PUJA (WORSHIPING GOD)

Puja is one of the important parts of six daily karma (activities) in Hindu scriptures:

1. snan (bath)
2. sandhya (religious practice done thrice a day)
3. jap (recitation of mantra)
4. hom (sacrificial fire i.e. worshiping by putting ghee, sesame, rice, mango wood etc into sacred fire)
5. puja (worshiping the deity)
6. atithi satkar (welcoming and offering food and water to guest – even if they come without announcing)

Essence of Puja (What)

In Hinduism, gods/deities are worshiped as a practice or ritual. Puja is performed daily by family members in home and elaborate puja is conducted by pandit (aka purohit or priest) in home or temple by following various steps prescribed in Vedas.

1. Tilak (kumkum / red lead, Haldi / Turmeric, Chandan / Sandalwood paste etc applied on forehead of deities and self )
2. Mala (garland of 108 beeds of Rudraksha, crystal etc)
3. Upasna (performing puja)
4. Upvas (full or partial fasting to remember god whole day)
5. Jap (chanting of mantra such as Gayatri mantra, beej mantra etc for deity)
6. Bhajan (chanting of hymns/verses in praise of deity)
7. Havan (sacrificial fire)
8. Naivadyam / Prasad (fruits, sweats / food offered to deity and taken after worship)

Significance of Puja (Why)

Daily Puja is not mere ritual but important step in progress of spiritual journey. Person observing regular puja with devotion may get following benefits:

1. It calms mind and develop focus in thought process besides, facilitating surrender of ego.
2. Jap, Havan, Bhajans, and upvas have many positive impacts on health of body and mind such as reduces stress, align body; mind & soul; activates endocrine system etc.
3. Puja is one of the mediums to establish connection with the God & grows in spiritual path while performing various worldly duties.

As per Hinduism, Atma (soul) is eternal and it goes in cycles of birth till moksha (end of re-birth). After re-birth, living beings faces cycles of joy and sorrows. To get rid of cycles of re-birth, one has to establish connection with supreme God and shed ego.

Performing Puja (How)
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Simple puja is done by family members preferably in morning and evening hours.
Timings:  As per Hindu belief, day is divided in three parts viz. Sattvic* (4 to 8 in morning & evening), Rajasi* (8 to 12 in morning & evening) & Tamasic* (12 to 4 in noon & night). Satvic puja timings are most auspicious. When a person performs puja in morning hours after taking full rest and with calm mind, it develops better divine connection.
Procedure: In simple puja, the following steps are generally done:

1. The person performing puja takes bath and wears clean clothes and sit on dedicated asan (woollen or jute mat).
2. Murti (Image) of deity is bathed, cleaned up, re-dressed and decorated.
3. Tilak is applied on forehead of deity and to the participants who are participating in puja. Tilak is normally made up of Kumkum (red lead), Haldi (turmeric) or Chandan (sandalwood paste). Sometimes, it can be ash from burnt havan. Tilak activates aagya chakra also called as third eye. It is believed that activation of aagya chakra improves intuition and communication ability.
4. Kalava (sacred thread) offered to deities as symbol of cloth and tied on hands of participants who are participating in puja which signify thread of protection.
5. By reciting poetry, mantras and bhajans in honour of god, doing havan, jap, arti and shanti (peace) Mantra, Supreme god / deity is worshipped. On special occasions and festivals, puja is done by observing upvas. When puja is done with full devotion, a special atmic (soul) connection is established with the god.
6. Jap of the mantras is done on mala (garland of 108 beads) once or more times. We have 12 houses and 9 planets in Indian Astrology which is one of significances of 108 numbers.
7. Supreme god / Deity is offered flowers, clean water, Prasad (fruits, sweats / food), Agarbati or dhoop (scented sticks), Aarti with lighted diva (flame or light from wicks soaked in cow ghee or til (sesame) oil placed in lamp). The offers made to god symbolise panchbhoot viz. air, water, fire, earth and space. The offers are made in suksham (subtle) form to the deities and received as Prasad.
8. Aarti with lighted diva or camphor is done in spirit of humility, gratitude and surrender of soul to deity.
9. While doing Arti, ringing of ghanti (bell generally made up of brass) and sound from Shankh (Conch Shell) are done. It is believed that ringing of ghanti and sound of shankh removes evil spirit and alleviates ear problems.

*Detailed description on Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic is given in Bhagwat Gita.

Deities decorated with flowers

Havan

Mala with 108 Beads