| The English equivalents of 'Puja' are homage, | | | | father and sons. Yagya is an elaborate system of |
| reverence, worship, respect, etc. The system of Puja | | | | Puja which is practised even today with a particular |
| relates to religions, deities and God. In some religions | | | | purpose. |
| there is an elaborate system of rituals for Puja while | | | | However, this type of Puja is medium quality Puja, |
| in some religions there is a simple method of prayer. | | | | because it is done for material rewards. Lord Krishna |
| All the major religions of the world originated in Asia. | | | | in Shrimad Bhagwat Gita said as follows:- |
| South Asia is the birth place of four major religions- | | | | "Antavat tu phalam tesam tad bhavaty alpa |
| Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. All these | | | | medhasamdevan deva yajo yanti mad bhakta yanti |
| religions originated in India. Christianity and Islam | | | | mam api" |
| originated in South- west Asia for which Jerusalem, | | | | (Chapter VII, Verse 23) |
| Mecca and Madina are important places. In all these | | | | Translation: Men of small intelligence worship the |
| religions, the concept of God exists. Only Sikhism | | | | demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. |
| concentrates on Gurus. But, the system of Puja and | | | | Those who worship the demigods go to the planets |
| prayers is associated with all the religions. | | | | of the demigods, but my devotees ultimately reach |
| This system is visible in today's world. Almost all the | | | | my supreme planet.c) System of Nishkam Puja |
| religions except Hinduism evolved during the last | | | | (worship without attachment to expectations) |
| 2,600 years. Hinduism is the oldest religion of the | | | | The Hinduism continued to transform through the |
| world and its history is about 4,000 years long but | | | | ages and became more scientific. It came to be |
| Hinduism also developed after the 1st agricultural | | | | regarded as a religion associated with fundamental |
| revolution which took place about 10,000 years ago | | | | doctrine of Karma. This thought emerged during the |
| and the intervening period was Vedic period in India | | | | battle of Mahabharata when Lord Krishna began |
| during which such Puja systems had not taken roots. | | | | counseling Arjun. The same preaching is found in |
| In order to understand the purpose of Puja we will | | | | Shrimad Bhagwat Gita. |
| have to go back in the early stages of human | | | | According to Hindu doctrine, all beings have souls and |
| civilizations when man was a jungle dweller and | | | | there is a process of reincarnation after death. These |
| without shelter, because, the system of reverence | | | | souls are arranged in a hierarchy. The fundamental |
| to some unknown power started emerging in that | | | | point is to move upward in the hierarchy and then |
| period. This will define the causes also which drive | | | | escape from the eternal cycle of birth and death |
| human beings to perform Puja.a) The Puja system | | | | through union with the Brahma. The principle of |
| emerged to get protection of unknown powers, | | | | reincarnation of soul is the cornerstone of Hinduism |
| from natural calamities, hazards and disasters in the | | | | and every soul should try to attain salvation (Nirvana, |
| early period: | | | | Mukti, Moksha) through spiritual practises. This should |
| In the initial stages man was a food gatherer, hunter, | | | | be the supreme purpose behind Puja. |
| fisher and shelter-less living in jungle in small groups. | | | | For this Lord Krishna showed the paths of "Karma |
| There was no concept of God in that period. The | | | | Yoga" (adherence to duty while remaining detached |
| small groups of people lived in isolation. However, | | | | from reward), "Gyan Yoga" (knowledge of the |
| they saw the impact of natural calamity on their lives. | | | | absolute) and "Bhakti Yoga" (spiritual practise of |
| They experienced the impact of wild fires, | | | | fostering loving devotion to God). Lord Krishna said in |
| thunderbolts, storms, heavy rains, floods, | | | | Bhagwat Gita:- |
| earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and they began | | | | "a-brahma bhuvanal lokah punar avartino rjunamam |
| fearing such phenomenon. | | | | upetya tu kaunteya punar janma na vidyate" |
| In order to protect themselves from such events, | | | | (Chapter VIII, Verse 16) |
| they must have visualized the role of an unknown | | | | Translation: From the highest planet in the material |
| superpower and started showing reverence to such | | | | world down to the lowest, all are places of misery |
| powers. This culminated in the Vedic period in ancient | | | | wherein repeated birth and death take place. But |
| India when elaborate system of worship of Fire God | | | | one, who attains to my abode, O son of Kunti, never |
| (Agni Dev), Wind God (Vayu Dev), Water God | | | | takes birth again.d) Rise of Sadguru Puja (worship of |
| (Varun Dev), Sun God (Surya Dev), Thunderbolt God | | | | ascendant masters): |
| (Indra dev) began. | | | | Sadgurus (ascendant masters) are incarnations of |
| In addition to such deities a system of reverence | | | | God himself who live amidst us to guide us in our |
| was also invented to get protection from every | | | | endeavor to reach to God. Lord Krishna in Bhagwat |
| element of the environment of the earth. Trees, soil, | | | | said that "Saints are incarnations of God". Sadgurus |
| rivers, hills, animals, reptiles, birds, all became objects | | | | are known by different names in different religions. |
| of reverence in the Vedic period. We may call it | | | | Hindus call them "Paramhansa" Muslims call them |
| "Animism" which was the system of Puja up to the | | | | "Qutub" and Christians call them "the ascendant |
| Vedic period.b) The rise of Sakam Puja (worship with | | | | masters". They have incarnated in almost all religions. |
| expectation of reward): | | | | Some prominent names are "Jesus Christ", "Moses", |
| Since Hinduism developed from Vedic religion, there is | | | | "Gautum Buddha", "Lord Mahavir", "Aadi |
| a multiplicity of God's and Goddesses in the Hindu | | | | Sankracharya", and "Prophet Mohammad". The most |
| religion. There are 100's of Puja systems associated | | | | recent incarnations of Sadgurus go by the name of |
| with deities. There is a multiplicity of religious books. | | | | "Ram Krishna Paramhansa", Shri Sai Nath of Shirdi", |
| The concept of "Tridev" (Trinity namely Bramha, | | | | "Guru Nanak" etc. |
| Vishnu and Mahesh) developed in the early stages of | | | | The Sadguru guides his disciple to attain God for |
| Hinduism. | | | | which Guru Bhakti (devotion to Guru) is the most |
| The system of worship was designed to please a | | | | important requirement. Therefore, the disciples are |
| particular deity for obtaining some blessings and | | | | duty bound to keep their Guru in high reverence. |
| rewards. This Puja is for fulfillment of human desires, | | | | The life of the modern man has become very |
| wants, freedom from sufferings, for off-springs, for | | | | complex. He cannot follow the elaborate Puja |
| marriage, rise in status and position, for health, | | | | systems and rituals followed by his ancestors. There |
| wealth, and other desires. | | | | is shortage of time and in these difficult moments; |
| The ancient kings organized "Aswa-medha Yagya" | | | | the only recourse left to human beings is to keep |
| for enlarging their kingdoms and empires. According | | | | faith in Sadguru who guides them to spiritual |
| to Ramayana even Raja Ram took recourse to this | | | | betterment. Hence, worship of Sadguru is the most |
| yagya and the horse of the yagya was caught by his | | | | important Puja in today's world. |
| children Lav and Kush which triggered a war between | | | | |