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Most people striving to be healthy usually concentrate on improving their physical form through diet and exercise, and only as an after-thought do they attempt some spiritual practice to benefit their inner being. Mistaking outer beauty and athletic accomplishment for health is quite common in our society, where fit or attractive people are automatically regarded as models of health. However, Eastern teachings view health as a much more expansive concept, involving not merely a strong physical body, but also a certain degree of balance and brightness in our emotions, thoughts and spirit.
Slowly, this broader idea is being embraced in the west too, largely due to the popularity of yoga, meditation, and alternative healing methods. The mysterious power of prayer has been consciously used for thousands of years in India in the ritualistic ceremonies called “pujas” to help people achieve greater mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing.
The word “puja” comes from Sanskrit, and may be translated as “a form of worship to purify the mind and create virtuous qualities while removing negative energies or karma.” Performing a puja basically evokes positive energies while simultaneously dissolving the ill effects of actions we have knowingly or unknowingly done. Typically conducted by a priest (called a “pujari”), pujas are directed towards different aspects of God to invoke particular attributes. All pujas begin with prayers to Ganesh, the Hindu deity who removes obstacles, and are followed by a set of at least 16 elaborate steps. These involve: cleansing and preparing the space; invoking the divine; treating God as an honored guest; offering worship; and finally seeking blessings in such areas as health, career, relationships, spiritual growth, peace. Pujas entail physical rituals (offering flowers, fruit, rice, sweets, milk, honey, incense, coconut, and water); verbal rituals (chanting and praying aloud); and mental rituals (meditating, visualizing and setting intentions). All pujas end with an “arathi” in which a camphor flame is lit before the attendees as a representation of the immense light of God. Some pujas take a few hours to conduct and others take days or weeks, with the ceremonies done by several pujaris continuously around the clock.
Most pujas are performed with attendees simply observing the rituals – a bit confusing and even tedious, since the lengthy prayers are in Sanskrit and the steps are not explained. However, in special instances people may actually participate in the rituals along with the pujari, making the puja process more meaningful. Pujas may be done for an individual, a cause, a family, or for the world.
After the recent tsunami devastation, for instance, many Hindu temples worldwide began pujas to bring peace and healing to the tsunami survivors and those who perished. (Interestingly, the global community has rallied together to help the survivors in a beautiful demonstration of compassion.) After a puja, noticeable results occur and puja attendees feel lighter and happier, inspired to embrace their lives.
Pujas also include a fire ceremony called a “homa” with fire used as an abstract, visual representation of God. During the homa, prayers, silk materials, metals, food items, camphor, herbs, and incense are ceremoniously released into a fire pit amidst chanting. Sometimes this part of the puja seems startling to onlookers as costly, luxurious yards of silk are burned to a crisp in a matter of moments! However, the pujari performs this act with the specific intention of offering to God the very best, releasing attachment and surrendering all cares to the divine. In fact, fire has been used in many cultures as a powerful image for burning away what we no longer need or desire and starting anew. The homa forms an intrinsic part of the puja, allowing people to actually witness the transitory nature of life as the fire transforms items from material substances into mere ashes.
Ultimately, a puja is performed for the purpose of honoring God or the divine and attracting blessings. A puja is not intended as a way for us to forego action in our lives, but rather as a ritualistic process to quiet and purify mind, body and spirit, washing away negative tendencies so that we are fresh and ready to manifest positive conditions. While modern scientists try to analyze why and how prayer creates healing, the ancient vedic scholars knew its mystical power and used pujas as a concentrated way to effect change. The next time you pray, think of your prayers as energetic messages carried to the universal wisdom, knowing that your intentions hold the power to transform your life and the world.
Psychic Palmist of India Professor Sasi Velupillai & Reiki Master Alexandra Juliani are Directors of the Vedic Healing Institute/Temple offering Sanskrit mantra classes and puja ceremonies. 310.397.2405 or mantraclasses@earthlink.net
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