KOJAGARA VRATHA (Lakshmi pooja)

Submitted by lakshmiraghu on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 21:37
" KOJAGARA VRATHA " can also be called as pooja for INDRA & LAKSHMI. Indra is the brother of Lakshmi. This is cleberated on Ashwayuja - Shukala Paksha - Pournami - Night. From morning. we do not take food after our usual pooja to gods, we get prepared for this Pooja, which is done after late evenings (i.e after sun set) as we wait for the Moon to rise. Here Indra is worshipped on a White Elephant ( IRAVATHA ). Usually for slokas on Lakshminarayana, we should also light about 100000, 1000 or 100 deepas as per our willingness. We have lighted 100 only. During the pooja time we should play games with our family members like the " Dice " (called "dhaya kattai" in tamil) the whole night. It is also believed that we should offer tender coconut & pal payasam (a milk based dessert) to the Moon light and then offer it to Lakshmi & Indra. Its believed , Lakshmi with Narayana along with her brother Indra who go round , during this time, it is Lakshmi who offers boon for the people who are doing the pooja & playing the dice during this time (hence KO - JAGARTHI - means who is not sleeping during this night). This year pooja was celebrated on 3rd October.
viji_j86
I am eagurly waiting for this years pooja photos Lakshmi from you. Thanks. You are not disappointmented me. viji
Sun, 10/11/2009 - 00:14 Permalink
Lata
Beautiful rangoli and borders Lakshmi. :) Jayaji, here is more from last year: http://www.ikolam.com/node/1598
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 11:18 Permalink
jkmrao

This is quite interesting. I read that this festival is celebrated more in the northern parts of India than in the south. But my comments are about something else. A good portin of RgvEda has been devoted to praising indra. He is the god of thunder and rains. However, after the vEdic period, indra, the king of gods lost his preeminence and was reduced to the status of a minor god. In fact one of the names for vishNu is upEndra (like deputy indra because he helped indra in slaying the demon vRtra). Actually the deputy became the king later. indra is humiliated in various ways in later books as in rAmAyaNa. In fact the story of saving the cattle and cowherds by kRshNa by lifting the gOvardhana giri is a conflict between indra and anti-indra forces. Clearly indra was defeated here also. Therefore worship to indra is quite interesting and aroused my curiosity. Regards! - mOhana
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 11:40 Permalink