Puja... Puja (Hinduism)
Pūjā
Why is Puja?
Pūjā is one of the most
beautiful way to bring out the devotee within oneself and establish a
relationship with Isvara, the Lord. Pūjā is
called kayikam karma, and action
involving one’s limbs. It also including speech and mental action in the form
of chanting and thinking of the Lord.
In a physical form of worship,
such as a Pūjā, there is a greater field of expression of one’s devotion than
is possible in purely oral or mental forms of worship. The body, mind and
speech are all involved in a Pūjā. The forms , colors, fragrances and sounds of
the various items if worship arrest one’s mind and aid in evoking devotion on
oneself.
A Pūjā is performed in order
to express one’s gratitude to Isvara
for all one has been given in one’s life. The very creation in which one is
born is considered to be a gift of the Lord. The body-mind –sense complex is
made up of five basics elements: space, air, fire, water and earth which also
constitute the creation. Through the sense perceptions backed by the mind one
perceives the lord’s vast creation and appreciates his glories.
Whether a Pūjā is performed
at home or in a temple, the essential steps are the same. The basics Pūjā is
called pancopacara- Pūjā, in which
one makes a fivefold offering. A more elaborate puja is called sodasopacara-
Pūjā, a sixteen –step puja, in which
one additionally offers clothes, ornaments and other similar items that one
enjoys. The most elaborate puja is
called catussasti-upacara- Pūjā ,
a sixty –four step Pūjā , where the offering include music, dance, chariots,
elephants and other similar items. Whatever one enjoys in life can be offered to
the lord as an expression of gratitude.
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