Puja

What is Puja?

Puja is one of the most beautiful ways to bring out the devotee within oneself and
establish a relationship with Ishvara, the cause of the whole Universe. Puja is called
kayikam karma, an action involving one’s limbs. It also includes speech and mental
action in the form of chanting and thinking of Ishvara.

In a physical form of worship, such as a Puja, there is a greater field of expression of

one’s devotion than is possible in purely oral or mental forms of worship. The body, mind
and speech are all involved in a Puja. The forms, colours, fragrances and sounds of the
various items of worship arrest one’s mind and aid in evoking devotion in oneself.

A Puja is performed in order to express one’s gratitude to Ishvara for all one has been
given in one’s life. The very creation in which one is born is considered to be a gift of the
Ishvara. The body mind sense complex is made up of five basic elements: Akasha,
space; Vayu, air; Agni, fire; Apa, water and Prthvi, earth, which also constitute the
creation. Through the sense perceptions backed by the mind one perceives Ishvaras
vas creation and appreciates his glories.

Traditionally, a form of worship known as Pancopacara – Puja, worship with fivefold

offering, is performed. This worship acknowledges the presence of Ishvara and makes a
simple offering of the five elements through a symbolic offering of Pushpa, flowers;
Dhupa, incense; Dipa, light; Naivedya, food and Gandha, sandalwood paste. These
objects represent the elements space, air, fire, water and earth, respectively.

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 Preparation before the Puja

Invocation of Ganesha – remover of all obstacles

Om shuklaambaradharam vishnum shashivarnam caturbhujam prasannavadanam
dhyaayet sarvavighnopashaantaye

Lightening of the lamp

Om deepajyotih (f) param brahma deepajyotir janaardanaha
deepo me haratu paapaani deepajyotir namo’stu te

Aacamanam – inner purification

Om acyutaaya namaha
Om anantaaya namaha
Om govindaaya namaha

Invocation of the Guru – teacher - teaching

Gurur brahmaa gurur vishnuhu gurur devo maheshvaraha
Gurussaaksaat param brahma tasmai shree gurave namaha

Sankalpa – setting the intention

Om mamopaatta samasta duritakshayadvaaraa shree parameshvara preetyartham
jnaana vairaagya moksha siddhyartham
name the deity
*shree sarasvatee devi/shree shivaa/shree hanumaan/shree ganapati/shree
daksinaamuurti/shree laksmi devi/shree durgaa devi/
shree bhagavaan vaasudeva/shree devi/shree deva*
puujaam karishye

Dhyaana Shloka – meditation upon the deity

(optional)

Invocation of the deity

Asmin bimbe Shree *… dhyaayaami
(offer flower)
Asmin bimbe Shree *… aavaahayaami
(offer flower)

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 Pancopacaara Puja

Please note that depending on the gender of the deity

The mantras have slight changes. You can choose accordingly

Female
Om prthivyaatmikaayai shree sarasvatyai* gandhaam dhaarayaami
*shree laksmyai/shree durgaayai/shree devyai

Om aakaashaatmikaayai shree sarasvatyai pushpai (f) puujayaami

Om vaayvaatmikaayai shree sarasvatyai dhuupamaaghraapayaami

Om vahnyaatmikaayai shree sarasvatyai deepam darshayaami

Om amrtaatmikaayai shree sarasvatyai amrtam mahaanaivedyam nivedayaami

Sam sarvaatmikaayai shree sarasvatyai sarvopacaarapuujaam puujayaami

For neuter it will be

Om prthivyaatmane shree hanumate* gandhaam dhaarayaami
*shree ganapataye/shree daksinaamurtaye

For masculine it will be

Om prthivyaatmikaaya shree vaasudevaaya* gandhaam dhaarayaami
*shree shivaaya/shree devaaya

Mantras for the deities

Aim hreem om sarasvatyai namaha
Om shivaaya namaha / Om namah shivaaya
Om neelakanthaaya namaha
Om hanumate namaha
Om gam ganapataye namaha
Om shree medha daksinaamuurtisvaamine namaha
Om hreem shreem paramalaksmyai namaha
Om dum durgaayai namaha
Om namo bhagavate vaasudeevaaya
Om devyai namaha
Om devaaya namaha
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 Svasti Mantraaha
Universal Peace Mantra

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