Why is Puja Important
Puja is an important part of Hindu culture and tradition. It is a ritualistic worship of the divine, which involves offering prayers, flowers, fruits, sweets, and other items to the deities, accompanied by chanting of mantras and hymns.
There are several reasons why puja is considered important in Hinduism:
Devotion and gratitude: Puja is a way to express devotion and gratitude towards the divine for the blessings received in life. It is a way to seek the blessings of the gods and goddesses and to ask for their protection and guidance.
Spiritual upliftment: Puja is believed to help in spiritual upliftment and purify the mind and soul. It helps to cultivate positive qualities such as love, compassion, and forgiveness.
Connection with the divine: Puja is a way to connect with the divine and establish a personal relationship with the gods and goddesses. It is believed that through puja, one can experience the presence of the divine and feel a sense of inner peace and contentment.
Tradition and culture: Puja is an important part of Hindu tradition and culture. It is a way to pass on the values and beliefs of the religion from one generation to the next.
Overall, puja is considered an essential aspect of Hinduism, and it plays a significant role in the spiritual and cultural life of the people. It helps to foster a sense of unity and community among devotees and is an expression of their faith and devotion.
Puja means worship, it is a Sanskrit word, which means honor, reverence, or adoration of the Lord.
Puja is the common term used for ritual worship, which has the synonyms such as Archana, Vandana, Bhajana, etc.,
Puja is worshiping the Ishta Devata or guiding Deity or the particular form of the Deity. Some Vaishnava devotees worship the God in form of Narayana or Vishnu or his other forms such as Rama and Krishna. The Lord Siva in his eight forms in the case of Saivas and Devi in the case of Saktas.
The devotee has Kuladeva or Kuladevi, also known as family Deva or Devi to worship. In some cases, the Devata is chosen for him by his Guru or spiritual preceptor and sometimes, the devotee himself chooses the Devata which most appeals to him.
Puja is performed to an image or Pratima of God or a picture or an emblem such as Saligrama in the case of Vishnu worship or Linga in the case of the worship of Siva.
Puja is a ritual worship of God, which keeps us in the harmony with cosmic forces, removing and overcoming sorrows and bringing spiritual upliftment in life.
Puja creates the spiritual vibrations and forces around us, which eliminates the negative forces and surrounds us with positive energy. The positive energy gives a piece of mind.