The word Puja came from the Dhathu “Puj”, which means to worship, to honor, to welcome. The root of the word Puja is “Yaja” Deva Poojaayaam” means the service or activities that one cannot avoid from doing to propitiate or please God. Every country, state, religion, caste, family and even individual has its/their/his/her own belief and ways of performing Puja. Whatever may be the method or system or practice that one adopts or follows, there are, as per Hindu scriptures 4, 5 (Panchopachar), 8, 10 (Dasopachar), 13, 16 (Shodashopachar), 24, 32, 64 or 108 types of Upacharas or activities or services to propitiate God.
The daily worship generally consists of sixteen phases or items according to a conventional practice usually referred to as Shodasopachara Puja. These sixteen items are not always necessarily the same throughout. They differ from occasion to occasion and may be from place to place or person to person. But a common sequence popularly
followed by majority of the devotees is as follows:
- Avahanam – Invocation
- Asanam- Offering a seat
- Padyam- Water for washing the feet
- Arghyam- Water for washing the hands
- Achamaneeyam- A few drops of water for sipping
- Snanam- Bathing with water, milk or honey
- Vastram- Garments to cover the body
- Yajnopaveetam- The sacred thread placed across the left shoulder and the right bottom part of the trunk
- Gandham- Sandal paste
- Pushpam- Flower or flowers
- Dhoopam- Burning incense for fragrance and to intensify the feelings of devotion
- Deepam- Lighting to remove darkness, symbolizes enlightenment
- Naivedyam- Food for nourishment
- Tamboolam- Betel leaves with nut and other ingredients, a condiment that signifies completion of a meal.
- Neerajanam- Offering of camphor enkindled to have a better look of the Supreme both within and without
- Atma Pradakshina Namaskaram- Prostration before the Lord as a mark of self-surrender after making a parikrama.
Ref: Sai Vichaar Newsletter (www.saibaba.org weekly newsletter).
