Gauri pujan, is a solemn pre-wedding ceremony of Traditional Indian weddings. It’s a must have a ritual in Indian weddings performed on the wedding day where a bride-to-be worshiped goddess Parvati and seek blessings for a long and a happy married life full of everlasting love.
In Gauri pujan, the bride and the ladies of the family worship Goddess Parvati Or Maa Gauri. Gauri Puja is also known as ‘Mangla Gauri’. According to famous Hindu mythological book Ramayana, it is said that Mata Sita performed Gauri Pujan to get Lord Rama as his husband.
Maa Gauri is the mother of “Lord of obstacles’ and spouse of Lord Shiva who is also known as Jagat Ke Palanhaar. Goddess Sati is identified as the Shakti of Lord Shiva. So, Gauri pujan is performed to get the blessings of Maa Parvati. Gauri Pujan or Mangla pujan is done in the early morning of the wedding day. The soon-to-be bride recites these shlokas while performing puja-
जय जय गिरिराज किसोरी।
जय महेस मुख चंद चकोरी॥
जय गजबदन षडानन माता।
जगत जननि दामिनी दुति गाता॥
देवी पूजि पद कमल तुम्हारे।
सुर नर मुनि सब होहिं सुखारे॥
मोर मनोरथ जानहु नीकें।
बसहु सदा उर पुर सबही के॥
कीन्हेऊं प्रगट न कारन तेहिं।
अस कहि चरन गहे बैदेहीं॥
बिनय प्रेम बस भई भवानी।
खसी माल मुरति मुसुकानि॥
सादर सियं प्रसादु सर धरेऊ।
बोली गौरी हरषु हियं भरेऊ॥
सुनु सिय सत्य असीस हमारी।
पूजिहि मन कामना तुम्हारी॥
नारद बचन सदा सूचि साचा।
सो बरु मिलिहि जाहिं मनु राचा॥
मनु जाहिं राचेउ मिलिहि सो बरु सहज सुंदर सांवरो।
करुना निधान सुजान सीलु सनेहु जानत रावरो॥
एही भांती गौरी असीस सुनी सिय सहित हियं हरषीं अली।
तुलसी भवानिहि पूजि पुनि पुनि मुदित मन मंदिर चली॥
and offers 16 Shringar to the Maa Parvati also decorate and dress up the idols of Shiv Parivar with colorful clothes and jewelry. It is also suggested for the unmarried girls to recite this Pujan in order to get an ideal husband like Lord Shiva.Though this Pujan is held in a temple; however some organize this puja at their home. It is one of the prominent Puja for a bride to be as it helps to remove obstacles from the upcoming married life and bless the would be bride with a blessed and happy married life.
Gauri puja showers harmony, peace, and happiness to the would-be couple. It brings the feeling of trust, care, love, and understanding between the couples.
Important items needed for the Gauri Pujan are- Haldi, Roli(tilak), sandalwood paste, Ganga Jal, Kalawa, lamps, coconut, Panchamrit( mixture of honey, Ganga Jal, milk, yogurt, ghee or tulsi), betel leaves, sweets, nuts, flowers, mango leaves, garland and fruits of your choice.
So go to a temple and worship goddess Parvati along with her family for the ideal life partner and seek the divine blessings of Mata Gauri for a happy and fulfilled married life. Even if you are not able to recite these shlokas, you can simply offer Shringaar items and prayers for stepping into the new phase of life as prayers are done by pure heart reaches up to lord effortlessly.