Puja
It is an act of expressing compassion or displaying reverence to the God through various rituals. An important aspect of ‘Puja’ is to make a spiritual relationship with the ‘supreme being’ or ‘super natural power’. ‘Puja’ helps people to bring in positivity, improved confidence, etc. ‘Puja’ will remove negative energies from one’s body, provide relief from sufferings & extend support during the difficult period in one’s life.
‘Puja’ is an effective & powerful practice in one’s spiritual journey, on his / her way to enlightenment. When any one performs ‘Puja’, the almighty God give blessings to him/her, put you on the right path & connect to the right people & in right direction.
Following are different ‘Puja’ rituals :
1. Anant Puja – This ‘Puja’ is performed on 14th day of Lunar month of ‘Bhadrapad’. This day is popularly known as ‘Anant Chaturdashi’. The ‘Puja’ is in the honour of Lord ‘Anant’. A thread having 14 knots symbolizing Lord ‘Anant’ is tied on the right arm (above elbow) by men and on left arm (above elbow) by women.
2. Ganesh Puja – Lord ‘Ganesh’ is also known as ‘Ganapati’ or ‘Vinayak’. He is one of the most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon. By many people, this ‘Puja’ is performed every year, on 4th day of Lunar month of ‘Bhadrapad’ or 4th day of Lunar month of ‘Maagh’. This deity is revered as God of intellect & wisdom, the patron of Arts & Sciences and can be easily identified by his elephant head. He is the God of beginnings and therefore honoured at the start of almost all the rituals & ceremonies.
3. Ganapati Atharvasheersh Sahasravartan – This is the ‘Puja’ is dedicated to Lord ‘Ganesh’, while chanting ‘Ganapati Atharvasheersh’ for 1000 times, during consecration (‘Abhishek’) of deity.
4. Ghat Sthaapana Puja – This ‘Puja’ is performed on 1st day of Lunar month of ‘Chaitra’ or ‘Ashwin’. It is the beginning of ‘Navratra’ festivity, which last long for 9 days.
5. Gouri Puja – This ‘Puja’ is performed on 7th day of Lunar month of ‘Bhadrapad’. It is the festival of worshipping Goddess ‘Gauri’, which is also called as ‘Parvati’. This ‘Puja’ is performed on a ‘Gauri’ idol.
6. Haritalika Puja – This ‘Puja’ is performed on 3rd day of Lunar month of ‘Bhadrapad’. On this day, Parvati with Lord Shiva is worshipped.
7. Laghurudra – ‘Rudra’ means Lord Shiva & therefore this ‘Puja’ is dedicated to this deity. This ‘Puja’ can be performed on any auspicious day / any Monday / any ‘Shivratra Day’ / ‘Mahashivratra Day’. ‘Puja’ is performed on the idol, while chanting ‘Rudra Sukta’ for 121 times.
8. Lakshmi Puja – According to legend, ‘Lakshmi’ is the Goddess of wealth & wife of Lord ‘Vishnu’. This ‘Puja’ is performed on 30th day of Lunar month ‘Ashwin’ (Amavasya). Generally, this is the 3rd day of Diwali festival.
9. Lalita Panchami Puja – This ‘Pooja’is dedicated to Goddess ‘Lalita’. This is widely known as ‘Upang Lalita Vrat’. This ‘Puja’ is performed on 5th day of Lunar month ‘Ashwin’ (‘Navratra’ festivity).
10. Mangalagaur Puja – This ‘Puja Vrat’ is observed by newly married women for at least initial 5 years, after getting married & performed on every Tuesday of Lunar month ‘Shravan’. This ‘Puja’ is dedicated to Goddess ‘Gauri’. On 5th year, ‘Vrat Udyapan Ritual’ is performed.
11. Rishi Panchami Puja – This ‘Puja’ is performed on the 5th day of Lunar month ‘Bhadrapad’. It is dedicated to the worshipping of 7 great sages (viz. Kashyap, Atri, Bharadwaj, Vishwamitra, Gautam, Jamadagni & Vasishtha) along with Arundahati (wife of Vasishtha).
12. Satya Datt Puja – This ‘Puja’ is performed for Lord ‘Datta’ & can be performed on any auspicious day or any Thursday (since Thursday is being termed & dedicated to Lord ‘Datta’).
13. Satya Vinayak Puja – ‘Vinayak’ is the alternative name for Lord ‘Ganesh’. This ‘Puja’ can be performed on any auspicious day or on any Tuesday (since Tuesday is being termed & dedicated to Lord ‘Ganesh’) or on any Full Moon Day.
14. Satyamba Puja – ‘Amba’ is the term used for Goddess ‘Devi’. This ‘Puja’ can be performed on any auspicious day or any Tuesday / Friday (since these 2 days are being termed & dedicated to Goddess ‘Devi’) or during first nine days of Lunar month ‘Chaitra’ or ‘Ashwin’.
15. Satyanarayan Puja – This ‘Puja’ is performed in reverence to the ‘Narayana’, which is termed as the form or incarnation of Lord ‘Vishnu’. It is one of the widely performed ‘Puja’. It can be performed on any auspicious day.
16. Tulsi Vivah Puja – ‘Vivah’ means wedding / marriage. This is the ceremonial wedding of Basil plant to the Lord ‘Vishnu’ or Lord ‘Krishna’. Lord ‘Krishna’ is generally termed as an incarnation but more accurately as “appearance” or “manifestation”. This ceremonial ‘Puja’ can be performed any time between 11th day of Lunar month of ‘Kartik’ to the 15th day (Full Moon Day) of the month. Usually, it is performed on the 11th or 12th lunar day.
17. Vat Savitri Puja – This ‘Puja’ is performed on 15th day (Full Moon Day) of the Lunar month ‘Jyeshth’. On this day, women pray for the prosperity & longevity of their husbands by tying threads around a Banyan tree (‘Wat’). This is in the honour of legendary wife ‘Savitri’ who rescued her husband’s soul from the ruler of the departed viz. ‘Yama’.