Among the various modes of worship the most important method is what is called “ Shodasopachara Puja.” This consists of sixteen ways of serving or worshipping the chosen deity. The word “Shodasa” can be split into “Shut + dasa” which means six plus ten equal to sixteen. “Upachara” means ' to move nearby.' It also means ‘to transcend.' In other words, it indicates that through association with God and chanting His Name we can transcend all limits of the mundane world. In short whatever services we offer to God enable us to rise above and lessen our mental weakness. They contribute to the purification of our “ Antahkarana” viz Manas, Buddhi, chitta, Ahankara or ego. What are these sixteen upacharas and what is their significance in the worship of the deity? Today these services have become purely mechanical without meditation and concentration on the deity being worshipped. The mind of the worshipper is elsewhere, not in the worship! Such puja cannot be called ideal worship and cannot yield the required result or satisfaction.
The first and foremost item of worship is to light the lamp otherwise called “ Diparadhana.” What is its meaning and significance? In olden days, during the yagnas and homas fire was created by the friction of two wooden blocks called 'Arani.' A wooden stick is placed in between the two blocks and churned vigorously by a rope. Smoke is generated through intense friction and sparks of fire emanate. This fire is developed through twigs and this becomes the holy fire for the yagna! By aligning the principle of Jiva to the principle of Deva the Fire of Jnana is created. This Fire destroys the attachment of ajnana or avidya! The ' Vasanas' or tendencies we have developed since our countless births are destroyed by this Fire of Jnana or Wisdom! The oil in the lamp we light symbolizes these accumulated tendencies that are inherent in us since our innumerable births. The cotton wick of the lamp stands for ‘Manas’ with its ‘Sankalpas and vikalpas' The wick draws oil from the lamp and burns. When the oil is exhausted the wick too is burnt away. Similarly our Vasanas’ represented by oil and the wicks of Sankalpa and vikalpa in our Manas are totally consumed by the Fire of Jnana! This inner friction in the sadhaka symbolizes the lighting of the lamp-- ' Diparadhana' at the start of any puja!
The second item of the preliminaries of puja is “Ghantarava” or the ringing of the bell. One wonders why this should be done. The bell is rung in order to invite Devas and drive away the asuras!. The sound of the bell, if made of good metal reverberates in the air and slowly merges into silence. Similarly the thought of God should echo in the innermost recess of our heart and merge into the Divine experience which is silence! It is this thought of God that drives out the asura qualities in our heart and promotes Divine qualities. The next ritual is to provide a clean ambience. Our environment is full of negative forces that create obstacles to any good and dharmic act. These negative forces are called rakshasas. We know how these rakshasas, Maricha and Subahu tried to desecrate the yaga of Sage Viswamitra in the R
It is only the power of God that can drive away these negative forces from our mind and environment. A few Sanskrit slokas are recited to expel the evil forces that may remain in the surroundings and bring in purity in the ambience. Devotion to God is the invincible armor that protects one from all evil influences.
The next step is to purify one's own body before worshipping God. It is a well known fact that chanting God's name purifies the individual whether he is bodily and inwardly pure or impure. “ Kalauthu smaranan mukthihi” says the Sastra! Purity of mind makes the person recognize purity in everything he sees. There is no restriction of time, place, country, and condition of body for chanting the name of God. What we consider as troubles and sorrows are not sorrows really!! Real sorrow is to forget God and failure to chant His Name! Hence the devotee chants the name of God and sprinkles water on himself for physical and mental purification. After this purification of body and the mind, Pranayama or control of breath is to be performed for a short while. It is very difficult to control one's mind. It is through controlling breath that one can control the mind to a certain extent. Breath control is absolutely essential for keeping in check the unsteady mind and its waywardness! Hence Pranayama is an important need for any puja. But unfortunately, many do not understand its significance and simply touch the nose and think it is Pranayama!
After these preliminaries, the Sankalpam for the puja is done. The devotee speaks of the particular day,. waxing or waning period of the moon, tithi, the star and month of the day, season, Ayana, Yuga, part of the Yuga, Kalpa and others. Generally the Sankalpam is done for the all-round prosperity and well being of the individual concerned. The Sankalpa is a prayer to God for the fulfilment of one's desires! There are others who want the well being of society and pray for rains, alleviation of the distress of others, universal peace and such things. Third variety are those who do Sankalpa for their emancipation. They pray for promotion of their bhakthi, Jnana, and Vairagya or non attachment to mundane things! They also pray for realizing themselves without hurdles and to obtain the real sadguru who can guide them! After Sankalpa, usually Kalasa puja and Vigneswara puja are to be performed. These are essential for any puja and no puja can start without propitiating Lord Vinayaka who is the lord of all obstacles! (CONTINUED
The first and foremost item of worship is to light the lamp otherwise called “ Diparadhana.” What is its meaning and significance? In olden days, during the yagnas and homas fire was created by the friction of two wooden blocks called 'Arani.' A wooden stick is placed in between the two blocks and churned vigorously by a rope. Smoke is generated through intense friction and sparks of fire emanate. This fire is developed through twigs and this becomes the holy fire for the yagna! By aligning the principle of Jiva to the principle of Deva the Fire of Jnana is created. This Fire destroys the attachment of ajnana or avidya! The ' Vasanas' or tendencies we have developed since our countless births are destroyed by this Fire of Jnana or Wisdom! The oil in the lamp we light symbolizes these accumulated tendencies that are inherent in us since our innumerable births. The cotton wick of the lamp stands for ‘Manas’ with its ‘Sankalpas and vikalpas' The wick draws oil from the lamp and burns. When the oil is exhausted the wick too is burnt away. Similarly our Vasanas’ represented by oil and the wicks of Sankalpa and vikalpa in our Manas are totally consumed by the Fire of Jnana! This inner friction in the sadhaka symbolizes the lighting of the lamp-- ' Diparadhana' at the start of any puja!
The second item of the preliminaries of puja is “Ghantarava” or the ringing of the bell. One wonders why this should be done. The bell is rung in order to invite Devas and drive away the asuras!. The sound of the bell, if made of good metal reverberates in the air and slowly merges into silence. Similarly the thought of God should echo in the innermost recess of our heart and merge into the Divine experience which is silence! It is this thought of God that drives out the asura qualities in our heart and promotes Divine qualities. The next ritual is to provide a clean ambience. Our environment is full of negative forces that create obstacles to any good and dharmic act. These negative forces are called rakshasas. We know how these rakshasas, Maricha and Subahu tried to desecrate the yaga of Sage Viswamitra in the R
It is only the power of God that can drive away these negative forces from our mind and environment. A few Sanskrit slokas are recited to expel the evil forces that may remain in the surroundings and bring in purity in the ambience. Devotion to God is the invincible armor that protects one from all evil influences.
The next step is to purify one's own body before worshipping God. It is a well known fact that chanting God's name purifies the individual whether he is bodily and inwardly pure or impure. “ Kalauthu smaranan mukthihi” says the Sastra! Purity of mind makes the person recognize purity in everything he sees. There is no restriction of time, place, country, and condition of body for chanting the name of God. What we consider as troubles and sorrows are not sorrows really!! Real sorrow is to forget God and failure to chant His Name! Hence the devotee chants the name of God and sprinkles water on himself for physical and mental purification. After this purification of body and the mind, Pranayama or control of breath is to be performed for a short while. It is very difficult to control one's mind. It is through controlling breath that one can control the mind to a certain extent. Breath control is absolutely essential for keeping in check the unsteady mind and its waywardness! Hence Pranayama is an important need for any puja. But unfortunately, many do not understand its significance and simply touch the nose and think it is Pranayama!
After these preliminaries, the Sankalpam for the puja is done. The devotee speaks of the particular day,. waxing or waning period of the moon, tithi, the star and month of the day, season, Ayana, Yuga, part of the Yuga, Kalpa and others. Generally the Sankalpam is done for the all-round prosperity and well being of the individual concerned. The Sankalpa is a prayer to God for the fulfilment of one's desires! There are others who want the well being of society and pray for rains, alleviation of the distress of others, universal peace and such things. Third variety are those who do Sankalpa for their emancipation. They pray for promotion of their bhakthi, Jnana, and Vairagya or non attachment to mundane things! They also pray for realizing themselves without hurdles and to obtain the real sadguru who can guide them! After Sankalpa, usually Kalasa puja and Vigneswara puja are to be performed. These are essential for any puja and no puja can start without propitiating Lord Vinayaka who is the lord of all obstacles! (CONTINUED
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