Religion:Nisha Puja
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| Nisha Puja निशा पूजा | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Hindu festival |
| Begins | Saptami tithi |
| Ends | Ashtami tithi |
| Frequency | annually |
| Venue | Durga Puja Mandir |
| Location(s) | Indian subcontinent |
| Founder | Author of Puranas |
Nisha Puja (Devanagari: निशा पूजा) is a sacred ritualistic occasion in Hinduism to experience the power and grace of the Goddess Durga at the mid night time on the Saptami tithi during Durga Puja festival in the Indian subcontinent.[1][2] It holds special significance in the Durga Puja festival.[3] The Hindu adherents, believe that this worship helps them to dispel the darkness of life and promote positivity and hope.[4]
Etymology
According to Hindu scriptures, the term Nisha means night. During the Durga Puja festival, the Ashtami tithi has its own significance but it starts at the midnight of the Saptami day, so the worship of Goddess Durga is conducted at night when the Saptami tithi ends and Ashtami tithi starts. Since the rituals of the worship is conducted at night, so it is called as Nisha Puja which translates as worship at night.[3]
Description
On this occasion, the worship and aarti of Goddess Mahishasuramardini Jagadamba is performed by lighting as many diyas as possible, five, eleven, twenty-one, fifty-four, one hundred and eight, at the prayer place of our homes. It believed that at least five diyas should be lighted there.[5] In the evening of the day, a sacred Nisha Jatra of devotees is also observed.[6] In the Mithila region of the subcontinent, a special ritual of Beltodi is also performed by the Maithil people in the region on this day.[7]
During the rituals of Nisha Puja, Kalaratri form of Goddess Durga is worshipped.[8] It is observed all over the subcontinent. According to legend, the colour of Goddess Kalaratri is black. Due to her colour, she is called Kalaratri. She is the most terrible form of Maa Adishakti. Her vehicle is a gardabha.[9] There are some specific mantra, stuti, prarthana and kavach recitations. The major mantra of chanting during the rituals of Nisha Puja is
ॐ देवी कालरात्र्यै नमः॥
— Kalaratri Mantra
In the tradition of Tantra Sadhana, the Nisha Puja represents a sacred time for wishing power. The followers of the Tantra Sadhana tradition known as Tantrics, perform special secret ceremonies. They use to perform all kinds of left-handed rituals during this time.[10]
Ritual process
The Nisha Puja includes a night jagaran (vigil) and worshipping Goddess Durga. The devotees in the jagaran perform different rituals to praise and please Goddess Jagdamba. During the night jagaran, recitation of Durga Saptashati, Durga Kavach, Hriday and Satnaam Paath are conducted by Brahmins or Pundit. According to adherents, reciting Durga Saptashati as per Markandeya Purana helps in pleasing Goddess Jagdamba. During the Nisha Puja, there is a provision of Panchamakara worship. In the Panchamakara Puja cow's milk, curd and ghee made from cow's milk, honey and sugar are used for rituals.[11] The worship and rituals of Nisha Puja starts around 12 o'clock in the midnight. Goddess Durga is decorated with 16 shringars (adornments) on this occasion. On this occasion, 56 types of offerings are offered to the Goddess.[8]
In the mid night of the Saptami day, two types of worships are conducted. They are Nisha Puja and Sandhi Puja. The Sandhi Puja refers to the time when Saptami ends and Ashtami begins. The indic term Sandhi literally means to connect.[3]
References
- ↑ Mahatyagi, Raman Das (1998) (in en). Illustrated New Horizons of Yoga and Tantra. Chaukhambha Orientalia. https://books.google.com/books/about/Illustrated_New_Horizons_of_Yoga_and_Tan.html?id=Q4HXAAAAMAAJ#nisha%20puja%20in%20navratri.
- ↑ Sinha, Yoganand (1996) (in en). Mahamaya-- Womb of the Universe. Michigan State University. Department of Anthropology. https://books.google.com/books/about/Mahamaya_Womb_of_the_Universe.html?id=PQx_lKBZcDQC#nisha%20puja.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Navratri 2025: कब और क्यों मनाई जाती है नवपत्रिका और निशा पूजा? यहां जानें धार्मिक महत्व - When And Why Are Navpatrika And Nisha Puja celebrated Know religious significance" (in hi). https://www.jagran.com/spiritual/religion-when-and-why-are-navpatrika-and-nisha-puja-celebrated-know-religious-significance-24063667.html.
- ↑ "अमावस्या आज, रेलवे कालीबाड़ी में बंगाली समिति करेगी निशा पूजा - Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) News" (in hi). 2024-11-30. https://www.bhaskar.com/local/chhattisgarh/bilaspur/news/amavasya-today-bengali-committee-will-do-nisha-puja-in-railway-kalibari-134040643.html.
- ↑ "आज होगी निशा पूजा, कम से कम 5 दीये जलाए" (in hi). 2022-10-02. https://www.livehindustan.com/jharkhand/jamshedpur/story-nisha-puja-will-be-done-today-light-at-least-5-diyas-7166525.html.
- ↑ Sundar, Nandini (1997) (in en). Subalterns and Sovereigns: An Anthropological History of Bastar, 1854-1996. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-564116-5. https://books.google.com/books/about/Subalterns_and_Sovereigns.html?id=SmVuAAAAMAAJ#nisha.
- ↑ "बेल फल से हुई मां कालरात्रि की विशेष पूजा -" (in hi). https://www.jagran.com/bihar/araria-aaaa-19643854.html.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "कालरात्रि की पूजा अर्चना: शक्तिपीठ मां मंगलागौरी मंदिर में निशा पूजा आज, मां का होगा 16 शृंगार - Gaya News" (in hi). 2022-10-02. https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/gaya/news/nisha-puja-in-shaktipeeth-maa-mangalagouri-temple-today-the-mother-will-have-16-makeup-130388579.html.
- ↑ "Kalratri Nisha Puja 2020: आज महासप्तमी को करें कालरात्रि निशा पूजा, जानें मुहूर्त, मंत्र और कवच के बारे में - Kalratri Nisha Puja 2020 Date Muhurat Mantra Vidhi And Significance" (in hi). https://www.jagran.com/spiritual/puja-path-kalratri-nisha-puja-2020-date-muhurat-mantra-vidhi-and-significance-20936511.html?app=true&utm_source=referral&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=deeplink.
- ↑ Sinha, Yoganand (1996) (in en). Mahamaya-- Womb of the Universe. Michigan State University. Department of Anthropology. pp. 151. https://books.google.co.in/books?id=PQx_lKBZcDQC&q=Nisha+Puja&dq=Nisha+Puja&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjz2K3xgNSVAxXVTmwGHZ8RAusQ6AF6BAgREAM#Nisha%20Puja.
- ↑ "Nisha Puja Vidhi: निशा पूजा से मां जगदंबा होंगी प्रसन्न, पाएं मनवांछित वरदान, इस विधि से करें आराधना" (in hi). 2025-09-24. https://hindi.news18.com/news/dharm/navratri-nisha-puja-tantrik-vaidik-secrets-local18-ws-l-9661407.html.
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