After Sankalpa, Kalasa puja is performed. A clean vessel is taken and filled with pure water. Water for the worship of God has to be holy or sacred. Hence all holy waters of rivers are invited to be present in the water of the kalasa. Trimurthis, Mathru ganas, the seven oceans, the seven islands with the earth, the four Vedas, and the Vedangas, are invited to be present in the water of the Kalasa through mantras! The kalasa is smeared with sandal paste and vermillion. That sacred waterr is sprinkled on self, all items of puja, and the idol of the chosen God or Goddess. Later the ‘Prana or life’ of the God or Goddess is invoked. This ritual with special Sanskrit mantras is called “Prana prathista.” Now the most important Vighneswara puja is performed to avoid any obstacles during thepuja celebrations. Regular Shodasopachara puja starts after Vighneswara puja.
1 Avahanam or inviting the God or Goddess: Almighty God is omnipresnt! He is the indweller in every heart. But in our ignorance we are unable to identify His form. Therefore we have to invite him to be present in the idol for our worship. Place your left hand on your heart (chest) and the right hand on the idol or the photo
2 Asanam or offering seat to the invitee: Having invited the God, our bounden duty is to offer proper seat for Him. The seat is not a wooden sofa or bed our heart where in the ce ter is the pedastal decked with diamonds and rubies and emeralds! He is not an ordinary invitee! He is the lord of all worlds, Master, Creator and protector! Think that He is placed in the center of the diamond pedastal in your heart!
3 Padyam or offering water to wash feet: In the same way we invite guests and offer water to wash their feet before they enter the house, we must offer water to wash God's feet also! We should imagine like that and offer some water from the kalasa with a small uddharini or spoon.
4 Arghyam or offering water to wash hands: Visiting God should wash both His hands and feet because He enters our inner chamber of our heart with diamond studded pedestal. Water from the Kalasa should be offered in small quantity.
5 Achamaniyam or offering water to clean the mouth: God is being considered as guest and offered water to clean His hands, feet and mouth! A spoonful of water from the kalasa is shown to the mouth of the idol and left on the plate below.
6 Panchamruta Snanam or bathing the God with five amritas(nectars): The Deity is bathed with milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sugar, all of the cow, one after the other. What is its significance? The experience of the Senses in the world is the milk! Like milk that becomes curd. Worldly experience added to knowledge is transformed into Viveka or intellect! When curd is churned buttercomes out. Ghee is obtained by heating butter. When the intellect is awakened with worldly experience there is an inner churning and man understands the essence of life! He learns discrimination between the good and bad as well as dharma and adharma! Honey is the result of accumulation. On account of this he realizes the essence of his experiences! Sugar is sweetness solidified. Life shall be sweet like Sugar for anyone that realizes the glory and greatness of God! After Panchamruta Snanam God should be bathed with pure water. Sri Rudram and Purusha Suktham and other stotras can be chanted.
7 Vasthram or offering dress to the deity: After abhishekam with pure water, the idol should be gently cleaned with a soft fresh cloth or cotton. Two cotton bits smeared with turmeric and vermillion should be offered to the deity. By offering vasthra, we pray that Maya or illusion that wraps us should be removed for realizing God!
8 Yagnopavitam or offering the Sacred Thread: Yagnopavitam or sacred thread has to be offered to the Lord. In doing so, one has to feel that all his physical, verbal, mental are the worship that he offers to God! “ Yadyath karma karomi tat thakhilam Sambho tavaradhanam” (Adi Sankara)
9 Gandham or offering sandal paste: Freshly ground sandal paste has to be offered to God. Like the sandalwood that reduces itself in producing the paste, the devotee is expected to have the spirit of sacrifice and service! God is the repository of all good qualities. Those are His ornaments. The bhaktha should also exhibit all good qualities!
10 Pushpam or offering flowers: Fresh, fragrant alone have to be offered. The eight real flowers dear to God are: ahimsa, control of senses, compassion for all creatures, patience, control of outer indriyas, tapas, dhyanam or meditation and truth. No other flowers are required by Him!
11 Dhoopam or incens or agarbathi: offer one or two dhoop sticks ringing the bell.
12 Deepam of showing lighted lamps: lamps with two , three or five wicks are shown to the deity. Like the light that dispels darkness, one should pray that his ignorance should be removed.
13 Naivedya or offering food: Foods of six varieties of taste, fruits, coconut and others are offered! It is God who has provided food and everything to humanity. In reciprocation man offers the saame to the deity. Thambulam or offering betel leaves: Betel leaves, arecanut and chunam constitute Thambulam and is chewed after meals. It is good for health after a heavy meal. This is symbolic of offering oneself, with the three gunas. Nirajanam or offering harati: Finally camphor or wicks, in a plate, are lighted and shown round the deity from His feet twice or thrice. Like the camphor that disappears soon, one should pray that all his karmas or samskaras should be destroyed. Later, flowers are offered with what is called, ‘mantra pushpa' Next is 'Atma pradakshina' which means going round one's own Atma and prostrating before the deity! You realize that God is within you as Atma and you are worshipping Him!
15 Sashtanga danda pranamam or prostrating before the deity: You fall on ground with your belly, head, eyes, Manas, mouth, legs, hands, and ears touching the floor! Eight parts of the body shouldbow down to God! Later other upacharas like, Vedas, song, dance, palanquin are offered which is called ‘Punah puja.' Then the holy water as well as Prasadam (food and fruits offered)is taken.
16 Udwasana or farewell: After all the previous upacharas, God is given a farewell and sent home to come back once again after a while! All activities, physical, mental, and spiritual, are dedicated to God since he is the cause and motivator!
It is therefore important to understand the significance of the inner significance of worship and perform puja and realize spiritual bliss and the Grace of God!
1 Avahanam or inviting the God or Goddess: Almighty God is omnipresnt! He is the indweller in every heart. But in our ignorance we are unable to identify His form. Therefore we have to invite him to be present in the idol for our worship. Place your left hand on your heart (chest) and the right hand on the idol or the photo
2 Asanam or offering seat to the invitee: Having invited the God, our bounden duty is to offer proper seat for Him. The seat is not a wooden sofa or bed our heart where in the ce ter is the pedastal decked with diamonds and rubies and emeralds! He is not an ordinary invitee! He is the lord of all worlds, Master, Creator and protector! Think that He is placed in the center of the diamond pedastal in your heart!
3 Padyam or offering water to wash feet: In the same way we invite guests and offer water to wash their feet before they enter the house, we must offer water to wash God's feet also! We should imagine like that and offer some water from the kalasa with a small uddharini or spoon.
4 Arghyam or offering water to wash hands: Visiting God should wash both His hands and feet because He enters our inner chamber of our heart with diamond studded pedestal. Water from the Kalasa should be offered in small quantity.
5 Achamaniyam or offering water to clean the mouth: God is being considered as guest and offered water to clean His hands, feet and mouth! A spoonful of water from the kalasa is shown to the mouth of the idol and left on the plate below.
6 Panchamruta Snanam or bathing the God with five amritas(nectars): The Deity is bathed with milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sugar, all of the cow, one after the other. What is its significance? The experience of the Senses in the world is the milk! Like milk that becomes curd. Worldly experience added to knowledge is transformed into Viveka or intellect! When curd is churned buttercomes out. Ghee is obtained by heating butter. When the intellect is awakened with worldly experience there is an inner churning and man understands the essence of life! He learns discrimination between the good and bad as well as dharma and adharma! Honey is the result of accumulation. On account of this he realizes the essence of his experiences! Sugar is sweetness solidified. Life shall be sweet like Sugar for anyone that realizes the glory and greatness of God! After Panchamruta Snanam God should be bathed with pure water. Sri Rudram and Purusha Suktham and other stotras can be chanted.
7 Vasthram or offering dress to the deity: After abhishekam with pure water, the idol should be gently cleaned with a soft fresh cloth or cotton. Two cotton bits smeared with turmeric and vermillion should be offered to the deity. By offering vasthra, we pray that Maya or illusion that wraps us should be removed for realizing God!
8 Yagnopavitam or offering the Sacred Thread: Yagnopavitam or sacred thread has to be offered to the Lord. In doing so, one has to feel that all his physical, verbal, mental are the worship that he offers to God! “ Yadyath karma karomi tat thakhilam Sambho tavaradhanam” (Adi Sankara)
9 Gandham or offering sandal paste: Freshly ground sandal paste has to be offered to God. Like the sandalwood that reduces itself in producing the paste, the devotee is expected to have the spirit of sacrifice and service! God is the repository of all good qualities. Those are His ornaments. The bhaktha should also exhibit all good qualities!
10 Pushpam or offering flowers: Fresh, fragrant alone have to be offered. The eight real flowers dear to God are: ahimsa, control of senses, compassion for all creatures, patience, control of outer indriyas, tapas, dhyanam or meditation and truth. No other flowers are required by Him!
11 Dhoopam or incens or agarbathi: offer one or two dhoop sticks ringing the bell.
12 Deepam of showing lighted lamps: lamps with two , three or five wicks are shown to the deity. Like the light that dispels darkness, one should pray that his ignorance should be removed.
13 Naivedya or offering food: Foods of six varieties of taste, fruits, coconut and others are offered! It is God who has provided food and everything to humanity. In reciprocation man offers the saame to the deity. Thambulam or offering betel leaves: Betel leaves, arecanut and chunam constitute Thambulam and is chewed after meals. It is good for health after a heavy meal. This is symbolic of offering oneself, with the three gunas. Nirajanam or offering harati: Finally camphor or wicks, in a plate, are lighted and shown round the deity from His feet twice or thrice. Like the camphor that disappears soon, one should pray that all his karmas or samskaras should be destroyed. Later, flowers are offered with what is called, ‘mantra pushpa' Next is 'Atma pradakshina' which means going round one's own Atma and prostrating before the deity! You realize that God is within you as Atma and you are worshipping Him!
15 Sashtanga danda pranamam or prostrating before the deity: You fall on ground with your belly, head, eyes, Manas, mouth, legs, hands, and ears touching the floor! Eight parts of the body shouldbow down to God! Later other upacharas like, Vedas, song, dance, palanquin are offered which is called ‘Punah puja.' Then the holy water as well as Prasadam (food and fruits offered)is taken.
16 Udwasana or farewell: After all the previous upacharas, God is given a farewell and sent home to come back once again after a while! All activities, physical, mental, and spiritual, are dedicated to God since he is the cause and motivator!
It is therefore important to understand the significance of the inner significance of worship and perform puja and realize spiritual bliss and the Grace of God!
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