Traditional Puja Vidhi (Ritualistic Worship)

Traditional Puja Vidhi (Ritualistic Worship)
Hinduism offers widest spectrum of spirituality, rituals, festivals and temples among all religions. Puja in Sanskrit means to adore, to worship. Ritualistic (traditional) puja disciplines the devotee and is first step to awaken the spiritual attributes dharma, righteous karma, jnana, concentration, introspection, vairagya, and bhakti. The technique involves humility and loving surrender to the Divine which is essential to eliminate ego.

Ritualistic puja is so elaborate that people find it time consuming and futile exercise. But entering into each step of puja, one becomes so absorbed, physically, mentally & emotionally that he loses all his distractions. Serious devotee draws together all the five senses thereby centering the attention on performing the ritual and calming the devotee’s heart and mind through adoring focus of the chosen deity (deities) being invoked and worshiped in the ritual. Devotee develops complete concentration. Concentration helps in developing bhava (feelings, devotion) 

Types of Puja:

1. Nitya (daily routines) such as bath, Sandhyavandanam, Japam etc.
2. Naimittika (periodic routines) such as Tarpanam, Sradha etc.
3. Kamya (rituals for fulfilling desires) – The highest form of Kamya Karma is performing the rituals for HIS sake (without any selfish desires).
   (refer to Sradhas)

 
Practices in puja:
Pooja involves worship, both internally and externally, worship of deities, mantras (incarnation), mandalas & yantras (magic circles), mudras (symbolic & invocative gestures), Samskaras (sacramental rites), etc. During rites and worship, mandala and Yantra which are magic circle, becomes the centre of the universe in a symbolic sense.
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1. Mandalas & Yantras - Everything in the manifested world (each person, every thought, each deity, each chakra, guru etc.) is in essence a mandala. Each and every object is a focal point of consciousness. A yantra is a specific form of mandala, which consists of geometrical shapes and figures, and sometimes diagrams of deities. Yantras & spiritual machine) are powerful form of mandalas and deep concentration on it can lead to higher realization of its nature. By deep concentration and reflection, one is sucked through the centre. One realizes the nature of the yantra, and simultaneously the nature of the sadhaka himself.
2. Mantras - Mantras on the gross level are special sound patterns and on deeper level, much more. The use of mantras is a science which can unlock the secrets of nature and the universe. Mantras are used as a vehicle, as laser in science, to peer into the deeper realms of nature.
3. Nyasa is a ritual which has far reaching benefits. Specific mantras are ‘placed’ and felt at different parts of the body. It is intended to induce pratyahara where the parts of the body are physically touched, or they can be internal where the mantras & awareness are mentally placed. Nyasa are Rishiadi nyasa, Mantrika nyasa, Hridayadi sadanga nyasa, Kara nyasa, Akshar vyapaka nyasa, dind nyasa etc.
4. Samskara - life-cycle rituals which include since birth to death especially initiation, marriage, and death.
5. Mudra - A mudra is a sign, symbol and gesture, movement or position of which affects the flow of pranic energy of the body. There are a large number of mudras used in worship such as sankalpa mudra, matsya mudra, dhenu mudra, anksua mudra, prathana mudra, lalihana mudra, tarpana mudra, tattva mudra, avahani mudra, stapani mudra, samnidapani mudra, upasanghara mudra, yoni mudra etc.

 
The ultimate aim is to transform every action in life into ritual, so that the individual performs every action and thought with a feeling of worship and awareness.
 
Steps of traditional puja:
These steps may vary according to region, tradition, setting, or time particularly in ways the deity is hosted.

1. Worshipper – Take bath, wear clean clothes and sit peacefully before deity.
2. Worship puja accessories – lamp (deepa), bell (ghanta), conch (ghanta), kalasha, etc.
3. Sanctification (pavitrikaran) of pujan materials - Sprinkle water on yourself and pujan materials (Mantra - ॐ अपवित्रह पवित्रो वा सर्व-अवस्थाम्‌ गतो-अपि वा।यः स्मरेत्‌ पुण्डरी-काक्षम्‌ स बाह्य-अभ्यंतरह शुचि-हि॥ ॐ पुण्डरी-काक्षह पुनातु।)
4. Resolve (Sankalpa) – to take sankalpa to worship. Take water in his right hand and chant sankalpa mantra. (Mantra -'ऊँ विष्णु र्विष्णुर्विष्णु: श्रीमद् भगवतो महापुरुषस्य विष्णोराज्ञया प्रवर्त्तमानस्य अद्य श्री ब्रह्मणोऽह्नि द्वितीय परार्धे श्री श्वेत वाराह कल्पै वैवस्वत मन्वन्तरे अष्टाविंशतितमे युगे कलियुगे कलि प्रथमचरणे भूर्लोके जम्बूद्वीपे भारत वर्षे भरत खंडे आर्यावर्तान्तर्गतैकदेशे ---*--- नगरे ---**--- ग्रामे वा बौद्धावतारे ……नाम संवत्सरे श्री सूर्ये ……. यने वर्षा ऋतौ महामाँगल्यप्रद मासोत्तमे शुभ ………. मासे …….पक्षे …….तिथौ भृगुवासरे ……… नक्षत्रे शुभ योगे गर करणे …..राशि स्थिते चन्द्रे …….. राशि स्थिते सूर्य …… राशि स्थिते देवगुरौ शेषेषु ग्रहेषु च यथा यथा राशि स्थान स्थितेषु सत्सु एवं ग्रह गुणगण विशेषण विशिष्टायाँ चतुर्थ्याम्‌ शुभ पुण्य तिथौ -- +-- गौत्रः --++-- अमुक …… गुप्ता, दासो ऽहं मम आत्मनः श्रीमन्‌ महागणपति प्रीत्यर्थम्‌ यथालब्धोपचारैस्तदीयं पूजनं करिष्ये।)
5. Invocation (Avahanam) - The deity is invited to the ceremony from the heart. Meditate on the deity, guru, atma.
6. Infusing prana (pranaprathishtha) – pranaprathishtha in the deity.
7. Seat (Peetha, Asanam) – The deity is offered a seat.
8. Feet (Padyam) – The deity’s feet are symbolically washed.
9. Water – Water is offered for washing the head and body.
10. Arghyam – offering water to deity to wash its mouth.
11. Achamaniyam – offering water to deity for sipping (with right palm – 3 times – ॐ केशवाय नमः; ॐ माधवाय नमः; ॐ नारायणय नमः; now wash the hands and say- ॐ गोविन्दाय नमः). Three times achaman symbolizes - physical, verbal and mental.
12. Madhuparkam – offering mixture of honey, ghee and curd to the deity.
13. Bath (Abhishekam) – bathing by milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugarcane juice or sugar. Then bathing by holy waters of river. (Mantra - पंचामृत-स्नानम्‌ समर्पयामि)
14. Clothing (Vastram) – cloth & ornaments (abharanam) are offered. (Mantra - वस्त्रम्‌-उपवस्त्र समर्पयामि।)
15. Sacred thread – Upaveedam or Mangalsutra is offered. (Mantra - यज्ञो-पवीतम्‌ समर्पयामि)
16. Gandham & Tilakam – offering perfumes and ointments are applied to the image. (Mantra - गन्धम्‌ समर्पयामि)
17. Flowers (Pushpam) – offering flowers & garlands to deity. (Mantra - पुष्पमालाम्‌ समर्पयामि)
18. Incense (Dhoopam) – lighting incense before image. (Mantra - धूपम्‌ आघ्रापयामि)
19. Lamp burning (Deepam) – light the lamp and place it on the akshat (rice) on the right side of the favored deity. Light symbolizes knowledge. (Mantra for placing lamp - ॐ दीप ज्योतिषे नमः, Mantra for showing to deity - दीपं दर्शयामि)
20. Kalasha – placing of kalasha in front of deity. The kalash is filled with holy water of rivers. The basic feeling is that our mind should always remain full of devotion, sensibility, fluidity and simplicity. The durva-kush, betelnut, flower inserted in the Kalash which reflect that our eligibility should include the same vitality as durva (doob), the intensity of kush, the stability like betel nut, the joy of flowers and the omnipresent qualities like matter. (Mantra - ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः भो वरुण इहागच्छ, ॐ अपांपतये वरुणाय नमः।)
21. Food (Naivedyam & Tambulam) – offering food such as cooked rice, fruit, clarified butter, sugar, and betel leaf. (Mantra - नैवेद्यम्‌ मोदक-मयम्‌ ऋतुफलानि च समर्पयामि ।आचमनीयम्‌ मध्ये पानीयम्‌ उत्तरा-पोशनम्‌ च समर्पयामि)
22. Camphor (Neerajanam) – waiving camphor light before deity.
23. Circumambulation (Pradakshina) - Circumambulation around the deity.
24. Salutation (Pranama) - The worshipper and family bow or prostrate themselves before the image to offer homage.
25. Stuti – praising the deity with hymns.
26. Kshamaprrathana – asking forgiveness for any lapse in puja. (Mantra - आवाहनं न जानामि न जानामि विसर्जनम्। पूजां चैव न जानामि क्षमस्व परमेश्वर॥ मंत्रहीनं क्रियाहीनं भक्तिहीनं जनार्दन। यत्पूजितं मया देव! परिपूर्ण तदस्तु मे॥)
27. Taking leave

Multiple deities & cosmic powers:
Hinduism offers both options – Nirakara Brahman (one God, formless) and Saguna deities (several personal gods with various cosmic powers), but ultimately all deities reach to one ultimate universal Brahman. The multiple gods and goddesses of Hinduism are a distinctive feature of the religion who symbolize various cosmic powers. It provides various options of which one might touch my heart the most. The Vedic deities personify various powers through fire, wind, sun, dawn, darkness, earth and so on. The cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction are personified typically by trimurty or trideva - Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver of humanity & dharma, and Shiva the destroyer to regenerate.

Hinduism provides believers the opportunity to satisfy all their basic desires by a set of functional deities – Sun for health, fame & power; Hanuman ji for wisdom, power, freedom from fear, love & devotion; Saraswati mata for wisdom including music & learning; Lakshmi mata for wealth & fortune; Durga mata & kali mata for power; Ganesh ji for Success & remover of obstacles; Annapoorna mata for food; Radha ji for love & devotion; Shree Krishna for Love & preserver of dharma; Shree Ram for equanimity and justice, ideal son, brother, husband, and king and as a strict adherent to dharma

A select Mantras of personal deities are given hereunder:
Sun: 

• ॐ सूर्य आत्मा जगतस्तस्युषश्च आदित्यस्य नमस्कारं ये कुर्वन्ति दिने दिने। दीर्घमायुर्बलं वीर्यं व्याधि शोक विनाशनम्  सूर्य पादोदकं तीर्थ जठरे धारयाम्यहम्।।
• ॐ मित्राय नम:  ॐ रवये नम: ॐ सूर्याय नम:  ॐ भानवे नम:  ॐ खगाय नम:  ॐ पूष्णे नम:  ॐ हिरण्यगर्भाय नम:  ॐ मरीचये नम:  ॐ आदित्याय नम:   ॐ सवित्रे नम:  ॐ अर्काय नम:  ॐ भास्कराय नम:  ॐ श्री सवितृ सूर्यनारायणाय नम: आदिदेव नमस्तुभ्यं प्रसीदमम् भास्कर।  दिवाकर नमस्तुभ्यं प्रभाकर नमोऽस्तु ते।।

Ganesh ji:
·       वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सुर्यकोटि समप्रभ: निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा

Shiva ji:
·       ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम |
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ||
·       कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं संसारसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम् । सदा बसन्तं हृदयारबिन्दे भबं भवानीसहितं नमामि ॥

Vishnu ji:
·       ॐ नमोः नारायणाय.ॐ नमोः भगवते वासुदेवाय ।:।||
·       शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशं विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं मेघवर्ण शुभाङ्गम् । लक्ष्मीकान्तं कमलनयनं योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यम् वन्दे विष्णुं भवभयहरं सर्वलोकैकनाथम् ॥
·       त्वमेव माता  च पिता त्वमेव|त्वमेव बन्धुश्च  सखा त्वमेव |त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव|त्वमेव सर्व मम देवदेव ||

Hanuman ji:
·       मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगम् |जितेन्दि्रयं बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठम् |वातात्मजं वानरयूथमुख्यं |श्री रामदूतं शरण प्रपद्ये ||

Navagrah:
·       ॐ ब्रह्मा मुरारिस्त्रिपुरान्तकारी, भानुः शशी भूमिसुतो बुधश्च । गुरुश्च शुक्रः शनिराहु केतवः, सर्वे ग्रहा शान्तिकरा भवन्तु

Durga mata:
·       सर्व मंगलमांगल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके शरण्ये त्र्यंबके गौरी नारायणि नमोस्तुते ।
·       या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ रुपेण संस्थिता |या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्ती रुपेण संस्थिता |या देवी सर्वभूतेषु बुद्धि रुपेण संस्थिता|या देवी सर्वभूतेषु लक्ष्मी रुपेण संस्थिता |नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

Lakshmi mata:

• विष्णुप्रिये नमस्तुभ्यं जगद्धिते | अर्तिहंत्रि नमस्तुभ्यं समृद्धि कुरु में सदा |

Gayatri mata:

• ॐ भूर्भवः स्वः तत्स वितुर्वरेण्यं |भर्गोदेवस्य धीमहि धियो योनः प्रचोदयात् ||

Saraswati mata:

• ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं महासरस्वती देव्यै नमः।

Guru:
·       गुरु - गुरु ब्रह्मा, गुरु विष्णु गुरु देवो महेश्वर, गुरु साक्षात् परमं ब्रह्मा तस्मै श्री गुरुवे नम:।

Shanti Mantra:
·       ॐ द्यौः शान्तिरन्तरिक्षं शान्तिः पृथिवी शान्तिरापः शान्तिरोषधयः शान्तिः।वनस्पतयः शान्तिर्विश्वेदेवाः शान्तिर्ब्रह्म शान्तिः सर्वं शान्तिः शान्तिरेव शान्तिः सा मा शान्तिरेधि ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥