Upachara - "उपचार"
Refers to the offerings and services made to Bhagwan as part of worship. In shastras there are a count of upachara pujas we do.
पांच उपचार पूजा - 5 Upacharas
षोडशोपचार पूजा - 16 "
चतुःषष्ट्युपचार पूजा - 64 "
Out of these panch is used for daily puja.
Some use 16 upachras who are well versed with the way of doing it Effortlessly and have abhishekam at home daily. 64 is exclusively for festivals and special vrat. One can choose to do 5 upacharas daily and finish your puja peacefully.
How to start your Puja ?
1. Shudhikaran & Aachaman
2. Bhootashudhi & Pranayam
3. Sankalp
4. Choice of Upachara Puja
5. Aarti
6. Pradakshina
7. Mantra Pushpam
8. Bhoomi Sashtanga/Panchanga Namaskaram
Major pujas steps one should ideally follow
Shudhikaran & Aachaman
After bath and dressing with (washed clothes only) should arrange their requirements for puja.
Take water separately for Aachaman and Puja. Water shouldn't be used from same paatra ideally. Perform Aachaman as per your practice & for beginners - YouTube
Bhoota Shudhi and Pranayam
Bhootashudhi is performed to clear out negative energies around and activate the Bhootas around. This is done by sprinkling water in all directions of Dikpalakas. Special pujas have Nyasa as part of this. Pranayam is compulsory for Breath control.
Gayatri and sandhyavandan is Compulsory for Dwijas. Adwijas who haven't got initiated can perform Surya Araadhna by performing Arghyas. This is individual specific again some Adwijas might be initiated to mantras too so they perform. This step shouldn't be skipped.
Pancha Upchar Puja
"Lam" prithivyaatmane gandham samarpayami
"Ham" aakashatmane pushpam samarpayami
"Yam" vaayvaatmane dhoopam samarpayami
"Ram" vahnyaatmane Deepam samarpayami
"Vam" amritaatmane amrutham naivedayaami
Shodasa Upachara
Has 16 types of offerings which are done when one has enough time or if one is used to it. Festivals needs this 16 atleast as it has kalash sthapan and avahan
Neivedyam
Based on free time people can opt to cook prasadam daily.
Daily 1 can offer
1. Milk boiled cooled + sugar + elaichi power
2. Jaggery
3. Batasha/ Sugar chips
4. Honey , Ghee, Butter
5. Fruits
6. Poha Gudd Ghee channa
7. Curd
8. Mishri
9. All Dry fruits etc
Along with any of the prashad in mornings if one is present at home offered Anna + ghee is very imp as anna is parabhram swarup. If people have habit of eating Roti then offer Roti and dal etc what ever is cooked without onion and garlic. Simply offer roti ghee and gudd for bhog
If people are working and not available at home then offer same in the evenings soon after u finish cooking.
Always maintain a kalash or glass full of water on the sim Hasan or near the idols. Water is important element.
The link to proper Shlok ucharan for Neivedya samarpan
https://t.co/0osiy7oO6Z If people can't read mantras dont panick. Just offer heartfully by sprinkling some water on the food items. Your maanas smaran is itself enough. Meanwhile you can learn slowly.
Perform arti and then
Pradakshina Mantra
यानि कानि च पापानि जन्मान्तरकृतानि च ।
तानि सर्वाणि नश्यन्ति प्रदक्षिणपदे पदे ॥
पदे पदे या परिपूजकेभ्यः सद्योऽश्वमेधादिफल ददाति ।
तां सर्वपापक्षयहेतुभूतां प्रदक्षिणां ते परितः करोमि ॥
Stand outside the asan and turn around 3 times.
Mantra Pushpam
Take akshat and pushp say this mantra and offer to Bhagwan
ॐ राजाधि राजाय प्रसह्य साहिने नमो वयं वैश्रवणाय कूर्महे
समे कामान् काम कामाय मह्यं कामेश्र्वरो वैश्रवणो दधातु
कुबेराय वैश्रवणाय महाराजाय नमः
Bhoo Devi Sashtanga and Panchanga Namaskara
Sit peacefully eat some prashad and give it to your family members. It is very important to share and eat the prashad. If a man eats without sharing it won't fructify. So share the prashad even if it is little and eat all family together and stay blessed together.
If you aren't able to do all as a beginner, start learning each step. Basic non skippable are
1. Aachaman
2. Panchupchar
3. Aarti
Rest all you can slowly incorporate based on the speed.
