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II "Puja"
- The Hindu Worship II
Pūjā
alternatively written as Pooja, means
reverence or worship. Puja is any Hindu ceremonial, from a simple
ritual in the home to an elaborate public festival, in which an
image or other symbol of the god is worshipped. Its components
vary from sect to sect and place to place but the puja is
governed, at least theoretically, by rules in the shastras and
other sacred texts and has probably changed little over the years.
The main motive of puja for the
Hindu worshipper is making a spiritual connection with the divine.
In Puja, a deity, considered to be manifest in its image, is
treated like a special guest. This image or other symbol of the
god serves as a means of gaining access to the divine. This icon
is not the deity itself; rather, it is believed to be filled with
the deity's cosmic energy. It is a focal point for honoring and
communicating with the god or divine.
Puja is the act of showing
reverence to a god, or another aspect of the divine through
invocations, aartis,
mantras,
devotional songs, and other
rituals. Puja is typically offered two or four times a day - at
sunrise and sunset, and sometimes also at noon and midnight,
especially in the temples.
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The worship consists of offering
something to the icon of worship, such as flowers or food, and
possibly lighting a lamp (diya) and incense (aggarbatti) and
retrieving the blessed food and consuming it as prasad.
Puja can be performed
individually or in gatherings. The ritual can be observed in
silence or accompanied by prayers. It can be performed in the
forms of meditation, austerity, chanting or scripture
reading. Puja
is commonly conducted in shrines in three different environments:
in temples, in the home, and in outdoor public spaces. Puja is
usually performed by at least one member of the household every
day. Puja is a means of honoring the gods or goddesses,
whose presence in the home is believed to protect the family and
to engender good fortune.
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