Murti puja is the key Hindu practice of worshipping sacred images of God and divine personalities. It helps Hindus to establish, express and enhance their relationship with these divinities.
A murti becomes venerable for Hindus only after it is enlivened with the spiritual energy and essence of the Deity. Because it contains the living presence of the Deity, a murti is more than a physical representation or a meditational tool. And so devout Hindus can see beyond the stone, metal or paint, while endeavoring to relate and serve the divine spirit within. Idols remind us of God. We don't worship the stone that the idol is made of; it is the ideal and qualities that the form reminds that we worship.
Hindus believe that God pervades everything and so he already has a presence in all beings and objects. However, when an image prepared according to scriptural prescriptions is ritually infused by a spiritual authority, such a murti becomes especially worthy of and conducive to worship.
Murti in Sanskrit: मूर्ति is a general term for an image, statue, idol of a deity or mortal in Indian culture. In Hindu temples it is a symbolic icon. A murti is itself not a god in Hinduism, but a shape, embodiment or manifestation of a deity. A murti is typically made by carving stone, wood working, metal casting or through pottery.
Murti Puja is made celebrate the omnificent GOD who was not binded by any form and present in all things in form of Murti to feel his presence near us.
The practice of murti puja can be traced back to Vedic times. When ancient rishis created symbols and images of the divinities they revered and wanted to thank them. With mantras and elaborate rituals, the rishis then invoked each deity into the images so that the stone, wooden, clay or metallic statue would become a murti – a focus of veneration.
Murti Puja is done any time of day. Most people do Murti Puja twice a day but temples and many devotees do the puja in Morning, afternoon before meal time (lunch), and again at high afternoon before dinner time and last at night before sleeping. This routine is matched with the way we leave our life. For example, breakfast, lunch, snack time or tea time and dinner and prayer before sleeping.
Murti Puja is in every Hindu homes and temples where ever there is devotee of Hindu religion there will be Murti Puja. Murti Puja can be performed anywhere.
Benefits of Murti Puja is where senses are purified because the body is involved in worship and the mind is purified because the worshipper. While worshipping the Murti does not take it to be a piece of stone but mentally attributes to it the qualities of God. The more one thinks of it the purer one becomes. Purification corresponds to concentration. It is easy to concentrate when the Murti is in a human form and dressed exquisitely.
So before one can answer why Murti puja? One must answer "How can an infinite God reside in a Murti?" This question will not arise at all, were they to believe that God is omnipresent, for if God is present everywhere, he cannot be absent from a Murti. Now that we answer the question we can move to "How is it that the presence of God is more pronounced in a Murti than other things?"
Lord Shree Krishna told in Gita, from his one Ansh entire world is created and covered, I am everywhere and cause of everything. But I am not visible because human does not have that vision, if we want to see supreme Lord there is process called devotion and love towards God. Lord Shree Krishna told that, I am in the heart of everyone but individuals cannot see without the qualification. We cannot see Lord without divine eyes so we try to please God and ask him to come in the form of a Murti so we can see and feel. It is not just a murti but blessing of the lord. An Idol is visible and lives in the form of the Lord. Slowly we can get qualified to see the lord everywhere. This why Murti Puja is so important to us.
Murti Puja can be performed in many ways. Simplest of all is the way you pray at your home by doing a diva and insane lighting, offering a fresh flower, tilak chandlo, Panchamrit, Prasad with ringing a bell. Which purify the room with light, sound, smell, touch and taste with chanting of the mantras and gods name. With the most love, respect, and full heart of gratitude you perform aarti. This action invokes the god in Murti and within us. Note that the temple does its Murti Puja same way but with more steps that have to be another subject itself. Please visit the nearest temple and experience the puja yourself today.
You can take advantage of Murti Puja by keeping a murti of your favorite GOD or your family god at home and doing Murti Puja everyday in morning and evening and try to invoke a sense of feeling god in you as well as seeing god in everything around you. I have personally benefited from the puja so give it a try. I promise in behalf a GOD that you will find GOD waiting for you.
GOD LOVES YOU very much and I love you.
The Bhumi Pujan is a customary ritual that is performed before initiating construction or land tilling activities for agricultural purposes. Mother Earth and Nature are considered very auspicious in Hinduism. Therefore, the Bhumi is worshipped before any kind of land development. The commencement of a monument, residential, commercial and/or industrial project seeks the blessings of the Mother Earth (Bhuma Devi).
Bhoomi Pujan is conducted in strict conformance to Vaastu Shastra. The ancient Indian science of structures and architecture. According to Hindu beliefs, by performing this ‘puja’ the right energy and natural parts encompassing the site can be propitiated. Usually the time is chosen in accordance to the ‘Vaastu Muhurtam,’ which is the time once the ‘Vaastu Purusha’ (energy encompassing the site) is believed to be fully strength. We all know the 5 necessary components as per our Shastras – Agni, Jal, Aakash, Vaayu and Prithvi. Prithvi – the earth; is also mentioned as Bhoomi. Bhumi is like the base, without that, it is difficult to sustain. She is our mother and no life can exist without the her. Bhoomi is very Pujneeya to all Hindus. Praying to her for our well-being and prosperity is known as Bhoomi Puja. It is a really important ritual that strictly dedicates to worshipping this mother.
Bhūmi, is a Hindu goddess of the earth. Earth is also one of the five elements that the universe is made of. Pujan is the puja (Pooja) a ritual to host, honor, devotional worship, or one to celebrate an event. Bhumi Pujan is the worship of mother earth with respect and love.
Bhoomi Puja is revered to the piece of land before any sort of construction or development starts. Bhoomi Pujan is only performed at the times according to Vaastu Muhurtam and Hindu Panchang book of astrology and movement of the planets.
Bhumi Pujan is performed on the land that is going to be use for development preferably where the foundation is going to be for any kind of structure. Bhumi Pujan must be in present of SUN during the day while cloudiness is expectable.
The Bhumi Pujan is done to seek the blessings of the Goddess before initiating a new project or a task. Those in the field of architecture or industries perform the Bhumi Puja on the site chosen for carrying out the work. Therefore, it is a gesture of seeking the Mother's blessings and approval. It is also a gesture of showing respect to Mother Nature, who provides us with all that we need for our survival.
Moreover, the earth is home to a variety of animals and germs. Therefore, by doing to Bhumi Pujan, one can seek forgiveness from those living beings that may become homeless due to construction activities.
The Bhumi Pujan is also done to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha and the other Gods to ensure that work takes place uninterrupted and smoothly after it begins. By offering prayers to the Bhumi, one can also eliminate Vastu dosha and also the negative energies that may pose hindrance during construction. A small portion of the land is dug, and the rituals are performed before laying the foundation stone.
Thus, by performing the Bhumi Pujan, one seeks the blessings of the Almighty for carrying out the project without facing hurdles.
Bhoomi Puja Procedure:
Do your Bhumi Pujan every time you develop a land or any kind of change to land and receive the blessing of mother earth and elements. By doing this pooja you are also asking for forgiveness form all living being who use to habitat before you. Just remember no one can own the land you only have privilege to use the land while in your possession so respect the land. You are made of these five elements of the universe so live in harmony and love the elements love you very much.
Yagna is also known as Yajna and in Sanskrit as Yagya (यज्ञ) the literary meaning "sacrifice, devotion, worship, offering", and refers in Hinduism to any ritual done in front of a sacred fire, often with mantras. Yagna has been a Vedic tradition, described in a layer of Vedic literature called Brahmanas, as well as Yajurveda. The tradition has evolved from offering oblations and libations into sacred fire to symbolic offerings in the presence of sacred fire (Agni).
Yagna is performed to invoke the gods for their blessings and to also obtain favors from them. They are performed by four types of priests, named adhvaryu, hotra, udgatra and brahman. The adhvaryu's role is to take care of the physical aspects of yagna; hotra recites invocations; udgatra chants the yagna verses while focusing on the vital breath; and brahman, who is considered the chief priest, contemplates upon the moon god.
Yagnas are performed at a yaga sala. The four entrances of a yaga sala represent the four Vedas. The Agni, meaning "fire," is created in the designated sacrificial location. Ahuti, meaning, "oblation," is offered into the sacred fire. This why Yagna Kund or sala was the fire lighted as a square.
Yagna is also called “karma. It means the act of sacrifice and/or offering/worshiping to god. In the general sense it can be understood as any action done with the intent of sacrifice; for example, praying, remembering and meditating. In the detail sense it is the act of offering oblations to propitiate a Devata. GOD.
YAGNA is after Veda, the elements of universe. Yagna can only be performed during the day. A notable feature of the Yagna is that they are traditionally performed by men only.
Yagna can only be performed in the presence of the sun, preferably outside.
The primary purpose is to harness divine power to fulfill desires, overcome difficulties or achieve the four main goals namely Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Yajnas may also be performed to discharge karmic debt or uphold Dharma as an obligatory duty. The mantras and hymns which are sung during the sacrifices are meant to appease the gods and help the worshippers to fulfill their desires and seek divine protection.
Although they were performed for the community, Yagna is also an activity of the soul, for a person who gains the fruits of his karmas (actions) through his or her sacrifices. Each soul has an inner fire, which reflects the cosmic fire. Tending to our inner fire requires consciousness, concentration, perseverance and a sense of purpose. When we neglect our inner fire, our passions and purpose go haywire because of fire’s destructive properties. But when tended carefully, fire provides focus for our purpose, destroys our inner impurities, and increases our intelligence.
1. Prepare
2. Perform
3. Pointers
Do your Yagna according to the instruction above and sacrifice something near and dear to you and your wishes are sure to come true I have personally have experienced such a gain so love you and do yagna today.
A bindi written in Hindi looks like this: बिंदी. In Sanskrit it looks like बिन्दु. bBindú, which means "point, drop, dot or small particle" is a coloured dot worn on the center of the forehead, originally by Hindus and Jains from the Indian subcontinent. The word bindu dates back to the hymn of creation known as Nasadiya Sukta in the Rigveda. Bindu is considered the point at which creation begins and may become unity. It is also described as "the sacred symbol of the cosmos in its unmanifested state".
A tilak-chandlo is a physical representation of our religion, like the cross is for Christians. The red chandlo is made out of kunkoo powder and the tilak is made out of sandalwood paste. The tilak’s U shape represents the lotus feet of God, while the chandlo represents the bhakta or devotee of God. Traditionally, the area between the eyebrows is where the bindi is worn and said to be the sixth chakra (Ajna). The seat of "concealed wisdom" is what it is translated to. The bindi is said to retain energy and strengthen concentration. The bindi also represents the third eye.
In Hindi, it’s called a bindi and in my mother tongue, Gujarati, we call it chandlo. In olden days, all Hindu men and women wore these marks. When worn by men it is usually called the tilak chandlo. When worn by women it is usually called chandlo or bindi only worn by unmarried or married women.
You wear a chandlo after the Vedas and Puranas. It is generally worn in morning kept on for the rest of the day.
Chandlo is placed on the center of the forehead between both eyes. It carries different meanings for men and women.
In Hinduism we believe in chakras or focal points of energy in our bodies. Although these fields are spiritual and intangible, they are integrated with our physical body. Of the chakras, the ajna chakra, known as ‘the third eye,’ rests between our two eyebrows, and is considered to exist at the intersection of our conscious and subconscious mind. That is, this chakra lies at the crossroads of what we physically see and what we spiritually feel. It is in reverence to this chakra for the reason we apply the chandlo here. The chandlo is a bridge symbolizing the convergence of our existence in this physical world and the realm of the Supreme Reality. We Hindus believe that everyone and everything is a creation of the Supreme Being and that He is omnipresent, residing within each of our souls. Hence, the chandlo is a reminder of the Divine Presence inside us, who silently sees all, hears all, and guides all.
A traditional bindi or chandlo is red or maroon in colour. A pinch of vermilion powder is applied with a ring-finger to make a dot. A small annular disc aids application for beginners. First, they apply a sticky wax paste through the empty centre of the disc. This is then covered with kumkum or vermilion and then the disc is removed to get a round bindi. Various materials such as lac, sandal, 'aguru', mica, 'kasturi', kumkum (made of red turmeric) and sindoor colour the dot. Saffron grounded together with 'kusumba' a flower can also work. Traditionally they are green in colour with a red dot in the middle. The bindi is no longer restricted in colour or shape.
You can apply Chandlo in your life today if you are an unmarried woman to celebrate that God is a presence in your life. If you are a married woman, it serves two purposes. One, to celebrate god in your life. Second is the wellbeing of your husband’s life. For any man wearing the chandlo, it is to feel the presence of god and help open your chakra. Enjoy!
God loves you very much.