Katheri & Minnesprin

MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS

When a woman falls pregnant, the months must be counted as per the Tamil calendar for the necessary rituals eg. The woman falls preganant on the 14th of January – the 16th of January will be counted as the 2nd month as the tamil month begins on the 15th day of each month. This would mean that July will be read as the 7th month of pregnancy.

Before the 8th month ie. The 15th of August a simple prayer must be done

for the Devas Minnesprin and Kaatheri. The process is as follows. ►Minnesprin – tie a silver coin in a wrist band size cloth dipped in

tumeric. ► Kaatheri - – tie a 5c coin in a wrist band size black cloth. Offer prayers first to Minnesprin and request the Deva to bless and guide

the pregnant mother and the unborn child ensuring a safe pregnancy with no harm or ill effects befalling both the mother and the unborn child. Then tie the tumeric dipped wrist band onto the right wrist of the mother pregnant woman.


Secondly offer prayers to Kaatheri and request the Deva to bless and guide the pregnant mother and the unborn child ensuring a safe pregnancy with no harm or ill effects befalling both the mother and the unborn child. Then tie the black wrist band onto the right wrist of the pregnant woman.

In Tamil these bands are called “Moodipu”.

After a few minutes remove these bands and leave them by the Godlamp as they will be required at a later stage.


TIME TO GO IN FOR DELIVERY Offer prayers first to Minnesprin and request the Deva to bless and guide

the pregnant mother and the unborn child ensuring a safe delivery. Then tie the tumeric dipped wrist band onto the right wrist of the mother pregnant woman.

Secondly offer prayers to Kaatheri and request the Deva to bless and

guide the pregnant mother and the unborn child ensuring a safe delivery. Then tie the black wrist band onto the right wrist of the pregnant woman.

After a few minutes remove these bands and leave them by the Godlamp

as they will be required at a later stage. Offer prayers to the family diety and to Amman. The Pregnant woman

must then cross a rope or a belt 3 times before leaving for the hospital – This is to ward of any evil spirits from shadowing her.


The Birth


RETURN HOME

When the mother and child return home, halo water [red water] with a

flower and a lit camphor must be turned for them, dot them and let them enter the house whilst you drop the halo water in the flower garden.

BABY’S BATH For the safety and ease of the baby, he/she must be given a bath by placing

the baby in a sleeping position on the legs [usually done by grandma and/or elderly ladies]. During the bath, tumeric powder must be gently rubbed onto the body of the baby – this helps with the removal of the hair from the baby’s body over time. Thereafter Sambrani must be put onto hot charcoals and the baby must be waved over the smoke – this helps to dry the baby and the inhaling of the smoke and scent opens up the airways and lungs – [note. This should be done for about a minute]. Every second day the Halo water must be turned for the baby to ward of “eyes” ie. Known as “disthi” to ward off all negative energy that may surround the baby. This process must be done for 13 days.


BABY’S BATH


MOTHER’S BATH Boil gum tree and/or eculiptus leaves in water, the mother must bathe with this

water as it helps with her healing process and helps in avoiding her falling ill with menejithis [janni]. This must be done up until the 9th day.

THE 9TH DAY BABY BATH Prepare the following ► half a palm size red, white and black cloth ► a little hair that’s left on a hairbrush ► 1 x dried chilli ► a tablespoon of 3 kinds of oil in a saucer ► some red hot charcoal in a tray – to be kept in the bathroom Dip the cloths, chilli and hair in the 3 kind oil and rub same onto the baby’s head 3

times. Each time squeeze the oil from the cloths into the fire. This is to extract and get rid off all negative forces from the baby. Thereafter discard all of these items inclusive of the charcoals.


Thereafter bathe the baby as defined in the paragraph : “Baby’s Bath” using a new fire of coal for the sambrani.

Then turn the Halo water for both mother and child.


THE NINTH DAY PRAYER STEP 1 ► Tie 3 small stems of slingaberry leaves with cotton. – represents

Amman ► Tie 3 finger length broom sticks with cotton. – represents baby’s

protection. Place the above in the Mother’s hand. She must carry the baby with

these items. Both the parents together with the baby must offer fruits and milk and pray to Surya Narayan [The Sun God] at 11 a.m. Assist the Mother to hold the baby up in her arms with the slingaberry leaves and broom sticks in her palms. Pour a can of water onto her palm over the slingaberry leaves and broom sticks to flow onto the ground. She must then drop the slingaberry leaves and broom sticks onto the ground.


Note: On the 9th day the baby is introduced to the outside environment. Hence the slingaberry leaves and broom sticks to ask Mother Maariamman to protect the child. The prayer to Surya Narayan [The Sun God] is for him to give the child a good,brilliant and radiant source of energy as he shines onto the baby from this day forward. The water is offered to Surya Narayan as a cooling effect to His burning rays in protection of the baby as he receives His blessings.

The Prayer to be recited 3 times is as follows: - Note : first mantra for Ganesha

Thath Purushyaaya Vidhmahe Vakrathundaaya Dheemahi

Thanno Dhandhi Prachodayaath.

Om Surya Narayana Vidhmahe Agni Devaya Deemahi Thanno_ Sarvum Prachodayaath

Mahaa Dhevyai Cha Vidhmahe Shiva Pathnai Cha Dheemahi

Thanno Aathi Parashakti Prachodyaath.


STEP 2 ► Prepared food eg [ rice, dhall, chicken curry, and a vegetable curry with a side tray with 3 kind fuits must be place in the doorway of the child’s room. This is and offering to the navagraha’s [9 planets] to appease them so that they will not cast their shadow on the baby. Place Baby on a blanket on the floor inside the room. From the inside of the room turn camphor in prayer.


The Prayer to be recited is as follows:Om Navagrahga Devaya NamahOm Sandhire Devaya NamahOm Puthoogrehadhaya NamahOm Sukire Devadhaya NamahOm Pithukathpathi Devadhaya NamahOm Suriye Devadhaya NamahOm Buje Devadhaya NamahOm Suri Devadhaya NamahOm Ragu Devadhaya NamahOm Kethu Devadhaya Namah

MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERSONE MONTH LATER Offer prayer with milk and fruits to the family diety and to Maariamman, pour milk for Maariammam in thanks for bestowing her blessings on the child and the parents.

The following prayer must be recited 7 timesMahaa Meenakshi Vidhmahe MaariammanCha DheemahiThanno Aathi Parashakti Prachodyaath.

At end of prayer say thanks as follows:NANRI, NANRI, NANRI


THE MINESPRIN PRAYERDuring the pregnancy a prayer as a vow was offered to the Deva “Minesprin” hence this prayer must be done as giving thanks to Deva Minesprin.► Time of prayer – 11a.m.► Items = sweet rice, roti, marjim, cigarette, tot of white liquor, milk & fruits► Place baby on a blanket in the prayer area.To the east place 1 stone or brick [with Sivan markings – patta], place a banana leaf with sweet rice, 1 roti, 1 cigarette, 1 tot white liquor.To the west place 3 stones or bricks [with Sivan markings – patta], place 3 banana leaves with sweet rice, 1 roti each, 1 cigarette each, 1 tot white liquor each, milk, fruits and a coconut.Offer prayers – turn camphor for the east - break coconut and then turn camphor for the west.

MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS► Cut a tuft of the Baby’s hair – keep in an envelope

Recite the following mantra during this prayerOm Minesprin Devadhaya namahOm Minesprin Devadhaya namahOm Minesprin Devadhaya namah


THE KAATHERI PRAYER - [NO MALES ARE TO BE PRESENT]► Time of prayer = 5 p.m.► Items = Cooked Rice, Dhall with brinjals, Braized Herbs, 9 pieces of dry fish, 9 boiled eggs, 3 kinds fruit, milk, coconut, 9 beetle leaves, 9 beetle

nuts, kathawal [black bead bangle] soft soogi, 9 koikaatas, 1 tot white liquor and 1 mt black cloth [place at the east leaf where you have two moulds].

► Prepare a square area in the garden. Mix some soil in water and make 9 cone like moulds.

► Set 8 banana leaves with 1 of the 9 moulds behind each – with a piece of the black cloth draped around it, together with all the above items in each leaf. 2 to the east [ as 1 leaf] , 2 to the west, 2 to the north, 2 to the south and 1 in the centre [ note the center leaf must sit a a readily dug hole].



► Offer prayers – turn camphor for the east - break coconut and then turn camphor for the west, north, south and centre

► Then cut a tuft of baby’s hair and put ito the envelope of the morning. [After the prayer the cut tufts of hair together with both the moodipu’s [wrist bands] must be left in running water ie. Sea or river]

Recite the following mantra during this prayer

Om Kaatheri Devadhaya namahOm Kaatheri Devadhaya namahOm Kaatheri Devadhaya namah

MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS► The mother of the child must eat off some of the centre leaf food.► The baby must be then wrapped in the black cloth and to be taken inside the house.► Balance off all leaf contents to be taken into the house – and all present must partake off this prayed food with their normal supper for the evening.► All the leaves must be buried in the centre hole.► Thereafter the babys hair must be shaved off. Apply coconut hair oil daily.

Spiritual

Katheri & Minnesprin