What are the Rituals For A Pooja? Pooja means to take care or to serve. As per the Vedas, pooja can be Shodasha Upachara Pooja (16 steps), Dasopachara Pooja (10 steps) or Panchopachara Pooja (5 steps). Most follow the path of 16 steps, which have a deep Vedic meaning. As God resides within us, we should incorporate these 16 basic steps as the foundation of our daily routine or dincharya. These should also form the steps of our conduct with others and how to receive and treat guest at home (atithi devo bhava). 1. The first step is Dhyana and Avahana where the ritual involves sitting and meditating before the image or the idol of the deity or the coconut depicting God . Dhyana (focused attention) with prayers (intention) invokes the deity into the idol. The symbolic message behind the ritual is to start the day with meditation and invoking the self within us hidden behind the triad ofkama, greed and ego. It also means inviting guests to our home. 2. The second step is Asana and the ritual involves offering the deity a seat by touching the deity idol and asking God to sit. In the context of guests, it symbolizes offering them a warm welcome. In daily routine, it prepares one for the next step of personal hygiene. 3. The next three steps involve Padhya (washing the deity’s feet with water and offering respect), Argya (offering water to wash hands), and Achamanya and Madhuvarga (offering water to clean the mouth and face). Madhuvarga (honey) is a beverage made of honey and milk offered for drinking. These three steps symbolize the sequence of external bath in daily routine. 4. The sixth step is Abhishekam or Snanam and involves bathing the deity with different things (water, milk, rose water, sandalwood paste, panchamrut (milk, water, curd, water, honey, water, ghee, water and sugar, water). It provides a natural way of bathing, not only with soap. 5. The seventh, eight, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth steps involve various offerings. Firstly, Vastra or offering dress; secondly, Gandha or sandalwood or kumkum (red powder); thirdly, Abarana or gold/silver/stone ornaments; fourthly Pushpa mala or garland of flowers; fifthly, Archana or offering prayers by reciting the Lord’s name and also with flowers etc. and finally Dhoop or agarbatti (incense stick). 6. The thirteenth step is Deepam or offering light in the form of a lighted lamp. The fourteenth step is Naivedya or offering food which is satvik (fruits) and or cooked, including kheel and patasha symbolizing fulfilled desires. It is followed by Tambol (or betel) along with supari (areca nut), and clove symbolizing internal cleansing. 7. The fifteenth step is the Aarti, wherein camphor is lit and mantras are recited. Here, mantras symbolize intentions or the check list of the day to be completed by the end of the day. Aarti ends with Dakshina, a reminder to start the day with some charity. 8. The last step is the Pradakshina and Namaskara or offering flowers at the feet of God symbolizing surrender and then prostrating before the deity and thanking him for giving us one another day to live. It also invokes humility within us to live yet another day full of inner happiness.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 07:43:10 +0000