Pooja is an integral part of the a Hindu’s daily life. Communing with
God on a daily basis brings peace and prosperity to the house and the
day. A hindu prayer has a combination of images (murtis), prayers (mantras) and diagrams of the universe (yantras).
- Images: this could be photos, idols, or figurines.
- Prayers: Praying involves many different rituals for a Hindu pooja. It is a very personal experience for each person. Chanting shlokas and mantras, signing songs, offering aarti, and ringing bells are some of the most common practices during pooja.
- Diagrams of the Universe: diagrams in the pooja room to maintain the sanctity of the space.
Importance of Pooja
Structures the day
Incorporating daily pooja structures your day and helps your mind and body transition from one part of the day to another without taking the stress of one part of the day into another.
Inner peace
Communing with a higher being helps you deal with the stress and troubles of the day. Making pooja a daily ritual helps you clear your mind from distractions and focus on yourself and your family.
Strengthens family
Creating positive rituals brings a family together. By praying together every day and being open and vulnerable
Daily Pooja time
Brahma Pujan 5am – 6am
Starting the day with the positive energy of prayer brings in the right energy for the rest of the day. This pooja consists of the following rituals
- A cleansing shower or a bath
- Cleaning the house and the pooja room
- Ringing the bell and aarti
- Chanting shlokas and/or singing devotional songs
- Applying Tilaks to the forehead before leaving the house
Afternoon Pooja
Continuous commune with the gods to purify your soul, this is a quick pooja done before sitting down for lunch. This is a much shorter ritual with quick thanks to the gods, with a silent prayer. This is to create gratitude for the things that we already have in our life. This helps us let go of negative emotions and eat with peace and serenity. Thereby, enabling our body to digest the food easily, and keeping ourselves healthy
Evening puja and Aarti
The evening puja prepares you and your home for the night. This pooja is done by
- sweeping the house,
- Lighting the lamps in the house,
- Ringing the bell and doing an aarti
This is the time you will be coming home from work. You will be changing from work to being present for your family.
Sayan puja 8-9
This end of the day puja is done at the end of the day and before going to sleep. This is to help you relieve all the stress of the day and to help you rest and relax. By praying and focusing on the spiritual energy at the end of the day, you are able to end the day with peace and positivity.
Summary
Making pooja a part of our daily routine not only helps us gain peace, it also brings the entire family together for a positive experience. Even if you cannot do pooja all four times a day, starting and ending your day with a commune with the gods, and the ringing of bells in the home, will definitely create a more happy and peaceful home for you and your family.
