Pashchima Jagara Pooja

||Akhila Vibudha Vandyam Vishwaroopam Suresham

Abhaya Varada Hastham Pankajaaksham Ramesham

Jaladhara nibhakaanthim Sri Maheebhyaam sametham

Parama Purushamaadhyam Venkatesham Namami||

Paschima Jagara puja is carried during the fourth month of Chaturmasya i.e from Vijayadashami (Ashweeja Shukla Dashami) to Karthika Shukla Ekaadashi. ‘Pashchima’ means ‘the last’/’the latter’. So, the pooja that is carried during the last part of the night is called ‘Pashchima Jaagara puja’.

The four months of Chaturmasya are taken into account as the four yaamaas (parts) of one night. The fourth month is hence implied to be the last(pashchima) yaama. Narayana will be in the yoganidra during the four months of chaturmasya.

We are tend to wake up during the last yaama of night. Last month of chaturmasya is equated to the last yaama and hence the puja to wake God up is carried during this period.

This was started about 100 years ago (1915-1916AD) by Balkunje Dasa Shenoy, Halekatte Srinivasa Pai, Ranjala Sheshagiri Shenoy, etc., Later, Halekatte Raga Pai, Balkunje Nagesh Shenoy, Ranjala Narasimha Shenoy etc., continued this. Now, Halekatte Ranga Pai’s children- Suresh Pai, Ramesh Pai and Ganesh Pai are organizing this. Nagara bhajan starts from Manna Gopura at 4:20 hours and devotees sing bhajan near dhwaja sthambha in temple till 5:00 until the dwaara of temple is opened. This is followed by Suprabhatha and aarthi. This neelanjana aarthi is done to the Lord resting in tulasi. Then, after panchaanga shravana, the bhajan resumes with ‘Hari Mukhe Mana’.

||Aham doorathasthe padaambhojayugmam

pranaamecchayaa aagathya sevaam karomi|

Sakrith sevayaa nithya sevaa phalam thwam

Prayaccha prayaccha Prabho Venkatesha||

Credits: Sri Sumanth Joishy