Steps of Worship of Deity (Dev Poojan)

Dev Poojan (देव पूजन) means worship of deities in Hinduism. It is a core spiritual practice that honors and invokes divine energy through rituals, prayers, and offerings.
It is the act of expressing reverence to a specific deity (like Vishnu, Shiva, Lakshmi, Durga, etc.) through rituals. It may be done daily at home or elaborately in temples.

Why Is Dev Poojan Done?

1. To express gratitude to the divine.
2. To seek blessings for health, wealth, wisdom, peace, or protection.
3. To purify the mind and cultivate humility and devotion.
4. To align with dharma (cosmic order and righteousness).

How Is Dev Poojan Performed?
Here’s a general step-by-step outline of traditional Hindu pooja:

1. Preparation - Bathe and wear clean clothes. Clean the altar or pooja space. Place deity idols or pictures with flowers and a lamp.
2. Swasti Vachan
3. Sankalpa (Intention) - Declare the purpose of the pooja, your name, place, and wish.
4. Dhyana (Meditation) - Mentally invite the deity. Chant mantras like "Om Gan Ganapataye Namah" to invoke Ganesha first.
5. Offerings (Upacharas) - Traditionally 16 steps (Shodashopachara Puja) are offered:
6. Avahanam – Inviting the deity
7. Asanam – Offering a seat
8. Padyam – Washing the feet
9. Arghyam – Offering scented water
10. Achamaniyam – Water to sip
11. Snanam – Symbolic bath
12. Vastra – Offering clothes
13. Yajnopavita – Sacred thread
14. Gandha – Applying sandalwood paste
15. Pushpam – Offering flowers
16. Dhoopam – Offering incense
17. Deepam – Lighting a lamp
18. Naivedyam – Offering food
19. Tambulam – Offering betel leaf & nut
20. Aarti – Waving the lamp with chants
21. Pradakshina & Namaskara – Circumambulation and prostration
    1. Mantra Japa or Stotra - Chant the deity’s mantras, like Vishnu Sahasranama, Shiva Stotra, etc.
    2. Aarti & Prasad - Conclude with Aarti (light offering) and distribute prasada (sanctified food).

Types of Dev Poojan

1. Nitya Puja    Daily household worship
2. Vrat Poojan  Worship with fasting and vows
3. Festival Pooja         Done on special days like Diwali, Navratri
4. Graha Puja    Worship of planetary deities
5. Ishta Devta Puja    Worship of one’s personal deity

You Need:

1. Image or idol of deity
2. Flowers, diya (lamp), incense
3. Water in a small lota
4. Food or fruit as prasad
5. Bell (optional) and mantra book