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| What is a Puja? | |
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Puja is the act of showing reverence to a god,
a spirit, or another aspect of the divine through invocations, prayers,
songs, and rituals. An essential part of puja for the Hindu devotee is
making a spiritual connection with the divine. Most often that contact is
facilitated through an object: an element of nature, a sculpture, a vessel,
a painting, or a print. During puja an 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. For the devout Hindu, the icon's artistic merit is important, but is secondary to its spiritual content. The objects are created as receptacles for spiritual energy that allow the devotee to experience direct communication with his or her gods. Performing a Puja A worshipper is required to be pure of body and mind. The Puranas lay more stress on the quality of devotion and good behaviour than on rigid puja procedures. Puja originated as a substitute to homa and other Vedic sacrifices which women and Shudras could not perform and which required animal sacrifices. Due to Dravidian (see Dasas), Buddhist and Jain influences that preached non-violence, the killing or sacrifice of animals was discontinued and with the development of iconography, idol worship and puja took the place of sacrifice. It was also recognized that worship was essential for all, whatever the gender or caste (see Varna) and therefore puja was formalized as a universal option instead of the exclusive homam. Pujas in Temples A Hindu temple is believed to be the earthly seat of a deity and the place where the deity waits for its devotees. As such, temple structures are sacred spaces where gods partake of human offerings and in which the people can be with the gods. Many temples resemble palace architecture; this is not surprising, as deities are often considered kings. Temples are normally dedicated to one primary god. Often they are elaborately decorated on the outside with stone or plaster carvings depicting religious stories, and their decoration is specific to the deity being worshiped. Mythological scenes are juxtaposed with scenes of everyday life and important political events, such as royal coronations, conquests, and celebrations, or with portraits of royal and secular patrons. These divine images and mythological scenes on the outer walls of the temple help worshipers recall the sacred stories they have heard or read. One should remove one's shoes before entering a Hindu temple in order to pay appropriate respect to the deity within the temple. The innermost sanctuary of the temple contains the principal image of the deity. The character of each shrine is determined by the deity being worshiped. Short Pujas/ Daily Pujas Each time when you say 'Samarpayami' (literally: I am offering), please offer two axataas to the LORD with love and devotion. (Akshatha is uncooked rice, if possible
colored with kumkum , saffron powder, termaric and a little bit of water.
Can be prepared well advance for a week and kept near the ALTAR). |
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