Guide to Performing Puja

Puja, or Pooja, is a Sanskrit term meaning adoration or homage. In Hinduism, Puja is a daily ritual involving devotion by the offering of food, drink, and prayers to a deity. Depending on what tradition one follows and situation, Puja is done as an elaborate family event or as simple as one person. Puja is a personal time with God. This guide can be used step by step or by taking only a few steps.

A small table, or cloth, is sufficient enough to perform Puja. Puja is usually done at an alter that's dedicated to your choice of God. If space permits a whole room may be reserved for Puja, as a shrine. I happen to live in a one bedroom apartment, so room isn't really an option. I have a small section that I place my red cloth and other Puja items.

On your table, or cloth, you can place an image of your God/s, three cups, one plate, a candle, books, musical instruments, or any item you wish. I have a plate for food offerings, a plate with tilak ingredients, a plate for bathing, one cup for water offering, one extra cup, a cotton candle, two wax candles, an incense holder, and an image of Ganesha. Have fun and make your shrine personal.

Once you have a shrine set up then you can perform a simple Puja, or daily ritual devotion, to your God. First, cleanse your body and mind. A bath is nice to relax the mind and body. A quite place helps too.

1. Dress in silk clothing and cover the head with a scarf. I wear a black silk shirt I bought on Ebay from China. Oriental Vogue clothing is nice, cheap, and pretty. My head scarf is also black and worn like a Muslim head cloth. Men usually wear a comfortable pant and belt made similar to a scarf.

2. Perform Aachman by sipping water using one's palm three times. This is to purify the soul. The right hand is then washed twice.

3. Invite God into your home. Place the statue onto a plate and offer to wash the hands and feet. Offer some water to drink too. Holy water from the Ganges river, located in India, is used. This water is called Ganga jal. It's considered to purify one of all sins when bathed in it. If you live far away from the holy river one can buy some online. One can place a few drops of Ganga jal into a cup of fresh water, then offer it to the Murti. Murti is a holy image of God. Clothes may be offered also. Dressing the statue is a common practice.

4. Offer a little honey and Gomutra. Gomutra is cow's urine. It is known for its medical properties such as curing parasitic infection, oedema, abdominal disease, flatulence, colic pain, aggravation of kapha as well as vayu, tumours, anorexia, poisoning, leucoderma, and obstinate skin diseases.

5. Offer Ganga jal again to the deity. This is to clean the deity from the other offerings that were used. Cleanliness is next to Godliness.

6. Wipe the statue clean with a soft cloth. After the statue is clean, place the Murti back into the alter.

7. Apply the Tilak to the statue. Tilak ingredients are Haldi, Kumkum, Abir, Gulal, Gopi chandan, and Sandal paste and few rice grains. These should be placed on the third-eye of the statue. Items are applied one by one. You may also apply a Tilak to yourself.

8. Light incense and Diya. Diya is a piece of cotton soaked in ghee which is placed in a clay holder.

9. Offer Itra soaked into a cotton ball. Itra is perfume that's usually sandalwood, jasmine, or some other favorable scent.

10. Offer dry fruits, candy sugar, betel nuts, clove, cardamom, and Haldi. Place the cup, or plate, up the the mouth of the image. This is called Thaal, or the offering of food.

11. Tie red holy tread around your wrist. The red thread is called Moli and is a symbol of your devotion to God.

12. Perform Aarti. Aarti is the lighting of wicks soaked in ghee or the burning of camphor. One burns the item in a metal cup, or plate. One can circle the light in front of the Murti or place the downward-facing hands over the flame, then on the forehead. Aarti is said to protect one from evil.

13. Eat offerings with friends and family.

Other things you can do during Puja are:

1. Mala may be performed after food offerings. Mala is the chanting of a scared mantra while counting beads. The beads are kept in a bag. First, mala is performed sitting, then stand on the left leg, while the right foot is placed on the inner thigh (as in the tree pose in yoga), next perform mala while circling clockwise around the alter, or Murti. Murti is an image that is invoked and suitable for worship.

2. Bow to the Murti and ask for forgiveness for all of the mistakes committed, or state prayers. Prostrations are done by placing the forehead onto the floor. Knees should be on the floor too. This pose is similar to the child's pose in yoga.

3. Read scriptures, sing, listen to songs, or some other holy activity. The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Puranas, the Tevaram, or the Nalayira Divya Prabandha can be read. Choice of reading material is according to your tradition.

I know this seems long, but Puja isn't difficult at all. Sincerity is most important in devotion to God. In short Puja is: dress your self, relax, bathe the statue in holy water as you would yourself, offer foods, drink, and Itra (perfume), apply Tilak, light incense and lamps, tie holy tread, perform Aarti, ask for forgiveness (pray), and eat offerings. There's no set way to perform this ritual, so as long as it comes from the heart I am sure your Puja will be a success.