Puja (Worship)

Devpuja or worship of God, in and through an image, either at home or in temples, is a common practice in the Hindu society. Through millions of Hindus all over our country and world visit temples, witness or participate in such puja ceremonies, not many are aware of the philosophy behind it (the 'why' and the 'how' of it), the need for puja and its effects on our mind.

Added to this ignorance, unsympathetic criticism from adverse quarters which brands it as idolatry, pure and simple, makes even our educated people to shy away from it.

The main purpose of this article is to expound in a simple language, the philosophy behind puja or ritualistic worship and its significance, in order to instill an intelligent fait in the hearts of our intelligent votaries.

Throughout the history of mankind, human beings have been seeking whether they know it or not – unalloyed happiness or bliss. Freedom from suffering and attainment or eternal peace and joy, have been the universally acclaimed goals of life.

From times immemorial, a firm belief in the existence of a Supernatural Being, omniscient and omnipotent, seems to have been ingrained in the very nature of man. By somehow establishing a contact with this Being, often called “God”, one can get whatever one wants in life. This is the conviction resulting from this belief.

Hinduism proclaims that this God is both “nirakara” and “nirguna” (without any particular form or attributes) as also “sakara” and “saguna” (capable of assuming any form and attributes at will). He can also manifest himself as a personality without any particular form, but with all the blessed qualities that one can imagine. Nothing prevents him, if need be, form assuming any form that a votary devotedly hankers for seeing or even incarnate here in the human form to set right the mess we create!

An illustration can make this point more clear. Water can exist in three states: ice, liquid water and water vapour or steam. Water vapour has no particular form whereas ice has. But liquid water can assume the shape of vessel into which it is poured. In all these three states, vastu or substance is one and the same, though “nama” (nomenclature) and “rupa” (form) are different. Similar is the case with God.

Though Hinduism concedes that the gaining of freedom from all suffering and attainment of eternal bliss, are possible by adopting any one of the four well-known “yogas” (paths of spiritual disciplines) – “Jnanayoga”, “Bhktiyoga”, “Rajayoga” and “Karamyoga” – “Bhaktiyoga” or the path of “bhakti” (devotion to God in his “sakara saguna” aspect) is, comparatively speaking, much easier in this age, characterized as it is, by an excessive attachment to the physical body and (consequently) to physical comforts.

Once this is acknowledged, the necessity for and the role of rituals in this path of “bhakti” can easily be recognized and appreciated.