Page:Durga Puja - With Notes and Illustrations.djvu/59

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dwell here, may they receive this ball distributed by me. With a flower the following mantra is uttered:—May they, who have been propitiated by bali, and worshipped with flowers, withdraw from this place, and let me worship Durga. Om phat to the weapons. Then taking fried rice, chandan, mustard, fruits, flowers, rice, and durva(17) seven times repeat Om phat to the weapons. Scatter the same all round with the following mantra, Om may those beings, who are the protectors of this earth be removed that I may worship Durga in their absence.

The Arghyasthapana(18).—The shastras enjoin the following directions to the priest for the formation of the arghya: Describe a triangle on the left and worship it with a flower uttering these words, Om obeisance to the Sustaining Force Upon it place the tripod, and after washing the conch shell with Om phat, and putting it on the tripod, fill three-four this of it with water, repealing the mantra Om nama. Put rice and durva on the conch shell, and with the following mantra and goad-mudra invoke the descent of the several holy rivers from the solar sphere, Om Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu Caveri, come into this water, and then worship them. Place chandan and flower with Om in the water, pre-