|
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
|
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.
|
|
Practitioners assemble for a puja ceremony
|
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.
|
