In
the evening, by eight o’clock the third session of worship is held. This consists of
mainly the singing of aratis and prayers. A small procession led by the bhaldars -mace
bearers-and consisting of the pujaris and salkaris, and other devotees circumambulates the
shrine three times. All along the way the Indukoti
slotra is recited. Now this procession stops on its
way to sing aratis to the other subsidiary deities like Hanuman and Nrisimha that are
around the shrine. Next, aratis are sung before Vighnahar Chintamani and then Karpur-arati
of the padukas. Tirth and angara are distributed to all present. Mantrapushpa follows
this, the last but one rite being the singing of the Shejarati. At ten o’clock the
pancha-padi (five versed) bhajan is recited and the day comes to and end. This routine is
slightly altered on every Thursday. The evening programme on that day includes the palkhi
or palanquin procession. The utsavamurti of the Guru is seated in the palanquin decked out
in excellent garments and ornaments. The procession goes round the shrine thrice, special
songs written for the occasion being recited along the way. The palkhi is then brought to
a halt, arati is sung and the programme from Karpurarati onwards follows as usual. |
