Sri Anaghastami Puja (Anaghastami Worship)

Sri Datta incarnated as the spiritual Master to bestow salvation not only to scholars, but also to laymen, However, due to the effect of this age Kali, the significance and the grandur of his incarnation is lost in the memory of mankind in general. A few serious sadhakas(spiritual practicants) are an exception. Lord Datta, being the ocean of mercy again and again takes different incarnations-revealing his significance to one and all-uplifting the down-trodden. Such incarnations of Sri Datta are - Sri Pada Vallabha, Narasimha, Sarasvati etc.

The philosophy of Sadguru Datta is beyond the reach of the commoner's imagination. Even great scholars do not realise the Datta-widely known as an Avadhuta (roving monk)-has another form of a householder. Among the several forms of Datta takes frequently in His divine play (leela)-the name of his householder's form is Anaghastvami.

His consort is Anagha Devi - an incarnation of Laksmi (Goddess of Prosperity) Herself. This divine couple leading pious lives of penance, shower blessings of physical and spiritual boons on the devotees.

Asta Siddhis (the eight supernatural powers) are born as sons to this unique divine couple. Sadguru Datta Himself gave the initiation of this Anagha Puja to his dear devotee Kartaviryarjuna, way back in Krta Yuga. These details are described in detail by the sage Vyaya. Emperor Kartaviryarjuna thoroughly propagated this Anagha Puja throughout his vast empire. This meritorious worship was performed individually and collectively by one and all. As a result,the prolonged period of Kartavirya's reign was really a golden age. In the next age Treta Yuga, king Dasaratha and Sri Rama also performed this Puja- thus assert our epics.

Though people lost sight of this worship to some extent in the third age, Dwapara Yuga, Lord Krisna caused wide participation in the performance of this puja by the people by initiating the same to Dharmaraja.

In the present age Kali Yuga this worship went out of popular practice gradually. It is due to the grace of Sadguru Datta and the good fortune of devotees that this famous worship is now being popularised extensively. Now, Swamiji entrusts this method of worship in a further simplified form to you - dear children, friends and devotees. An easy method of worship is detailed in this book. On the cover of this book you find the figure of a lotus of eight petals. The various names of the deities are noted in each petal. In your homes, draw a similar lotus of eight petals on a metal sheet or a wooden plank. You may use rice flour,turmeric and kumkum for the drawing. In each petal, place a kalasa (vessel), a betul nut. a betul leaf leaf or a Tulasi leaf. Invoke the deities as per the details given in the book.

**Contents and Sample Pages**