Symbolic importance of items used in puja:
Coconut - The breaking of coconut before God coaxes us to break the hard nut of our ego before God.
Flower , incense and light waving - they indicate progressive types of atmarpana to God.
Camphor - Lighting camphor before God symbolises that if we burn our illusion or ego with the fire of true knowledge, we shall merge with the God, leaving no residue.
Dhruva grass, arka flower and leaves - These are the least coveted by the common people, buthave a lesson.
It signifies that no part of creation is repellent to God. He is much pleased with the lowliest of creation as with the highest.
Turmeric powder - It is used in auspicious ceremonies as it is found to be germicidal in effect aside of the psychological effect of the colour.
Stone - The stone ,for instance, that is used in marriage symbolises permanence, even as the pole star( Dhruv Nakshatra) .
Sesamun seeds and cereal rice - symbolise fertility
Mustard seeds and grains are thrown into the fire to counteract evil forces and evil eyes.
The temples even as Rathas are replicas of the human body. The deity in the sanctum reminds us of the truth that God is seated at the heart of each individual. Parikrama suggests pranayama. Prostrating before God signifies complete surrender of self including the five Jnanendriyas and five Karmendriyas to God's will.
Chanting of mantra was a concept of the Vedic saints that includes mantras as one of the main forms of worship, whose end is seen as salvation.
Basically, Mantra Jaap means repeating the mantra. Reciting Mantra has become an established feature of the Hindu practices. Mantra Japa involves repetition of mantra again and again, usually 108 times completes one cycle. Due to this, the rosary (mala) used for mantra jaap has 108 beads in it.It is believed that through mantra jaap, the devotee attains concentration and focus on the chosen deity or the main idea of the mantra. One can attain peace of mind quickly by chanting mantra. With prolong and constant practice, the inherent power of the Mantra (Mantra-Shakti) will be awakened, which will fill your very existence with the Divinity of the Mantra.
Practical Aids to Japa
Select any Mantra and repeat it from 108 to 1,080 times daily
Water - The sanctified water is sprinkled or sipped to wash away impurities and sin.
Agni or Fire is an invariable constituent of the functions. It personifies the living God, the patriarch of the home.It is Grahapati or Lord of the house protecting the members of the household. He is also called Sakshi
Take a bath or wash your hands, feet, face and mouth before sitting for Japa in the morning.
Sit facing east or north during the practice. This enhances the effectiveness of the Jaap.
Sit on a rug to conserve body-electricity. Sit in a separate meditation room or in any suitable place, such as a temple, on a river bank or under a banyan or peepul tree.
Maintain a steady pose.
You can sit in Padmasana, Siddhasana or Sukhasana.
Resolve to complete a certain minimum number of malas before leaving your seat.
Use a rosary of 108 beads. Do not allow the rosary to hang below the navel. The rosary (mala) must not be visible to you or to others, so cover it properly. Use the middle finger and the thumb of the right to roll the beads. The use of the index finger is not allowed. Do not cross the meru (main bead) while rolling the beads.
Do mental Jaap for sometime without a rosary or mala. When the mind wanders, do the Japa aloud, or whisper the Mantra for some time and come back to mental Japa again as soon as possibleDo not chant mantra in haste. Do it slowly with feeling, concentration of mind and devotion.
Try to associate the chant with the rhythm of the breath and meditate in the form of your Deity. Keep a picture or idol of the Deity in front of you. Think of the meaning of the Mantra while repeating it.
Observe silence and avoid distractions, calls and engagements. It is important not to leave the place at once after the Japa is over and mix with everyone or get into worldly activity. This keeps the spiritual vibrations intact.
One can leave the place after a dedicated prostration, with a feeling that everything belongs to that almighty. The Puja, Sadhana, Meditation and Jaap etc, any kind of prayers offered to the Almighty must be done with a sincere heart. The Supreme Being answers all the questions and doubts of the devotee, sooner or later. One must understand that the ultimate purpose of life is the realization of divine.
Puja ritual or worship of idols or images of God has become in recent times a great and potent tenet of faith and belief in out Hindu Religion or Sanatana Dharma.
Puja is not only performed in temples but also in most of our homes. So too, we worship God in our Satsangh meetings before we start our days' programme of kirtans and /or study of scriptures.
The object of the puja ritual is to create and setup thoughts of spiritual forces in and around us. This is best achieved by singing or chanting of some mantra, performing certain actions and making offerings in three defined stages.
Each mantra is a magazine of vast spiritual forces.
Coconut - The breaking of coconut before God coaxes us to break the hard nut of our ego before God.
Flower , incense and light waving - they indicate progressive types of atmarpana to God.
Camphor - Lighting camphor before God symbolises that if we burn our illusion or ego with the fire of true knowledge, we shall merge with the God, leaving no residue.
Dhruva grass, arka flower and leaves - These are the least coveted by the common people, buthave a lesson.
It signifies that no part of creation is repellent to God. He is much pleased with the lowliest of creation as with the highest.
Turmeric powder - It is used in auspicious ceremonies as it is found to be germicidal in effect aside of the psychological effect of the colour.
Stone - The stone ,for instance, that is used in marriage symbolises permanence, even as the pole star( Dhruv Nakshatra) .
Sesamun seeds and cereal rice - symbolise fertility
Mustard seeds and grains are thrown into the fire to counteract evil forces and evil eyes.
The temples even as Rathas are replicas of the human body. The deity in the sanctum reminds us of the truth that God is seated at the heart of each individual. Parikrama suggests pranayama. Prostrating before God signifies complete surrender of self including the five Jnanendriyas and five Karmendriyas to God's will.
Chanting of mantra was a concept of the Vedic saints that includes mantras as one of the main forms of worship, whose end is seen as salvation.
Basically, Mantra Jaap means repeating the mantra. Reciting Mantra has become an established feature of the Hindu practices. Mantra Japa involves repetition of mantra again and again, usually 108 times completes one cycle. Due to this, the rosary (mala) used for mantra jaap has 108 beads in it.It is believed that through mantra jaap, the devotee attains concentration and focus on the chosen deity or the main idea of the mantra. One can attain peace of mind quickly by chanting mantra. With prolong and constant practice, the inherent power of the Mantra (Mantra-Shakti) will be awakened, which will fill your very existence with the Divinity of the Mantra.
Practical Aids to Japa
Select any Mantra and repeat it from 108 to 1,080 times daily
Water - The sanctified water is sprinkled or sipped to wash away impurities and sin.
Agni or Fire is an invariable constituent of the functions. It personifies the living God, the patriarch of the home.It is Grahapati or Lord of the house protecting the members of the household. He is also called Sakshi
Take a bath or wash your hands, feet, face and mouth before sitting for Japa in the morning.
Sit facing east or north during the practice. This enhances the effectiveness of the Jaap.
Sit on a rug to conserve body-electricity. Sit in a separate meditation room or in any suitable place, such as a temple, on a river bank or under a banyan or peepul tree.
Maintain a steady pose.
You can sit in Padmasana, Siddhasana or Sukhasana.
Use a rosary of 108 beads. Do not allow the rosary to hang below the navel. The rosary (mala) must not be visible to you or to others, so cover it properly. Use the middle finger and the thumb of the right to roll the beads. The use of the index finger is not allowed. Do not cross the meru (main bead) while rolling the beads.
Do mental Jaap for sometime without a rosary or mala. When the mind wanders, do the Japa aloud, or whisper the Mantra for some time and come back to mental Japa again as soon as possibleDo not chant mantra in haste. Do it slowly with feeling, concentration of mind and devotion.
Try to associate the chant with the rhythm of the breath and meditate in the form of your Deity. Keep a picture or idol of the Deity in front of you. Think of the meaning of the Mantra while repeating it.
Observe silence and avoid distractions, calls and engagements. It is important not to leave the place at once after the Japa is over and mix with everyone or get into worldly activity. This keeps the spiritual vibrations intact.
One can leave the place after a dedicated prostration, with a feeling that everything belongs to that almighty. The Puja, Sadhana, Meditation and Jaap etc, any kind of prayers offered to the Almighty must be done with a sincere heart. The Supreme Being answers all the questions and doubts of the devotee, sooner or later. One must understand that the ultimate purpose of life is the realization of divine.
Puja ritual or worship of idols or images of God has become in recent times a great and potent tenet of faith and belief in out Hindu Religion or Sanatana Dharma.
Puja is not only performed in temples but also in most of our homes. So too, we worship God in our Satsangh meetings before we start our days' programme of kirtans and /or study of scriptures.
The object of the puja ritual is to create and setup thoughts of spiritual forces in and around us. This is best achieved by singing or chanting of some mantra, performing certain actions and making offerings in three defined stages.
Each mantra is a magazine of vast spiritual forces.
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