Religion - - Posted on October, 10 at 1:18 pm
Puja is any form of idol worship. It can be as simple as offering flowers to the deities in the shrine in one’s home or an elaborate ceremony consisting of a number of rituals. Nitya Puja or Sandhya is the worship of family deity and other deities in the family shrine in the morning and evening. There are some annual Pujas like that on Nagapanchami day - the worship of the snakes, or the worship of the Banyan tree on Vatapournima and so on. Some Pujas like Satyanarayana, Bodana etc. are performed on special occasions or after the fulfillment of a wish.
Pujas are also performed before commencing almost any new venture: constructing a structure, moving into a new dwelling, inaugurating a machine, using a vehicle for the first time -the list is legion. These Pujas are performed to propitiate Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the god of everything auspicious or for family deities. In doing so, the object of the Puja is itself raised to the level of a demigod - festooned with flowers and daubed with traditional colours.
Most Pujas conclude with the distribution of Prasada - a part of the offering to the Lord. Prasada, which could be loosely translated as grace or blessing, is usually in the form of flower petals, sweets, Chandana, or parts of any of the other offerings made to the Lord.
Traditionally, there are several ways of performing Pujas. Some of them are -
Panchopachara Puja
Each of the five senses contribute to the joys of life. The offering of the objects that afford us the five-fold joys is called Panchopachara Puja. The offerings are Gandha (sandal), Pushpa (flowers), Dhoopa (incense), Deepa (lamps) and Naivedya (food). It is believed that the Jnyanendriyas or the sensory organs that feed knowledge unto us would not be attracted towards evil if these are offered to the Lord.
Shodashopachara Puja
Besides the simple, basic requirements for material pleasure, there are other things that make life that much more comfortable –like dwellings, clothes, modes of conveyance, etc. These too are to be offered to God. Tradition lists sixteen such offerings. Pujas that involve these offerings is known as Shodashopachara Puja.
Chatusshashti Upacharas (The 64 offerings)
Other sources of enjoyment like music, dance, chariots, elephants, horses, including other indulgences of the wealthy and royalty are also to be offered to God. Such offerings are said to be 64 in number and are called the Chatusshashti Upacharaas. These are generally offered in temples and are not a part of private worship.
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