Puja pleases a Deity and hence, it becomes easier to obtain the Deity’s grace.By performing puja, the worshipper imbibes the Deity Principle. It reduces the proportion of Raja -Tama components in him and helps to increase Chaitanya.
Puja helps increase the sattvikta (purity) of the environment. We get the benefit of sankalpa–shakti (Energy of resolve) of our Omniscient Sages only if we perform puja vidhi as advised by our scriptures.
While performing puja as mentioned in the scriptures, utmost devotion and bhav are equally important. If there is a lack of love and devotion for God while performing puja vidhi, then it does not reach Him; for, God yearns for bhav.
Our acts associated with karmakanda such as puja, offering Naivedya etc. are associated with the ichha-shakti in the universe. Through the specific act, the individual receives the waves associated with ichha-shakti of the respective Deity. Hindu Dharma is based on sagun (materialised) upasana
that means Karmakanda.
Panchopachar and Shodashopachar teach the individual to abide by Dharma in a ritualistic manner. This shows the scientific depth of the upachars in Hindu Dharma.
Types of puja vidhi:
Scriptures have mentioned the following four types of puja. The first two types are at the physical level, what we generally term as ‘Devapuja’, while the next two are at the subtle-level.
A. Panchopachar puja (puja of an Idol or a picture): Panchopachar = Pancha (Five) + upachar. Offering the Deity five upachars, that is, gandha (sandalwood paste), phool (Flower), dhoop, deep (Oil lamp) and Naivedya.
B. Shodashopachar puja: Shodashopachar = Shodasha (Sixteen) + upachar. Offering the Deity sixteen specific upachars, including the five mentioned above in Panchopachar puja. C. Manaspuja: Imagining a sagun Idol and worshipping it mentally. D. Parapuja: Worshipping the nirgun supreme Brahman through para mode of speech.
Reasons for covering the temple at home with a curtain when the lady of the house is menstruating: During the period of menses, the Raja component in the woman increases. When the temple at home is not covered, greater proportion of sattvik vibrations are emitted by the Deity. This sattvik Shakti can cause distress to the woman.
Submitted by Astro Bhushan Ratnakar, Nagpur