Tuesday, 30 September 2008

Ashwin Shukla Pratipada

Auspicious time for Ghatsthapana: from 9.13 AM to 13.42 PM IST of 30 Sep 2008

How to know most auspicious time for Ghatsthapana

Calculate चौघडियां मुहूर्त्त Choghadian Muhurta of your city/town.

On Tuesday 30 Sep, “DAY TIME CHOGHADIAN” will be as follows-

1. रोग Rog - 6.12 AM (Sunrise time for Delhi, India) to 7.42 AM

2. उद्वेग Udveg - 7.43 AM to 09.12 AM (Avoid)

3. चर Char -   9.13 AM to 10.42 AM (Auspicious)

4. लाभ Laabh - 10.43 AM to 12.12 PM (Auspicious)

5. अमृत Amrit - 12.13 PM to 1.42 PM (Auspicious)

6. काल Kaal - 1.43 PM to 3.12 PM (Inauspicious Time, Avoid)

स्थिर लग्न (for Delhi) वृश्चिक 9.54 AM to 12.12 AM IST

So, the most auspicious time for घटस्थापन Ghatsthapana is 10.43 AM to 12.12 PM IST i.e. combination of Laabh choghadia and sthir lagna vrischik.

Just check Sunrise time of your city and likewise calculate Ghatsthapana time as stated above by way +- from sunrise time.

The first day of Navratra is called Ghatasthapana, which literally means pot establishing. On this day the kalash, (holy water vessel) symbolising Goddess Durga often with her image embossed on the side is placed in the prayer room. The kalash is filled with holy water and covered with cowdung on to which seeds are sown. A small rectangular sand block is made and the kalash is put in the centre. The surrounding bed of sand is also seeded with grains. The ghatasthapana ritual is performed at a certain auspicious moment determined by the pundits. At that particular moment the priest intones a welcome, requesting goddess Durga to bless the vessel with Her presence.

At several places there is a tradition of sowing barley seeds during the Durga Puja - Navratri period. In this a small bed of mud is prepared in a little container and barley seeds are sown in it. This is placed in the Puja room and cared for during the Navratri period. At the end of  Navratri the shoots reach a height of 3-5 inches. These are pulled out and given to devotees as form of blessings.