Page:Durga Puja - With Notes and Illustrations.djvu/58

 you are earth, you are well-formed, you are made of earth. Om commencing from Ganga all the rivers, all the seas, all the oceans, all tanks, lakes, &c., come and destroy the evils of the yajamana.

 THE PRELIMINARY PUJAS.

ceremonies are observed before every puja, and these are the arghyasthapana, the establishing of the ordinary oblation; the asana suddhi or the purifying of the carpet, on which the priest sits; the bhutasuddhi, or the purifying of the elements of which the body is composed; the dhyana or the meditation of the image of the god to be worshipped; the Nyases, and the worship of the several minor gods.

Before the establishment of the ordinary arghya, a handful of white mustard is taken, and it is scattered all about with the following mantra,(16) Om may those beings, who live on this earth, and who throw obstacles to the worship, the unbelievers and infidels, be removed and destroyed by command of Siva. Om vetalas, pisachas, rakshas, and all reptiles, may they be removed, for I am worshipping Durga. Then a bali is made of mas and curd, and with a handful of the same, the following mantra is repeated; Om bhutas, pretas, pisachas and others, whoever 