Thursday, August 22, 2013

What Is A Puja ?


     Puja is one of the most beautiful ways to bring out the devotee within oneself and establish a relationship with Isvara  , the Lord . Puja is called kayikam karma , an action involving one’s limbs . It also includes speech and mental actions in the form of chanting and thinking of the Lord .

           In a physical form of worship , such as a puja , 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 puja.The  forms , colours , fragrances and sounds of the various items of worship arrest one’s mind and aid in evoking devotion in oneself ,

            A puja is performed 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 basic 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 gloried .

            Traditionally , a form of worship known as pancopacara-puja , worship with fivefold offering is performed . This worship acknowledges the presence of the Lord and makes a simple offering of the five elements through a symbolic offering of puspa , flowers , dhupa , incense , dipa , light ,  naivedya , food and gandha , sandalwood paste . These objects represents the elements space , air , fire , water and earth , respectively .

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