COMMON ELEMENTS USED IN HINDU PUJA

COMMON ELEMENTS USED IN HINDU PUJA

This article contains a brief explanation of some common puja items and their usage in a puja ceremony. The list given below, by no means, is an exhaustive one and can be suitably supplemented with further details. Its main objective is to create a general understanding of these puja items and their relevance in a puja ceremony:

PUJA LAMP OR DIYA

By lighting lamp in puja ceremony, we pray that our life is filled with the light of divine grace and wisdom. Burning of ghee or oil signifies that we should burn our negative tendencies (वासना VASNAS) in order to purify our hearts. As ego is the root cause of many human problems, a burning wick teaches us to gradually diminish our ego and serve others with humility. We notice that a lamp always burns upwards. It gives us the message that we should acquire all those qualities which are necessary for a steady and upward progress in our spiritual life.

DHOOPBATTI, AGARBATTI (INCENSE) AND KAPOOR (CAMPHOR)

Burning of these items during puja ceremony emits nice fragrance. These items burn themselves out for making the whole environment peaceful and nice. It teaches us that we should also be ready to burn (sacrifice) our ego in order to spread the perfume of love and compassion for all.

FLOWERS AND FRUITS

Flowers signify beauty, purity, softness and fragrance. They also signify sweetness as bees make honey from their pollen. By offering flowers we pray to God for the beauty and purity of our minds. We also pray for the sweetness in our thoughts, speech and actions so that the fragrance of our good conduct reaches out to other people.
We are all bound by the law of karma. We reap the fruits of our past deeds. These karmic fruits keep us in the cycle of births and deaths. By offering fruits we pray to God to free us from the fruits of our actions, good or bad, that we performed in this life or past lives.

WATER

Water signifies purity. It is kept in a copper vessel during puja ceremony. Later, it is offered as (चरणामृत CHARNAMRIT) to the devotees. By drinking ‘charnamrit’ we pray for the purity of our heart, body and mind. This holy water is also sprinkled all over the place to spread the divine vibrations which it had absorbed during the ceremony.
It is important to understand the significance of water-kalash in a puja ceremony. In mythological churning of ocean by (देव DEVAS) and (असुर ASURS), one of the findings was a kalash filled with (अमृत AMRIT) (nectar of immortality). The water filled in the kalash for puja symbolizes the elixir of life, soul which is immortal. This water has to be pure, preferably Ganga jal (water from the Ganges) or the one obtained from a running stream.

RICE

The unbroken rice used in puja ceremony is called ‘akshat.’ It denotes longevity. Rice is placed near the base of the water-kalash. While holy water symbolizes purity in our life, rice brings blessings for a long life. Like water, rice also receives and transmits divine vibrations received during puja ceremony. Sisters use rice as an important ingredient of (तिलक TILAK) (a holy mark on forehead) for wishing long life for their brothers.

COCONUT

Coconut plays a key role in puja ceremony. It is centrally placed on the water-kalash with its tip pointing upwards. The tip attracts holy vibrations and transmits them back into atmosphere in the form of a fountain. The three eyes on coconut remind us about the three-eyed Shiva (त्रियम्बकेश्वर TRIYAMBKESHWAR).
The breaking up of coconut symbolizes the breaking up of our ego (selfishness, false pride). Therefore, by breaking coconut we remind ourselves to come out of our egotism and realize our true spiritual nature. Coconut has a vast number of uses. It is used as an important food ingredient. Water of a tender coconut is rich in minerals and has a soothing effect on us during summer time. Its outer shell and parts find many uses in rural areas. In fact, no part of coconut is considered wasteful. It teaches us to serve others
in every possible way. Considering its religious significance and usefulness, coconut is called (श्रीफल SHREEFAL) meaning God’s fruit.

TULSI LEAVES

TULSI (तुलसी, Basilica or Basil) is the most sacred plant in Hinduism. It is called (हरि प्रिय HARIPRIYA) meaning, someone who is very dear to Lord Vishnu. Therefore, Tulsi embodies Goddess Lakshmi. Tulsi is also known as Vrinda. Vrindavan, meaning forest (van) full of Vrinda, is the place where Shri Krishna danced with Radha Rani and other (गोपियाँ GOPIYAN) (milk maids) in (रास लीला RAAS LEELAS). So in that sense, Tulsi represents Radha Rani. Also, ‘Tulsi-Vivah’ depicts the wedding of Lord Ram and Sitaji. So, Tulsi also represents Sitaji. Tulsi, therefore, is the true representation of goddesses Lakshmi, (राधा रानी RADHA RANI) and (सीताजी SITAJI). Tulsi leaves have medicinal properties for curing many diseases. They are used in the ‘charnamrit’ for receiving blessings of all goddesses.

MANGO LEAVES

Mango is well known for its sweetness and is called the king of all fruits. According to a mythological story, mango leaves signify (अमरत्व AMARATVA) or immortality. With the use of mango leaves in the water-kalash, we remind ourselves for our actions to be always nice and sweet to others. Mango leaves also serve to remind us that we should not forget the ultimate goal of human life: to strive for receiving ‘amartava’ or liberation from the cycle of births and deaths.

BETEL (PAAN) LEAVES

Betel leaves (पान PAAN) are a symbol of freshness and prosperity. It is customary to offer paan as a mark of hospitality. If used in moderation, paan leaves are useful for human digestive system. They kill germs and bacteria and are useful in curing cold. A mythological story portrays paan leaves as (मृतुन्जय संजीवनी MRITUNJAY SANJEEVANI), thus highlighting their usefulness to human beings. Paan leaves are used in puja ceremony for receiving blessings for good health and prosperity in life.

ARECA NUTS (SUPARI)

Areca nuts (सुपारी SUPARI) symbolize strength and blessings for a long life. The use of supari together with paan leaves in puja ceremony is symbolic of our desire to receive blessings for a life full of strength, longevity, good health and prosperity. As supari has a hard shell, by offering it in puja, we surrender our hard, coarse qualities to God and pray for only pure and helpful qualities.

MILK

Milk is a sign of peace and tranquility. Milk is the first food that a mother gives to her baby. So it is associated with motherly love. It is an important ingredient of ‘panchamrit’ (the blessed food). It is also used in Lord Shiva’s Abhishekam (Shivji’s puja).

KESAR (SAFFRON)

Kesar is the symbol of (अग्नि AGNI) or fire, the power of God. Sikhs use saffron color in their religious flag to demonstrate their commitment to fight injustice. Hindu, Jain and Buddhist monks use kesaria robes as a mark of renunciation of worldly life. Therefore, kesar is both a symbol of strength as well as of renunciation for spiritual pursuits.

SANDALWOOD

Sandalwood is well known for its aroma and cooling effect on human body. Sandal incense sticks are an important puja item. Kesar and sandal paste is used in worshiping deities especially for ‘mastak-abhishek’ or applying tilak on the forehead of sacred idols.

HONEY

Honey is one of the five ingredients of panchamrit. The sweetness of honey reminds us to be nice and sweet to others in our speech, thoughts and actions. It is rich with many minerals and supplements which are important for our nourishment.

KUMKUM (VERMILLION)

Kumkum stands for our emotions and inner wisdom. The use of kumkum in puja reminds us to use our wisdom with equanimity so that our thoughts and emotions do not overpower us.

HALDI POWDER (TURMERIC)

Haldi (turmeric) is a common spice used in Indian cooking. It is also a sign of purity and is thus an important part of the puja ceremony. It is also used in ‘haldi-ceremony’ in weddings. Haldi is well known for its great medicinal value for general wellbeing as well as for the treatment of some incurable diseases.

PRASAD (BLESSED FOOD)

Prasad is the blessed food that has been offered to God during puja. The food becomes infused with the deity’s prana energy. Hence the name prasad, which literally means the bestower of eternal life. A specially prepared prasad called PANCHAMRIT (पंचामृत five nectars), which is made of five components: milk (cow milk is preferred), yoghurt, sugar, ghee (clarified butter) and honey. Later, this food is offered to all the devotees. With the distribution of prasad, we convey God’s blessings to everyone. When we eat prasad, we thank God for these blessings.