The second question is, recently through my fathers friend , my father spoke to an astrologer, the astrologer assured success in the future but also said there is naga dosha and we have to do a pooja. I have heard from your talks by chanting the Mothers name and staying close to the mother every obstacle can be cleared. And we have had instances where we have already done the pooja 1 time before and now again they say the same thing. Now what path should I take, I have complete faith in the mother and would like to stay close to the mother by chanting ma ma ma and offering everything I do to her. Should I also do the pooja?
I got this dream one month ago, I saw the mothers form in front of a glowing light and intense mantras were being chanted , I felt a very powerful energy. I woke up with enthusiasm and reflected upon the dream, it gave me the power to be more confident in my daily life and it has worked.
Thank you Alokda for all your service. Very Grateful. Jai Ma
As to the question about performing annual Puja to the deceased, it surely entered later on in the practice. Lord Rama performed it only once and that too on the banks of Saryu without a priest or formal rituals. The present system of annual sraddh ceremony possibly originated in the belief that some souls may hang in the vital world for a longer period. But this is extremely rare and generally doesn’t extend beyond a maximum of three years in extreme cases, say of suicide or a very violent young death. Later it got converted into an annual ritual as a day to remember the departed and thereby release one’s own psychological burden with regard to the departed. Otherwise there is no real reason for continuing the practice annually when we speak of rebirth taking place soon thereafter.
As to Poojas, certainly one doesn’t need them when one has a complete faith in the Divine Mother. After all it is only the highest Divine Grace that can interfere with the workings of Fate without upsetting the interconnecting elements. These pujas help mainly remove certain negative elemental energies that might have entered in the atmosphere of a person thereby creating a disturbance in his personal life. They do not and cannot influence the actual workings of Fate. But in either case what can be better than taking refuge in the arms of the Divine Mother for everything. It is the best shield of all.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
