Rahu Kalam Durga Pooja
| Held weekly on every Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, this pooja attracts many people- Young people who perform this Pooja will excel in studies while the unmarried will be able to find a good life partner, married ladies will have a happy married life and their families will prosper, the childless will have children and have a happy and prosperous life. Of all the days, Tuesday is the most auspicious day. The time is fixed viz: 3.00 pm and 4.30 pm on Tuesdays, 10.30 am and 12.00 pm on Fridays and 4.30 pm and 6.00 pm on Sundays. All the times that I mentioned are the Rahukala time Utensils and sundries needed for the pooja are – Limes ( lime cut into a bit more than half and invert it )- ( odd numbers ( a maximum of 9 ), wick, ghee and turmeric rice ,a tambalam ( silver plate ) and prasadam ( fruits, betel leaves and Areca nut ). So the story goes like this- “ A couple blessed with a child after their continuous prayers to Divine Mother. The child reached her puberty age and the parents decided to seek an astrologer to ask the fate of the child in future. The couple was shocked to get to know that their daughter has “ Rahukala Dhosam ( very bad time –Rahu is controlling her time ) and the ninth day from her birthday, a black serpent will bite her to death. Hearing this, the couple rushed to get the protection and remedies from Mother Durga. At this moment, Goddess Parvathi who wander as a saint in earth to help her devotees and Parvathi took the vow to save the child. The time comes and as predicted before , Rahu ( the serpent-head ) changes himself as a serpent and try his very best to kill the girl. Each of his attempt been blocked by Sakti and at last Sakti herself reincarnate as the girl and Rahu mistakenly bite Sakti thus made a sinful act. Rahu beg for forgiveness and as a reward he let go the girl. In forgiving his mistakes, Durga Matha remind him that Rahu dhosam and Rahu`s influences will ease for those who are performing Pooja for her at Rahukala time and those who are conducting the pooja will be blessed by Mother Durga. Mother Durga is the power that guides and protects the devotee’s spiritual practice form its many danger and pitfalls. So, by performing this Rahu Kalam Durga Pooja, Mother Durga will bestow peace and prosperity in our life. Rahu kaala deepam: Rahu kala deepam is litted in Durga temples during Rahu kalam (check panchangam for rahu kalam timings). Lemons are used as lampholders (Use yellow one's) in this pooja.Devotees offer this seva on Tuesday and Friday for getting the blessings of Durga maa. Durga kavacham,Devi kavacham, Mahishasura mardini stotra, nava durga stuthi or any shlokas on Durga and Shiva are chanted while observing this pooja.Rahu Kala pooja using lemons is to be done in temples only. (Check with a learned priest on how to observe this powerful pooja).Temples outside India are closed during rahu kala time. Those who would like to do the pooja at home can light regular deepams using til oil (Without using lemons), chant stotrams like lalitha sahasranama or durga chalisa followed by short shlokas on Shiva. Offer a fruit and conclude prayers with aarthi and kshama prarthana.Those having trouble getting married, marital problems caused due to Rahu / kuja graha or those having career and financial problems generally observe this pooja. |