Ahoi Ashtami Puja
A mother's fast for her children, broken under the evening stars
Common way — most homes
Ahoi Ashtami, Krishna Ashtami of Ashwina (Amanta), with puja at dusk; the fast ends on seeing the stars. Muhurtha shows the day on the festival card.
A day's fast; about 20 minutes for the puja
Mothers keep this fast for their children's well-being, worshipping Ahoi Mata, drawn on the wall with seven sons or a porcupine's young. If a mantra is hard, "Om Ahoi Matre Namah" can stand in for any of them.
Prayers in this puja
Shubham Karoti ›Vakratunda Mahakaya ›Shuklambaradharam ›Mushikavahana ›
Get ready
The day before
- Buy or draw the Ahoi Mata picture.
- Prepare halwa, puri and a pot of water.
On the day
- Eat before sunrise if your family does, then begin the fast.
- Set up the picture on the wall before dusk.
What you need
For Ahoi Mata
- 1Ahoi Mata picture or wall drawing
- 1Pot of water, tied with red thread
- 1 plateHalwa and puri
- A littleRice and a little milk
- 1Silver or thread Ahoi pendantOptional.
- 1Small lamp
For the altar
- 1Clean cloth to place it onRed or yellow is traditional.
- 1Puja plate (thali)
On the plate
- 1Oil lamp (diya) with a cotton wickGhee or sesame oil.
- 2Incense sticks (agarbatti)
- A pinch eachKumkum and haldi
- A littleSandal paste (chandan)No chandan? Use kumkum.
- 1 tablespoonAkshat — unbroken rice grains mixed with a little kumkum
- A handfulFresh flowers
- 1Small vessel of clean water with a spoon
- 1Small bellOptional.
To offer
- A littleFruit, jaggery, sugar crystals (mishri) or anything cooked fresh at home
- 1 or 2 piecesCamphor for the aartiOptional; the lamp can be used instead.
The puja
Light the lamp
Light the lamp and place it to the right of the deity. Fold your hands to it.
śubhaṁ karōti kalyāṇamārōgyaṁ dhanasampadaḥ. śatrubuddhivināśāya dīpajyōtirnamō'stu tē.I bow to the flame of the lamp, which brings good fortune, well-being, health and wealth, and destroys ill will.Remember Ganesha
Every puja begins with Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Fold your hands and say the verse once.
vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakōṭisamaprabha. nirvighnaṁ kuru mē dēva sarvakāryēṣu sarvadā.O Ganesha of the curved trunk and mighty form, radiant as a crore suns, keep my every work free of obstacles, always.Sankalpa — state your intention
Hold a little water, akshat and a flower in your right palm. Say your name, today's date in the Hindu calendar, and why you are doing the puja — for example, for the well-being of the family. Then let the water fall on the ground or into a plate. Tap "Make sankalpa" to read today's full sankalpa.
Worship at dusk
Light the lamp before the picture. Offer rice, milk, halwa and puri with folded hands.
Hear the story
Read or tell the story of the mother who accidentally harmed a cub and prayed to set it right. Keep a little grain in hand and offer it after.
Kshama prarthana — ask forgiveness
With folded hands, ask forgiveness for anything done wrong or left out. This closes every puja.
āvāhanaṁ na jānāmi na jānāmi visarjanam. pūjāṁ caiva na jānāmi kṣamasva paramēśvara. mantrahīnaṁ kriyāhīnaṁ bhaktihīnaṁ surēśvara. yatpūjitaṁ mayā dēva paripūrṇaṁ tadastu mē.I do not know how to invite you, nor how to send you off, nor even how to worship; forgive me, O Lord. Whatever I have offered — lacking in mantra, in action or in devotion — may it be made whole.See the stars
Step out when the stars appear, and offer water from the pot towards them. Pray for your children, then break the fast with the prasad and water.
Fasting
Traditionally no food or water until the stars appear. Those who are pregnant, nursing, unwell or on medicine should drink water and eat; fruit is entirely acceptable.
Good to do
- Pray for all children in your care, including adopted ones and daughters.
- If clouds cover the sky, go by the time after dusk.
Tradition avoids
- Do not dig soil or harm small creatures today; tradition holds to this from the story.
- Do not push through dizziness; drink water.
A mother's wish is the same everywhere. The stars are only there to mark the hour.
Traditions vary. Follow your own family's way.