Necessities of sadhana - I (SHODASHOPCHAAR PUJAN)

SADHANA - the right way (from MTYV magazine).

Every Sadhak tries his best to accomplish daily worship and use special Mantra rituals. But every Sadhana has a particular procedure and every deity or the Guru is worshipped in a particular manner: Presenting some important rules is this wonderfully enlightening article.
In every Sadhana, Upchaar or special worship of deity has an important place. Upchaar means devotedly making some offerings to the deity in order to win his or her grace.
There is no fixed rule for Upchaar but including this worship procedure in Sadhana assures quicker success. There are different types of Upchaars ranging from Ekopchaar to Sahastropchaar. Our article shall focus only on Shodashopchaar, Dashopchaar and Panchopchaar forms of worship in which 16, 10 and 5 articles are offered respectively. In each age, forms of worship have been different but in the present age of hustle and bustle performing a Sadhana itself is a great fortunate achievement and the shorter the procedure the better.
It is best to do Shodashopchaar worship in which 16 articles are offered but in daily Sadhana Panchopchaar worship would suffice and in it five articles namely fragrance, flowers, incense, ghee lamp and sweets are offered.

Shodashopchaar This includes -
1. Aavaahan
2. Aasan
3. Paadya
4. Arghya
5. Aachamaniya
6. Snaan
7. Vastra
8. Madhupark
9. Tilak
10. Akshat
11. Pushp
12. Dhoop
13. Deep
14. Neivedya
15. Taambool
16. Naariyal

---

---

  Aavaahan Many do not count this in the procedure and instead just offer prayers to the deity. It means inviting the deity concerned to come and bless the Sadhak. For this both hands are joined and the following Mantra is chanted.

Aavaahayaami Devesh Sarvashakti Shakti Samanvite,

Naaraaynnaay Bhadraay Gururoopaayate Namah.

Guru Brahmaa Guru Vishnnuh Gurudevo Maheshwarah.

Guru Saakshaat Parbrahma Tasmei Shree Gurave Namah.

---

  Aasan A worship mat is used in order to make the physical body free of ailments, the soul pure and gain divine powers. Basically a man acts as a bad conductor and does not allow energy of Mantra chanting from being earthed. Torn, burnt, and used mats are prohibited. Deer skin, tiger skin, grass, silk, cotton and wool mats are best. Deer skin for gain of knowledge, tiger skin for spiritual progress & wealth, and wool for riddance from sorrows and poverty are prescribed. Deities are offered a mat of flowers and then the following Mantra is chanted.

Ramyam Sushobhanam Divyam Sarva Soukhyakaram Shubham.
Aasanam Cha Mayaa Grihaann Parameshwar.

---

  Paadya  Offering water in the feet of the deity is called Paadya. For this two spoonfuls of water is offered chanting thus.

Yad Bhakti Lesh Samparkat Paramaanand Sambhavah.

Tasmei Te Parameshaan Paadyam Shuddhaay Kalpaye.

---

  Arghya  Water offered to deities for washing their hands is called Arghya. Mix flowers and fragrance in water in a tumbler. Offer chanting thus.

Arghyam Grihaann Devesh Gandh Pushpaakshateih Sah.

Karunnaam Kuru Me Dev! Grihaannaarghya Namastu Te.

---

  Aachamaniya  Water offered to deities for rinsing the mouth is called Aachamaniya. Offer water chanting -

Sarva Teerth Samaaneetam Sugandhim Nirmalam Jalam.

Aachmyataam Mayaadattam Grihaann Parameshwar.

---

  Snaan All deities are present in the ocean of knowledge, still three spoonfuls of water is offered as a mark of respect for a bath.

Gangaa Saraswatee Revaa Payoshanni Narmadaajaleih.

Snaapitosi Mayaa Dev Tathaa Shaantim Kurushnna Me.

---

  Vastra Clean & new clothes are offered. Offering old, torn clothes leads to losses. Mouli (holy red thread) can be offered instead chanting thus.

Sarva Bhooshaadi Ke Soumye Lok Lajjaanivaaranne.

Mayopapaadite Tubhyam Grihaann. Parameshwar.

---

  Madhupark Bathe the deity with honey. The Mantra is -

Om madhuvvaataa Rataayate madhuKsharanti sindhavaH maadhveenrah santvoShadheeH.
madhunaktamutoSh so madhumat paarthav (Gum) rajaH.
madhu dhaurastu naH pitaa madhumaatro vanaspatiH madhumaanastu sooryaH maadhvee graavo bhavantunaH.
madhu snaanam samarpayaami namaH.

After this, bathe the deity again with pure water chanting :

punaH shuddhodak snaanam sa

marpayaami.

---

  Tilak For riddance from sins, afflictions and misfortune a mark is made on the forehead of the deity. Sandalwood paste is best otherwise Ashtgandh, Gorochan, camphor, saffron and musk can also be used. Mantra -

Shree Khand Chandanam Divyam Gandhaaddyam Sumanoharam.

Vilepanam Surshreshtth Chandanam Pratigrihyaataam.

---

Akshat Akshat means unbroken rice grains which are offered to gain wealth and prosperity. Mix with vermilion and offer them chanting thus.

Akshtaashcha Surshreshtth Kumkumaaktaah Sushobhitaah.

Mayaa Niveditaa Bhaktyaa Grihaann Parameshwar.

---

  Pushp Offer flowers to the deity for comforts, good luck and health chanting thus.

Maalyaadeeni Sugandheeni Maalatyaadeeni Veiprabho.

Mayopaneetaani Pushpaanni Grihaann Parameshwar.

---

  Dhoop Offer incense made from choicest and most fragrant herbs to the deity chanting thus.

Vanaspati Rasodbhootah Gandhaaddyah Sumanoharah.

Aaghreyah Sarvasevaanaam Dhoopoyam Pratigrihayataam.

---

  Deep Lighting a lamp before a deity signifies dispelling of darkness of ignorance from the Sadhak's life. Mantra -

Suprakaasho Mahaadeepah Sarvatah Timiraapahah.

Sa Baahyaamyaram Jyotih Deepoyam Pratigrihyataam.

---

  Neivedya Neivedya means elixier. While offering sweets or food articles chant this.

Neivedyam Grihyataam Dev Bhaktim Me Hyachalaam Kuru.

Eepsitam Me Varam Dehi, Sarvasoubhaagya Kaarakam.

---

  Taambool Offer a betel leaf containing betel nuts, cloves and cardamom. A betel leaf is symbolic of the sixteen Kalas or divine virtues. Mantra-

Poongifalam Mahad Divyam Naagvalee-rdaleiryutam.
Elaadi Choornna Sanyuktam Taamboolam Pratigrihyataam.

---

  Naariyal Take the naariyal in both hands chanting -

yatraa te dhratasy dhrataa te dhaaraNe viniyogaH dhee brahraar dhrataa vachanaa yatraasv yatraa bhargo devaanaam dakshiNaaye saagarasy mahaalaKshmye sampoorNayate saprabhaavaan japaa mam tvaam amuk gotrotpannoH ...... amuk sharmaaH ...... tvaam purn bal buddhi vidhya purNatvam tvaam charaNe naarikel fal grahmaati tvaam charne samarpayaami namaH.

Offer your body, strength and mind to the deity in the form of a naariyal.

---

  Neeraanjan Aarti Sing the Aarti (special hymn) of the deity whom you are worshipping. For Aarti use a lamp with one or five wicks. Mantra-

Aanand Matra Makarandam Anant Gandh Yogineendra Susthir Malindam Apaastabandham Vedaant Karannek Vikaashsheelam Naaraayannasya Charannaambuj Maanatosmi.

With this the worship is over. If one is not able to do Shodashopchaar worship one should do Panchopchaar worship while chanting the Mantras with full devotion.
One should daily offer prayers to one's deity and Guru.