HINDU RITUALS AND MYTHS

(1) Pratika or a representative image either in the round or on a flat surface, 

(2) Linga or an emblematic object.  

(3) Yantra or a diagrammatic representation. In the simplest form of worship, the worship per treats the Deity as an honoured guest. First, he formally invokes him (Avahana), and then he serves Him with various ritual acts (Upacara) and finally bids Him farewell (Visarjana).

One may ask: 'How can God be made to come and go? Is He not always present'? The answer is-He is always present, but what comes and goes is the modification in the mind of the worshipper. To invoke the Lord is a direction not to Him, but to the worshipper himself to understand that He is there. The worshipper informs or reminds him that the Lord is present. Similarly, bidding the Lord depart means that the mind of the worshipper is withdrawing itself from Him.

The worship (puja) itself may be either external (bahya) with flowers, incense or camphor, or it may be internal (manasika) with prayer and meditation. Japa, Mudra and Nyasa sometimes strengthen the latter kind of worship. Let us now briefly ex plain these terms.

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