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INTRODUCTION
mesti and the four essentials+ for salvation (together forming Navapada i.e. nine padas) as it is very old and has been mentioned in Nirvana kalikā and is connected with the Panca-Parmesti Mantra. We mention this because worship of Sri Siddhacakra alias Navapadapūja is even now very popular and is attended to by hundreds of worshippers both male and female and performed with great devotion and eclat.
This Siddhacakra worship must have become specially popular since the bifurcation of the ancient Gaņivijjā into Sūrimantra and Pancaparamești Vidyā. This is supported by the inclusion of all the ‘Labdhipadas' which form the first Pitha of Sūrimantra in Sri Siddhacakra Brhadyantra. The worship of Sūrimantra is so to say a privelege of the Acharyas; the ordinary Sadhus must be satisfied with the worship of Vardhamāna Vidya, formerly a part of Sūrimantra, and the relative Yantra. The worship of Panca-Parmeșți is performed by the laity in the form of Navapadapūjā. Different kinds of austerities have to be performed in all the three kinds of worship. Many elements of Tăntrika worship of the purer kindx can be seen in Navapadapūja. Large congregations of people jointly offer worship and there is chanting of hymns to the accompaniment of music. There is recitation of Mantras by each worshipper for the number of times prescribed. The period of worship extends over nine days; and on each of the nine days, one of the nine padas, which include Panca Parmeşti, is principally worshipped, beginning from the 7th day of the bright half and ending on the 15th thereof in the months of Asvina and Caitra. During this period the worshippers take only one meal a day consisting of simple spiceless food, devoid of milk, ghee, oil, sugar and vegetables. Sri Siddhacakrayantra is worshipped daily and a five-coloured Navapada-Mandala is also drawn in the centre of the place of worship.
+ They are faith, Knowledge, good conduct and austerity i.e. Fria, 312, 31 and ani * Contemplation on the five 'Tattvas' is a requisite for the Divya' or divine class of Tantrika worshippers. The five colours given to Panca-Parameşti in Navapada-Pūjā are said to be meant for such Dhyāna.
