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PUJA CEREMONIES
Traditional Vedic Prayer Events Using Mantras & Rituals
Puja is a ritualistic form of worship that has been used
throughout the temples of India for thousands of years. The word “puja” comes from two Sanskrit words which together
translate as “to create purification of the mind and to acquire virtuous qualities while removing bad qualities or karma.”
Thus the act of performing a puja brings to us positive energies while simultaneously dissolving the ill effects of our negative
actions.
Pujas are typically directed towards different deity forms in order to invoke the attributes of that deity,
connect with the light of God, and receive blessings. Pujas may be done for specific areas of life such as health, career,
relationships, spiritual growthand so forth. During a puja elaborate steps are performed by the priest (called a “pujari”)
in order to cleanse and prepare the space for worship; to invoke the deity and all his/her qualities; and bring in positive
energies to the puja space, to those attending the puja, and to the world at large. Pujas involve Sanskrit mantra chanting
along with offerings of flowers, fruit, rice, sweets, incense, milk, honey, water and other substances.
A puja
also includes a fire ceremony called a “homa.” This fire ceremony forms an integral part of the puja rituals with
fire used to represent the concept of God, which may otherwise be too abstract for us to visualize. During the homa, prayer
requests, beautiful garments, various metals and other substances are tossed into the fire as an offering to God and an indication
of the release of our desires.
Most pujas are done with attendees simply watching the rituals; however in special
instances attendees have the opportunity to participate along with the pujari, making the ceremony and the steps of the puja
more meaningful. Some pujas last for a few hours and some last for days on end, where the rituals are done around the clock
without a break. Before a puja, attendees prepare themselves through fasting, praying, meditating or setting conscious intentions
as to how they would like puja energies directed in their own lives. Once someone decides to participate in a puja, puja energies
begin to work in the person’s life, even prior to the actual ceremony.
Ultimately a puja is performed for
the purpose of honoring God and receiving blessings. By performing a puja, our minds and souls become purified and negative
tendencies are washed away.
The Vedic Healing Institute offers group pujas on a regular basis which are led by
Pujari Professor Sasi Velupillai of India, Reiki Master Alexandra Juliani and a dedicated group of vedic healing practitioners.
Practitioners participate in the puja worship through the use of mantras, meditation, and rituals. Private pujas may also
be scheduled upon request for an individual’s personal needs.
© 2006 Vedic Healing Institute
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DEITY INSTALLATION CEREMONIES
in
Private Homes & Offices
In
the Hindu tradition, spiritual aspirants work with deity forms as a way to bring focus to their meditation and to invoke positive
energies into their personal spaces and lives. All deity forms are regarded as aspects of the one Supreme Energy, with each
one representing a special function. the deity forms are "spiritual" rather than "religious" in nature,
providing simply an easy way for people to channel their prayers.
Professor Sasi Velupillai & Reiki Master
Alexandra Juliani perform special Deity Installation Ceremonies for people who would like to not only own a statue in their
home, office, or garden, but would like to have the statue transformed into a “murthi” or an energetic image,
fit for worship and/or able to attract positive energies. Through vedic rituals, these murthis are given life, and thus able
to create positive change, protection and movement for the recipient and the space where the murthi is kept.
The
Deity Installation Ceremony includes an extensive vedic puja performed in Sanskrit along with English translation as well
as traditional fire/coconut rituals.
Details include:
• Time spent determining what type of
deity would best serve the aspirant & the proper location in the home/office/garden
• Preparing the recipient
and his/her space to receive the deity form
• Selection of an auspicious date for the installation ceremonies according
to the recipient’s birthdate and the particular deity involved
• Installation of the Deity through the chanting
of ancient Sanskrit prayers along with English translation. These prayers clear negative energies and bring in happiness,
health, new beginnings, and positive energies
• Traditional puja procedures using Sanskrit mantras, prayers, incense,
water, flowers, rice, milk, sandalwood paste, sacred ash (vibhuti), bells, kumkum (red paste), honey, camphor, coconut, and
other items
• Fire ceremony in the Indian tradition
• Recommendations of ongoing ways to work with the
deity energies
The Deity Installation Ceremonies mark an important, energetic "high" in someone's life,
as he or she conciously invites into the space--and therefore into his/her life--a murthi (deity statue), becoming the custodian
of this murthi. These ceremonies may be attended by the friends and family of the recipient as well. Indian food may be
provided upon request as typically the ceremonies are followed by the joyous sharing of a meal.
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Practitioners assemble for a puja ceremony
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On a magical night, a 5-foot Nataraja,
the dancing form of Lord Shiva,
was
installed in a puja ceremony at the Vedic Healing Institute's temple.
Our Nataraja was handmade out of a combination
of metals in Tamil Nadu, South India. Nataraja's energies help destroy negativity, bringing
movement, action and new
beginnings.
Pictured here is our beloved Nataraja murthi after the ceremony
in which he was honored with rice,
sacred ash, fire, and
decorated with flowers...Om Namaha Shivaya...
May all who gaze upon this image derive healing.
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