9. Aabharanam – Offering ornaments.
Sutra 36. “Swavyatirikta vastu sangarahita smaranam vibhooshanam”.
Recognising that we are part of the Divinity and the outer ornaments we wear are only attachments of maya, offering our ornaments to the Deity is a symbolic gesture of renouncing the worldly attachments.
10. Gandham – Offering Sandalwood paste.
Sutra 37. “Satsangaparipooritaanu smaranam gandham”
Sandalwood paste is considered to be symbol of purity. Hence offering sandalwood paste is a gesture of recognising that the Divinity and the self are purity personified.
11. Pushpam – Offering flowers and doing pooja.
Sutra 38. “Ahimsa prathama pushpam, pushpamindriyanigraha
dayakshmagyanapushpam panchapushpam tatahpara”
Ahimsa or non violence, indriya nigraha or control over the senses, daya or kindness, kshama or forgiveness and gyana or knowledge are called the pancha pushpas or five flowers with which we can control our ahamkara or ego and surrender to God. Hence worshipping the Deity with flowers is symbolic of controlling these and surrendering to God.
12. Dhoopam – Offering perfumed Incense.
Sutra 39. “Teshameva sarvadasweekaranam dhoopam”
Dhoopam is perfumed incense smoke. The pleasures which our indriyas or senses give us are like its perfumed smoke which vanishes quickly. Offering Dhoopam is recognizing this and is an undertaking to control our sensory pleasures.
13. Deepam – Offering a lighted lamp.
Surta 40 “Pavanaavachyisnordhyajwalana sachhidulkkakashadeho deepah”
The effulgence of the Eternal Bhahman in union with Vayu is the Devine-light spread throughout the world. Offering a lighted lamp means considering our soul as the Divine light, which is ready for union with God.
14. Naivedyam – Offering food.
Sutra 41. “Samastayaataayaata varjanam naivedyam”
Overcoming the temptations of the indriyas and offering and renouncing our worldly pleasures and desires is the significance of naivedyam.
15. Taamboolam – Offering beetle leaves with caustic and beetle nut.
Sutra 42. “Avasthaatrayaikeekaranam tamboolam”
Tamboolam consits of beetle leaves, beetle nut and caustic represent the three avasthas or states of the human being – jagrad, swapna and shushupti or waking, dreaming and sleeping states. Offering Tamboolam is the effort to go beyond these states – i.e. to the nirvikalpa state.
16. Pradakshina Namaskaram – Circumambulation and salutation of the deity.
Sutra 43. Moolaadharaadi brahmabila paryantam, brahma randhraadi moolaadhara paryantam gataagata roopena praadakshinyam”
The Pranavayu in our body, which can at best be described as the “life supporting Cosmic force”, keeps rotating from the Moolaadhara Chakra to Sahasra Chakra and back through the Shushumna Naadi. recognising and saluting His Force is the act of Pradakshina Namaskaram or Circumambulation and salutation of the deity.
A Vedic ritual is never a meaningless act. Each and every one of them has a deep rooted spiritual philosophic significance.
A more elaborate Pooja will include the 32 upacharas. They are as follows:
Aavahanam,
Asanam,
padyam,
Arghyam,
Acamanam,
Madhuparkam,
Snanam,
Vastam,
Upavitam,
Abharanam,
Gandham,
Akshatam,
Pushpam,
Dhuupam,
Deepam,
Naivedyam,
Tambulam,
Daxina,
Phalam,
Nirajanam,
Pushpanjalim,
Pradaxinam,
Namaskaram,
Stotram,
Chatram,
Chaamara,
Vahanam,
Nrityam,
Gitam,
Vaadyam,
Prarthanam,
Visarjanam with
mantra pushpam and
shanti patham.
