Puja Principles: shoul
Puja
should be done in a proper manner to get the results.
Generally we have two-dimensional photos in our Puja
room. They should be three dimensional and made up of
metal. During Puja once should face east or north.
The Asanad be of Kusha grass or of pure wool. Daily we should perform Pancha Upchar.
According to Hinduism, a formal puja consists of
meditation (dhyana), austerity (tapa), chanting
(mantra), scripture reading (svadhyaya), offering food (thaal)
and prostrations (panchanga or ashtanga pranama,
dandavat). People apply tilaka on their forehead with
sandalwood paste, and a vermillion dot (kumkum Chand) in
its centre. The centre of the forehead is considered as
the crucial point suggesting the omnipresence of the
Divine. Puja is generally concluded with aarti to the
lord.
Puja can be celebrated by an individual person or in
gatherings. The ceremony may be done in silence or
accompanied by prayers. Sometimes a puja is done for the
benefit of certain people, for whom people ask
blessings.
Steps of a Puja
Each and every sect, family or an individual have their
own way of doing Puja. Every time when you say ''samarpayami''
(I m offering), offer two akshatha with love and
devotion to the lord.
(Akshatha is uncooked rice; if possible color it with
kumkum, saffron powder, turmeric and a little bit of
water. This can be made for a week in advance and can be
kept near the Alter)
A typical Puja involves the following 27 steps:
Dhyaanam Samarpayami (Think or meditate on the Lord)
Aawaahanam Samarpayami (Offering invitation the Lord)
Aasanam Samarpayami (Offer a seat to the Lord)
Paadyam Samarpayami (Offer water to wash the feet)
Arghyam Samarpayami (Offer water to wash the hands)
Aachamaneeyam Samarpayami (Offer water to drink)
Snaanam Samarpayami (Give bath to the Lord)
Maha Abhishekam Samarpayami (Give main head bath to the
Lord)
Pratishtaapayaami (Make him seated)
Vasthram Samarpayami (Offer clothes to the Lord)
Yajnopaveetham Samarpayami (Offer the Holy Thread)
Gandham Samarpayami (Offer sandalwood paste/powder)
Akshatham Samarpayami (Offer Akshatha/ Rice)
Pushpam Samarpayami (Offer Flowers to the Lord)
Ashthothtra Poojam Samarpayami (Offer the holy 108
names)
Dhoopam Aaghraapayaami (Offer Fragrance / Agarbatti)
Deepam Darshayaami (Offer light to the lord)
Neivedyam Samarpayami (Offer Food to the Lord)
Phalam Samarpayami (Offer Fruits to the Lord)
Taamboolam Samarpayami (Offer betel nut and leaves)
Dakshinam Samarpayami (Offer money to the Lord)
Maha Nirajanam Samarpayami (Offer aarti to the Lord)
Pradakshinam Samarpayami (Taking clockwise rounds of
arti)
Namaskaram Samarpayami (Offer Prostrations)
Mantra Pushpam Samarpayami (Offer incantations and
flowers)
Praarthanaam Samarpayami (Offer prayers, request your
desires)
Kshamaapanam Samarpayami (Offer apologies & ask for
forgiveness)
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