Is Performing Puja a Ritualistic Process?
Hinduism is brimming with primordial yet fragmentary rituals that are still gaining acceptance.
There isn’t any doubt about the incredible and mythical history Hinduism has and the enormous rituals Hindus follow and believe in. Where most Hindu rituals were adopted from the time 1500 and 2300 BC, they were passed down through generations after that.
“PRAYING” is one such ritual that is common in every household and dear to every Hindu through generations. Every family’s prayer style is unique, but their expectations in return are broadly similar. Of all the methods of offering prayers, there is a common thread that binds everyone’s beliefs together, and that thread is called, “FEAR”. Isn’t that right?
The fear of extinction has driven the human race not just during the current times but throughout history. This means that we offer prayers in exchange for blessings, blessings for our well-being, blessings to keep us safe from mishaps, blessings for good luck, and blessings for everything we require to exist.
Although the real meaning of offering prayers is showing gratitude toward whatever we have, as a mark of respect we hold for the supreme power, however, people often get carried away with their grief. As the saying goes, “People often notice the things they don’t have and tend to ignore their blessings instead”.
Is there really some higher power waiting for you to show up daily to offer prayers? And will the almighty be offended if the prayers are not offered at a specific time? These questions are rational and are very important in our journey to understand why the ritual of offering prayers holds a significant role in Hinduism.
I was 27 years old when I realized, god will still back me up with all good force and divine energy even after knowing I never offered him prayers. Why, beacuse I beleive in clear integrity.
Being a devotee of Lord Krishna and having been raised in Uttar Pradesh, I have enjoyed my childhood and most of my short breaks from school in and around the streets of Mathura & Vrindavan. I have seen the enthusiasm for offering prayers and performing Puja, among the people of Gopalan town.
It is a majestic sight to see people coming together in abundance to chant Hare-Krishna Hare-Rama, while they offer a Ras dance to their beloved. Seeing this, I was often captivated by the idea of joining hands in front of Lord Krishna Idol and surrendering my entire being to him, too. However, it did not last long.
The rationale behind performing a specific ritual has always come my way. Having said that, it does not imply that I had any less faith or devotion to the supreme power but the logic behind why we perform puja and why it is necessary to surrender ourselves to the divine cosmic energy was slightly higher. Hence, my journey of discovering the ultimate truth started onwards and upwards from there.
Chapter 03: Performing Puja, Daily
In one of the live sessions of Sadhguru, held a couple of years ago, one of his followers asked him about the importance of performing puja and if it is necessary to perform every day. With his mystic appearance and phenomenal wit, he responded, “If brushing our teeth every day is important, so is performing Puja.” He did, however, add that he does not believe in prayers and has never felt the need to pray.
This response left everyone with split views. So to understand further, what is it that Sadhguru convived?
- There is a distinction between performing a ritual as a duty and practicing it to invite spiritual alignment within.
- Puja is purely done to invite upliftment, aura cleansing, to develop new perspectives, and to show gratitude towards what we have been blessed with. However, people who have integrity issues will never be able to know the right way to practice such rituals.
Common Beliefs
Hindus have a strong opinion on performing Puja every day. People believe that by doing so, their prayers are heard and that a higher power always protects them despite their wickedness.
Offering coconut, flowers, and lighting diyas daily in their home temple allows them to get a discount from being unfair. They believe that God is constantly balancing their acts of goodness and roguishness simply because they have put an effort into praying.
Rational Behind the Ritual
It is simple. The universe comes together to uplift your affirmations if the whole purpose of a ritual is rightly understood. Folding hands in front of the almighty and surrendering have to stop getting associated with self-serving dynamics.
The essence of performing Puja is to find a beautiful way to be able to communicate with God; a path that allows us to self-reflect, become humble, be grateful, and, most importantly, gain strength and willpower to face any situation.
This was precisely why offering prayers and performing Puja were so important in Hinduism. However, for generations, the only thing that changed was how people began to view and practice rituals.
Therefore, to have a holistic view and approach towards any Religion, Rituals, and Rites is deeply desired. Hence, I don’t feel guilty about not performing Puja in my house temple every day. For me, the rationale is very clear, I carry my gratitude and count my blessings whenever I breathe.
