The Lord being not accessible to our eyes, ears, nose, touch and beyond the ken of ordinary (un-refined) intellect, the ancients devised a method of bringing Lord within the realm of the senses.
This method is to worship Him (Her or It) in an object (photo, water, fire, precious jewel, idol etc) which you can touch, feel, smell, see, feel the taste of. Thus all wandering senses are brought to a focus, by belief (faith) and by daily practice.
Pooja is a unique way in which a Hindu communicates with his god. This may involve a silent meditation or a loud chanting of mantras with or without offerings to the god. Common offerings to the god during a pooja includeflowers, incense, light (Deepa), food items (Naivedya), and sandalwood paste. These offerings are said to represent the five elements of space, air, fire, water, and earth.
Ghee gives Moksha state
Curd gives good children
Honey gives melodious voice
Rice powder frees from debts
Sugar cane juice gives good health
Panjamrutham gives wealth
Lemon removes fear of death
Sugar removes enmity
Tender coconut gives enjoyment
Cooked Rice(Annam) gives majestic life
Sandal gives Lakshmi's grace
A puja is believed to harness cosmic energy to achieve material or spiritual goals.Usually either a priest or the eldest member of a family performs the puja. However, there are no specific rules that determine who can perform a puja.
Pujas are performed after a bath. Early morning is considered auspicious for daily pujas.
Different meditation techniques such as visualising the form of the deity with eyes closed and hands pressed together in the namaste gesture.
Sanskrit mantras or sacred sounds are chanted. Sometimes, the different names of the deity are also repeated. It is believed that the resonant effect of the mantras helps to harness cosmic energy.
The idol may be bathed in water or milk and anointed with chandan (sandalwood paste).
Fruits, leaves, flowers, water, rice, and betel nuts are offered to the deity. Food offered to the deity is mostly vegetarian though certain fringe sects offer meat, alcohol, and other articles that are considered unholy by orthodox Hindus. As with many
A coconut, for example, represents the ego that must be "broken" in order to come closer to God.
Sticks of incense are burned for fragrance.
In a ritual known as aarti, a plate with a flame and vermillion (kumkum) is moved in a clockwise direction in front of the idol. The wick is usually soaked in ghee (clarified butter) or camphor.
In a ritual known as aarti, a plate with a flame and vermillion (kumkum) is moved in a clockwise direction in front of the idol. The wick is usually soaked in ghee (clarified butter) or camphor.
Devotional songs and prayers may be recited during pujas.Paying obeisance to the deity is done often, throughout the ritual to show respect. It could be either a simple bow with hands pressed together or a prostration that is more elaborate involving touching the floor with one's forehead.
Vermillion (kumkum)is applied in the space between the eyebrows, believed to be the third eye, a spot that has deep significance in Indian spirituality.
Usually, at the end of a puja, the metal plate with a flame and vermillion is passed around.
Devotees use their palms to cup the flame and raise them to the forehead. The belief is that the deity's cosmic energy has passed to the flame, which is then transferred to the devotee.
Food (prasad) and water (tirth) that was offered to the deity is distributed among people, and is believed to possess the energy of the deity. Though most Hindus do not consume food from the same plate, prasad, being pure, is openly shared. A drop or two of tirth is poured in the devotees' palms (always the right hand), and is imbibed with great respect.
The word "tirtha" also means a shallow pool of water that can be crossed easily, alluding to the importance of crossing the ocean of material existence to attain liberation.
This method is to worship Him (Her or It) in an object (photo, water, fire, precious jewel, idol etc) which you can touch, feel, smell, see, feel the taste of. Thus all wandering senses are brought to a focus, by belief (faith) and by daily practice.
Unshakable faith and long practice, evokes and unfolds hitherto unknown dimensions in awareness, which are generally not communicable in the normal way.
To attain the blessings of God, our Hindu philosophy advocates two paths, namely·
the path of GNANA ( that of wisdom )
the path of BHAKTHI (that of devotion).
The Wisdom path considers the Almighty as a concept with out any form or any feeling etc., On the other hand the Bhakthi path considers God as One, with or without a form, but as one who incorporates many divine feelings. 'PRARTHANA' in other words 'Prayer' or 'Worship' is the first step towards pursuing the Bhakthi route for Godliness.
Why should we do Pooja?
The second step is Pooja. In other words, a specific form of worship which also involves a physical offering of either a material object, or the body , mind or soul to God. The Pooja, when done properly guides oneself towards God, and while doing 'Prarthana' (praying), the Almighty draws closer to the devotee. Therefore it is a two way motion that brings the Worshipper and the Worshipped closer. By means of puja, the appropriate Gods are appealed to for removal of affliction, protection and prosperity.Preparing for a puja
The preparations we require before puja are:
1) Sattvic quality ( feeling) - The greater the predominance of the sattvic feelings, the more effectively can the vehicles serve as an instrument of the higher consciousness.
2) Attunement of mind - The mind should be full of right attitude and aspirations.
3) High degree of self surrender.
4) Heart to yearn - for union with Divinity.
Thus the development of aspirant's character along the right lines and preparatory and purificatory practices form an integral part of upasna or worship.
Basic steps before starting any puja
Place of worship
Cleaning oneself (Atma Shuddhi)
Avahana - invoking the presence of God in the image or symbol
Asana - offering a seat
Padya and Arghya - giving water for washing feet and hands
Snana or Abhisheka - ceremonial bath
Vastra - offering Clothes
Chandana - smearing sandal paste and other unguents
Pushpa - offering of flowers and garlands
Dhupa - burning incense
Deepa - waving of lamp
Naivedhya - food offering
Naivedhya - food offering
Visarjana - bidding goodbye
It is not possible for every one to perform a pooja like an ordained Vedic priest. Hence our scriptures allow one to do a pooja "Yatha shakti" or as per ones capability and convenience. Doing it with faith is what really matters.
The minimum is: light a lamp and an incense stick and offer some prasad - if you don't have anything at home the simple milk or sugar will do. You can rest assured that that the Gods will not curse you!
The minimum is: light a lamp and an incense stick and offer some prasad - if you don't have anything at home the simple milk or sugar will do. You can rest assured that that the Gods will not curse you!
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