MODES OF SIVA PUJA

Shodasopachara Sivapuja 

Introduction 

Saivagamas have prescribed certain rituals and hymns for offering worship to Siva. Elaborate procedure is to be followed for gaining full merit. Besides regular prayer services, like harati - waving of the burning camphor before the deity; archana - chanting relevant names, and abhishek -- bathing the deity with several materials like milk, curd, honey, panner, ash, panchamrita, etc., there is Shodashopachara puja which is a complicated and time consuming procedure. This service is offered to the archamurtis - icons regularly in all temples - Saiva, Vaishnava or Saketya, though performance of rituals vary. Many materials - pujadravyas are necessary and have to be kept ready before the commencement itself. As said earlier for Sivapuja, the person performing puja must make himself Siva, then only he is entitled to begin. This can be done by wearing ash marks on the forehead and Rudrakshamala over the neck. And chanting of Laghunyasa or Mahanyasa hymns too. When armoured with them, he becomes Rudra and can start following scrupulously the complicated procedure ordained. 

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