Questions tagged [puja]

Pooja or Puja is a prayer ritual performed by Hindus to host, honor and worship one or more deities, or to spiritually celebrate an event.

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Can you perform Salagram puja in Sutaka/thudaku

I had a question. I am initiated and perform Sri Salagrama Nitya Puja daily. I am under the instruction to do it daily. What do I do when there is a time of uncleanliness in the family. Do I need to ...
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What is the symbolic significance of Maa Lakshmi offering bel fruit (Shree Phal) during her Shiv Puja.?

Disclaimer.: My intetion is not to hurt the sentiments of any sampradaya or infact anyone. As every Pouranik story has an inner symbolic meaning behind it. Hope u will understand. Note.: I am ...
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Can you recommend an evening purification puja?

I am a most recent devotee living in america. I know little of Hindu faith, religion beliefs or practices other than what has come to me from sources I do not yet understand. I began my practice of ...
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What are the most appropriate times of day to perform puja to lord Vishnu?

I read that the most appropriate time for puja for Lord Shiva is Arunodaya muhurta, that Nishita muhurta is the time to perform puja for the goddess Lakshmi, and that the best time to perform puja for ...
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Are there devotional objects for worship of Lord Vishnu (comparable to the shivling used for worshipping Lord Shiva)?

For Lord Shiva, there are shivlings/lingam that people use for devotional worship. Are there any comparable devotional objects that many people use to worship Lord Vishnu, or objects that represent ...
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Is isht devta determined by birth kundali or a person can choose it?

Is Insht devta predecided by janm kundali or we have freedome to choose the diety as our isht devi or devta?
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Favorite Fruit, Flower, Leaf For Durga Maa & Kali Maa

Googled this several times in the past and again recently. Is it always red hibiscus for flower in puja ? Could someone tell me which is best fruit to offer for Devi Maa Thx
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Should we Recite pratah smaran slokas before or after bathing?

There are many pratah smaran stotram and slokas of various gods (Shiva , devi , Ganesh etc) aswell as of holy being (panch devi sapt cheeranjivi etc). We also have slokas such "karagre vaste ...
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What offerings are best for rahu and ketu?

I am currently doing a 21 day fast for Rahu and Ketu to remove bad energy from me, what are the best offerings?
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Significance of Shree Satyanarayan Puja

Shree Satyanarayan Pooja What is the significance of Shree Satyanarayan Puja? What are the different rituals in the Puja?
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Why do people do tap the sides of their head when chanting suklambaradharam vishnum?

At the start of most poojas, I've seen the sloka "śuklāmbaradharam viṣnum..." being chanted with the hands tapping the sides of the head. Some books specify that the sides of the head to be ...
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Correct way to Apply Tripundra

I apply Tripundra on daily basis. Till now I use to make use of my Index Finger, Middle Fingure and Ring Fingure. Today suddenly one of my friend asked: Why we use the upper three finger only? Why not ...
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Correct direction of coconut tail

I belong to south part of Bharat where the coconut tail is kept in reverse direction of God (or towards us) and then it is burst/chip. In Maharashtra in one of the temple when I tried to do the same ...
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What to do with lemon given at Durga temples?

Few temples in south India offer lemons to the Village goddess (a form of Durga/kaali) while worshipping. When I went to a temple yesterday, they are giving lemons each to all the devotees. What is ...
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Is there a Saura-Sampradaya today separate from Smarta-Sampradaya?

Does an independent Saura-Sampradaya exist today? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saura_(Hinduism) Or is the cult and philosophy of Surya, like Ishvara, preserved only inside the Panchayatana Puja? ...
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References for Shravan Maas Puja (श्रावण मास पूजा)

The time for Shravan maas is nearby. And the eagerness in the masses will spark to worship Shiva. Is Shravan archana for Shiva mentioned in any Shastra like Purana, Itihasa or any Shaiva agamas? Or is ...
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I got pooped on by a bird (maybe a pigeon) during puja in the temple. Is it good or bad?

I got pooped on by a bird (maybe a pigeon) during puja in the temple. Is it a good omen or a bad omen, as per the scriptures?
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Kubera references for worship

Where are references of sUtras, dhyAna or mantras (or related) for worshiping Kubera in the right way to incorporate him in the daily pUja?
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Does scripture sanction "Antaryami Puja"?

Recently, somebody posted Later they started a worshiping method called 'Antharyāmi puja' in which they chant all Vishnu related stotras while worshipping Lord Subramanya considering that Vishnu is ...
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Which scripture contains the details about the aniconic idols of the three pañcāyatana deities - Sūrya, Gaṇeśa, and Devī?

It is well known that besides being worshipped in their 'saguṇa' mūrti forms, both Śiva and Viṣṇu are also worshipped by their 'self-manifested' aniconic idols viz - the Śivaliṅga [Bāṇaliṅga ( बाणलि...
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Puja/Prayer starting?

Can someone please clarify, what is the initial jaap to say before any recital basically for dhayaanam before reciting any chalisa or suktam . There are so many of them such as "shanti" ...
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Who gets the remnants of homa/sacrifice/puja?

When pujas performed, normally, the officiating priest takes the items (like rice, wheat, grains,...) remaining after the puja or used during the puja. I have seen priests take the grains, some also ...
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Can I do arpana of a chola (cloth) to shri hanuman ji in the morning?

Because people say that we should only do it in evening. Then what should be done?
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Wife's seating position during rituals

I heard from someone that during religious rituals (puja, homa, etc.) wife should sit on left side of husband. But my understanding was wife sits on the right side of husband. Any views in our ...
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How to purify a Puja room if you think it has become impure?

I want to know the process of purifying puja room. I think it is called "sthana-suddhi". Can anyone detail me the process related to it (vidhi, mantras, mudras and so on) ?
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What is the unique call to prayer in Sanaatana Dharma?

Sanaatana Dharma says God (Ishwara) is only one. So what is the unique call to prayer in Sanaatana Dharma to praise Ishwara? Just Like Adhan, the Muslim call to prayer Barechu, the Jewish call to ...
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How does one become a pujari?

How exactly does one become a pujari? As in,I’d like to know what is the eligibility criteria, details of training undergone(like how interested Christians go to a seminary and become priests after ...
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1 answer
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Should fire generated by match-sticks or petroleum-based products be used in homa?

In the Bṛhat Tantrasāra, it is stated that fire used for Tāntrika homa should belong to any one of the following categories : It should be generated by araṇi wood. It should be generated by stone (i....
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5 votes
1 answer
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What puja or god to worship be done to lessen insults and loss of image in community per Hindu scriptures, to improve rAjapUjya and sat-keetri?

What stotras or pujas or yangya worship should be done to improve rAjapUjya and sat-keetri (honored and respected by others)? This is asked by someone who keeps getting blamed for doing things which ...
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My home temple's bell broke. Is it inauspicious to repair it and use it again?

My home temple's bell broke by falling on the ground while cleaning it. Does it mean any inauspicious thing is going to happen ? Is it inauspicious to repair it and use it again ?
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Where's this verse come from?

आवाहनं न जानामि न जानामि तवार्चनम्। पूजां श्चैव न जानामि क्षम्यतां परमेश्वर॥ Whenever a pooja is completed in my home, my mother says this, I wanna know where this verse came from is.
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What are the Stotras to worship Indra, Agni, Vayu, Soma, and Yama?

What are the Mantras in Epics, Puranas and Agamas and also, other Stotras to worship Indra, Agni, Vayu, Soma, and Yama?
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What are the rules for blowing conch before and after Pūjā - Upāsanā?

When should the conch (शंख) be blown? At the start of the Pūjā - Upāsanā or at the end? Sometimes, I have seen people blowing it twice, both at the start and then in the end too. Others, blow it ...
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Touching water after daily puja - sãdhanã bad?

I have heard that one must not touch water after having finished their daily pújã/upãsanã - पूजा/उपासना. This is because, that due to mantra-uccharaña - मंत्रोच्चारण while doing sãdhanã - साधना, a ...
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2 votes
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Keeping two conch shells ( shankha) at home not allowed?

I have heard people saying that the shankh - conch, which is used for blowing shouldn't be used for worshipping any deities via Abhishekam (especially God Vishnu) or, in any other way, and vice-versa. ...
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Where can i find scriptural references for vaahan puja?

It is a custom to take the newly purchased car to a nearby temple, where the pujari consecrates it. It typically involves tying a lemon somewhere on the hood, breaking a coconut in front of car etc. ...
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3 answers
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Is it more helpful in any way to worship multiple deities?

I live in central India and I haven't met many people who only worship one particular deity or God. They may be partial to one over others, but they worship all dieties. Most temples also contain ...
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Can one do deeparadhana and pooja after 12pm? If not, why?

Is daily worship and deeparadhan after 12pm okay? Please give appropriate reasoning
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Good and reliable books editions about pujas and Vastu?

Where to find complete Shastras or others like Agamas scriptures in order to know Why and How certain foods or flowers or scents are more appreaciated by a Deva if compared to something other to offer ...
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5 votes
1 answer
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What's the ritual of performing morning pooja at home

I'm trying to get into the habit of doing pooja at home. Can someone give me the essential things that need to be done?
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Does any scripture recommend Tulasi leaves in Ganesha Puja on Ganesha Chaturthi?

As per this post, Tulasi is included in leaves to be offered to Ganesha on Ganesha Chaturthi. But, Tulasi is prohibited in Ganesha puja on normal days. Is there any scriptural basis which allows ...
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What is the Vedic ritual for Bhumi Puja of Mandir?

Recently the historic Bhumi Puja for Ram Mandir was conducted at Ayodhya, after at least 1000 years. Which scripture details the exact method for doing Bhumi Puja, especially for that of a Mandir? Is ...
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5 votes
2 answers
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Does mAnasika puja or mAnasika anushtanam or mAnasika UpAsana have any basis in ItihAsAs or Smritis or Upanishads or Vedas?

mAnasika pUja is lauded & bheema is given as an example. If so, what stops one who is lying down in sleep at 4am everyday, instead of getting up, just continue lying down and then do in his mind ...
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1 answer
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Fear and negative thoughts [closed]

I do everything: pooja and Pranayam, but still I always get negative thoughts. It always seems that only bad things will happen with me. I do read sunder kand daily. Please advise. why it is like ...
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Shanka Abhisheka

I heard Shanka Abhishekam should not be performed to Lakshmi. I am looking for more details on why, and also for any other god/goddess, we should not do Shanka Abhishekam. Any scriptural references, ...
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What does a home mandir sit on?

Please allow me to preface the question because, as a foreigner who did not grow up with Sanatana Dharma, my practice probably differs from yours. All of my life when traveling statues, stones, a ...
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Saligraama puja at home

Our parents are doing puja to saligrama since last 25 years. It is a family tradition. My brother is getting married in few months. I want to know if we can we do saligrama puja at home during wive's ...
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does the word "Puja" to denote a religious observance occur in scripture?

Suniti Kumar Chatterji, the eminent linguist, has said that the concept of Puja is a distinctive contribution of the Dravidians. It occurs in the Bhagavad Gita in a general sense Bhagavad Gita ...
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Women's hair tying during puja [duplicate]

I heard someone say that women should not have hair open during shubha karyas, and have open (untied) hair during pitru karyas. In South India we are thus normally following but in North women ...
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Akshata colour and significance [duplicate]

Are there any differences between yellow and red coloured akshatas? Is any colour preferred over another in the context of a specific type of puja or vratha? Any benefits of using one colour over ...
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