Offering Flowers
In every worship flowers are
offered to God. How to offer flowers to God? Some people just throw the
flower on the idol of the god. Some offer it with Shraddhaa with both the
hands. Some fell it from the top of the idol. Some bring fresh cut flowers,
some offer white flowers, some offer red flowers etc etc.
While offering flowers to god use only thumb, and index finger and the
medium finger to hold it; never the smallest finger.
--Flower should be offered with its attached stalk.
--The flower itself should be towards the god
--Bel Patra, which is part of Shiv Poojaa, should offered holding it by
its stalk of the three leaves. The leaves should be towards Shiv Ling.
--Doorvaa grass also should be offered keeping its front part towards god.
--Tulasee leaf should be with its Manjaree. (read about
Tulasee
in detail)
--Do not pluck the leaves on the Lunar day (Tithi) and Solar day (Vaar) of
the god to whom that leaf is dear, if somehow one has to pluck it then
first ask its forgiveness, the n only pluck it. -
----Doorvaa grass should not be plucked on Chaurthee
----Tulasee should not be plucked on Ekaadashee (People do not pluck on Sunday also)
----Bel Patra should not plucked on Pradosh and Shiv Raatri day.
In one way Tulasee is Vishnu
Priya, Bel is Shiv Proya], and Doorvaa grass is Ganesh Priya.
When a Flower is Stale
Normally flowers to be offered to god should be fresh. Withered, broken,
stale, smelt, taken off from hair flowers should not be used for god.
Flowers kept in gardener's house never go stale. Shaastra describe the
time period of every flower after which it is stale.
Tulasee is never stale. People even keep Tulasee leaves in dry form.
Bel leaves are fresh for 30 days
Chaaphaa is fresh for 9 days
Kamal flower is fresh up to 8 days
Kaner flower uis fresh for 8 days
Kevadaa flower is fresh for 4 days
Mongaraa (Belaa, or Kund) is fresh for 4 days
Shamee flowers are fresh for 6 days
Which Flower is for Whom?
Every flower is not offered to every god. Some are must while some are never...
Shiv
--Never offer Kevadaa, Bakul (Maulsiree), Kund flowers to Shiv Jee.
--Some do not offer Tulasee also. It is based on the fact that since Tulasee is
regarded as the wife of Vishnu, Shankar cannot accept her. Just think, who
left his married wife Satee, because she tested Raam assuming the form of
Seetaa, how can he accept Tulasee for his worship?
--People say that "Tulasee offered to Shaalgraam is very dear to Shiv" -
I don't understand this statement. If it has already been offered to Shaalgraam,
how can it be offered to Shiv again?
--He likes Kamal (lotus) flower best, otherwise Bel Patra is enough for him.
Vishnu
--Never ever offer bel Patra to Vishnu Jee
--He loves Tulasee and is happy with only a leaf of Tulasee. His Naivedya should
also a leaf of Tulasee as He does not accept anything without Tulasee leaf. He
has given this boon to Vrindaa (read her story in
Jalandhar). Rukminee Jee
pleased Krishn only with a leaf of Tulasee - read
Tulaa Bhaar story.
Durgaa
Although Doorvaa grass should not offered to Durgaa Jee. but in Chandee Hom Doorvaa
grass use is necessary.
She should be offered red flowers.
Ganesh
Ganapati should not be offered Tulasee Manjaree.
But white Tulasee should be offered on Ganesh Chaturthee.
Pitar
Red flowers should not offered to Pitar on Pitar Shraaddh day.
Saraswatee Jee
She should be offered white flowers - Chamelee (jasmine), Kund (Belaa),
Maulsiree
Soorya Dev
Soorya Dev likes red flowers - red Kaner, red Gudahal (Hibiscus)
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