Durga Puja Books

A great book that traces Durga Puja from the courtyards of kings to the street corners of today. Full of accounts from newspaper archives and journals of East India Company officials. Takes the story forward into the age of the Internet and NRI pujas. Also a ready reckoner on the significance of each major ritual, the mythical origins of the gods and the puja itself. The author's background in journalism strikes the balance between well-grounded research and entertainment in reading.

If you sense a tugging in your heart to know the Divine Mother, and would like to learn an ancient system of worship for Her, then this is the place to start your journey.

Swami Satyananda has provided an invaluable resource, complete with the Sanskrit text (if you happen to know Sanskrit), an English transliteration (so you know how to pronounce the Sanskrit mantras), and an English translation that is absolutely poetic. His words come from a loving devotion to Durga that is both tender and majestic. I have worn out 2 copies of this book, because I practice this puja every day (I recommend getting it spiral bound at Kinko's for much longer life).

The book has complete instructions for what you do, such as "pour some water in the right palm. Sip some water after each om vishnu, then clean hands with remaining water and dry." Besides that, the book comes with technical support as well - a website address, email address, and a Yahoo Group that has thousands of messages, files, and databases, as well as over 500 members who want you to experience the joy of communion with the Holy Mother. It doesn't get any better than that!

I love this book! It contains practical suggestions on how to make healthy progress on the spiritual path while living in the world. Amma expounds on everything from diet, to cleansing of the chakras, to pranayama, homas, and much more; She also relates these things to how they can remove the various obstacles that can appear on the spiritual path from time to time. Receiving Amma's guidance in this book has been a blessing for me, one for which I am extremely grateful. Jai Karunamayi!

Jai Karunamayi!

****Blessings and Love to You*****

This is one of my favorites--very beautiful and a blessing to chant :) It is very helpful to learn with this CD Learn Samputita Sri Suktam I have heard Amma recommend chanting Samputita Sri Suktam with devtion once a day in the morning while the sun rises. It is to honor Sri Maha Lakshmi Devi who grants both spiritual and material prosperity. It is a part of my morning sadhana/practice and truly fills my Heart--Thank you, Amma!

This book contains information that has been taugh to very few. Amma graced us with this book and anyone willing to take time to read it (it is not long) will excell their spiritual path with grace and ease. If you are going to get 1 book only... this one is well worth it!Sanskrit Mantras, Verses and Hymns (Chanting Booklet)