Today's Goddess:Gujeswari

Gujeswari Jatra (Nepal)

Themes: Earth; Water; Abundance; Offering; Prayer

Symbol: A Bowl of Water

About Gujeswari: Gujeswari is a potent Nepalese Goddess of Earth and all its bounty, and today is her festival day. In many temples, the Goddess's presence is represented by a simple bowl of water, the life- giving substance and purifier of body, mind, and spirit.

To Do Today: Buddhists and Hindus in this region honour the Mother Goddess Gujeswari today by giving her offerings, usually preceded by fasting and prayer. Follow this example, and put a bowl of fresh water on your altar or a special place where it won't be disturbed for the day. If physically feasible, abstain from eating one meal today to honour the earth and Gujeswari's goodness by returning (or preserving) some of her bounty. Otherwise, simply abstain from a favourite food for the day as a kind of sacred sacrifice.

At the end of the day, just before you go to bed, sprinkle the water from the bowl around your living space. First, go counter-clockwise to banish negative energy that hinders free-flowing blessings. Then go clockwise, allowing Gujeswari's water to cleanse and renew the ambiance in every room. If you have some left over, sprinkle your pets (for health), your car (for safety in travel), and children's beds (to protect them from nightmares), and dab some on mechanical objects to keep them working smoothly.

From "365 Goddess" by Patricia Telesco and GrannyMoon's Morning Feast Archives