Why is Puja Important in Hinduism
Puja, or pooja, is an Indian ritual of worship that involves offering prayers to God in devotion to receive his blessings and love. It may seem like a routine ritual, but it is actually a symbol of something deeper. Puja is a symbol of offering one’s entire mind, body, thoughts and possessions to God. He will then receive whatever he gives back as a sign of devotion and surrender. It is likely that it was inspired by Tantric worship. It is a combination of Tantric rituals and Vedic sacrifices. This gives it simplicity and universal appeal.
Puja, the most common form of divine worship in Hinduism at present, is puja. You can perform it either as an individual or in groups. It’s either performed by worshippers directly or indirectly, or by priests on behalf of worshippers. It is universally performed in all Hindu temples. Puja is practically the new central feature of Hindu worship. It is easy to do even for laypeople and does not require the mediation of a priest. It is technically a domestic sacrifice that is performed by faithful householders and devotees to God as part their daily devotional service.
While Hinduism’s lay followers may take liberties in how they worship God, the traditional puja structure is still followed by many traditional households. Priests use it in temples and other religious locations to offer ritual worship and to make offerings to temple deities.
Some pujas last only a few minutes, while others can go on for hours. A puja in a Hindu household is performed in the same manner that a guest is welcomed into the home by the homeowner and treated with the utmost respect. Hindu tradition associates a guest (athidhi), with God using the simple expression “Athidi Devobhava,” meaning that a guest is God Himself.
Table of Content
- Puja and its meaning
- Puja: The significance and aspects
- Puja symbolism: The symbols of the different objects used
- Ahvanam, the invitation
- The worshipper
- The image
- Purna Kumbha (or Purna Kalasa) is the sacred vessel
- Naivedyam
- Pushpam
- Phalam
- Arghyam padyam or achamaniyam
- Gandham
- Dhupam
- Deepam, light
- Turmeric powder and kumkum (saffron)
- The remains of the offering (Prasad)
- Conclusion
Puja and its meaning
Puja is a word that means to adore, worship or revere, or to treat others with respect and honor. Pujanam refers to the act of worship. Pujarha is the act of worship. Pujitha is a term that refers to something that is worshipped, venerated, recommended for worship, or endowed with divinity. Pujya, an honorary title that denotes people who deserve respect and honor in society, is used to identify individuals. Pujari is the priest who performs puja at a temple. The word is etymologically composed of two letters, “pu”, and “ja”. It can be taken literally or symbolically. These are the literal interpretations.
1. Pu can be translated literally as “purify, cleanse, or make pure and auspicious”. It can also be used in a ritual sense to atone or expiate. “Ja” means birth. Puja is a ritual that purifies or cleanses the person’s birth or life. Puja may have been used in distant times to ask forgiveness and cleanse the soul. This was done to make one’s life more peaceful and prosperous.
2. Another literal meaning of Pu is to purify or cleanse, but also to see, think clearly, or discriminate. “Ja” is the root or manifestation. According to this, puja refers to the purification of the mind and the body by the predominance sattva, and thus to the discerning wisdom (buddhi). Our scriptures say that discerning wisdom is when the mind becomes rooted in the contemplation or worship of God or deity. Puja, an integral part of devotional worship, is known to have the power to stabilize our minds and to grant us wisdom through opening our eyes to hidden truths in our consciousness.
Three other interpretations of puja can also be possible from a symbolic perspective. These interpretations are not in the standard texts. They are subjective interpretations by this author. These are described below.
1. According to the first interpretation, “pu” is “purusha” while “ja” is “janma”, or to rise or get up. Puja, in other words, is anything that awakens Purusha (or the soul) in the body or an object of worship. Puja is when prana (life breathe) is poured into an inanimate deity’s image. This is where it becomes a living incarnation (arca). The act of worship (puja), symbolically awakens the hidden deity within the body. This is called the self or purusha. It fills the devotee with pure consciousness, intelligence, or consciousness. It becomes a powerful cleansing tool when the image of the deity is infused with the power and grace of God through its continual worship by devotees. The images that are placed in temples are called vigrahas. Vigraham (vi+graham) is a term that removes the negative effects of the planet bodies (grahas), or the sinful actions (grahas).
2. The second interpretation states that “pu” refers to flower (pushpam), and “ja” water (jalam). Ja also refers to japam (recitation), as stated earlier.which flowers and water are offered to God along with His names.
3. Finally, puja (pa+ u+ ja) is composed of three letters: one labial consonant (“pa”), one vowel (“u”) and one palatal consonant (“ja”). “Pa” stands for “parayana”, which refers to the continual repetition of the names God. “Japa” stands for “japa”, or the continuous mental recitations of the names God. According to this interpretation, puja is an act of worship where both parayanam (or japam) are performed by devotees in addition to the offering.
Puja: The significance and aspects
Puja ceremonies use specific objects, mantras, and worship methods. They are used to worship the deity. They are intended to build a deeper relationship with God and earn his grace. It is believed that God’s grace and goodwill can be gained by using them in worship. But, puja shouldn’t be performed with a smug or robotic attitude. Instead, it should be done with sincerity and devotion. This puja should not be performed for self-gratification, but rather to show our love, devotion and surrender to God. According to the scriptures, pujas that are not performed in a sincere manner may have negative consequences or fail to produce the desired results.
A puja’s mundane purpose is to please God and solve one’s problem or fulfill one’s wish. It is a way to worship God, and to express one’s love for him. The intensity and purity of devotion of the devotee determines the quality of puja. The Bhagavadgita explains that only those who possess the predominance or sattva are able to worship God with the purest devotion. It is possible for others to continue to show devotion while they are still tainted by egoism, desires, and attachments.
The traditional Hinduism pujas followed a prescribed format. Each aspect has a purpose and significance. It allows you to focus your attention on God and express your faith in Him with a higher level of devotion. You will be able to express your commitment to the discipline by following the steps.
One or more priests can perform pujas on behalf of the offerer in elaborate pujas. The puja involves making various offerings to the deity and treating him with the respect of a guest. They also include food. The priests and devotees share the food offerings at the end of the pujas.
Puja symbolism: The symbols of the different objects used
Offerings to the deity include prayers and chants, a ceremonial welcome, a place (asanam), water purification, water for cleansing, water for drinking, water for bathing , clothes, sacred thread, sandal paste, sacred grains and sacred plants (akshitam), and flowers (pushpam), and songs (kirtanam). They are the five senses’ objects. This means that we use all five senses when performing puja. Offerings are intended to show one’s loyalty to God and establish a personal relationship with him. Below are some important offerings that are made as part of a puja ceremony.
Ahvanam, the invitation
The invitation is the first step in a puja. It is a symbol of the formality and dutifulness that the host must use to conduct the ritual. Puja is more than a mechanical ritual. Puja is a sacrament (samskara), that requires sincerity, discipline, and respect. Puja is more than just praying to the gods of the heavens. This isn’t a distant exercise.
The worshipper
In Vedic rituals, the traditional host of the sacrifice (yajamana), is transformed into the worshipper or the bhakta during the ceremonial puja. He establishes a close relationship with God during worship. However, he also represents God in sacrifice of his life as the upholder Dharma and performs the triple functions of creation, preservation destruction. He prepares the place for the ritual and creates God’s form with his mind. He makes offerings to God as the preserver for his welfare, that of his family, and that of the entire world. He is the destroyer and he ends the worship by removing the deity’s image.
The image
The puja is more than an idol worship. It is believed that the images worshipped there are living incarnations. It is as if the deity has come down from above to establish himself in them. This ceremony requires that the worshipper is sincere and pure. This image allows the worshipper to concentrate during worship and feels close to the deity. It symbolizes the materiality of God’s presence and all that is pervasive in inanimate objects.
Purna Kumbha (or Purna Kalasa) is the sacred vessel
It is usually placed by the side or chief deity of the chief deity prior to starting the puja. It stands for Lakshmi, the mother goddess. It is made up of an earthen pot or a metal container with water or rice inside. The rim has leaves of five types. A bowl of rice, flowers, and a coconut top it. The mother earth is represented by the pot, while the flowers are for ornamentation. The bowl contains rice and the bowl holds the wealth of the goddess.
Naivedyam
We offer food to God as a sacrifice for the elements and the gross bodies, which are made only of food. Because we believe all food is God’s and was created by him, we offer food to God as a sacrifice. He is also known as the devourer, or the Lord of Death. His hunger never ceases. We can appease his hunger by offering food to him in puja. This will also earn us his protection against the impurities death, decay, ignorance, and delusion. To be free, we must give up materiality and other worldly possessions.
Pushpam
Flowers are beautiful and fragrant. Flowers are a symbol of selflessness, self sacrifice, surrender, faith, hope, and positive emotions. A devotee can offer them to God as a token of his sincere devotion and tender feelings. He also earns God’s reciprocal love. Flowers can also symbolize all that blooms within you, good or bad, intelligence or delusion and knowledge or ignorance. You can cleanse your soul by offering the flowers to God.
Phalam
Offering fruits in worship is a sign of devotion or sweetness of the soul. Offering them to God is a way to attain the blissful state known as liberation. Phal can also be translated as result, consequence, or anything that is achieved or ripens. We symbolically offer God the fruits of our achievements and actions by offering the fruit to God. The Bhagavadgita says that one should not desire the fruits of others’ actions. This gesture is symbolically made by offering fruit to God in the pujas. It washes away all our sins over time.
Arghyam padyam or achamaniyam
Water is used during puja ceremonies as a drink (achamaniyam), and cleansing agent to clean the ritual place, image, and oneself (arghyam padyam and sinam). Water is the purifying agent and the removal of spiritual and physical impurities. It is also a symbol of life (prana), consciousness and the water element within our bodies. We can offer it to God and we will be free from all sinful thoughts and behaviors and cultivate sattva.
Gandham
During worship, the deity is often sprayed with sandal paste or other fragrance substances. The nature of the deity and their preference for the type of fragrance are factors that determine the type of worship perfume used. It purifies the image and gives it divine fragrance. Gandha symbolises desires, attachments (vasanas), likes or dislikes, latent impressions as well as properties, qualities, gunas, pride, arrogance, and other negative traits. We purify ourselves by offering them to God and are free from all evil influences.
Dhupam
As part of the offerings, incense or frankincense are offered to God. It’s meant to purify the air and repel evil spirits. The incense smoke represents our distorted consciousness, delusion, and ignorance. These impurities are part of the mortal world that cloud our consciousness and perception, and keep us from reaching liberation and knowing the truths. We cleanse our bodies and minds by symbolically offering them God.
Deepam, light
The world we live in is one of darkness and light. Our minds and bodies can be susceptible to darkness, delusion and evil influences. In the puja, the light is offered to God symbolically representing knowledge, wisdom and divinity. We offer it to God to remind him that these divine qualities are his and will save us from the darkness and negative consequences of our karma. We ask him to give us light and guide us towards liberation.
Turmeric powder and kumkum (saffron)
They are used to decorate the image of the god Devi or place a mark (tilak), upon our heads in worship. It is used in worship of Devi and other gods as an offering. The saffron (kumkum), and turmeric powder used in worship symbolically represent tamas, and rajas, respectively. We offer them to seek the supremacy of sattva. Kumkum is also a symbol for blood in the body. It represents blood from animals or humans, and turmeric is the symbol for body strength (tejas). It is a way to gain strength, vitality and longevity by offering them to God.
The remains of the offering (Prasad).
Prasadam is the name given to the leftovers of food that has been offered to God during the puja ceremony. It is a combination pra + sat which means that the food fills the prana (pra) with light and truth (sat). It is believed that the food becomes holy when it is offered to God. It is believed that by eating it we are purified and suffused in God’s light and power. It symbolizes God’s kindness, generosity, and serenity. They are transferred to devotees through the remains of the offering. Finally, the puja host engages in charity and good Karma by sharing the offering with others, which is both beneficial for him and the participants.
Conclusion
Puja in Hinduism is a ceremony that declares love, devotion, and allegiance for God. This is a way to have direct communication with God, in which the mind and body can fully participate. It’s also an act to offer, sacrifice, and charity. This holistic approach combines the elements of karma yoga. It is a discipline that cultivates concentration, devotion, purity and equanimity by being consistent in practicing it. It is the easiest and most direct way to receive the grace of God, and liberation.
