Shodasha Upachara Puja (षोडशोपचारपूजा)

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Shodasa Upachara puja is offered in many communities and temples across India. As the phrase suggests, this worship contains sixteen elaborate steps. Only when all the steps are completed in the right order that the worship is considered to be properly offered. The sixteen steps are:

1. Dhyanam (Meditation) – A short prayer is offered and the priest meditates on the lotus feet of the god.
2. Aavahana (Invocation) – The priest invokes the particular deity that he is worshipping, inviting him to come inhabit the image in the place of worship.
3. Aasana (Offering Seat) – The deity is invited to come and sit down comfortably.
4. Paadya (Washing of Feet) – The feet of the deity are washed along with the recitation of the mantras.
5. Arghya (Washing of hands) – The deity is offered with water for the washing of hands. The act is done by the priest with ritual incantation.
6. Aachamana (Offering water to drink) – The deity is offered water for drinking along with the recitation of proper mantras.
7. Snana (Bathing with water or Panchamruthas) – The deity is ritually bathed with either water or with Panchamrutha on special occasions and festivals. Alternatively the deity is bathed with milk, yoghurt, ghee, honey, sugar, coconut water, fruit juice, sandal powder, turmeric one at a time.
8. Vastra Abharana (New Clothes) – After bathing, new or freshly washed clothes are offered to the deity.
9. Yajnopavita (Offering of sacred thread) – The deity is offered fresh Yajnopavita, made by the priest at his home.
10. Gandha (Sandal paste) – The deity is applied with sandal paste. It is put on the forehead.
11. Archana (Offering of flowers) – Freshly picked flowers from the temple garden are then offered to the deity.
12. Dhoopam (Incense) – Incense is lighted to create divine atmosphere in front of the deity in the garbha-griha. It is believed that as the smoke of dhoop reaches the deity, so the soul aspires and reaches self-realization.
13. Deepam (Oil Lamp) – Then the oil lamp is lighted. The garbha-griha of the Hindu temple is often dark and the lighting of the lamp is thus an integral part of the Shodash worship.
14. Naivedyam (Offering of specially prepared food) – Food prepared cleanly by either the mother or wife of the priest, or the special cook that is appointed by the temple is offered to the deity. After the deity has tasted the food it becomes prasadam which is then offered to the devotees.
15. Tamboolam (Offering of Betel Leaves and Betel nuts) – The deity is offered with betel leaves and betel nuts after he has taken the naivedyam.
16. Neerajanam – Aarati of the deity is performed with a camphor lamp. The deity has arrived and is satiated.