Simple Puja Format

Things to get ready: y y y y y y y An altar with the picture of the deity Lamp on which kumkum & chandan are applied with oil & wick Flowers, if available 2 cups, one with water & the other empty, to pour water. Bell, to ring Offering which can be any dry or fresh fruits Camphor or karpura a simple format with preparatory steps. 1 Decorate the lamp & light it, chanting deepo jyotih param brahma deepo jyotih janaardhanaha deepo harathu me paapam sandhyaa deepo namo(a)stutae
The light of the lamp stands for the Unmanifest Truth as well as for Lord Vishnu in His manifest form. Let that light of lamp remove my sins, results of omissions and commissions.

suvarna vriddhim kurumae gruhae shri sudhaanya vriddhim kurumae gruhae shri kalyaana vriddhim kurumae gruhae shri vibhoothi vriddhim kurumae gruhae shri
(I pray to Goddess Lakshmi to shower my house with abundance, grains, auspiciousness and prosperity.)

keetaa pathangaa mas(h)akaashcha vrikshaaha jalae sthalae ae nivasanthu jeevaaha dhrishtvaa pradeepam na cha janma bhaajo bhavanthi nithyam svachaahi vipraaha
Learned people say that by seeing the brightly lit deepam, insects, birds, reptiles, trees and plants, all living things residing in water and light can be permanently liberated from bondages due to that particular janma.

2 Offer flowers chanting shubham karoti kalyaanam aarogyam dhanasampadaha shatru buddhi vinaas(h)aaya deepajyotih namo(a)stutae
I salute the Supreme who is the light in the lamp that brings auspiciousness,

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prosperity, good health, abundance of wealth and the destruction of Intellects enemy.

3 Achamanam: Take a sip of water after chanting each line. Om achyuthaaya namah Om ananthaaya namah Om govindaaya namah 4 Guru Dhyanam visualisation f ones guru or s(h)ri Dhakshinamurthy: Gurur brahmaah gurur vishnuh gururdevo mahes(h)varah Gurureva ( or gurussaaks(h)aat) param brahmaa thasmai s(h)ri gurave namah 5 Vigneshvara Dhyaanam: Visualisation of Lord Vigneshvara Shuklaambaradharam vishnum s(h)as(h)ivarnam chathurbhujam Prasanna vadanam dhyaayaet sarva vigno(u)pa s(h)aanthayae 6 Sankalpah: ( purpose of the puja ) mamopaaththa samastha durithakshvayadvaaraa sriparames(h)vara { you can substitute s(h)ri naarayana } preethyartham daeva pujam karishyae 7 Aasana puja: Sprinkle water on your seat while chanting ( this is to purify the seat ) Prithvi thvayaa dhrthaa lokaah devithvam vishnunaa dhrthaah Thvam cha dhaarayamaam devi pavithram kuru chaasanam 8 Ganta puja Ring the bell chanting ( this is to purify the atmosphere) Jayadhwani mantra maatah svaahaa Aagamaartham tu devaanaam gamanaartham thu rakshasaam Kurve ghabntaaravam thathra devathaahvaana laanchanam 9 - Kalas(h)a puja: - Decorate the pot with water by applying kumkum & chandan put a flower inside, cover with right palm & chant Gangae cha yamunae chaiva godaavari sarasvathi Narmadae sindu kaaveri jalae(a)smin sannidim kuru

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10 Aathma puja: - Worship of the Self: Deho devaalayah prokthah jeevodevas sanaathanah Thyajeda(k)jnaana nirmaalyam so(a)ham bhaavena pujayeth

Purva Puja: 1 Aavahanam - Invocation. In this step, we visualise the deity in our mind & offer flower or akshathai to the form or picture of the deity. Thereby we invoke the deity in the image. Asmin bimbe ( or chithrapate) shree devam ( or deveem) dhyaayaami Asmin bimbe ( or chithrapate) shree devam ( or deveem) aavaahayaami 2 Aasanam - offering seat: Offer flowers at the feet & chant Aasanam samarpayaami 3 - Paadhyam - washing the feet Offer one spoon of water from the cup with water to the empty cup & chant Paadhyam samarpayaami 4 - - Arghyam - Washing the hands: Offer one spoon of water from the cup with water to the empty cup & chant Arghyam samarpayaami 5 - Aachamaniyam - Inner purification; Offer one spoon of water from the cup with water to the empty cup & chant Aachamaniyam samarpayaami 6 - Madhuparkam - offering water Offer one spoon of water from the cup with water to the empty cup & chant 3|P ag e

Madhuparkam samarpayaami 7 - Snaanam - Bath: Offer one spoon of water from the cup with water to the empty cup & chant Snaanam samarpayaami Again water for inner purification: Snaanaanantharam aachamaneeyam samarpayaami 8 - Vasthram - Offering Cloth: Offer flowers or akshathai chanting Vasthram samarpayaami Upaveetham samarpayaami 9 - Aabharanam - Offering ornaments: Offer flowers or akshathai, chanting aabharanam samarpayaami 10 - Gandham & Kumkumam - Offering sandalpaste & kumkum: Offer flowers or akshathai, chanting Gandhaan dhaarayaami Ghandhasyopari haridraakumkumam samarpayaami 11 - Pushpam - offering flowers Offer flowers or akshathai, chanting Pushpaam ( pushpaani) samarpayaami At this stage perform Ashtothraarchana to the deity you have invoked Uthara Puja - Second half of the puja:

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12 - Dhoopam - Offering Incense: Show the incense ( agarbathi) clockwise 3 times, chanting Dhoopam aaghraapayami

13 - Deepam - Offering deepam from a small lamp; Show another small lamp in front of the deity, clockwise, three times, simultaneously ringing bell with the left hand Deepam sandars(h)ayaami Offer one spoon of water from the cup with water to the empty cup & chant Deepaanantharam aachamaneeyan samarpayaami 14 - Naivedhyam - Offering food ( dry or fresh fruit:) Sprinkle one spoon of water on the naivedhyam & ringing the bell, offer the naivedhyam (broken coconut, fruits etc,) chanting Om bhoorbhuvassuvah Amrthopahstharanamasi Praanaayah svaahaa Apaanaya svaahaa Vyaanaaya svaahaa Udaanaa ya svaahaa Samaanaaya svaahaa Brahmane svaahaa Naivedhyam nivedayaami Offer one spoon of water from the cup with water to the empty cup & chant Naivedyaanantharam aachamaneeyam samarpayaami 5|P ag e

Offer betel leaves & nuts ( thamboolam), Chanting Thaambulam samarpayaami 15 - Karpura niranjanam - offering lighted camphor: Stand & show lighted camphor clockwise, ringing the bell with the left hand, chanting Karpoora neeranjanam samarpayaami Pour one spoon of water in cup chanting Karpoora neeraajananantharam aachamaneeyam samarpayaami 16 - Vandanam - thanksgiving: Offer flowers chanting Manthrapushpam samarpayaami Do self pradakshinam clockwise three times chanting Yaani kaanicha paapaani janmaanthara krithaanicha Thaani thaani vinas(h) yanthi Pradakshina pade pade Offer namaskarams, chanting Pradakshina namaskaaraan samarpayaami

The 16 puja steps are over. The invoked deity should now be taken back to His original Glory. For this, Move the deity or picture a little to the north, chanting Asmaad bimbaad ( chithra pate) s(h)ri devam ( or devim) yathaa sthaanam pradishtaapayaami

Dedication to the Lord: Kaayena vaachaa manasendryairvaa buddhyaathmanaa vaa prakrthes svabhaavaath 6|P ag e

Karomi yadhyath sakalam parasmai naaraayanaayethi samarpayaami Now pour a spoon of water in the cup chanting Om thathsath ithi brahmaarpanamasthu

After reciting the following Shanti Mantra, cleanup your pooja place sarve santu sukhinah sarve santu niramayah sarve bhadrani pashyantu maa kashchid sukhabhag bhavet Let all live happily. Let all live without misery. Let all see, hear and perceive only good things. Let no one ever be sad.

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Simple Daily Routine.

Light the lamp and chant the Deepa Shlokams I have already given. Then chant the following lines: 1Om s(h)ree Agra Roopaya namah Salutations to the prime force in creation. Om s(h)ree Matr(u) Pithr(u)byo namah Salutations to my parents. Om s(h)ree Gurubhyo namah Salutations to my Gurus. Om s(h)ree Kula Devathaayai namah Salutations to my Kuladevatha Om s(h)ree Ishta Devathaayai namah Salutations to my Ishta devatha Om s(h)ree Maha Ganapathayae namah Salutations to Sree Maha Ganapathy Om s(h)ree Krishnaaya Paramaathmanae namah Salutations to Lord Krishna 2As(h)vathi Nakshathrebyom namah Salutations to all stars Maeshaadi Raas(h)ibyom namah Salutations to all Ras(h)is Sarva Dig Devathaabhyom namah Salutations to all the 8 ( cardinal & intercardinal) directions ( mention the tamil year's name) Naama Samvathsaraaya namah Salutations to the ongoing year 3Uththarayanaaya namah Salutations to Utharayanam Dakshinaayanaaya namah

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Salutations to Dhakshinaayanam Sarva Rh(u)thubhyom namah Salutations to all Seasons Sarva Maasaebyom namah Salutations to all Months S(h)ukla Pakshaaya namah Salutations to S(h)ukla Paksha Krishna Pakshaaya namah Salutations to Krishna Paksha Next, do the naivedyam. For daily use any dry fruit is enough. Chant any of the naivedyam shlokas. Now light the camphor , hold the camphor stand in the right hand and ring the bell with the left hand. In front of the deity make three clockwise rounds chanting Na thathra suryo bhaathi na chandra thaarakam naemaa vidyutho bhanthih kutho(a)yayamagnih Thamaevabaavamanubhaanthi sarvam Thasya bhaasaa sarvam ivam vibhaathi Now turn to East and say Indraaya namah Southeast - Agnayae namah South - Yamaaya namah Southwest - Nirrh(u)thayae namah West - Varunaaya namah Northwest - Vaayavae namah North - Kubaeraaya namah Northeast - Ees(h)aanaaya namah After saying this take the camphor stand in a clockwise direction all round the house, ringing the bell simultaneouly with the left hand. When you go to the main entrance door, step out, show the camphor to the entrance, praying in the mind that only positive vibrations should enter the house through the main door.Then go back to the deity. Completion of daily puja: Prayers for prosperity and welfare of all humanity: Svasthi prajabhyah parpaalayanthaam Nyaayyaena maargaena maheem maheeshah gobrahmanaebhyas(h)s(h)ubhamasthu nithyam Lokaassamasthaassukhinobhavanthu May May May May there be happiness for all people the rulers righteously rule the earth all beings ever attain what is good. all beings be prosperous and happy

Kaalae varshathu parjanyah pr(u)thvee sas(h)ya s(h)aalinee Des(h)o(a)yam kshobha rahithah brahmanaassanthu nirbhayaah May May May May the clouds pour rain in time. the earth be blessed with crops. our country be free from calamity. holy men live without fear.

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Sarvae bhavanthu sukhinah sarvae santhu niraamayaah Sarvae bhadraani pas(h)yanthu maa kas(h)chid dukkhabhaag bhavaeth May all be happy. May all be free from disease. May all realise what is good. May none be subject to misery. Asathomaa sadgamaya thamaso maa jyothirgamaya mr(u)thyormaa(a)mr(u)tham gamaya From the unreal lead me to the Real. From darkness lead me to Light. From death lead me to Immortality. Om Poornamadah poornamidam poornath poorna mudachyadae Poornasya poornamaadaaya poornamaevaavas(h)ishyathae Om s(h)anthih s(h)anthih s(h)anthih All that is invisible is verily the Infinite Brahman. All that is visible is also the Infinite Brahman. The whole Universe has come out of the Infinite Brahman. Brahman is infinite although the whole universe has come out of it. Om, peace, peace, peace.

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