The Sadhana of Bhagavati Shakambhari Durga — Origin, Anushthan Vidhi and the One-Day Purnima Prayoga

Who is Bhagavati Shakambhari and how did that form come about?

The speaker describes Shakambhari as that form of Bhagavati Durga which is world-renowned by the name Shakambhari. When famine fell on the entire world because of Durgamasura, Jagadamba took the Shatakshi form — manifesting a hundred eyes in her body — and through those eyes flowed water, that is tears, by which the world was replenished with water and every shaak and vegetable sprang up again.

The speaker introduces the sadhana of Bhagavati Shakambhari: that swaroop of Bhagavati Durga which is known throughout the world by the name Shakambhari. When famine fell across the whole world on account of Durgamasura, he says, Jagadamba took on the Shatakshi form — that is, she manifested a hundred eyes in her body — and through those eyes water, meaning tears, was made to flow. From that very water the whole world's supply of water was made good, and the shaak, all the greens and vegetables there are, came into being once more and were able to grow again. The swaroop that Jagadamba held after that is the one taken to be the Shakambhari swaroop.

How closely related are Shakambhari and Annapurna?

The speaker says the swaroop of Bhagavati Shakambhari and the swaroop of Bhagavati Annapurna, and especially a great many of their tantra-related mantras and vidhans, are almost one and the same.

The speaker sets the two forms side by side: the swaroop of Bhagavati Shakambhari and the swaroop of Bhagavati Annapurna. And, he says in particular, a great many of the tantra-related mantras and vidhans belonging to them are roughly identical to one another.

Why should a householder do an Annapurna or Shakambhari anushthan?

In our daily life, and a grihastha sadhak especially, should keep performing an anushthan of either Bhagavati Annapurna or Bhagavati Shakambhari from time to time. By their kripa prasad there is never any shortage of anna, dhan, vastra and the like in our house and family.

In our nitya life, the speaker says, and a grihastha sadhak in particular, we should from time to time keep performing an anushthan and the like of either Bhagavati Annapurna or Bhagavati Shakambhari. By whose kripa prasad, he says, there is never any lack of anna, dhan, vastra and so on in our house and family. Today's discussion, he announces, will be specifically on the sadhana anushthan of Bhagavati Shakambhari Durga.

Who is eligible to perform the Shakambhari sadhana?

The speaker says any person at all can do this sadhana — whether he is initiated or uninitiated — and women and men, anyone, can do it.

On eligibility the speaker is explicit: this sadhana can be done by any person whatsoever, whether that person is diksha-holding or without Diksha. Women and men alike, he says — anyone can do it.

When is the best time to begin the Shakambhari sadhana?

The best time to begin is any Navratri of the year, whether prakat or gupt Navratri. The sadhana may also be begun from any special parva kaal, and it can also be begun from a Purnima tithi.

To begin this sadhana, the speaker says, the finest time is any Navratri of the year — this sadhana can be done in a prakat Navratri or in a Gupt Navratri. Or the sadhana may be begun from any special parva kaal as well. You can also begin this sadhana from the Poornima tithi.

Red or yellow cloth and asana, facing east or north, before a chaturbhuja or ashtabhuja vigraha

In the sadhana one is to use red or yellow cloth in particular, and to do the japa facing the eastern or northern direction. The asana too will be yellow or red. One may install the Shri Vigraha of Jagadamba Bhagavati, who is four-armed, or one may also do upasana here of the eight-armed Durga, and do the archan pujan upon that same Shri Vigraha.

In the sadhana, the speaker says, you are to use red or yellow vastra in particular. The japa is to be done facing the east or the north direction, and the asana too will be yellow or red. You may install the Shri Vigreh of Jagadamba Bhagavati, who is chaturbhuja, four-armed. Or else you may do the upasana in this of the ashtabhuja Durga as well. Upon that same Shri Vigraha you may do their archan and pujan.

Guru and Ganapati smaran, then dhyan — the viniyoga, nyas and mantras are in the linked PDF

First, after doing smaran of Guru, Ganapati and the rest, one does the dhyan of Bhagavati Shakambhari Durga. A link to a PDF file is given in the video description in which the viniyoga of this sadhana of Bhagavati, the rishi and other nyas, kar nyas and hriday nyas are all written, along with the dhyan mantra and the japa mantra. That is what is to be done.

First of all, the speaker says, after doing smaran of Guru, Ganapati and the rest, we will do the dhyan of Bhagavati Shakambhari Durga. In the description of this video a link is given to a PDF file in which the Viniyoga of this sadhana of Bhagavati, the rishi and other Nyasa, the kar nyas and the hriday nyas are all written out. The dhyan mantra and the like are written there, and the japa mantra is written there too. That very thing is what is to be performed.

The Shakambhari kavach, or Bhagavati's Chandi Durga kavach from the Saptashati where it isn't available

Before performing that, the speaker says, you may do a path of the Shakambhari kavach. If it is not available, then do a path of Bhagavati's Chandi Durga kavach, whose description is in the Saptashati. After that, perform the anushthan of this mantra.

Before doing that vidhi, the speaker says, you may do a path of the Shakambhari Kavach. If that is not available, then do a path of Bhagavati's Chandi Durga Kavach, the one whose description stands in the Durga Saptashati. And after that, perform the anushthan of this mantra.

A sava lakh with dashansh havan, tarpan and marjan and nine kanyas — or 27,000 as the ordinary count

This mantra should be japa'd as much as possible. If you do a sava lakh japa of this mantra and its dashansh havan, its dashansh tarpan, its dashansh marjan, and a bhoj of nine kanyas, then the kripa of Bhagavati Shakambhari is obtained by you in a special way. The ordinary form is at least 27,000 japa of this mantra with dashansh havan, tarpan and marjan.

This mantra, the speaker says, should be japa'd as much as one possibly can. If you do a sava lakh Mantra Japa of this mantra and then its dashansh Havan, its dashansh TarpanaA libation offering of water or other substances made to a deity or ancestor, typically performed alongside Havan and Marjan., its dashansh Marjana, and a bhoj of nine kanyas, then the kripa of Bhagavati Shakambhari is obtained by you in a special manner. The ordinary form, he says, is that at least 27,000 japa of this mantra should be done, with dashansh havan, tarpan and marjan.

No one afflicted by hunger or thirst may be passed over — not an enemy, not an animal

The sadhak of this mantra must, in any circumstance whatsoever, help any person afflicted by anna — that is, by hunger — or whose thirst for water has greatly risen, even if that person is an enemy. One is never to see anyone hungry. If a hungry person is met, one is to help them with anna to the limit of one's capacity, and even if it is an animal that is hungry, one should give them one's support to whatever extent one's buddhi works at that moment, whatever capability one's body provides, and however financially able one is.

The speaker lays a standing obligation on the sadhak of this mantra. Should any person be afflicted by anna — meaning by hunger — or should their thirst be greatly risen on account of water, then the sadhak of this mantra must, in any circumstance whatsoever, extend his cooperation to them, even if that person is an enemy. That is: one is never to see anyone hungry. If a hungry person is met, one is to help them with anna to the extent of one's capacity. Even if it is some animal that is hungry — whatever your buddhi works out at that moment, whatever capability your body provides, however financially able you are — to that extent, he says, you should give them your support, and should satisfy their kshudha and their trishna.

Why does feeding the hungry please Bhagavati in this sadhana?

It is said that if this is done, Bhagavati is pleased quickly. This is said, the speaker explains, because when you do the sadhana of Annapurna and Shakambhari Durga she takes your examination through this very swaroop; and when you help someone with anna and satisfy their hunger, it is Bhagavati herself who, being satisfied, bestows kripa upon you.

It is said, the speaker reports, that if it is done this way Bhagavati becomes pleased quickly. This has also been said, he explains, for the following reason: when you perform the sadhana of Annapurna and Shakambhari Durga, she takes your examination through this very swaroop. And when you help someone with anna, when you satisfy their kshudha, then it is Bhagavati herself who is satisfied and bestows her kripa upon you. In this manner, he says, you may perform this sadhana.

Which Purnima is Bhagavati Shakambhari's avataran divas?

Apart from Navratri, the speaker says the Purnima — especially the Purnima of the month of Paush — has been called Bhagavati's avataran divas: on that very day Jagadamba took this swaroop. On that day too a one-day sadhana may be done in a special way.

Besides Navratri, the speaker says, of the Purnimas it is the Poornima of the month of Paush in particular that has been called Bhagavati's avataran divas — on that very day Jagadamba took on this swaroop. So on that day too, he says, you may do this one-day sadhana in a special way.

What is the one-day Purnima form of the Annapurna or Shakambhari sadhana?

If you are short of time, the Annapurna sadhana or the Shakambhari sadhana may also be done as a one-day sadhana on the Purnima tithi of any month. In one day you will do japa to your capacity, as much as you can manage: 5,000 japa with its dashansh havan, tarpan and marjan, and a bhoj of one kanya — or the food, clothing and shringar articles of one kanya, all of which you may also donate at a temple. In this manner, the speaker says, accomplish the sadhana.

Or, the speaker says, if you are short of time, then the Annapurna sadhana or the Shakambhari sadhana may also be done as a one-day sadhana on the Poornima tithi of any month. In one day you will do japa to your capacity, as much as you are able. 5,000 japa, with its dashansh Havan, TarpanaA libation offering of water or other substances made to a deity or ancestor, typically performed alongside Havan and Marjan. and Marjana, and a bhoj of one kanya — or whatever the food of one kanya is, their vastra and so on, the shringar articles: all of that you may also donate at a temple. In this manner, he says, bring the sadhana to siddhi.

Five or eleven malas of the nitya mantra daily, once the anushthan is complete

For prayoga, after performing this anushthan you may do five malas or eleven malas of the nitya mantra as a daily japa.

For prayoga, the speaker says, after having performed this anushthan you may daily do a japa of five Mala or eleven malas of the mantra that is the nitya one. He closes with the hope that all will gain benefit from the video, and with his own prayer to Jagadamba that on completing this sadhana one will be happy and prosperous in every way in one's home.