Morning Puja at Vanamali Ashram
Morning Puja at Vanamali Ashram
"Pūjā or alternative transliteration Pooja, (Devanagari: पूजा) (Sanskrit: reverence, honour, adoration, or worship) is a religious ritual performed by Hindus as an offering to various deities, distinguished persons, or special guests. It is done on a variety of occasions and settings, from daily puja done in the home, to temple ceremonies and large festivals, or to begin a new venture.[1] Puja is modeled on the idea of giving a gift or offering to a deity or important person and receiving their blessing. The two main areas where puja is performed is in the home and at public temples. There are many variations in scale, offering, and ceremony.[2] Puja is also performed on special occasions such as Durga Puja and Lakshmi Puja.
Many Hindu homes have a personal shrine set aside somewhere in the house that include pictures or murtis of various deities. A daily puja is often dedicated to the family deities (kuldevta) and personal deities (ishta-devata). A daily puja usually consists of a simple worship of offerings, such as an offering of light, water and incense, and/or fruit. Usually with a small aarti (lamp ritual) afterwards. Puja can be performed with any available offerings. A puja thali (plate) consists of a diya (lamp), haldi or kumkum, sweetmeats or fruits, water, bell, and jos (incense) sticks. Aarti is usually performed with this offering afterward using an aarti mantra, e.g. Om Jai Jagadish Hare. The Hindu symbol is called Aum or Om.
The puja ritual is used by Hindus worldwide. A Hindu teacher wakes up extra early to perform the ritual." 1
(Wikipedia)