guru pūjā 1

Shodasha Upachara:

sixteen services to be executed 

it is expected that 

one should chant the slokas of Vedic verses

and feel it is performed by oneself

alternately one should close the eyes

and perform the service on oneself mentally

- the later one is of higher degree -

1 dhyana
think of the God or Goddess
with full form in mind
chanting Vedic verse

2 wahan
invite the God or Goddess, chanting the Vedic verse
behave mentally as though you are inviting
a loveable guest inside your home

3 aasan
offer a comfortable seat for him to relax
(offer God/Love a seat in your heart!)

4 paadyam
after he relaxed for adequate time
the guest is offered water to wash his feet
imagine washing the delicate lotus feet of the Lord
(not your words, but your actions should be Love!)

-

5 arghyam
do not offer water immediately when he enters your home
dodge a little and then offer him a tumbler [glas zonder voet]
full of water, sweetened by honey (speech should be lovely, soft, divine!)

6 snana
give comfortable, luke warm water for talking a bath
(forget harm done by others, as well as good done by yourself = become pure)

7 vastra
washed and clean clothes is given to the guest
(remember body/material is important, but only temporary)

8 yagnopaveetam
in olden days the old people used to make yagnopaveeta daily in their houses
for offering to the guest presumed to have traveled for a long distance -
during the course he had to take bath in the rivers/streams
and may have lost his 'janevu' or 'jandem' [sacred thread]
(more important than the temporary body is your spiritual life...
in union - garland of flowers, thread... - with others!)

-

9 chand(an)am 
'good smelling, heart stealing' sandal wood paste
apply it gently on the neck [larynx side], do not sprinkle or throw it on the Deity
(sandal wood = cooling >> live in the present! it's the présent that counts!)

10 pushpam
fresh flowers shall be offered to the Lord, do not throw them
instead nice decorate them with love and affection
this gives you a good feeling, and nice going on the forward path
the type of flowers and its colours are narrated in Vedic verses
like 'japa kusum' (hibiscus) etc.
(be poetic, have the fragility of flowers...)

11 dhoopam
offer incense sticks
(=subtility, ability to look through forms, to 'smell' what is out of God!)

12 deepam
offer lamps, slightly away from the place where dinner is served
(your intellect/mind...)

-

13 naivedyam
it is time to offer food to the guest
quality and type of food depending on the Deity
(now is the time for offering, everything, yourself ...)

14 tamboolam
offer pan, betel leaves, for proper digestion
(leave = symbol for love with which the offer was prepared)

15 neerajanam
in every auspicious occasion aarati is shown to the hero/heroine of the event
similar, on this auspicious occasion as Lord himself has come to you home,
with utmost devotion, offer 'aarati' to him/her

after it is offered, put a drop of water in it and show it
put both hands above and put them on head and eyes
as a mark of respect and reverence

(offer, which is God, is offered by God, and accepted by God...
Who is Fire/Light - to be shared with all - because He is in all...)

16 pushpanjali
the guest has given his valuable time to you
so you have to say thanks to him by saying pleasant words
by holding the flowers, either yellow or white in colour
place them on his lotus feet with utmost devotion

(thank you, amen)


~bron~