Kalashsthapana/ Ghatasthapana is the ritual of placing the Kalash or Ghata (a pot filled with holy water) on a Shubh Muhurat, at a fixed place for Navratri Puja on the first Tithi Pratipada or Padwa.
This ritual is performed twice a year at a certain auspicious Muhurat during the month of Chaitra Maas and Ashwin Maas.
Priests or Pundits tell about the auspicious time or Shubh Muhurat of Ghatasthapana or Kalasha Sthapana.
Also read: Chaitra Navratri/Vasant Navratri, Gudi Padwa and Ugadi
Chaitra Navratri 2023/ Muhurat for Ghata Sthapana or Navratri Kalashsthapana
Ghatasthapana or Kalasha Sthapana Muhurat is on Wednesday, Samvat 2080, March 22, 2023, in Meen Lagna (Dvisvabhava Lagna) on Pratipada or Padwa Tithi.
The first day of Chaitra Navratri Puja Muhurat for Kalashsthapana or Ghatasthapana Muhurta begins after Sunrise, from 06: 24 AM- 07: 33AM. The duration of Muhurata is 1hour, and 9 minutes (IST).
Abhijit Muhurat for Chaitra Navratri Ghatasthapana
Abhijit Muhurat is from 12: 31 PM to 01: 16 PM (IST) on Wednesday 22nd March 2023.
Method of Kalashsthapana for Navratri
1) Take a small clay shallow pan(pot) or a Kalash with a wide mouth as a base and fill it with soil or mud. Scatter three layers of each of mud and seeds of barley or Sapta Dhanya or Nav Dhanya (seeds of seven or nine different grains) in the pan. Add some water so that the seeds get enough moisture to germinate.
Draw a Swastika symbol and write ‘Om’ on the wall of the Kalash or pot.
Light a lamp filled with a wick and ghee (Deepak) in front of the lamp. On the ninth day with the end of the Navaratri, shoots grow up to a certain length.
On Navami or the last day of Navratri Puja, these shoots ate taken from the pot and given to the people as Prasad of Maa Durga.
Note: In some regions of West India sisters put these shoots on the back of both the ears of their brothers, on the auspicious Dussehra festival. Brothers give money to the sisters as a Dussehra gift.
Kalashsthapana or Ghatasthapana/ Navratri
2)Take another Kalash (preferably made of brass) smaller than the size of the mouth of the clay pot, draw a holy Swastika symbol, and write ‘Om’ on the pot with Roli.
Fill it with Gangajal or holy water (full). Cover with a lid, Betal-nut(supari), washed Akshat (unbroken raw rice mixed with turmeric powder) and Durva grass is put in the water.
3)Take a silver coin having the picture of Maa Durga and immerse it into the Kalash. Tie the sacred thread (Moli)on the neck of the Kalash.
4)Finally, take an unpeeled coconut, wrap it with a red-colored cloth and tie a sacred thread (Moli)around it, cover the neck by placing it on top of the Kalash with its fiber protruding upward.
5)Place five leaves of washed Ashoka or Mango tree and place on the neck of Kalash around the coconut.
6)Put this Kalash on the clay or mud pan in the center (filled with mud and Nav Dhanya grains). Draw a Swastika with red color Roli or Kumkum and water paste on this pot, as well as at the front door of the house.
Invoke Lord Ganesha and Maa Durga after Kalashsthapana on Navratri.
Invoke Lord Ganesha and Maa Durga
1. After Kalashsthapana, invoke Lord Ganesha and Maa Durga and pray to Goddess to come into the house and reside in the Kalash during the Navaratri days, enchanting Arti.
First, light Akhand Jyoti, and perform Aarti with Deepak by showing a lighted lamp (filled with ghee) Dhup, and Agarbatti (incense sticks)to the Kalash and nine forms of Maa Durga.
Offer some Roli (red color powder for Tilak), Moli, Vastra, scent, flowers, a garland of flowers, eleven betel leaves, cardamom, cloves, betel nuts (Supari) Akshat (unbroken rice) to the Kalash and Maa Durga.
Also offer fruits, sweets (Bhog), and Jal (holy water) to the Kalash, Maa Durga, and the coconut.
Distribute prasad to all the people who are present there.
2. On the ninth day with the end of Navratri, shoots grow up to a certain length. Take the shoots from the soil pot and distribute this with the other items offered for Bhoga during Puja to the persons as Prasad of Maa Durga, present there, after the nine days of Navratri.
Sprinkle the holy water of the Kalash in the whole house and on the members of the house for the blessings of Maa Durga and Lord Ganesha (coconut)
Items for the Ghatasthapana or Kalashsthapana, Navratri Puja
1. Brass pot or pitcher (Kalash).
2. Holy (pure) water or Ganga Jala(Ganges water) for filling into the Kalash and also for offering Jal in a different pot to the Kalash, coconut, and Maa Durga.
3. A Silver coin with the picture of sitting Maa Durga.
4. A Wooden Chauki covered with a red color cloth for Kalashsthapana.
5. Idol (Murti) or Photo of Maa Durga.
Other items for Kalashsthapana
6. Roli 7. Moli (red-colored holy thread) 8. Small clay pot with a wide mouth. 9. Mud or soil. 10. Akshata (unbroken and washed rice).
11. Unpeeled coconut.
12. A piece of red cloth. 13. Scent (Itara.)
14. Seeds of Barley or seven different grains
15. 11 Betel nuts (whole Supari)
16. Fresh Durva grass.
17. Fresh Marigold flowers and garland.
18. Cloves, Cardamom, and betel leaves (Pan) and Puja Thal (plate).
19. Agarbatti (incense sticks), Deepak (filled with ghee), Dhup, and a matchbox.
20. Chunari or small sari, bangles, and material for make-up.
21. Five leaves of Ashoka or Mango (fresh and washed with clean water).
22. Sandalwood stick or powder for putting on coconut.
23. Bell and Shankha.
24. Fresh Fruits and sweets for Prasad. 25. Durga Saptashati (book for Path)
Mantra, Strotam, Beej Mantra from Durga Saptashati
One should recite Kshama Yachana, Argala Strotam, and Keelakam from Durga Saptashati.
Recite the following Beej Mantra from Durga Saptashati 108 times for the blessings from Goddess Durga :
“Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Vichche”
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे
32 secret Names of Goddess Maa Durga (Dvatrinsh Namavali)
If possible recite the following 32 secret Names of Goddess Maa Durga (Dvatrinsh Namavali) daily or during Navratri to become free from fear and remove most of the obstacles:
1. दुर्गा 2. दुर्गार्तिशमनी 3. दुर्गापद्विनिवारिणी 4. दुर्गमच्छेदनी 5. दुर्गसाधिनी 6. दुर्गनाशिनी 7. दुर्गतोद्धारिणी 8. दुर्गनिहन्त्री
9. दुर्गमापहा 10. दुर्गमज्ञानदा 11. दुर्गदैत्यलोकदवानला 12. दुर्गमा 13. दुर्गमालोका 14. दुर्गमात्मस्वरुपिणी 15. दुर्गमार्गप्रदा 16. दुर्गमविद्या
17. दुर्गमाश्रिता 18. दुर्गमज्ञानसंस्थाना 19. दुर्गमध्यानभासिनी 20. दुर्गमोहा 21. दुर्गमगा 22. दुर्गमार्थस्वरुपिणी 23. दुर्गमासुरसंहंत्रि 24. दुर्गमायुधधारिणी 25. दुर्गमांगी 26. दुर्गमता 27. दुर्गम्या 28. दुर्गमेश्वरी 29. दुर्गभीमा 30. दुर्गभाम 31. दुर्गभा 32. दुर्गदारिणी
