Puja Meeting

Puja is a religious ritual performed by Hindus as an offering to various deities, distinguished persons, or special guests. In Hinduism, it is done on a variety of occasions and settings, from daily puja done in the home, to temple ceremonies and large festivals, or to begin a new venture. The two main areas where puja is performed is in the home and at public temples. There are many variations in scale, offering, and ceremony.  Puja is also performed on special occasions such as Durga Puja and Lakshmi Puja. The puja is performed by Hindus worldwide. Various poojas are performed at various times of the day and on various times.

Difficult to say how exactly the Puja ceremony evolved

- Not practiced by the Vedic people

- Vedic community used physical and ritual sacrifices

- worshipped elements of nature

- chanted mantras, and incantations

There is a difference between Homa's an Pujas. A Homa is a ritual where offerings are made in a fire, it was used frequently in vedic times. It differs from Puja because it lacks a visual idol. 

Different types of Pujas: 

Ganapathi Puja - rebirth of the lord Ganesha. Believed lord ganesha bestows his presence on earth for all his devotees during this festival.

Subramanaya Puja: performed to the idol of Subramanya. Dispeller of all fears. Overcoming problems during pregnacy or having issues conceiving.

Lakshmi Puja: ususally performed during Diwali. People use oil lamps outside their homes and hope Lakshmi will come to bless them

Saraswathi Puja: making the start of spring and the Holi season.

Durga Puja: marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Maheshasura. Victory of Good over evil

Shiva Shakti Puja: helps to improve harmony in the marriage and to help integrate material and spiritual progress

Kali Puja: Kali is the fearful and ferocious form of the mother goddess. Kali puja helps to diminish our ego and all negative tendencies that hinder spiritual progress and material prosperity.

Discussion Questions:

1) What do you think of when you think about a puja?

2) Why do you think the transition was made to visual idols in pujas?

3) Are Puja's a necessary practice in Hinduism? Why or why not?