If one offers to Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or even water, I delightfully partake of that item offered with love by My devotee in pure consciousnessIn all its forms and protean manifestations, consciousness i… More. –

Bhagavad Gita 9.26

Altar set-up

The altar of worship which houses the murti or image of the Ishta Deva are to be kept neat and clean. Decorations can be added according to the personality of the individual and/or deity. Rangoli/kolam designs made with rice flour, grains, legumes, or flowers can also be made.

Āchamaniyam (Purification)

The devotee, having already bathed, takes three sips of water by placing a spoonful of water with their left hand in the base of the palm of their right hand and chants the following mantra to invoke their own purity of body, mind, and spirit.

Oṃ Acyutāya Namaḥ
Oṃ Anantāya Namaḥ
Oṃ Govindāya Namaḥ

Salutation to the Lord who is imperishable
Salutations to the Lord who is without limits
Salutations to Lord Govinda

Deepa jyoti

Clay or metal lamps with clarified butter (ghee) or oil and wick are symbolic of the victory of knowledge over ignorance. The devotee lights the wick, places palms together at the heart center, and chants:

shubham karoti kalyānām ārogyam dhana sampadah |
shatru buddhi(Sanskrit) Buddhi comes from a Sanskrit root budh, commonly … More vināshāya deepa jyoti namostute ||

My respect to the light that brings auspiciousness, good health, prosperity and abundance
that which destroys the darkness of ignorance with the light of knowledge. I bow to you

Vighneshwara Dhyānam (Contemplation on Lord of Obstacles)

The devotee undertakes specific hand gestures chants mantra dedicated to Lord Ganesha asking that any obstacles be removed during the pujā. Two such mantra are:

ganānantva ganapati gum havā mahe
priyānantva priyapati gum havā mahe
nidhinantva nidhipati gum havā mahe
vāso mamha āham jā nigarvādhamvā tvamajā sigarvādhamvā

We honor and invoke You with offerings, Lord Ganapati, Keeper of the Paths
We invoke You with love and affection, Lord Ganapati, Creator of Life
We invoke You with offerings of treasures, Lord Ganapati, Protector of Wealth
Resonate within me, and bring forth within me the realm of the Divine

shukla ambara dharam vishnum shashi varanam chatur bhujam |
prasana vadanam dhyāyet sarva vighnopashāntaye ||

We meditate on the One in white attire, who is all pervading, bright as the moon, and four-armed |
Salutations Compassionate One with a kind face, we pray to the Lord Who Removes all Obstacles ||

Prānāyama (Breath Control)

The devotee undertakes specific actions to align the vital airs.

While closing the right nostril with the right thumb, inhale through the left nostril and the devotee mentally chants:

om bhuh om bhuvah om suvah om mahah om janah om tapah om satyam

Invocations to the physical plane, the plane of life-breath, the plane of the Divine mind, the plane of all-pervading ConsciousnessIn all its forms and protean manifestations, consciousness i… More, the plane of all-creating ConsciousnessIn all its forms and protean manifestations, consciousness i… More, the plane of Divine light, the plane of Truth-Consciousness

Holding the breath inside by closing the right nostril with the right thumb and left nostril with right ring finger, the devotee mentally chants:

om tatsaviturvarenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah pracodayāt

May the light of consciousnessIn all its forms and protean manifestations, consciousness i… More come to shine forth its radiance through our intellects

Closing the left nostril with the right ring finger and exhale through the right nostril  and the devotee chants mentally:

om āpo jyotiraso mrtam brahma bhurbhuvasuvarom

Salutations to the Divine ConsciousnessIn all its forms and protean manifestations, consciousness i… More Who is all-pervading, ever bright, of divine essence, immortal, bliss-filled nectar, Truth-Consciousness-Bliss

Sankalpa (Intention; literally, good thought)

The devotee establishes intention or purpose of pujā. The specific blessings requested of the Divine are stated here. The devotee turns the left palm upward and places it on the right thigh.  They then turn the right palm downward, and place it on top of the left palm and chant:

mamo patta samasta durita kshaya dvara |
sri parameshvara prityartham devapujam karishye ||

To remove all negative thoughts, words, and actions that I have accrued over lifetimes |
To be worthy of the Divine’s grace, I begin this worship ||

Āsana Pujā (Worship of the seating on which puja is performed)

The devotee invokes Mother Earth, as she is ultimately the Being on which people live and sit).

om prthvi tvayā dhrtā lokā devi tvam vishnunā dhrtā |
tvam ca dhāraya mām devi pavitram kuru ca-āsanam ||

O Mother Earth, Upholder of the Worlds. Vishnu holds you |
May you hold me, O Mother Earth, and purify my seat ||

Ghanta Pujā (Worship of the Bell)

The devotee uses a bell to invite the Divine and dispel negative forces during the pujā is invoked.

āgama-artham tu devānām gamana artham tu rakshasām |
ghanttā-ravam karomya āadau devatā āhvāna lānchanam ||

For the arrival of the good forces and departure of destructive forces |
I ring the bell, marking the invocation of auspiciousness that comes with the Divine manifestations ||

Kalasha Pujā (Worship of the pot/vessel)

The GoddessesNike (Goddess). In Greek mythology, Nike is the winged godde… More of the sacred rivers are invoked and invited by the devotee into the water in the panchapātra (vessel made with five materials) which will be offered during pujā.

gange cha yamune chaiva godāvari sarasvati |
narmade sindhu  kāveri jalesmin sannidhim kuru ||

The sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri
May your holiness be present in this water

Ātmā Pujā (Worship of the Divinity in the self)

The Divine self present in the devotee is invoked by the devotee.

deho devalayah proktah jivo devassanātanah |
tyajedajannanirmalayam so’ham bhāvena pujavet ||

The body is the temple.  The jiva is the eternal deity of this temple.
May I remove the wilted flowers that symbolize ignorance and
Worship the Divine knowing the Divine is not separate from me.

Guru Dhyānam (Contemplation on Guru)

The Guru, by whose grace the puja can take
place, is invoked by the devotee.

gurubrahma gururvishnuh gururdevo mahesvarah
gurusāksat param brahma tasmai srigurave namah

The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru is Mahesvara |
The Guru is Ultimate Reality,  My obeisances to the Guru ||

Shodashopachara Puja

There are five steps within the 16 which are central to the shodashopāchara pujā.  They are referred to as the pancha upachara and correlate to the five senses: touch, hearing, smell, sight, and taste. The pancha upachara are gandham, pushpam, dhoopam, deepam, and naivedyam. Gandham involves touch in applying various pastes and powders to the murti. Pushpam involves sound as the deity’s name is chanted with each offering of flowers. Dhoopam involves sound as incense is offered. Deepam involves sight in the offering of light. And naivedyam involves taste from the food offerings made to and blessed by the Divine.

Dhyānam & Āvāhanam

The Divine is invited into the devotee’s home and heart with a meditation.

Chant: om sri [Deity name] āvāhanam samarpayāmi

Āsanam

A seat is offered by the devotee to the Divine form.

Chant: om sri [Deity name] āsanam samarpayāmi

Pādyam, Ārghyam & Āchamanyam

Water is offered by the devotee who washes the feet and hands of the Divine form. Water is also offered to the Divine to wash their face and mouth, just as one might traditionally offer a guest who has come into the home after journey.

Chant: om sri [Deity name] pādyam ārghyam āchamaniyam samarpayāmi

Madhuparkam

Honey, sugar, ghee (clarified butter), curd (yogurt), or water is offered by the devotee to the Divine form for refreshment.

Chant: om sri [Deity name] madhuparkam samarpayāmi

Snānam

Water is offered by the devotee to bathe the Divine form. In longer pujas, the five items included in panchāmrit (honey, sugar, milk, curd, and ghee) are used in bathing the Divine form as well. Sacred hymns are chanted during this process.
Chant: om sri [Deity name] snānam samarpayāmi

Vastram

Clothing is offered by the devotee to the Divine form after bath.

Chant: om sri [Deity name] vastram samarpayāmi

Yagnoveetam

Sacred thread is offered by the devotee to the Divine form after bath.

Chant: om sri [Deity name] yagnopaveetam samarpayāmi

Ābhāranam

Divine form is bedecked with ornaments by the devotee. Songs are sung in praise of the Divine form during this process.

Chant: om sri [Deity name]  ābhāranam samarpayāmi 

Gandham

Sandalwood paste, kumkum or vermillion, and haldi (turmeric) or vibhooti (sacred ash), are offered by the devotee.

Chant: om sri [Deity name] chandanam samarpayāmi, om sri [Deity name] sindoor tilakam samarpayāmi, om sri [Deity name] haldiyam samarpayāmi, om sri [Deity name] vibhooti samarpayāmi 

Pushpam

Flowers are offered by the devotee to decorate the Divine form. In longer pujas, 108 or 1008 flowers are offered, one for each name of the Divine form, chanted in ashtottara nāmāvalis or sahasranāmas. In shorter pujas, just a few well-known or favorite names of the Divine form are chanted with each flower being offered.

Chant: om sri [Deity name] pushpam samarpayāmi

Dhoopam

Incense is offered by the devotee to please the Divine form.

Chant: om sri [Deity name] dhoopam samarpayāmi 

Deepam

Another lamp is lit and offered by the devotee to the Divine form.

Chant: om sri [Deity name] deepam samarpayāmi

Naivedyam

Fresh food is offered by the devotee to the Divine form. Water is also offered again to cleanse the mouth of the Divine after naivedya has been consumed.

Chant: om sri [Deity name] naivedyam samarpayāmi

Tambulam

Betel nut and leaves, which have symbolic meaning, are offered as mouth fresheners after the meal. Coins or larger monetary amounts are also given as offering.

Chant: om sri [Deity name] tambulam samarpayāmi

Karpoora Niranjanam

ārati for the Divine form is shown and offered by the devotee.

Chant: om sri [Deity name] karpoora samarpayāmi

Pradakshina & Namaskāram

The Divine form is circumambulated, or the devotee stands in place and turns around three times clockwise, symbolizing that the devotee worships the Divine as the center of their life, around which their life revolves.  The devotee bows down to the Divine, and asks for forgiveness of any mistakes committed during the puja process and sends off the Divine form with gratitude.

Chant: 

om sri [Deity name] pradakshina samarpayāmi; om sri [Deity name] namaskāram samarpayāmi

Pradakshina & Namaskāram

The Divine form is circumambulated, or the devotee stands in place and turns around three times clockwise, symbolizing that the devotee worships the Divine as the center of their life, around which their life revolves.  The devotee bows down to the Divine, and asks for forgiveness of any mistakes committed during the puja process and sends off the Divine form with gratitude.

Chant: om sri [Deity name] pradakshina samarpayāmi; om sri [Deity name] namaskāram samarpayāmi

Conclusion

The devotee chants the following closing mantra.

kāyena vācā manase indriyairvā buddhy ātmanā vā prakrteh svabhāvāt
karomi yad yat sakalam parasmai nārāyanāyeti samarpayāmi

Whatever I do with my Body, Speech, Mind, or Senses, Whatever I do using my Intellect, Feelings or unconsciously through my natural tendencies |
Whatever I do, I do selflessly for others and surrender them all at the Lotus Feet of the Divine

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