PUJA AND ISHTA DEVATA

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

PUJA AND ISHTA DEVATA
Puja is the common term for ritual worship, of which there are numerous synonyms such as
Archana, Vandana, Bhajana, etc., though some of these stress certain aspects of it. The object of
worship is the Ishta Devata or the guardian deity or the particular form of the Deity whom the
devotee worships.
Whilst all things may be the objects of worship, choice is naturally made of those objects
which, by reason of their effect on the mind, are more fitted for it. An image or one of the useful
emblems is likely to raise in the mind of the worshipper the thought of God.
In Puja, an image or picture representing some divine form is used as the object of worship.
The image is adored. A Lingam represents Siva. All forms are one. All are adoring the same Iswara.
The differences are only differences of names due to difference in the temperament of the
worshippers, but not in the object of adoration. It is only out of ignorance that different religionists
and different sects fight and quarrel amongst themselves.
Regular worship, Puja or other modes of demonstrating our inner feeling of recognition of
Divinity in the idol unveil the Divinity latent in it. This is truly a wonder and a miracle. The picture
comes to life. The idol speaks. It will answer your questions and solve your problems. The God in
you has the power to awaken the latent Divinity in the idol. It is like a powerful lens that focusses
the sun’s rays on to a bundle of cotton. The lens is not fire and the cotton is not fire either, nor can
the sun’s rays, by themselves, burn cotton. When the three are brought together in a particular
manner, fire is generated and the cotton is burnt. Similar is the case with the idol, the power of the
devotee’s concentration and faith makes the idol shine with resplendence. God is then enshrined in
the idol. From here, He will protect you in a special manner. The idol will perform miracles. The
place where it is installed is at once transformed into a temple, nay, a Vaikuntha (abode of Lord
Vishnu) or Kailasa (abode of Lord Siva). Those who live in such a place are freed from miseries,
from diseases, from failures and from Samsara itself. The awakened Divinity in the idol acts as a
guardian angel, blessing all, conferring the highest good on the devotees.
All the Nayanars attained God-realisation through the worship of the Lingam, the image of
Lord Siva. A pseudo-Vedantin feels ashamed to bow down or prostrate before an idol. Appar,
Sundarar, Sambandar etc., had the highest Adwaitic realisation. They saw Lord Siva everywhere
and yet they visited all temples of Siva, prostrated before the idol and sang hymns which are on
record now. The Nayanar saints practised Chariyai and Kriyai only and attained God-realisation.
They swept the floor of the temple, collected flowers, made garlands for the Lord, and put on lights
in the temple. They were illiterate, but attained the highest realisation. They were practical Yogis
and their hearts were saturated with pure devotion. They were embodiments of Karma Yoga. All of
them practised the Yoga of Synthesis. The idol in the temple was amass of Consciousness for them.
Lord Krishna gives a description of worship to Uddhava in the eleventh chapter of Srimad
Bhagavatam:
‘The sun, fire, earth, or clay, water, a Brahmin, any image of Mine in the concrete, clearly
thought of as seated in the heart, may be worshipped in My Name sincerely with such articles as

could be obtained by him. The worship should be sincere and whole-hearted and the devotee should
imagine Me as his preceptor. The devotee should begin My worship for obtaining My grace and not
for any other desire. In ordinary images I should be invoked at every time of worship. I can be
pictured in the mind. The worship of My image in the heart should be with accessories pictured in
the mind.
‘The image should be washed or bathed, cleaned and adorned with ornaments and marks.
The devotee should not rise in the midst of worship to get some articles. Once seated, he must finish
it before he rises for anything. He should be seated on Darbha grass or other clean seat. He must put
My image facing north or east or must himself sit facing north or east. He must sit facing Me or
sideways. He should repeat the mantras for purifying himself. He should clean his body by control
of breath. He should sit quiet and meditate on Me for some time.
‘He should fancy Me as in a lotus with eight petals, overflowing with fragrance and radiant
with light. Sandal-wood, saffron, camphor, Kumkum and fragrance should be used. Purusha Sukta
(a Vedic prayer) and other sacred literature should be recited. My devotee may adorn Me with cloth,
gems, sacred thread, sandal, flowers, saffron, and ointments, etc. The devotee should offer water for
washing the Feet, Achamanam (for sipping), sandal, words of greeting, invitation, and hospitality.
He should also wave incense, light and camphor at My altar. He can sing aloud hymns in My praise.
He can sing songs and dance in My altar reciting My various deeds and achievements. He should
seek My grace, prostrating himself duly before Me. Putting his head on My Feet, he should ask for
My grace to protect him and save him from the wheel of births and deaths.
‘He should adorn himself with the flowers and sandal used in such worship. The devotee
may worship Me in any form in all objects or in himself in the manner that appeals most to his mind,
and inclinations, as I am immanent in all things. My devotee, worshipping Me thus with rituals,
Mantras or both, attains not only bliss and Self-realisation, but also all things he desires. By
building temples, altars, etc. devotees attain power over all the worlds. By worship of Me they
attain Brahma Loka. By all the acts, they attain My power and immanence.’
Bells are rung in the temples, and while doing Puja, to shut out the external sounds and to
make the mind inward and concentrated.
Lights are waved before the Deity. This denotes that the Lord is supreme Light. The devotee
says: ‘Oh Lord, Thou art self-effulgent, Light of the universe. Thou art the light in the sun, moon,
and fire. Remove the darkness in me by bestowing your divine Light on me. May my intellect be
illumined.’ This is the significance of waving lights.
Incense is burnt before the Deity. The smoke spreads through the whole room. It acts as a
disinfectant. It denotes that the Lord is all-pervading and fills the whole universe by His living
presence. The devotee prays: ‘Oh Lord, let the Vasanas and Samskaras dormant in me vanish like
the smoke of this incense and become ashes. Let me become stainless.’
Burning of camphor denotes that the individual ego melts like the camphor and the Jiva
becomes one with the Supreme Light of lights.

The pasting of sandal reminds the devotee that he should, in his difficulties, be as patient as
the sandal. Sandal emanates sweet odour when it is ground. So also, the devotee should not murmur
when difficulties arise, but, on the other hand, remain cheerful and happy and emanate sweetness
and gentleness like the sandal. He should not hate even his enemy. This is another precept we learn
from this. Though the sandalwood is crushed and ground, it silently wears itself out, emanating only
very sweet odour. One should return good for evil.
It is the understanding of this inner meaning of Puja that brings in the higher form of
devotion.
Bhakti is of two kinds, viz., higher Bhakti or Para Bhakti, and lower Bhakti or ritualistic
Bhakti. Ritualistic Bhakti is formal Bhakti. The mind becomes purer and purer. The aspirant
gradually develops love for God through ritualistic worship.
Hinduism leads the aspirants gradually from material images to mental images, and from
the diverse mental images to the one Personal God, and from the Personal God to the Impersonal
Absolute.
Do Japa of the Panchakshara—Om Namah Sivaya. You can even sing the Panchakshara
nicely:
Om Namah Sivaya, Om Namah Sivaya,
Om Namah Sivaya, Om Namah Sivaya.
People used to dance, during my tours, whenever I sang the Siva Tandava Kirtan:
Agad Bhum, Agad Bhum Baje Damaru,
Nache Sadasiva Jajad Guru
Nache Brahma, Nache Vishnu, Nache Mahadev
Kappar Lekey Kali Nache Nache Adidev.
Do Puja regularly with faith and devotion. Always and at the end of your prayers, Puja,
meditation or Japa, repeat the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra—
Om Tryambakam Yajaamahe Sugandhim
Pushtivardhanam, Urvaarukamiva Bandhanaan-
Mrityor Muksheeya Maamritaat.
for the health, long life, peace and happiness of all. This great Mantra in praise of Lord Siva
works wonders, averts accidents, heals diseases and bestows long life. It will also liberate you from
Samsara.