Every sphere of our life and living is connected to, and dependent on Bhagavan. Our ultimate goal is Jagadishvara – this holds true for the one who has renounced by taking sannyas, as well as for the Hindu householder.
Our traditions and daily practices bring the spirit of karma yoga in our life, helping us purify and paving the way to moksha.
Performing daily puja is an integral part of the life of a Hindu household. However, for various reasons, many families have lost this precious daily practice. It is never too late to revive our lost traditions. Change starts from our own homes.
If you have the question in your mind – “Why should I perform external puja (vs only meditate) when Bhagavan is omnipresent and in my heart?”, then read the explanation on the worship of Bhagavan’s name and form here.
In this article we are sharing basic guidance that shall help you get started with your daily puja. It is guaranteed that within a week or even less of worshipping Bhagavan, you shall feel a big positive change in your life, and divine energy in your home.
If you live with your family, and all are interested, involve them as well. If not, start by yourself and bless all the others without any hesitation.
Now, get ready to invite Bhagavan in His beautiful form, to your abode.
Puja Area
Dedicate a clean, clutter-free, well-lit place to Bhagavan as your puja area or room, in your home. You must face east when you worship. Normally, the best place for the puja area is the North East part of your home. For details, you may consult someone knowledgeable in vastu shastra.
Setting up the puja area is always a very exciting activity – right from searching the best loved images of Bhagavan, to purchasing the puja thali (plate), little containers for roli, kumkum, vibhuti, etc, and buying a good bell (bronze is recommended but if too costly, you may consider getting one in brass).
Deities
Should I get paintings of Bhagavan or murtis?
This is often the first doubt that comes to our mind since murtis are very attractive. However, it is suggested to start with getting paintings/prints of Bhagavan’s form. The worship of murtis, shivalinga and shaligram have several restrictions and, rules and regulations that need to be followed strictly and this may not be easy for everyone in contemporary times. In this article, we are only sharing what applies to worship of the image of Bhagavan.
Start by getting an image/painting of the devi or devata you feel most deeply connected to (your Ishta). If you are unsure, then find out who your ishta devata or devi is by reading here. Also, do get Bhagavan Ganapatiji’s image for your new beginning since He is the One to remove our obstacles and shower us with blessings and auspiciousness.
You may start with these two images, and later you can have all five/six forms of Bhagavan – Ganapati, Devi, Vishnu, (could be in form of Ramji/Krishnaji), Shiva-Parvati (Hanumanji is form of Shiva), Surya Dev, Bhagavan Kartikeya or Kumara. This way of worshipping these main deities is derived from the tradition of Pujuyapad Sri Adi Shankaracharyaji.
Please do select paintings or prints that invoke the feeling of devotion in your heart. It is really a blessing to have Bhagavan reside in your home now.
When to perform puja?
Morning: After bath but before eating food, you may perform the panchopchara puja as will be detailed below.
Evening: During sandhya (sunset) you may light a lamp and even offer fresh flowers (ensure you pluck them before the sun starts setting).
Panchopchara Puja Basic Guidance
Panchopchara puja is the practice of offering five (panch) items to Bhagavan during our worship. Our puja is first done in the morning after a bath.
World over, people bathe in the morning. Bathing gives us the experience of cleaning our body, and refreshes us. Hindus get an additional advantage of bathing since we invoke the blessings of all our sacred rivers in the water, by offering obeisance to them and praying for our purification. This is done by chanting mantras with the correct feeling or bhava.
Most importantly, we bathe to purify ourselves so that we are in the appropriate condition to bathe our beloved Bhagavan (through puja or worship). Before we go any further, please ensure that this is your time carved out to remember and serve Bhagavan so keep your mobile phone and other distractions away.
Now, this brings us to the first step of our daily puja, as explained below:
Use a clean cloth to clean the puja table and wipe off any dust from all the rest. Sprinkle some Ganga jal* on Bhagavan’s images and use another fresh cloth to wipe them, gently and lovingly.
*You may get Ganga jal from your post office (store it in a copper bottle). Keep a small brass container in which you can add few drops of Ganga jal and then perform the above activity. You may use this water for the course of the puja, where needed.
Chanting as you perform puja
There is great merit in chanting the name of Bhagavan. It has immense power and must be done throughout the performance of puja to invoke blessings, interspersed with meditative silence when felt necessary. Chanting aloud settles all disturbance and distractions of our mind, frees us from stress and purifies us, as we offer our service to Bhagavan.
Please note that playing chants on your phone is not a substitute for this and singing the glory of Bhagavan yourself is a very essential part of your daily puja. It is great if you are blessed, but a perfect voice or singing skills are not required here. Instead, fill your heart with gratitude and reverence as you remember Bhagavan.
Start with a simple chant like the chant below:
Govinda jaya jaya Gopala jaya jaya,
Radha Raman Hari Govinda jaya jaya.
Sri Krishna Govinda Hare Murari, Hey Natha Narayan Vasudeva
Repeat the above as you offer everything to Bhagavan with a feeling of devotion in your heart. Later, you may learn more ways to sing the glory of Bhagavan.
Listen to Pujaypad Puri Shankaracharyaji for more, Here . Also go through this article (chant for good health given here maybe done as well).
As you chant, you will feel yourself get centred and very focused on the puja to be performed with the steps described as follows.
Tilaka or Gandha
In general, red tilaka or kumkum is applied to Devi and Ganeshji, sandalwood (chandan) for Bhagavan Krishna and Rama, saffron for Hanumanji, and vibhuti for Bhagavan Shiva.
You must be careful since there are several chemical powders sold for the above tilakas. Please ensure that you purchase what is natural and pure.
After you have bathed Bhagavan (symbolically done in the previous step shared), use the ring finger of your right hand to apply tilaka on Bhagavan. It is a great honour to have the opportunity to adorn Bhagavan, so do this with your full heart.
At times, if you added extra water, the tilaka may trickle down so be mindful and wipe off the extra trickle like you would do when you apply tilaka to your own child.
Now, Bhagavan is ready to receive more of your offerings.
Pushpam
Like a child offering flowers to the father from his very own garden, we make offerings to Bhagavan. It is an expression of our gratitude. – Jagadguru Puri Shankaracharyaji
If you have a garden or space for potted plants, you would probably have many choices of flowers already available, to offer Bhagavan. Maybe you even decide to plant some more for your daily offering. Since He has entered your home in His Divine form, you shall receive direction for many new and enriching activities.
Please ensure that you have a bath and only then pluck the flowers in preparation, prior to starting activity in the puja area. The flowers must be fresh and clean.
There are specific varieties of flowers that are offered to different deities. You may refer to Nityakarma Puja Prakash and the Skanda Purana for more details. Alternatively, information is easily found online on this subject.
If you live in a place where it is difficult to get specified flowers, you may purchase easily available flowers from your local market and make some arrangement with a flower seller to give you supplies for daily puja. If this is the option you have, use it as an opportunity to support a Hindu selling flowers for his livelihood.
Place the flowers at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan with your right hand. Ensure that the stem of the flower is towards Bhagavan and the bloom faces you.
May we develop the feeling of surrender towards Bhagavan.
Dhoopam
Today, it is common to use incense sticks in puja. However, the traditional sattvika offering is incense made of cow-dung (not agarbatti). We recommend you offer pure, non-chemical dhoopam to Bhagavan.
Here is a way to make dhoop from cow-dung yourself, if you would like to try or know more on how dhoopam is made. It may be purchased easily from the market or online.
Light the dhoopam and, with your right hand, supported by your left hand at the elbow, offer the fragrant incense to Bhagavan by waving it before the beloved deities. Place it back in the dhoopam stand as you move to the next step.
Deepam/Diya or Lamp
Ghee, mustard oil, coconut oil, jasmine oil and sesame oil are generally used in lamps. We light a cotton wick which is dipped in the ghee/respective oil. Pandits usually recommend that two wicks must be used at once.
Ordinarily, brass (being a pañchlauha), bronze and earthen lamps are advised.
Prayerfully, light your lamp. Then, ringing the bell with your left hand, wave the lamp before Bhagavan in clockwise motion three times. Do this slowly, attentively.
At this moment, you will feel all your energies gather. Your eyes are captivated as you gaze at the glowing face of Bhagavan. The pleasing sight of the devis and devatas, adorned beautifully with tilak and flowers is mesmerising. You are chanting and listening to the divine name of Bhagavan along-with listening to the sacred sound of the bell. The air is laden with the fragrance of dhoopam – derived from the abundance provided by our scared Gauvansh. All your senses are employed in serving Bhagavan.
Pause for a moment after waving the lamp (doing aarti). Feel the presence of Bhagavan and divine energy blessing you.
Now, Bhagavan is pleased with you and must be offered food.
Naivedyam or offering food
More:
Original public domain image from Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Make a resolve of what you will offer to Bhagavan on a daily basis.
1. You may just offer fruit/dryfruit (like rasins).
2. If you have the ability, then you may offer cooked sattvic food items (prepared without onion or garlic). Do not smell/taste the food during preparations or eat the food before offering it to Bhagwan. Keep a couple of Tulasi leaves on top of the food.
3. Offer the fruit/food to Bhagavan by placing it in front of the deity. Sprinkle some water clockwise around the naivedyam requesting Bhagavan to accept your offering.
We offer Bhagavan, that which is pure – purely acquired, prepared and presented. You may use a banana leaf or a small plate to offer as per your resolve. Do ensure you also offer a glass of water as well (Please keep special and separate utensils for Bhagavan. Do not clean them with the same scrubber or cloth you use for your own dishes. Store them in the mandir area itself).
If you travel a lot and have no one else to make the offerings while away, make sure you choose option one from the above. Some of us carry a small image of our ishta when we travel. Then, we may offer fruit or dryfruit.
Concluding our morning puja
You have now made all the offerings to Bhagavan. The whole ambiance is purified and provides the perfect opportunity to sit meditatively.
Pujayapad Puri Shankaracharyaji guides that we must pray to Bhagavan to bless us with immense strength and power so that we can do good for ourselves and all others. We must pray with a feeling of great humbleness, requesting Bhagavan to help us attain surrender at His Lotus Feet.
After our mental prayer and our personal conversations with Bhagavan, we may sit silently and do nama japa or bhajan of a mantra (if you have taken diksha), meditatively. To know about what mantras you may chant please click here.
If you are short on time, just sit silently for a few minutes after offering the prayer.
With both your palms, take the light of the lamp towards your head and eyes, like we receive aarti in the temple. The water which was used for sprinkling on Bhagavan and naivedyam offering is to be consumed by you and family since it is sacred. Apply tilaka on your own forehead (from a separate bowl which is not for Bhagavan but kept in your puja area). You may now consume the offering you made to Bhagavan as prasadam. Share it with other family members and have your breakfast.
You are ready for the day!
Watch your days get infused with energy, and be aware of the blessings of Bhagavan the whole day.
Returning home to Bhagavan
If you are off to school or work and live alone – you left after offering puja to Bhagavan and shall return home to Him and the lingering fragrance of your morning puja. You are never alone.
Before you sleep, do a short prayer, folding your hands and thanking Bhagavan for everything. Close the door/curtain of your puja room for His yoganidra.
Here are 20 personal benefits of daily puja shared by fellow Hindus. A Must read!
Wish you the best with your new beginnings.
Meaning of Prayer: Efforts made by me should not make me arrogant. – Jagadguru Puri Shankaracharya
Note1: This post is based on how puja is practiced in some of our homes combined with what is derived from discourses of Pujyapad Puri Shankaracharyaji. If you have any further questions on the “why’s” pertaining to specific rituals above, and wish for further detailed instructions, please consult the pandit in your nearest temple or someone knowledgeable.
Note2: Women are to refrain from performing puja or entering puja room/area during their monthly cycle. If you wish to learn more, read
Note3: For sacred thread (yajñopavita) bearers, trikala sandhya is advised as per their own veda and shakha of the veda. They are advised to learn it from traditional panditas or different resources published by Gita Press or Chaukhamba. You may also check this LINK by Har Ghar Gurukul.
Note4: The above images are for illustration purpose only.