PUJA
PUJA
Puja or Worship is the act of showing reverence to Brahman (God). It is done through invocations, prayers, songs, and rituals. An essential part of puja for the Hindu is making a spiritual connection with the divine. Most often that contact is facilitated through an object: an element of nature, a sculpture, a vessel, a painting, or a print.
PUJA
PUJA
INCENSE STICKS
Incense has been in existence for many years. Its use is noted relatively from the start of civilization, where its use has served a lot of functions. Hindus use incense in Puja, it possesses certain properties which purify the air and induce good and positive vibrations in the brain. It helps a person to concentrate more easily during meditation. A philosophical moral of the burning incense stick is that; just as it burns away to ashes, an aspirant should sacrifice his life in service others.
PUJA
PUJA
CAMPHOR
Camphor is a small white crystalline substance used commonly in India and South East Asia. It’s burning is essential to any Hindu aarti ritual. The burning of camphor is symbolic of the destruction of human ego. When it is burned it slowly disappears without leaving any residue.The fumes of burning camphor purify the air and inhaling it can be beneficial. From a scientific viewpoint it can effectively kill germs and keep mosquitoes away. Smelling camphor fumes can be beneficial for people suffering from asthma, typhoid and measles.
PUJA
PUJA
KUM KUM
Kumkum is applied to the forehead. The reason for this particular location has to do with the ancient Hindu belief that the human body is divided into seven centers of energy, called chakras, beginning at the base of the spine and ending at the top of the head. The sixth chakra, also known as the third eye, is centered in the forehead directly between the eyebrows and is believed to be the channel through which humankind opens spiritually to the Divine. Thus, the kumkum is placed at the location of the body which is the most holy.
PUJA
PUJA
CHANDAN POWDER
Authentic aromatic religious powder used in all Pujas, festivals and marriage ceremonies. You can also make a paste of this powder by mixing it with water and apply the paste on your face, which is one of the best beauty enhancers.
PUJA
PUJA
SUPARI
Supari or Areca nut is commonly used in Hindu rituals. Every Puja Thali has this famous ingredient. Supari is a hard nut which resembles the hardships of a human’s life. It is believed that we transfer our hard qualities to the Gods hoping that they resolve them. It is believed that the hard Supari nut also signifies strength, longevity and prosperity.
PUJA
Cardamom
PUJA
Cardamom
Cardamom is one of the ancient spices in the world, which originates in the forests of Western Ghats in South India, and is a native to the East. Cardamom is removed from the seeds of a ginger-like plant. It is used for treating many conditions such as bronchitis, asthma, kidney stones and anorexia. It is broadly used to treat infections pertaining to gums and teeth, and to prevent throat troubles, pulmonary tuberculosis, congestion of lungs, inflammation of eyelids and digestive disorders. It is also used as an antidote for snake and scorpion venom.
PUJA
PUJA
Gangajal commands a high value in Indian culture. No ceremony is complete and perfect without Gangajal. The holy water is taken directly from the pious Ganga River.
PUJA
CLOVES
PUJA
CLOVES
Cloves have an almost pungent aroma as well as a sweet and spicy flavor. Cloves are the unopened flower buds of the clove tree, which is a tropical evergreen that can live up to 100 years. Medical benefits – helps with toothache, relieve respiratory infections and reduce inflammation.
PUJA
LAMP OR DIYA
PUJA
LAMP OR DIYA
By lighting lamp in puja ceremony, we pray that our life is filled with the light of divine grace and wisdom. Burning of ghee or oil signifies that we should burn our negative tendencies in order to purify our hearts. As ego is the root cause of many human problems, a burning wick teaches us to gradually diminish our ego and serve others with humility. We notice that a lamp always burns upwards. It gives us the message that we should acquire all those qualities which are necessary for a steady and upward progress in our spiritual life.
