SHODASA UPACHAR

August 16, 2005

Pooja is the first step to impart training to the mind to concentrate and involve physically and mentally while performing worship.

It is important to understand the meaning of "MANTRAS" and actions required to be performed. In the absence of this understanding the worship or Pooja is a futile exercise.

"Shodasa Upacahar" is a complete process of perfuming the rituals of pooja, the worship. Upachar means service; there are 16 upachars to be executed for worship. It is expected that one should chant the slokas of Vedic verses and feel it is performed by oneself. Alternately one should close the eyes and perform the service on oneself mentally. The later one is of higher degree. All these Upachars are enumerated below step by step to make the reader more clear.

1) Dhyana: Think of the God or Goddess with full form in mind by chanting the Vedic verse give in there in.

2) AAWahan: Inviting the GOD or Goddess by chanting the Vedic verse. Behave mentally as though you are inviting a loveable guest in side your home.

3) AAsan: After inviting a guest to your house you would offer a comfortable seat for him to relax. In similar fashion imagine this situation by chanting the Vedic verse.

4) Paadyam: As per our tradition, the guest is offered water to wash his feet after he relaxed for adequate time. (It is the principal of Hygiene). Imagine you are washing the delicate, lotus feet of Lord.

5) Arghyam: It is said one should not offer water immediately when one enters your home, dodge a little and then offer him a tumbler full of water. This is similar to it. Feel that you are offering water (Potable) for the Lord for him to drink. All these services or Upachar are performed by chanting the concerned Vedic verse.

6) Snana: It again the practice of the tradition that the guest is given comfortable (Luke warm) water for talking bath. After bath the food is to be offered. Feel this service is being perfomed to the Lord.

7) Vastra: As a principle of hygiene, a washed and clean cloth is given to the guest before he is offered food. Here in you offer a new par of clothes to the LORD. (VASTR YUGMAM= Pair of Clothes)

8) Yagnopaveetam: In olden days the old people used to make "Yagnopaveeta" daily in their houses for offering to the guest. It is presumed that the guest had traveled for a long distance before he reach your house, during the course he had to take bath in the Rivers/streams and may lose his "Janevu" or "Jandem"

It is also important to note "Yagnopaveeta" used to be worn by both men and women immaterial of the sex. You might have noticed the statues of Goddesses shown wearing "Janevu" in museums. So whether you worship God or Goddess you have to offer "Janevu"

9) CHANDANAM/GANDHAM" After getting dressed and wearing "Yagnopaveeta" the host offer good smelling sandal wood paste (Not the one which was made a week back or so). "Sugandham" (Good Smelling), "Manoharam" (Should steal the heart) is the quality of Sandal wood paste narrated by Vedic verse. It is expected to apply the sandal wood pate gently on the neck (Larynx side). It is not expected to sprinkle or throw it on the Deity.

10) PUSHPAM: After you have offered the sandal wood pate, fresh flowers shall be offered to the Lord. Do not throw them instead nice decorate them with love and affection. This gives you a good feeling and nice going on the forward path. The type of flowers and its colurs are narrated in Vedic verses like "Japa Kusum" (Hibiscus) etc;

11) DHOOPAM: You are trying to make the surroundings more pleasant to impress upon the guest by Sandal wood paste, Flowers of beautiful colours and smells. In continuation to it you are lighting incense sticks to make it more welcoming.

12) DEEPAM: It is not expected to make your guest to sit in dark. In olden days when electric power was not in use, lamps were used to be kept on stands slightly away from the place where people used to dine.

13) NAIVEDYAM: After all the above services or arrangements are accomplished, it is time to offer food to the guest. Here the quality and type of food to be offered is narrated depending on the Deity follow the version of the Vedic verse. It is similar to the members of your own family that all do not like same dish.

14) TAMBOOLAM: After delicious food, it is the practice to offer Pan for proper digestion. The quality of Pan is narrated in the verses. "Pooghiphala (Beetle nut) Samayuktam, Nagavalli dalairyatam (Japatri petals) karpoora churna (Edible Karpoor powder) samuktam, tamboolam". Do not offer dried leaves and coloured wood.

15) NEERAJANAM: It is again customary that in every auspicious occasion AArati is shown to the hero/heroin of the event. Similar way treat this important and auspicious occasion as Lord himself has come to you home, with utmost devotion offer "Aarati" to him/her. After it is offered put a drop of water in it and show it to the people around. Put you both hands above (Not to burn) and put them on your head follwed by covering your eyes as a mark of respect and reverence.

16) MANTRA PUSHPAM/PUSHPANJALI: The guest had given his valuable time to you, so you have to say thanks to him by saying pleasant words is the meaning of "Mantra Pushpa" By holding the flowers either yellow or white in colour, chant Vedic verse , place the on his lotus feet with utmost devotion and dedication.

These Upachara or services forms the complete activities of Shodasa Upachara. Some of the saints having the authority added some more ritual to it in due course of time. They are in the order of the serial numbers shown above are depicted below.

1a PRANA PRATISHTA: Energizing Lord by chanting Vedic verse. It is expected to hold flowers with the tips of fingers (Right Palm) forming a cow head. The hand shall be held up till the verse is completed. Thus energized flowers shall be placed on Lord's lotus feet.

5b AACHAMANAM: Offering water (Potable) to the Lord.

5c PANCHAMRITA SNANAM It is like applying oil and flour to the body (Generally on week end or Fridays by ladies in home) to clear the dust and dirt from the body. Similar way a paste is formed by mixing Milk, Curd, cow Ghee, crystal sugar, and honey. Feel that you are applying this paste to the Lord's body and help him in taking bath. This is followed by bath with fresh water.

9b AABHARANA: Offering jewelry to the Lord. Feel that you adore the Lord with every ornament by yourself.

17 AATMA PRADAKSHINA: Revolving round you and saluting the Lord with in yourself.

18 PRADHAN NAMASKARAM: Giving vote of thanks once again.

19 KSHMA PRADHANA: To beg apology for any mistake you did in offering the services.

These are otherwise called "DEVOPACHARA"

In addition there are "Rajopachara" like To Held Umbrella on Lord, Weaving fan, Singing a song to please him, Dancing before him to give him entertainment, Playing orchestra, Showing Mirror to him, Providing horse and elephant ride etc;

Variations: There are certain variations in Shodasa Upachar, some of them are,

S.No 4 and 5 are interchanged.

11a ACHAMANAM; water is offered to LORD to drink after lighting the lamp.

Due to some inconvenience or in case of lack of time due to any reason an exception is provided. Instead of Shodasa Upachara one can restrict to "PANCHOPACHAR" They are,

1) CHANDANA/ GANDHAM: Sandal wood powder pate offering.

2) PUSPAM: Offering Flowers

3) DEEPAM: Lighting a lamp before Lord

4) Naivedyam: Offering Specified dishes to Lord.

5) TAMBOOLAM

This article was written by my Father

Sri k.s.rao

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

May 9, 2014

Hari Om! Thank you for a wonderful write-up.

A couple of small corrections are required:

1. Pushpam (there's a typo there: Pusham)

2. Under 'Panchamrita Snanam', while describing 'Ghee', you have written 'Animal Fat'. Please replace it with 'Clarified Butter', as animal fat is typically referred to as the fat/oil/lard taken from the flesh of the animal after butchering.