39. अर्चनम् arcanam:

There are three mini versions of arcana given here. Arcana means praise. Arcana comprises of different names and at the end of each name (nāma) flowers are offered. There is no tarpaṇa here. These three arcana-s are performed for Daṇḍanāthā (Vārāhi), Mantriṇī (Śyāmalā) and Lalitāmbikā respectively.

1. Daṇḍanāthā nāmārcanaṁ:

There are twelve nāma-s for Daṇḍanāthā available in Lalitā Māhātmyā section of Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa. Hayagrīva says to Agastya, “Listen to these twelve names of Daṇḍanāthā on hearing which, she will become pleased. If a person recites these twelve names with devotion, he will never have any miseries in his life.”

Following are the twelve names. Each of these twelve nāma-s are to be prefixed with om - aiṁ - glauṁ (ॐ – ऐं - ग्लौं) and at the end namaḥ (नमः) is to be added.

1. m - aiṁ - glauṁ pañcamyai namaḥ | ॐ – ऐं – ग्लौं पञ्चम्यै नमः।

2. daṇḍanāthāyai । दण्डनाथायै । 3. saṅketāyai । सङ्केतायै ।  4. Samayeśvaryai । समयेश्वर्यै ।

5.  samayasaṅketāyai | समयसङ्केतायै। 6. vārāhyai | वाराह्यै। 7. potriṇyai | पोत्रिण्यै।

8. śivāyai | शिवायै। 9. vārtālyai |  वार्ताल्यै। 10. mahāsenāyai | महासेनायै।

11. ājñācakreśvaryai | आज्ञाचक्रेश्वर्यै। 12. arighnyai || अरिघ्न्यै॥

2. Mantriṇī nāmārcanaṁ:

There are sixteen nāma-s for Mantriṇī available in Lalitā Māhātmyā section of Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa. Hayagrīva says to Agastya, “Gods and goddesses praised Mantriṇī by means of these sixteen names. If a person worships Mantriṇī Devi with these sixteen names, he will conquer the three worlds.”

Following are the sixteen nāma-s, which are to prefixed with praṇava and Bālā - om - aiṁ - klīṁ - sauḥ (ॐ - ऐं - क्लीं – सौः) and at the end namaḥ (नमः) is to be added.

1. om - aiṁ - klīṁ - sauḥ - saṅgītayoginyai namaḥ |   ॐ - ऐं - क्लीं – सौः - सङ्गीतयोगिन्यै नमः।

2. śyāmāyai | श्यामायै। 3. śyāmalāyai | श्यामलायै। 4. mantranāyikāyai | मन्त्रनायिकायै।

5. mantriṇyai | मन्त्रिण्यै। 6. saciveśānyai | सचिवेशान्यै। 7. pradhāneśyai | प्रधानेश्यै।

8. śukapriyāyai | शुकप्रियायै। 9. vīṇāvatyai | वीणावत्यै। 10. vaiṇikyai | वैणिक्यै।

11. mudriṇyai | मुद्रिण्यै। 12. priyakapriyāyai | प्रियकप्रियायै। 13. nīpapriyāyai | नीपप्रियायै।

14. kadambeśyai कदम्बेश्यै। 15. kadambavanavāsinyai | कदम्बवनवासिन्यै।

16. sadāmadāyai | सदामदायै।

3. Lalitāmbikā nāmārcanaṁ:

There are twenty five nāma-s for Lalitāmbikā available in Lalitā Māhātmyā section of Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa. Hayagrīva says to Agastya that these twenty five nāma-s were used by gods and goddesses in praising Her during war. Hayagrīva says that these nāma-s are like twenty five precious gems and are capable of subduing all the sins of a person.

Following are the twenty five nāma-s, which are to be prefixed with praṇava and tritāri (aiṁ - hrīṁ - śrīṁ ऐं - ह्रीं – श्रीं) and at the end namaḥ (नमः) is to be added.

1. om - aiṁ - hrīṁ - śrīṁ siṁhāsaneśyai namaḥ | ॐ - ऐं - ह्रीं – श्रीं सिंहासनेश्यै नमः।

2. lalitāyai | ललितायै। 3. mahārājñyai | महाराज्ञ्यै। 4. varāṅkuśāyai | वराङ्कुशायै।

5. cāpinyai | चापिन्यै। 6. tripurāyai | त्रिपुरायै। 7. mahātripurasundaryai | महात्रिपुरसुन्दर्यै।

8. sundaryai । सुन्दर्यै | 9. cakranāthāyai | चक्रनाथायै। 10. samrājñyai | सम्राज्ञ्यै।

11. cakriṇyai | चक्रिण्यै।12. cakreśvaryai | चक्रेश्वर्यै। 13. mahādevyai | महादेव्यै।

14. kāmeśyai | कामेश्यै।15. parameśvaryai | परमेश्वर्यै। 16. kāmarājapriyāyai | कामराजप्रियायै।

17. kāmakoṭikāyai | कामकोटिकायै। 18. cakravartinyai | चक्रवर्तिन्यै।

19. mahāvidyāyai | महाविद्यायै। 20. śivānaṅgavallabhāyai | शिवानङ्गवल्लभायै।

21. sarvapāṭalāyai | सर्वपाटलायै। 22. kulanāthāyai | कुलनाथायै।

23. āmnāyanāthāyai | आम्नायनाथायै। 24. sarvāmnāyanivāsinyai | सर्वाम्नायनिवासिन्यै।

25. śṛṅgāranāyikāyai | शृङ्गारनायिकायै।

Those who have time can do Lalitā Sahasranāma and Lalitā Triśatī arcana here. If flowers are not available, arcana can be done with kumkum. Instead of arcana, pārāyaṇa can also be done.  It is important that after Lalitā Triśatī no further arcane or pārāyaṇa should be done. After Lalitā Triśatī we should proceed with dhūpa, dīpa, etc.

40. धूपः dhūpaḥ:

(Dhūpa is subtly explained. In the fire, when aromatic powder is added, fragrant fumes come up. Fire is explained as Brahman, aromatic powder is explained as oblations of our karmendriya-s and jñānendriya-s; when attachment to the material world is annihilated, then the fragrance of the Self is revealed.)

Aroma of dhūpa should not be strong and should not be shown at Her face. While offering dhūpa, dhūpapātra should be kept away from Meru / Śri Cakra and Her idol as they are live due to proper and devoted performance of navāvaraṇa pūjā.

Mantra:

4 - धूरसि धूर्व धूर्वन्तं धूर्व तं योऽस्मान् धूर्वति तं धूर्वयं वयं धूर्वामस्त्वं देवानामसि सस्नितमं पप्रितमं जुष्टतमं वह्नितमं देवहूतममह्रतमसि हविर्धानं दृगुम् हस्व माह्वार्मित्रस्य त्वा चक्षुषा प्रेषे मा भेर्मा सम्विख्था मा त्वाहिगुंसिषम्॥

4 - dhūrasi dhūrva dhūrvantaṁ dhūrva taṁ yo'smān dhūrvati taṁ dhūrvayaṁ vayaṁ dhūrvāmastvaṁ devānāmasi sasnitamaṁ papritamaṁ juṣṭatamaṁ vahnitamaṁ devahūtamamahratamasi havirdhānaṁ dṛgum hasva māhvārmitrasya tvā cakṣuṣā preṣe mā bhermā samvikhthā mā tvāhiguṁsiṣam ||

4 - अकिलाण्डकोटि ब्रह्माण्डनायकि श्री राजराजेश्वरि ललिता महात्रिपुरसुन्दरी परा भट्टारिका महादेव्यै नमः। धूपमाघ्रापयामि॥

4 - akilāṇḍakoṭi brahmāṇḍanāyaki śrī rājarājeśvari lalitā mahātripurasundarī parā bhaṭṭārikā mahādevyai namaḥ | dhūpamāghrāpayāmi ||

धूपानन्तरं आचमनीयं समर्पयामि॥ dhūpānantaraṁ ācamanīyaṁ samarpayāmi ||

(take small quantity of uttaraṇi water from vardhanīkalaśa and offer in the ācamanīya vessel).

41. दीपः dīpaḥ:

Three types of dīpa-s are discussed here - pañcahāratī dīpaṁ (पञ्चहारती दीपं), ekahāratī dīpaṁ (एकहारती दीपं) and pūrṇakuṁbha dīpaṁ (पूर्णकुंभ दीपं). Each of these dīpa-s have their own significance which are explained along with the respective mantras. There is one more dīpa called kuladīpa (कुलदीपं), which comes after naivedya. After kuladīpa, nīrājana is performed.

Agni is elaborately worshiped in Vedas. There are more number of verses for Agni, than any other gods in Vedas, as the effects of oblations offered in yajña-s are carried by Agni to the respective gods. Rig Veda (VI.2.4) praises Agni thus. “O! Agni! May the mortal who propitiates the benefactor and the bountiful Lord with intelligent actions, with the assistance of divine resplendent powers come safe through the straits of enmity and sin.” (this is a prayer to Agni and forms the basis for dipārādhana-s).

i) pañcahāratī dīpaṁ:

This is based on Taittirīya Upaniṣad (I.vii). The Upaniṣad says that different five folds, both external and internal are expressions of Brahman. What matters is oneness of these multiple five folds. When a person realizes this, he is the Lord of universe, he becomes one with Brahman. As far pañcahāratī dīpaṁ is concerned, it refers to the existence of five folds such as loka pāṅkta , devatā pāṅkta, bhūta pāṅkta, prāṇa pāṅkta, indriya pāṅkta, dhātu pāṅkta (pāṅkta means fivefold), etc. Though they exist as fivefold, they ultimately become one with Brahman and this is conveyed through ekahāratī dīpaṁ, which follows pañcahāratī dīpaṁ.

Mantra:

4 - पञ्च हुतो हवै नामैषः। तं वा एतं पञ्चहुतगुम् सन्तम्। पञ्चहोतेत्याचक्षते परोक्षेण। परोक्षप्रिया इव हि देवाः॥

4 - अकिलाण्डकोटि ब्रह्माण्डनायकि श्री राजराजेश्वरि ललिता महात्रिपुरसुन्दरी परा भट्टारिका महादेव्यै नमः। पञ्चहारती दीपं दर्शयामि। दीपनन्त्रं आचमनीयं समर्पयामि। पुष्पैः पूजयामि॥

4 - pañca huto havai nāmaiṣaḥ | taṁ vā etaṁ pañcahutagum santam | pañcahotetyācakṣate parokṣeṇa | parokṣapriyā iva hi devāḥ ||

4 - akilāṇḍakoṭi brahmāṇḍanāyaki śrī rājarājeśvari lalitā mahātripurasundarī parā bhaṭṭārikā mahādevyai namaḥ | pañcahāratī dīpaṁ darśayāmi | dīpanantraṁ ācamanīyaṁ samarpayāmi | puṣpaiḥ pūjayāmi* ||

(* offer only flowers)

ii) ekahāratī dīpaṁ:

4 - उद्दीप्यस्व जातवेदोऽपघ्नन्निऋतिं मम। पशूगुम्श्च मह्य मावह जीवनं च दिशो दिश। मानो हिगुंसीज्जातवेदो गामश्वं पुरुषं जगत्। अबिभ्रदग्न आगहि श्रिया मा परिपातय॥

4 - अकिलाण्डकोटि ब्रह्माण्डनायकि श्री राजराजेश्वरि ललिता महात्रिपुरसुन्दरी परा भट्टारिका महादेव्यै नमः।एकहारती दीपं दर्शयामि॥ दीपनन्त्रं आचमनीयं समर्पयामि। पुष्पैः पूजयामि॥

4 - uddīpyasva jātavedo'paghnanniṛtiṁ mama | paśūgumśca mahya māvaha jīvanaṁ ca diśo diśa |  māno higuṁsījjātavedo gāmaśvaṁ puruṣaṁ jagat | abibhradagna āgahi śriyā mā paripātaya  ||

4 - akilāṇḍakoṭi brahmāṇḍanāyaki śrī rājarājeśvari lalitā mahātripurasundarī parā bhaṭṭārikā mahādevyai namaḥ | ekahāratī dīpaṁ darśayāmi || dīpanantraṁ ācamanīyaṁ samarpayāmi | puṣpaiḥ pūjayāmi ||

iii) pūrṇakuṁbha dīpaṁ:

The concept of pūrṇakuṁbha dīpa is to convey that all worldly desires are burnt by the fuel of non-attachment and with the wick of devotion. When the light is lit with the fuel of non- attachment and with the wick of devotion, the light of knowledge dawns.

4 - वैराग्य तैलसंपूर्णे भक्तिवर्ति समन्विते।

प्रबोधपूर्ण पात्रे तु ज्ञप्ति दीपं विलोकयेत्॥

@ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमित्दं पूर्णात् पूर्ण मुदच्यते।

पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवाशिष्यते॥

4 - अकिलाण्डकोटि ब्रह्माण्डनायकि श्री राजराजेश्वरि ललिता महात्रिपुरसुन्दरी परा भट्टारिका महादेव्यै नमः।एकहारती दीपं दर्शयामि॥ दीपनन्त्रं आचमनीयं समर्पयामि। पूर्णकुंबदीपं दर्शयामि। दीपनन्त्रं आचमनीयं समर्पयामि। पुष्पैः पूजयामि॥

4 - vairāgya tailasaṁpūrṇe bhaktivarti samanvite |

prabodhapūrṇa pātre tu jñapti dīpaṁ vilokayet ||

@ pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamitdaṁ pūrṇāt pūrṇa mudacyate |

pūrṇasya pūrṇamādāya pūrṇamevāśiṣyate ||

4 - akilāṇḍakoṭi brahmāṇḍanāyaki śrī rājarājeśvari lalitā mahātripurasundarī parā bhaṭṭārikā mahādevyai namaḥ | pūrṇakuṁbadīpaṁ darśayāmi | dīpanantraṁ ācamanīyaṁ samarpayāmi | puṣpaiḥ pūjayāmi ||

@ This couplet is from Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad (V.i). It says, “That (the Brahman) is infinite and this (universe) is infinite.  The infinite proceeds from infinite.  Then, taking the infinitude of the infinite (universe), it remains as the Infinite (the Brahman) alone.”