The Essence and Practice of Puja: A Complete Guide to Devotional Worship.
Definition of Puja.
Puja is a methodical act of offering service, praise, prayer, salutation, and devotion that reveals and glorifies the divine qualities and presence of God.
In essence, it is the spiritual union between the devotee and the Divine.
The essence of Puja is bhakti (devotion) , without bhakti, Puja bears no fruit.
श्रद्धा-भक्ति परमं साधनम्।
भक्तिरेव पुष्पं भक्तिरेव फलम्।
भक्तिरेव पूजा भक्तिरेव अर्घ्यम्।
भक्तिरेव योगो भक्तिरेव यज्ञः।
श्रद्धाभक्तिविना सर्वं निष्फलम्॥
भक्तिनीतिः
बाह्या भक्तिर्दुराचारः, अन्तर्भक्तिः सदाचारः।
अन्तर्भक्त्या आत्मशुद्धिः, आत्मशुद्ध्या ईश्वरप्राप्तिः॥
🔥We should always remember: God does not benefit from the worship of Him. The devotee benefits from worshipping God.
☯.Two Aspects of Puja
☆.External Worship (Bahya Puja)
☆.Internal Worship (Antarik Puja)
💥External Puja
External Puja is divided into:
1. Vedic Puja
Worship performed according to the prescriptions of the Vedas.
2. Tantric Puja
☯.Worship performed according to the principles and rituals of Tantra.
Internal Puja
Internal Puja is performed with deep mental devotion and focus.
Here, emotion and meditation take precedence over external materials.
☯.Types of Puja Based on Form
1. Image Worship (Murti Puja)
Worship offered before a physical image or symbol of the deity.
This form helps to focus the restless mind on divine contemplation.
2. Mental Worship (Manas Puja)
Worship performed entirely in the mind through visualization.
The devotee mentally envisions the deity and offers worship inwardly.
☯.Types of Puja Based on Intention
1. Kamya Puja
Worship offered to fulfill specific personal desires , such as wealth, children, knowledge, or healing.
2. Niṣkama Puja (Selfless worship): Nishkama Puja , worship, sacrifice (yajna), service, etc., performed without any personal desire or expectation of gain.
💥Niṣkama Puja is considered the highest form of worship.
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| ईश्वरस्य आराधनात् ईश्वरस्य लाभः न भवति। ईश्वरपूजनेन भक्तस्य लाभः भवति। |
☯.Types of Puja Based on Offerings
1. Pancopachara Puja (पञ्चोपचार)
Worship with five basic offerings: sandalwood paste, water, food (naivedya), incense-lamp, and flowers.
These represent the five elements , earth, water, fire, air, and space , and symbolize body, mind, life-force, emotion, and ego.
2. Bahu-Upachara Puja (बहु-उपचार पूजा)
Worship with many offerings -10, 100, or even 1,000 items.
Common in public rituals. Two standard forms are:
Dasopachara (10 Offerings): (दशोपचार पूजा:)
Water for feet (Padya), Arghya, Sipping water (Achamaniya), Madhuparka, Second sipping, Fragrance, Flowers, Incense, Lamp, Food offering.
Ṣoḍaśopacara (16 Offerings): (षोडशोपचार पूजा:)
Seat, Welcome, Pādya, Arghya, Achamana, Madhuparka, Bath, Clothes, Ornaments, Fragrance, Flowers, Incense, Lamp, Sandal paste, Food, Betel leaf.
Goddesses may also be offered symbolic items like conch, vermilion, comb, kohl, and red dye (alta).
3. Svalpopacāra Puja: (स्वल्पोपचार पूजा:)
Minimalistic worship using limited materials when full offerings are unavailable.
4. Mental Puja (Manas Puja): (उपचारहीन पूजा)
Performed mentally by advanced spiritual seekers.
This is also called worship without offerings (Upacarahina Puja).
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| स्वप्न प्रायः मिथ्या होते हैं, प्रमाण से ही वे सत्य बनते हैं। |
☯.Types of Puja Based on Participation
1. Individual Worship
Personal worship done privately and voluntarily for spiritual growth.
2. Collective Worship
Group worship conducted under the guidance of a priest or spiritual leader.
The Supreme Form of Worship.
When a devotee offers tears of devotion and emotion as naivedya, that Puja is considered the most exalted.
Importance of Incense in Puja
Burning incense or dhupa has been a tradition since ancient times.
It creates positive environment and a peaceful, harmonious atmosphere.
Incense sticks made from bamboo are considered impure for worship.
Only bamboo-free incense or traditional dhupa should be used.
Puja and Its Results
Performing Puja is a devotee's duty , but the results depend on God’s grace, not human entitlement.
Some mistakenly expect guaranteed results. When those results don’t manifest, they turn away from God.
This mindset is unspiritual and contrary to scriptural teachings.
When Do the Results of Puja Come?
When the Puja is performed with devotion, discipline, and proper procedure.
When God is pleased and accepts the offering.
Why Might God Reject Puja?
Consumption of meat, fish, alcohol etc.
Harming or supporting harm to living beings.
Absence of bhakti, faith, and humility.
Harming living beings is a sin against God’s creation.
It invites inauspicious results and blocks divine blessings.
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| अनुभूति प्रायः स्वप्नसदृश्य मानी जाती है। |
How to Make Puja Fruitful.
Embrace a sattvic (pure and disciplined) lifestyle, free from meat, alcohol, and violence etc.
Practice non-violence in thought, word, and deed.
Free yourself from inner faults like lust, anger, and greed.
Worship with deep love and faith, following scriptural methods.
Cultivate virtues like patience, forgiveness, self-control, truthfulness, and purity.
Importance of Mantra and Pronunciation.
The word “Mantra” comes from the Sanskrit roots man (mind) and tra (to protect or liberate). It is a sacred formula, prayer, or guiding maxim, an instrument for focusing and elevating the mind. Traditionally in Sanskrit, mantras may exist in any language, but their proper pronunciation and understanding are vital. When a worshipper knows a mantra’s meaning, they unlock its deeper, transformative power.
Scriptures affirm:
“Devo bhutva devaṁ yajet” - Worship the deity by becoming divine in thought and behavior.
“Yadṛsi bhavana yasya, siddhir bhavati tadṛsi”- One’s success depends on the nature of one’s intention.
Sastra = Systematic knowledge + moral conduct & discipline.
Scripture = Sacred revelation + divine authority.
Completion of Puja through Arati
Puja is both a spiritual discipline and divine offering.
It harmonizes inner purity with external ritual.
In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna declares:
“Whoever offers Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water- I lovingly accept that offering.”
If any mistake occurs during Puja, performing Arati at the end completes the worship.
If one doesn’t know the proper Arati, one should perform the Arati of Lord Nārāyaṇa,
for all worship ultimately culminates at His feet.
He is beyond the three guṇas (sattva, rajas, tamas), the Supreme Self, and Parabrahman.
Those who are truly interested in learning about the method of worship should read Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 11, Chapter 27. This chapter explains in detail how a devotee should properly worship the Lord in His deity form with faith, purity, and devotion. It describes the necessary qualifications, rituals involving bathing, chanting, offering water, flowers, food, and sacred items, and the importance of sincere devotional feeling beyond mere external opulence.
गृहस्थवैष्णवानां कृते शान्तिमन्त्रः
॥ शान्तिः–मन्त्रः ॥
हे प्रभो वयं हि गृहिणो वैष्णवभावनान्विताः,
त्वां भक्त्या प्रतिपद्येम प्रेम्णा रहितजीविताः।
त्वद्भक्तिविरहः साक्षात् दुःसहः स्यात् त्वयि विना ।
त्वं नाथः परमैकः स्यान्, नान्यः दयालुभिः विना ॥
देव त्वं कुटुम्बमस्माकं मित्राण्यपि च पालय,
सर्वान् भक्तजनान् नित्यं स्वकृपावृष्टिभिः सदा।
विश्वासे दृढतां देहि शुद्धेनान्तःकरणेन,
शान्तिं देहि जनानां च भूयाद् शान्तिः सनातनम्॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Vision of the Lord.
In His own abode, as one’s own form is seen,
The Lord appears in body’s sacred sheen.
In other realms, through subtle, mystic frame,
The soul beholds His ever-holy name.
In incarnations pure and radiant bright,
He comes to grace the mortal’s yearning sight.
And sometimes, in the gentle gleam of dream,
He shows Himself with evidence supreme.
