Hi! If you are a beginner and want to start worshipping in the comfort of your house and do this daily puja, here you go, but lets' talk about what puja is, what it means, and its legacy in the lives of the Indo-Caribbean Shakti community and how it makes them closer to god. What is Puja? Puja is a sacred ritual that holds significant importance in the lives of the Indo-Caribbean Shakti community. Derived from the Sanskrit word "pujā," which means reverence or worship, puja is a devotional practice of offering prayers, rituals, and offerings to the divine deities. It serves as a way to establish a personal connection with the divine and express devotion, gratitude, and reverence.
For the Indo-Caribbean Shakti community, puja is a central aspect of their spiritual and cultural identity. It is a way to honor and connect with their ancestral roots, keeping alive the traditions brought by their forefathers from India. Puja serves as a reminder of their heritage and serves to strengthen their sense of belonging and identity within the community.
What does this mean for devotees? Puja holds deep meaning for individuals as it is believed to be a direct communication with the divine. Through this ritual, devotees seek blessings, guidance, and protection from the deities. It is an opportunity to offer their sincerest prayers, express their deepest desires, and seek spiritual solace in times of joy, sorrow, or challenges.
Why is it so important to preserve it? The legacy of puja in the Indo-Caribbean Shakti community is profound. It has been passed down through generations, preserving cultural and religious practices. Puja ceremonies are often performed at home, in temples, or during special occasions and festivals. It brings families and communities together, fostering unity, harmony, and a sense of collective spirituality.
Why do people do puja? Puja not only strengthens the bond between individuals and the divine but also encourages introspection and personal growth. The act of performing puja with devotion and sincerity helps individuals cultivate spiritual discipline, focus, and mindfulness. It instills values of gratitude, humility, and reverence, allowing individuals to develop a deeper understanding of their place in the universe and their relationship with the divine.
Through the practice of puja, the Indo-Caribbean Shakti community finds solace, inspiration, and a profound connection with God. It is a sacred ritual that not only brings them closer to the divine but also serves as a source of spiritual nourishment, cultural preservation, and a reminder of their roots. Puja is a cherished tradition that continues to shape the lives of individuals, families, and the community as a whole, fostering a deep sense of spirituality, devotion, and love for the divine. Here is a simple daily puja you may do when you are beginning your journey into Indo-Caribbean Shaktism: Here are the supplies needed: Two Diyas (if not available, use tea light candles) Attar (Perfume, optional) Prasad (Fruits or Sweets, optional but a simple fruit is recommended) Lota with water and a mango leaf (if you do not have a lota and a mango leaf, use a cup and a flower) Pushpam/Flowers (preferably 5) Ghanta/Bell (optional but recommended, you can use a digital sound on your phone of a bell) Incense/Agarbhatti Altar to the specific deity, devotional image, or even just do it outside near something natural) if you are able to use: Kumkum/Sindoor Haldi (Turmeric) Vibhuti Chandan (Just know that you can use unbroken rice grains called Akshatas to replace any offering you can not provide) Deepa jyoti Light a diya or tea candle and recite the following mantra: shubham karoti kalyānām ārogyam dhana sampadah | shatru buddhi 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 || Sankalpa (Intention; literally, good thought) Then, you will begin with sitting quietly, reciting the following mantra to help you get in a calm state and visualize God: 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) Next, you will thank Mother Earth (Dharti Maa) for allowing you to exist and do this act of devotion (bhakti): 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) Next, you will ring the bell or sound it digitally and say the following mantra:
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) Next, you will invoke the seven holy rivers (Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswatee, Narmada, Sindhu, and Kaveri) Into the Lota/Kalash:
The Goddesses 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
The Offerings to be made now: (Quick note: anywhere where it says to offer water, you will dip the flower into the water and then sprinkle it on the murti, portrait, or stone)
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
Water is offered by the devotee to the Divine form for refreshment. Chant: om sri [Deity name] madhuparkam 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 Akshatas Unbroken rice grains called Akshatas is offered by the devotee to the Divine form. Akshatas are a replacement for any offerings not able to be made and represent wealth and abundance. Chant: om sri [Deity name] akshatas samarpayāmi Karpoora Niranjanam Aarti is shown by circling the diya around the murti or portrait three times while chanting a mantra and ringing a bell:
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 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 || And you did it! An even simpler version is just to offer the diya, pushpam, incense (dhoop), prayer (bhakti), water (achamaniyam), akshatas, prasad and thats it. for any of those, the mantra is "Om sri (deity name) (Name of offering in Sanskrit) samarpayami." and the prayer can be a personal prayer or a mantra.
Comments