one method of worship in smartha tradition

[Guest guest]

This article is to share information about one of the methods of worship in the

smarth tradition set up by rishis lon long ago for acala pratishta. The

procedure is similar for cala prathistha with some differences. This will

provide a brief overview and if some is interested, you may contact me for

details at v_raja_ram.

 

There are different pooja dravyams that you need to perform worship of sri

govinda or other forms of the lord that is attractive to you. The ladies in the

family, after finishing morning ablutions in brahma muhurtha, should clear the

altar of all the items from the worship done the day before, sweep the floor and

decorate it with kolam or rangoli. The same should be done outside which is a

sign of welcome for mahalakshmi along with all her expansions, the devotees of

the lord, the great rishis and the devatas in to the house. The decorations made

with rice flour purified by the dust of the feet of these personalities is eaten

by lower creatures like ants and other insects. The ladies should be prepared

with clean vessesls such as panca patram, argya kinnam, arati plate, incense

stand for sampirani (different from agarbathi), lamp, bell, plate, karpoora

offering stand, sitting bench (3 inches high). They should also also prefer

different items for offering such as rice, dhal, ghee,

fruits, tulasi, different types of pakshanams, panagam, butter, sweet porridge

etc., whatever they can do comfortably - rice, dhal, fruits,ghee, tulasi are a

must have. A brahmachari boy in the house or the head of the household should

finish his ablutions, nitya karmas, japa etc., while the ladies prepare every

thing. The lord is now awake and has been offered some tulasi water and sweets

either through mantra or actually as per one's convenience.

 

The pooja is started by lighting a lamp which represents janardana, parabrahman,

which destroys all sins. The one performs self-purification by performing

acamanam and invoking the name of the lord. This is followed by worship of the

guru as a representation of parabrahmnan, the supreme lord. I one does not have

a guru, then one can consider Sriman Narayana as the guru as He is the adi karta

and adi guru. Then purify the place of sitting by chanting mantras for that.

This is followed by ringing the bell to drive away the bad elements and inviting

the rishis, devas and devotees in to the pooja room. The nthe body is meditated

upon as the temple of the lord, the relation between the soul and the lord is

understand, removal of ignorance is seeked followed by the meditation that the

innermost Self, the one within the jivatman as none other than the supreme lord.

This may be followed by a full-fledged worship of ganesha or suklambaradharam,

which is for ganesha and the antaryamin vishnu. This is done to remove any

obstacles that demons may cause. The nby the process of pranayama and gayatri

mantra, the consciousness is elevated to the platform of satya loka, the highest

planet in the material world. From that plane, one can meditate on the supreme

lord who is beyond the three worlds and because of whom the three worlds

function. This is followed by purification of the water in the panca patra by

inviting ganga, yamuna, sarasvati, etc. This punya theertham is used to purify

the entire place. As BG verse 4.4 says every thing used for pooja and every one

involved is on the absolute platform because all material contamination imposed

on it is removed. In the case of cala prathishta, the lord is invited through

prathistha mantras but not for household deities where he is part of the family.

Then one meditates on the supreme lord by controlling the

mind through choices slokas, rememberance of his lila etc.

 

Then the lord is asked to sit on a golden seat decorated with jewels. He and His

associates are decorated with flowers and offered akshadai. He is given padhyam,

argyam and acamaniyam. Basically, his feet is washed, he is given every thing

that will please Him and He is given water for performing acamanam. Then He is

given a mixture of honey and milk called madhu parkkam. From within the

curtains, His dress is changed to kopins made of silk and decorated with

diamonds. Then the screen is removed and abhishekam is performed with milk. For

all these, there are mantras set to nice tune that is recited. After milk, He is

washed with tulasi water and abhishekam is performed with milk. This is followed

by an abhishekam of ghee, then honey, then sugar water and then pancamrtam.

There are a number of other items that can be used such as sandalwood paste,

turmeric paste, herbs and a list of 100 odd items. But it is not practical to do

that every day even through mantras alone. Then using

flowers, water is sprinkled on the lord and His associates playfully. Then He

is washed with clean water and given water for acamaniyam. Then behind the

screen, whilee still chanting appropriate mantras, He is dressed with divine

clothes and jewels as described in the sastras. Then He is offered upavitam.

Then chanting mantras, His forehead is decorated with sandalwood paste and

kumkuma. The He is offered akshadai and then flowers.

 

Each part of the lord from head to foot is meditated upon with a particular name

that signifies the glory of that part. As He is infinite, the last name

glorifies all parts. But what is most pleasing to the lord is His worship with

tulasi,flowers and akshadai by reciting His 108 or 1008 names or even more as

time permits. Then one offers agarpathi, sampirani and flowers chanting

appropriate mantras. This is followed by an elaborate offering after

specifically purifying the place of offering, the pranas and one's own

cosnciousness. The different varieties are offered with mantras. As the lord

eats, He is given water to drink as well. This is required because there is so

much that He is requested eat. He is able to accept by merely looking at the

offerings as His senses are transcendental. Then He is offered achamaniyam and

the prasadam is removed.

As the lord relaxes, He is offered tambulam with fruits and coconut. This is

followed by an offering of karpoora arati. Then the supreme lord sri krishna is

glorified by offering flowers made of mantras - mantra pushpam - while actualy

offering fresh flowers. This is followed by recital of vedic mantras such as

purusha suktam as long as one can. Then the lord is given raja upacharams such

as offering umbrella, samaram and fanning. This is followed by offering him

kirtanas. Then the ladies in the family should dance for the pleasure of the

lord. This is followed by playing musical instruments. These things can be done

as long as one can. Or simply using mantras but always doing using mantras has

destroyed the tradition over time. So it is not always a good practice.

 

Then there are mantras for offering obeisances that one chants to offer

obeisances. Trillions of obeisances are offered and this followed by prayers. In

the prayers, it is told to sri govinda that we dont have any other shelter than

Him and therefore He shoud protect us. Then one should say He is the mother, He

is the father, He is the relatives and friends, He is learning, He is all

things, He is every thing. Then one should offer flowers, tulasi and akshadai.

We might have committed offences during worship and this is removed by praying

to the lord to forgive defects in bhakti, the actual activities or chanting of

mantras. Then milk is used to give argyam to the lord by remembering His

pastimes so that any defect in performing the pooja is removed. This is followed

by offering respects to learned brahmanas / elders, giving them charity etc. All

the merit thus acquired is offered to the supreme lord so that the performance

benefits not the performer but the whole world. In the case

of cala prathishta, the lord is bid good bye but that is not the case in homes

where He is part of the family.

 

If one is still not satisfied with the pooja, one can chant different slokas

glorifying Him or namas.

 

 

 

 

vote. - Register online to vote today!