Shodashopachara Puja and its steps

Shodashopachara puja is a sixteen-step Hindu ritual of worship that involves devotional worship of a deity. It includes 16 different types of remedies (upchara), Such as Aahwan (calling), Asan (making someone sit), Padya (washing feet), Snan (bathing), Vastra (dressing), Dhup (burning incense), Deep (lighting a lamp) and Naivedya (offering food).

16 Steps of Shodashopachara Puja

1. Dhyana and Aahavan (Invocation): Inviting the deities for worship.

2. Asana (Providing a Seat): Providing a seat for the deity to sit.

3. Padya (Washing the Feet): Washing the feet of the deity.

4. Arghya (washing hands): Offering water and flowers for washing hands.

5. Aachman (water for sipping): Offering water for sipping.

6. Snan (bathing): Bathing the deity.

7. Vastra (clothing): Dressing the deity in clothes.

8. Yagyopaveet (sacred thread): Offering the sacred thread or sacred thread to the deity.

9. Gandha (sandalwood) and Akshat (unbroken rice grains): Applying sandalwood or gandha to the deity and offering Akshat (unbroken rice grains).

10. Pushpa (flowers): Offering flowers.

11. Dhoop (incense burning): Burning incense.

12. Deep (lamp): Lighting a lamp and performing aarti.

13. Naivedya (bhog): Offering naivedya or bhog.

14. Tambul (betel leaf and betel nut), Dakshina (gift), and Aarti:
Offering Tambul (betel leaf), betel nut, cloves, and cardamom, offering Dakshina (money), and performing Aarti.

15. Mantra Pushpanjali:
In Mantra Pushpanjali, flowers are offered to God with chanted mantras and prayers. The idea is that like the fragrance of these flowers, our fame may spread far and wide, and we may live a happy life.

16. Pradakshina – Salutations, Praise:
Pradakshina means circumambulation. Circumambulation is performed after the Aarti, always in a clockwise direction. We pray for forgiveness in praise; the meaning of asking for forgiveness is that if we have committed any mistake, please forgive our crime.