Shivaratri Puja

Perform gaNapati pUja praying for no hurdles to the pUja.
Sankalpam:

mamopAtta samasta durita kshayadvAra shrI parameshvara prItyarttam
shubhe shobhane muhUrte AdyabrahmaNaH dvitIyaparArdhe
shveta varAhakalpe vaivasvata manva.ntare kaliyuge
prathamapAde jaMbU dvIpe bhAratavarShe bharatakhaNDe
asmin vartamAne vyavahArika ##------## nAmena saMvatsare
uttarAyane shishira R^itau kumba mAse
kR^iShNa paxe chaturdhashyAm subhatitau ##------## vAsara yuktAyAm
shubhanaxatra shubhayoga shubhakaraNa evaMguNa visheShaNa vishiShTAyAM
shubhatithau shivarAtri puNyakAle shrI parameshvara prItyarthaM
mama xemasthairya
vijayAyurArogyaishvaryApi vR^iddhyarthaM dharmArtha
kAmamoxa chaturvidha phalapuruShArtha siddhyarthaM
iShTa kAmyArtha siddhyarthaM mama samasta duritopa
shaantyarthaM samasta ma~NgaLa vAptyarthaM shrI sAmba sadAshiva
prasAdena sakuTumbasya GYAna vairAgya moksha prAptyarttam
varShe varShe prayukta shivarAtri puNyakAle samba parameshva pUjAm kariShye ||
namaH | 

Kailasa pUja. Meditation on Lord sAmba parameshvara with this shloka:

chandra kOThi pratIkAshaM trinetraM chandra bhUShaNam.h |
Api~NgaLa jaTajUTaM ratna mauLi virAjitam.h ||
nIlagrIvaM utArA~NgaM tArahAropa shobhitam.h |
varadAbhaya hasta~ncha hariNa~ncha parashvatam.h ||
tatAnaM nAga valayaM keyUrA~Ngata mudrakam.h |
vyAghra charma parItAnaM ratna siMhAsana sthitam.h ||
Agachcha devadevesha martyaloka hitechchayA |
pUjayAmi vidAnena prasannaH sumukho bhava ||
umA maheshvaraM dyAyAmi | AvAhayAmi ||

PrANa pratiShTA and simple pUjA with dhUpadIpaM and fruit offering.

pAdAsanaM kuru prAGYa nirmalaM svarNa nirmitam.h |
bhUShitaM vivitaiH ratnaiH kuru tvaM pAdukAsanam.h ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | ratnAsanaM samarpayAmi ||
ga~NgAdi sarva tIrthebhyaH mayA prArttanayAhR^itam.h |
toyam Etat sukasparsham pAdyArtham pradigR^ihyatAm.h ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | pAdyaM samarpayAmi ||
gandhodakena puShpeNa chandanena sugandhinA |
arghyaM kR^ihANa devesha bhaktiM me hyachalAM kuru ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | arghyaM samarpayAmi ||
karpUroshIra surabhi shItaLaM vimalaM jalam.h |
ga~NgAyAstu samAnItaM gR^ihANAchamaNIyakam.h ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | AchamanIyaM samarpayAmi ||
rasosi rasya vargeShu suka rUposi sha~Nkara |
madhuparkaM jagannAtha dAsye tubhyaM maheshvara ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | madhuparkaM samarpayAmi ||
payodadhi kR^ita~nchaiva madhusharkarayA samam.h |
pa~nchAmR^itena snapanaM kAraye tvAM jagatpate ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | pa~nchAmR^ita snAnaM samarpayAmi ||
mandhAkiniyAH samAnItaM hemAMboruha vAsitam.h |
snAnAya te mayA bhaktyA nIraM svIkR^iyatAM vibho ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | shuddodaka snAnam samarpayAmi |
snAnAnantaraM AchamanIyaM samarpayAmi ||
vastraM sUkshmaM tukUlecha devAnAmapi durlabham.h |
gR^ihANa tvam umAkAnta prasanno bhava sarvatA ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | vastraM samarpayAmi ||
yaGYopavItaM sahajaM brahmaNA nirmitaM purA |
AyuShyaM bhava varchasyaM upavItaM gR^ihANa bho ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | yaGYopavItaM samarpayAmi ||
shrIkaNThaM chandanaM divyaM gandhADhyaM sumanoharam.h |
vilepanaM surashreShTa matdattam prati gR^ihyatAm.h ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | gandhaM samarpayAmi ||
akshadAn chandra varNApAn shAleyAn sadilAn shubhAn |
ala~nkArArthamAnIdAn dhArayasya mahAprabho ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | akshadAn samarpayAmi ||
mAlyAtIni sugandhIni maladyAtIni vai prabho |
mayAhR^idAni puShpANi pUjArthaM tava sha~nkara ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | puShpamAlAM samarpayAmi || 

|| a~Nga pUja ||

shivAya namaH | pAdau pUjayAmi |
sharvAya namaH | kulpau pUjayAmi |
rudrAya namaH | jAnunI pUjayAmi |
IshAnAya namaH | ja~Nghe pUjayAmi |
paramAtmane namaH | UrU pUjayAmi |
harAya namaH | jaghanaM pUjayAmi |
IshvarAya namaH | guhyaM pUjayAmi |
svarNa retase namaH | kaTiM pUjayAmi |
maheshvarAya namaH | nAbhiM pUjayAmi |
parameshvarAya namaH | udaraM pUjayAmi |
sphaTikAbharaNAya namaH | vakshasthalaM pUjayAmi |
tripurahantre namaH | bhAhUn pUjayAmi |
sarvAstra dhAriNe namaH | hastAn pUjayAmi |
nIlakaNThAya namaH | kaNThaM pUjayAmi |
vAchaspataye namaH | mukhaM pUjayAmi |
tryambakAya namaH | netrANi pUjayAmi |
phAla chandrAya namaH | lalATaM pUjayAmi |
ga~NgAdharAya namaH | jaTAmaNDalaM pUjayAmi |
sadAshivAya namaH | shiraH pUjayAmi |
sarveshvarAya namaH | sarvANya~NgAni pUjayAmi |
PerforM the shivAShTottara sata or sahasra nAmAvaLi pUja.

sAmba parameshvarAya namaH | nAnAvita parimaLapatra
puShpANi samarpayAmi ||

|| uttarA~Nga pUja ||

vanaspatirasodbhUtaH gandhADhyashcha manoharaH |
AgreyaH sarvadevAnAM dhUpoyaM pratigR^ihyatAm.h ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | dhUpaM AgrApayAmi ||
sAjyaM trivartti samyuktaM vahninA yojitaM mayA |
dIpaM gR^ihANa devesha trailokya timirApaham.h ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | dIpaM darshayAmi ||
naivedyaM gR^ihyatAM deva bhaktiM me hyachalAM kuru |
shivepsitaM varaM dehi paratra cha parAM gatim.h ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | mahAnaivedyaM samarpayAmi ||
OM bhUrbhuvassuvaH tatsaviturvareNyaM bhargo devasya
dhImahi diyo yo naH prachodayAt.h |
OM deva savitaH prasUva satyaM tvarthena parishi~nchAmi |
amR^itopastaraNamasi |
OM prANayasvAhA | OM apAnAyasvAhA | OM vyAnAya svAhA |
OM udAnAya svAhA | OM samAnAya svAhA |
OM brahmaNe svAhA | brahmaNi ma AtmA amR^itatvAya |
amR^itAbhitAnamasi ||

naivedyAnantaraM AchamanIyaM samarpayAmi |
pUgIphala samAyuktaM nAgavallI daLair yutam.h |
karpUra chUrNa saMyuktaM tAMbUlaM pratigR^ihyatAm.h ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | karpUra tAMbUlaM samarpayAmi ||
chakshurtaM sarvalokAnAM timirasya nivAraNam.h |
ArdigyaM kalpitaM bhaktyA gR^ihANa parameshvara ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | karpUra nIrA~njanaM samarpayAmi |
AchamanIyaM samarpayAmi ||
yAnikAnicha pApAni janmAntara kR^itAni cha |
tAni tAni vinashyanti pradakshiNa pate pate ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | pradakshiNaM samarpayAmi ||
puShpA~njaliM pradAsyAmi gR^ihANa karuNAnide |
nIlakaNTha virUpAksha vAmArda girija prabho ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | puShpA~njaliM samarpayAmi |
mantrapuShpaM svarNapuShpaM samarpayAmi ||
mantrahInaM kriyAhInaM bhaktihInaM sureshvara |
yatpUjitaM mayA deva paripUrNam tatastu te ||

vande shambhumumApatiM suraguruM vande jagatkAraNam.h
vande pannagabhUShaNaM mR^igadharaM vande pashUNAm patim.h |
vande sUrya shashA.nkavahni nayanaM vande mukunda priyam.h
vande bhakta janAshraya~ncha varadaM vande shivaM sha~Nkaram.h ||

namaHshivAbhyAM nava yauvanAbhyAM
parasparAshliShTa vapur dharAbhyAm.h |
nagendra kanyA vR^iSha ketanAbhyAM
namo namaHsha~Nkara pArvatIbhyAm.h ||


|| arghyam || 

shuklAmbaradharaM viSHNuM shashivarNaM chaturbhujaM |
prasanna vadanaM dyAyet sarvavignopashAntaye ||

mamopAtta samasta durita kshayadvAra shrI parameshvara
prItyarttaM |
mayA charita shivarAtri vradapUjAnte kshIrArghya pradAnaM
upAyadAna~ncha kariShye ||
namo vishvasvarUpAya vishvasR^iShTyAdi kAraka |
ga~NgAdhara namastubhyaM gR^ihANArghyaM mayArpitam.h ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | idamarghyaM idamarghyaM idamarghyaM ||
namaHshivAya shAntAya sarvapApaharAyacha |
shivarAtrau mayA dattam gR^ihANArghyaM prasIta me ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | idamarghyaM idamarghyaM idamarghyaM ||
duHkha dAridrya pApaishcha dagtohaM pArvatIpate |
mAM tvaM pAhi ,ahAbhAho gR^ihaNArghyaM namostu te ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | idamarghyaM idamarghyaM idamarghyaM ||
shivAya shivarUpAya bhaktAnAM shivadAyaka |
idamarghyaM pradAsyAmi prasanno bhava sarvatA ||
umA maheshvarAya namaH | idamarghyaM idamarghyaM idamarghyaM ||
aMbikAyai namastubhyaM namaste devi pArvati |
ambike varade devi gR^ihNIdArghyaM prasIda me ||
pArvatyai namaH | idamarghyaM idamarghyaM idamarghyaM ||
subraHmaNya mahAbhaga kArtikeya sureshvara |
idamarghyaM pradAsyAmi suprIto varado bhava ||
subrahmaNyAya namaH | idamarghyaM idamarghyaM idamarghyaM ||
chaNDikeshAya namaH | idamarghyaM idamarghyaM idamarghyaM ||
anena arghya pradAnena bhagavAn sarvadevAtmakaH saparivAra
saMba parameshvaraH prIyatAm.h ||


|| upAyana dAnam ||


saMbashiva svarUpasya brAhmaNasya itamAsanaM | amIte gandhAH ||


Give tAMbUlaM, dakshiNa etc with the following mantra 

hiraNyagarbha garbhastaM hemabIjaM vibhAvasoH |
anantapuNya phalataM ataH shAntiM prayachcha me ||

idamupAyanaM sadakshiNAkaM satAMbUlaM sAMbashivaprItiM kAmamAnaH
tubhyamahaM sampratate na mama ||

OM samasta lOka sukhino bhavantu ||
| OM tatsat brahmArpaNamastu | 

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

We Look at It

The Formless Way
We look at it, and do not see it; it is invisible.
We listen to it, and do not hear it; it is inaudible.
We touch it, and do not feel it; it is intangible.
These three elude our inquiries, and hence merge into one.

Not by its rising, is it bright,
nor by its sinking, is it dark.
Infinite and eternal, it cannot be defined.
It returns to nothingness.
This is the form of the formless, being in non-being.
It is nebulous and elusive.

Meet it, and you do not see its beginning.
Follow it, and you do not see its end.
Stay with the ancient Way
in order to master what is present.
Knowing the primeval beginning is the essence of the Way.

---By Laozi

Stalker's Wish

The movie "Stalker" (1979) by Andrei Tarkovsky, was loosely based on the short science fiction novel "Roadside Picnic" written by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky in 1971.The premise is that some aliens stopped by Earth. Just for a minute. Like, for a picnic. Aliens have left some things behind in "The Zone," a contaminated area from which the government is trying to protect its citizens. "Stalkers" go in and collect the artifacts, then resell them. No one quite knows the full functionality of the artifacts, and no one understands the full dangers of "The Zone". Besides, there is a legends about certain magic place, granting any hidden wish. But the world and people degrades very promptly. All turns round money and a profit. The principal hero is spent and disillusioned.

We follow him to that magic place, watch him face a grave moral choice, commit a great crime. He looks back on his broken life struggling to find meaning and hope, and suddenly, unexpected for itself, he cries out her desire:

"HAPPINESS FOR EVERYBODY, FREE, AND LET NO ONE GO AWAY UNSATISFIED!".

Love.

About Cracked Pots

Painting by David A. Leffel

Chinese parable about cracked pots.

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.  After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself because this crack in my side causes water to leak all the way back to your house."
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.

Ketu Kavacham

Kethum karala vadanam, chithra varnam, kireetinam,
Pranamami sada kethum, dwajaakaaram graheswaram. 1
I always salute Kethu , who has face filled with horror,
Who is of multiple colours, has a crown,
Who is shaped like a flag and is the Lord of planets.
Chithra varna sira pathu, bhalam dhoomra samudhyuthi,
Pathu nethre pingalaksha, sruthi may raktha lochana. 2
Let the multicolored one protect my head,
Let my hair be protected by he who produces smoke,
Let my eyes bye protected by one with reddish brown eye,
And let what I hear be protected by he who has red blood eyes.
Granam pathu swarnabha, schibukam simhikasutha,
Pathum cha kandam may Kethu, skandou pathu grahadhipa. 3
Let my smell be protected by him who shines like gold,
Let my chin be protected by the son of Simhika,
Let my neck and feet be protected by Kethu,
And let the lord of planets protect my shoulder
Hasthou pathu sura sreshta, kukshim pathu maha graha,
Simhasana katim pathu, madhyam pathu mahasura. 4
Let my arms be protected by the chief of devas,
Let the great planet protect my belly,
Let my hip be protected by he who sits on the throne,
And let the great asura protect my middle.
Ooru pathu maha seersho, januni may athi kopana,
Pathu padhou cha may kroora, sarvangam nara pingala. 5
Let my thighs be protected by the great head,
Let my knees be protected by him with great anger,
Let my feet be protected by the cruel one,
And let all my parts of body be protected by the reddish brown god.
Ya idham kavacham divyam, sarva roga vinasanam,
Sarva shathru vinasam cha, dharanad vijayi bhaved. 6
This holy armour destroys all diseases,
Destroys all enemies and,
Once worn will make you victorious.
Ithi Brahmanda Purane Kethu Kavacham sampoornam.
Thus ends the armour of Kethu from Brahmanda Purana.

Om Shram Shreem Shroum Sah Ketave namaha

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA