM NA VIPANNARAANAM. TVAAMAASHRITAAHYA SHRAYTAAM PRAYAANTI.”
(Oh Goddess, when you are pleased you remove all ailments and when you are angry you destory everything that a person desires for. However, Those, who come to you for sanctuary never have to confront any casastrophy. Instead, such people secure enough merit to provide shelter to others)
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सर्वाबाधा प्रशमनं त्रैलोक्यस्याखिलेश्वरि। एवमेव त्वया कार्यमस्मद्दैरिविनाशनम्।।
सर्वाबाधा विर्निर्मुक्तो धनधान्यसुतान्वित:। मनुष्यो मत्प्रसादेन भविष्यति न संशय:।।
“SARVA BADHA PRASHMANAN TRAILOKYA SYAKHILESHWARI, EVAMEVMEV TVAYAA KAARYAM SMA DVERI VINAASHNAM.
SARVAA BAADHA VINIRUMK TO DHAN DHAANYA SUTAAN VITAH. MANUSHYO MAT PRASAADEN BHAVISHYATI NA SANSHA YAH.”
(Whoever listens to the story of the Goddess during the great Puja that is organised in the winters succeeds in overcoming all obstacles and is blessed wealth and progeny)
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जयन्ती मङ्गला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी । दुर्गा शिवा क्षमा धात्री स्वाहा स्वधा नमोऽस्तु ते ।।
“JYANTI MANGALAA KAALI BHADRA KAALI KAPAALINEE DURGAA KSHAMAA SHIVAA DHAATREE SWAAHAA SVADHAA NAMO STUTEY.”
(Oh Goddess, you who are known by the names of Mangala, kali, Bhdra kali, Kapalinee, durge, Kshama, Shivaa, Dhatri, Swahaa, Swadha, I pray to you)
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देहि सौभाग्यमारोग्यं देहि देवि परं सुखम् ।
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥
“DEHI SAUBHAAGYAM AAROGYAM DEHI DEVI PARAM SUKHAM.
RUPAM DEHI JAYAM DEHI YASHO DEHI DVISHO JAHI.”
(Oh Goddess, bless me with good fortune, good health, good looks, success and fame. Oh Vaishnavi, you are the very basis for the world. You have mesmerised the World. When you are pleased with some one you ensure his salvation from the cycle of life and death)
