The worship of santoshi mata reflects her own simplicity. She doesn't expect costly equipment or complicated preparations. Her puja needs no shrine, no temple, and no special place because santoshi mata is present everywhere in every heart and in every house / cottage. What pleases her is to see us perform her puja with true and pure heart.Santoshi Mata came to this space of universe on A friday during raksha bandan festival so friday is the most suitable day for her prayers. The devotee should get up early and free himself from daily routine. The puja could be held in a temple but a neat and clean place in any house will do.
Incense should be burnt throughout the devotions. Put a picture up of Santoshi mata, and light a ghee lamp in front of it lay aside the cares of the world for a while and concentrate on the glory of santoshi mata. Prepare a prasad of gor and chana, and a place them over a vessel full of water.
Now is the time to begin the vrata- the stories of santoshi maa. During the puja people should proclaim the name of Maa Santoshi a few times do it with loud and full of devotion. A small amount of ghor and chana should be held in the hand during the reading of the vrata and then feed those to the cows i.e., gau mata. And other small amount of ghor and chana should be offer to santoshi maa as prasad which has to be kept on top of the kalash while starting the katha and later it has to submit to the goddess by reading mantras of "bhog lagane samaya". After the varta garba and aarti the listeners should collectively utter santoshi mata ki jai. The gor and chana prasad should be shared among the devotees. Take care to ensure That everyone receives a portion of the prasad. After that water from the vessel should be sprinkled throughout the house or hall prayer. The sacred water brings peace and calm into the house.
The prasad of santoshi mata has a great significance. It reminds us that luxury dishes are unnecessary.We could just survive on just gor and chana, As with food so with our rest of our lives. A desire for luxury and grandeur is unhealthy. The puja of Santoshi mata gives us an opportunity to turn away from exspensive luxuries and pledge our lives to small and ordinary items of daily use.
During this puja or prayer devotees should give up something physical as well as discarding there curiosities and desires. On the day of prayer to santoshi mata devotees should give up all desires and needs, and observe a fast before their prayers. In addition they should completely give up sour dishes. Sour dishes magnify baser qualities.
Those who pray to santoshi mata regularly every friday for up to sixteen consecutive weeks will attain contentment although devotees often choose to worship her for longer than the minimum period. The time period varies to the wishes of the devotee & it depends on the love & affection towards her.
Those who observe the fasts for santoshi mata should conclude the series with the udyapan or closure of fast on the last friday. Although the udyapan can be performed at any time it has a special value when devotees perform it on the friday than immediately follows 15 consecutive fasts.
As well as observing a fast on the friday of udyapan worshipers should also perform the vrata and aarti for santoshi mata with great devotion as always the prasad of gor and chana should be distributed among the devotees after the puja.
Then one must offer thaal to the goddess. Usually khir pur and chana shakh are offered to santoshi mata and the distributed among the listeners as prasad. Bear in mind that the rule prohibiting the consumption of sour dishes must be observed. Failure to observe the restriction will negate the benefits of the fasting prayers.
At the end of the ceremony eight boys which can be from the devotees family are invited to take the prasad of khir puri cand chana shakh. Finally the boys should be given dakshina not money a present fruit like a banana again according to ones means.
After the udyapan the puja for the mother santoshi mata will have been completed with great ceremony. So long as the devotees have observed the rites of the puja and faiths with devotion true love and firm discipline their wishes will be fulfilled.
Please regard the preceding points as a guide rather than the authorative account. As always devotees should not confuse in between many procedures.
Fell free to clarify your queries if any.
Regards
Santoshi Maa Trust
Bangalore - 560001
enquiry@santoshimaa.in
