Mother Durga Archana

Items Needed:

  • Lota of Water/ Jug of water
  • A Paan leaf
  • Items for Abhishek (Water, Milk, Dahee, Honey, Sugar, Panchamrit*), 1 to 2 ozs in separate containers.
  • Mother Durga murti in a taali
  • Mango leaf or spoon
  • 10 to 12 flowers (108 flowers or petals if doing optional offering)
  • Thaali with deeya with oil and wick
  • 5 to 6 Napkins (for drying murti)
  • Piece of cotton wool or saffron cloth
  • Chandhan
  • Sindhoor
  • Saffron
  • Handful of washed white rice
  •  3 sticks of Agarbhati (incense)
  • Essence/perfume
  • Fruit or prasad or sweet
  • 1 suparee
  • 1 coin
  • 1 block crushed camphor
  • 3 to 4 cloves (with head)
  • Bell

*Panchamrit is a sweet drink prepared using five ingredients that are yogurt or dahee, milk, honey, sugar and ghee.

Set up:

  • Clean area for Archana
  • Wash all leaves or flowers
  • Make (spoon) with Mango leaf
Step 1: Purification

Take lota of water in hand and sprinkle water over all puja items.

Om Apavitrah pavitro va sarvavastham gato pi va sa bahyabhyantarah suchi.

Step 2: Washing of Hands

Any religious or ritualistic act should begin with acamana or ceremonial sipping of water with prescribed mantras. Wash hands then sip water three times and wash hands again.

Wash: Om Shri Hasta Prakshalam Samarpayaami.

Sip: Om Shri Keshavaya Namaha

Sip: Om Madhavaya Namaha

Sip: Om Shri Narayanaya Namaha

Wash: Om Shri Hasta Prakshalam Samarpayaami.

Step 3: Seek Blessing

Focus on Shri Ganesh, Mother Saraswatie and Guru seeking blessing to start worship.

Om Shri Ganeshaya Namaha.

Om Shri Sarawatyai Namaha

Om Shri Guru Bhyo Namaha

Step 4: Contemplation

Place your thoughts on the deity being invited. Focus on the form of the deity and characteristics.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Dhyaanam Samarpayaami.

Step 5: Invitation

Invite the deity for the archana. Place a paan before the feet of the murti. Hold flower in hand, say mantra then offer the flower on the paan leaf.

Om Shri Durgayai ​​​ Namaha Aavahanam Samarpayaami.

Step 6: Offer a seat

Invite the deity to take a seat for you to worship. Take and hold another flower in hand, say mantra then offer the flower. on the 

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Aasanam Samarpayaami.

Step 7: Wash Feet of Deity

Washing the deity’s feet with clean water as the mantra is chanted.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Paadyam Samarpayaami.

Step 8: Wash Mouth & Hands of Deity

Offering the deity water to rinse hands and mouth as the mantra is chanted.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Argyam Samarpayaami.

Step 9: Offer Deity Water to Sip

Offer the deity water to drink while the mantra is chanted.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Aachmanam Samarpayaami.

Step 10: Bathe the Deity

Bathing the deity with various auspicious items as the mantra is chanted. 

  1. Bathe with Water
  2. Bathe with Milk
  3. Bathe with Dhahi
  4. Bathe with Ghee
  5. Bathe with Honey
  6. Bathe with Sugar
  7. Bathe with Panchamrit

After offering all items wash and dry the deity and place on a clean taali.

  1. Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Shhudhoka Snaanam Samarpayaami.
  2. Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Dughdha Snaanam Samarpayaami.
  3. Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Dhahi Snaanam Samarpayaami.
  4. Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Grit Snaanam Samarpayaami.
  5. Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Madhu Snaanam Samarpayaami.
  6. Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Sharkaraa Snaanam Samarpayaami.
  7. Om Shri Durgayai Namaha atha Paanchamrita Snaanam Samarpayaami.
Step 11: Offer Clothes/Cloth/Cotton

Dressing the deity with clean clothes as the mantra is chanted.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Vastra Samarpayaami.

Step 12: Chandhan, Sindoor, Saffron

Apply to the Deity’s forhead.

  1. Offer Chandhan as tilak.
  2. Offer Sindhoor as tilak
  3. Offer Saffron as tilak
  1. Om Shri Durgayai  Namaha Chandanam Samarpayaami.
  2. Om Shri Durgayai  Namaha Sindhooram Tilakam Samarpayaami.
  3. Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Haridra Tilakam Samarpayaami.
Step 13: Offer Washed Rice

Offer washed rice to the deity.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha atha akshataan Samarpayaami.

Step 14: Flower Bath/Optional 108 offering

Either adorn the deity with flowers and/or optionally offer 108 flowers or petals. Offering one at the end of each mantra on the recitation of the word “namaha”.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha atha Pushpam Samarpayaami.

Chant 108 times.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha.

Step 15: Incense Aarti

Light incense sticks, perform incense aarti to the deity while chanting the mantra. Place safely in an incense stand or in a container safely.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Dhoopam Samarpayaami.

Step 16: Essence/Sandalwood paste

Sprinkle essence/perfume/rose water or spread fresh sandalwood paste
on the deity as the mantra is chanted.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Ghandam Samarpayaami.

Step 17: Offer a light

Wave the deeya/lamp/light to illuminate the freshly decorated deity while chanting the mantra.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Deepaha Samarpayaami.

Step 18: Offer Prasad

Offer water to the deity then offer prasad, fruit, sweet. The offering can be as elaborate or as simple as circumstances allow.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Naivedyam Samarpayaami.

Step 19: Offer Water

Offer the deity water to drink as the mantra is chanted. Offer the water to the mouth of the deity.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Aachmanam Samarpayaami.

Step 20: Offer Kasaili

Offering the deity betel nut/Kasaili as the mantra is chanted.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Taambulam Samarpayaami.

Step 21: Offer Coins

Offer a washed coin to the deity as the mantra is chanted.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Dakshinaam Samarpayaami.

Step 22: Offer Camphor and Cloves

Offer a washed cloves (which has a head) and a small piece of camphor to the deity as the mantra is chanted.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Niranjanam Samarpayaami.

Step 23: Offer a Handful of Flowers

Offer a handful of flowers or petals to the deity as the mantra is chanted.

Om Shri Durgayai Namaha Pushpanjali Samarpayaami.

Step 24: Mother Durga Aarti

Ambe Tu Hai Jagadambe Kali, Jai Durge Khappara Wali,
Tere Hi Guna Gaven Bharati, O Maiya Hama Saba Utare Teri Aarti।

Tere Bhakta Jano Para Mata Bhira Padi Hai Bhari।
Danava Dala Para Tuta Pado Maa Karake Sinha Sawari॥
Sau-Sau Sihon Se Balashali, Hai Ashta Bhujaon Wali,
Dushton Ko Tu Hi Lalakarati। O Maiya Hama Saba Utare Teri Aarti॥

Maa-Bete Ka Hai Isa Jaga Mein Bada Hi Nirmala Nata।
Puta-Kaputa Sune Hai Para Na Mata Suni Kumata॥
Saba Pe Karuna Darshane Wali, Amrita Barasane Wali,
Dukhiyon Ke Dukhade Nivarati। O Maiya Hama Saba Utare Teri Aarti॥

Nahin Mangate Dhana Aur Daulata, Na Chandi Na Sona।
Hama To Mangen Tere Charanon Mein Chhota Sa Kona॥
Sabaki Bigadi Banane Wali, Laja Bachane Wali,
Satiyon Ke Sata Ko Sanwarati।
O Maiya Hama Saba Utare Teri Aarti॥ Charana Sharana Mein Khade Tumhari, Le Puja Ki Thali।
Varada Hasta Sara Para Rakha Do Maa Sankata Harane Wali॥

Maa Bhara Do Bhakti Rasa Pyali, Ashta Bhujaon Wali,
Bhakton Ke Karaja Tu Hi Sarati। O Maiya Hama Saba Utare Teri Aarti॥

Step 25: Closing Prayer

Firstly turn clockwise 3 times.

Say Closing Prayer.

Finally Atha Udvasana, ask the deity to forgive you for any mistakes your may have unknowingly made. 

Bow and ask to leave. 

Aum Kayena Vacha Manasendriyairva
Buddhyatmanava Prakriteh Svabhavat
Karomi Yad Yat Sakalam Parasmai
Narayanayeti Samarpayami

Aum Asato Ma Sad Gamaya
Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya
Mrityor Ma Amritam Gamaya

Aum Tvameva Mataa Cha Pitaa Tvameva
Tvameva Bandhu Cha Sakhaa Tvameva
Tvameva Vidyaa Dravinam Tvameva
Tvameva Sarvam Mama Deva Deva