North India Statesman
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News India Live, Digital Desk: Kanya Puja has special significance on the Ashtami and Navami tithi of Chaitra Navratri. According to the scriptures, little girls are considered to be the embodiment of Mother Durga. But sometimes in metropolitan cities or due to busy schedules, it becomes difficult to find nine girls for worship. In such a situation, devotees become confused whether their fast and worship will be completed or not. Some very simple and effective options for this situation have been suggested in astrology and Puranas, through which you can get the blessings of Mother Bhagwati.
If you don’t get girls, adopt these 5 ‘divine’ options
If you are not able to find girls for worship on Ashtami or Navami, then you can try these options:
Temple Donation: If the girls are not able to come home, then prepare food, fruits, dakshina and gifts (like red chunari, bangles) in packets containing the portion of nine girls. Take it to a nearby goddess temple and hand it over to the priest there or distribute it among the little girls present in the temple premises.
Cow Service: In Hindu religion, cow has been called ‘Mother Cow’, in which all the gods and goddesses reside. As an alternative to Kanya Puja, you can feed puri, halwa and gram of the nine girls’ share to a cow. This work is also considered as virtuous as worshiping the girl.
Worship of niece or neighbor girl: It is not necessary that you invite only nine girls. If you have only one daughter in your house or your niece, then you should worship her with full devotion. Donate the material and dakshina of the remaining eight girls to a girls school or orphanage.
Help to Brahmin girl or poor: Mother Durga is very fond of feeding a Brahmin’s daughter or a girl from a very poor family and helping her in her education. You can directly deliver (raw ration and dakshina) in their name to their home.
Mental Worship: If you are in a place where no option is possible, then sit in front of Maa Durga and meditate on the nine girls. Take out the bhog in their name and later gift that material to a married woman or make water flow.
Correct rules and method of girl worship
According to the scriptures, worship of girls between 2 years to 10 years is considered best. Before worshiping, wash their feet, make them sit on a clean seat, apply kumkum tilak on the forehead and tie Kalava on the wrist. Offer Sattvik Halwa, Puri and black gram made without garlic and onion in the food. At the time of farewell, touch his feet and take blessings and give Dakshina as per your capacity.
Why is it important to have a child?
There is also a tradition of making a child sit along with the girl worship, which is called ‘Batuk Bhairav’ or ‘Langura’. It is believed that the worship of Mother Durga remains incomplete without Bhairav. If the child is not found, then keep aside the offering in the name of Hanuman ji or Bhairav ji and later give it to some temple.
