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Puja
Hindus show reverence through their practice of puja.
Each god or goddess is worshipped in
a different way. Some instructions for conducting worship services and prayers are written down in sacred texts, and others are traditions that have grown up over time.
Worship can occur in a mandir or at home and can be conducted by a priest or by an individual person.
The word for worship is puja. Puja involves experiencing God with all of the senses. Puja may include chanting or singing songs of praise; walking around the shrine; dressing the murti and bathing it in water or milk; and making offerings of flowers, milk, incense, fire, fruit and other foods.
Performing a puja
The puja service is conducted in front of the shrine. Seeing the murti (called daRsHan) and making offeRings are the heart of puja.
The exact type of offering can be different for each god or goddess. Prayers and songs are one kind of offering. Some gods have special likes. For example, Ganesha loves to receive sweets, especially ladoo balls.
Whatever is offered becomes blessed by the god or goddess. After worship,
the food offerings are shared by the worshippers. In this way, worshippers share the blessings of the gods and goddesses.
At home, the puja is usually led by the head of the household.
In a mandir, Hindu pRiests, called pujari, lead the puja. The difference between a puja
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G At the beginning of the puja, a bell is rung and prayers are chanted. These sounds drive away bad thoughts and welcome the god or goddess. Prayers and hymns called ‘mantras of invocation’ may be sung. These describe and praise God.
G Different offerings are made to the god or goddess. First is prayer, in the form of a chant or hymn. Then water is offered. The water is sprinkled on the feet, the hands and from head to foot of the murti. Next, offerings of sandalwood paste, raw rice mixed with kumkum (a red powder) and flowers may be made.