It is absolutely essential that man has to realize Paramatma who being whole and undivided appears to be divided! It is He that carries out the three important functions of creation, protection and destruction. Man in his ignorance believes that he is separate from the Divine. It is Bhakthi that allows the Jiva with all his limitations to realize his true nature. Adi Sankara defines Bhakthi as the greatest of all means for mukthi. “ Moksha Sadhana samagryam. Bhakthi reva gariyasi.” It is through Bhakthi that the Jivatma realizes his true self. According to Sage Narada intense love for God is called bhakthi. This is also called 'Para bhakthi'. In this state the bhaktha doesn’t find difference between himself and God and merges into Him. Sage Vedavyasa reaffirms Narada's definition of Bhakti. “ Pujadishu anuraga iti Parasaryaha.” Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi points out that for the physical, verbal and mental states Pooja, japa or chanting and meditation are necessary. It is impossible to experience God without the purity 'Thrikaranas viz thought, word, and deed. According to the Gita physical penance consists of worshipping Devas, Brahmins, Gurus and scholars, cleanliness and truth. Pooja, Japa or chanting, and meditation –each is better than the other. It is difficult to reach the subtle stage without passing through the gross outward stages. It is for this reason that Sage Vedavyasa propounded the worship of one's chosen deity or “ Ista Devata.” He authored the eighteen Puranas and established the significance of the worship of “ Ista Devata!”
Among the Nine types of devotion, worshipping the chosen deity in the puja room is the easiest. Though it is physical, it helps in controlling the Indriyas or senses and the mind. It gives a large scope for the use of the body, word and mind. Before starting Pooja the room has to be kept clean as well as the pedastal where the idols are placed. The utensils, idols and photos have to be washed and cleaned. Rangolis and festoons have to be arranged and garlands for decoration. All the needed materials for Pooja have to be collected and kept ready. The place must be neat and tidy for cleanliness is next to godliness. Puja room and the pedastal for the idols should be as beautiful as possible. The speciality of puja is that it satisfies the senses! Eyes drink the beauty of the form of God; speech is sanctified by the chanting of the mantras; tongue tastes the sweet offering of prasada; nose appreciates the fragrance of flowers and incense! As such the Indriyas are involved in the thought of God which helps in concentrating the mind. Mind is prevented from running after mundane things at least for the time being. The next step, after the regular outward worship is “Manasika Pooja” or worship within oneself. This is subtle and more powerful. All the worship is offered in the mind itself. Sri Sankara's “ Siva manasa Pooja Stotra” is the best example. “.You are my Atma; Girija Devi my Manas; five Pranas servants; body your home; my worldly enjoyments service; sleep is Samadhi! Why, every act of mine is worship offered to You, O Lord, Siva” says Sri Sankara!
Is there any sense in worshipping life less stones and photos? This question is being raised by quite a number of rationalists and atheists. There is nothing in the universe that is not the manifestation of the creator God! He is Omnipresent. The aim of puja is to realize this great principle. The idol or the image in the sanctum of the temple is a means of realizing the principle of the Atma. All idols, and images help us in understanding the Divine principle. This type of identifying a stone or idol with God or Goddess or a great principle is called “ Upasana.” Here we find super imposition of the mighty in the meagre! God has no beginning or end. “ Ajaymano bahudha vijayathe”—that which has no birth manifests in many forms say the Vedas. It is through the visible that we have to realize the Invisible and the infinite! The IDOL stands for the IDEAL. Idol worship is the stepping stone for realizing Divinity.
The next question is to worship which God or Goddess. It is said that the Hindu pantheon has thirty three crore Gods! A few people make fun and mock at those who worship different forms of God. There is only One God but many forms. The Lord says in the Gita that whoever worships a certain form of God with unshakable faith shall have all his desires fulfilled. Names and forms are many but there is only One God. “ Ekam Eva Adwitiyam Brahma.” Like the water supplied through different channels from the reservoir, it is the same Paramatma that showers His Grace on the faithful devotee! It is important that one should not change his worship to different Gods. He should never entertain the idea that one God is superior or inferior to the other. It is a sign of colossal ignorance. He should see his own chosen God or ‘Ishta daiva' in any form of God he woships. We worship Rama, Krishna, Devi and others according to the festival seasons. They are all forms of the eternal, all pervading principle of the Brahman! No difference has to be attributed to them. Frequent change of loyalty from one God to another results in loss of concentration and needless doubts.
Individual and personal Pooja or worship has its own advantages. But worship in groups has a speciality. When the name of God is chanted collectively there
is a spiritual resurgence among them. Their looks are converged on the deity and the dirt in their minds shall be washed away. The ambience shall be purified because of the effect of worship and prayer and chanting of the name of God! Collective worship increases concentration of the mind. It also helps in eradicating selfishness and difference of opinion. It cuts at the root of ego also! “ Sanghe sakthih Kalau Yuge.”
Among the Nine types of devotion, worshipping the chosen deity in the puja room is the easiest. Though it is physical, it helps in controlling the Indriyas or senses and the mind. It gives a large scope for the use of the body, word and mind. Before starting Pooja the room has to be kept clean as well as the pedastal where the idols are placed. The utensils, idols and photos have to be washed and cleaned. Rangolis and festoons have to be arranged and garlands for decoration. All the needed materials for Pooja have to be collected and kept ready. The place must be neat and tidy for cleanliness is next to godliness. Puja room and the pedastal for the idols should be as beautiful as possible. The speciality of puja is that it satisfies the senses! Eyes drink the beauty of the form of God; speech is sanctified by the chanting of the mantras; tongue tastes the sweet offering of prasada; nose appreciates the fragrance of flowers and incense! As such the Indriyas are involved in the thought of God which helps in concentrating the mind. Mind is prevented from running after mundane things at least for the time being. The next step, after the regular outward worship is “Manasika Pooja” or worship within oneself. This is subtle and more powerful. All the worship is offered in the mind itself. Sri Sankara's “ Siva manasa Pooja Stotra” is the best example. “.You are my Atma; Girija Devi my Manas; five Pranas servants; body your home; my worldly enjoyments service; sleep is Samadhi! Why, every act of mine is worship offered to You, O Lord, Siva” says Sri Sankara!
Is there any sense in worshipping life less stones and photos? This question is being raised by quite a number of rationalists and atheists. There is nothing in the universe that is not the manifestation of the creator God! He is Omnipresent. The aim of puja is to realize this great principle. The idol or the image in the sanctum of the temple is a means of realizing the principle of the Atma. All idols, and images help us in understanding the Divine principle. This type of identifying a stone or idol with God or Goddess or a great principle is called “ Upasana.” Here we find super imposition of the mighty in the meagre! God has no beginning or end. “ Ajaymano bahudha vijayathe”—that which has no birth manifests in many forms say the Vedas. It is through the visible that we have to realize the Invisible and the infinite! The IDOL stands for the IDEAL. Idol worship is the stepping stone for realizing Divinity.
The next question is to worship which God or Goddess. It is said that the Hindu pantheon has thirty three crore Gods! A few people make fun and mock at those who worship different forms of God. There is only One God but many forms. The Lord says in the Gita that whoever worships a certain form of God with unshakable faith shall have all his desires fulfilled. Names and forms are many but there is only One God. “ Ekam Eva Adwitiyam Brahma.” Like the water supplied through different channels from the reservoir, it is the same Paramatma that showers His Grace on the faithful devotee! It is important that one should not change his worship to different Gods. He should never entertain the idea that one God is superior or inferior to the other. It is a sign of colossal ignorance. He should see his own chosen God or ‘Ishta daiva' in any form of God he woships. We worship Rama, Krishna, Devi and others according to the festival seasons. They are all forms of the eternal, all pervading principle of the Brahman! No difference has to be attributed to them. Frequent change of loyalty from one God to another results in loss of concentration and needless doubts.
Individual and personal Pooja or worship has its own advantages. But worship in groups has a speciality. When the name of God is chanted collectively there
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