Puja Aasana /mat - पूजा आसन

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Puja Asana/Puja Aasani/Puja Mat

         Aasana or Aasani means something to sit on. It may be of cloth, wood or wool. Sitting directly on the ground is thought to be a bad manner in Hindu social life. When a guest comes it is a custom to offer him a sitting place so that he feels honored. When a god is invoked he too is offered an Aasana. But during the worship, the devotee also should sit on an Aasana. Worshiping Gods by directly sitting on the ground is not permitted. Here sitting means sitting on the hips with legs crossed (Palthi Marna -पालथी मारना). But there are some exceptions like in temples where there is a rush of devotees. The devotees may offer Puja things there, by standing or by standing with bending forward. Then they come out of the Garbhgrih and put their Aasana at a suitable place in the temple campus and then sitting on it they may complete their Japa or reading holy books (Paath-पाठ).

            While doing the daily Pujan a devotee must sit on an Aasana. There are many types of Aasana for Puja but the best recommended by the religious books is the one made of Kusha or Darbha. It is called as Kushaasana or Darbhasana. Kusha is a type of grass which is known as Halfa Grass in English. It is treated as a holy grass in Hindu religion and there are some rituals to be performed before uprooting it. (Click here to read about the Kusha Grass). Dried Kusha grass is woven to make a mat which is Kushasana. It is said that doing Puja (worshipping gods) by sitting on the Kushaasana is fruitful.
               Woolen Aasana (Blanket -कम्बल) is another type of Aasana which is recommended for Puja. In fact, it is the Aasana which is commonly used in Hindu household. While Kushaasana is thin, the woolen Aasana is somewhat soft and sitting on it more comfortable than the former. It is said that using this Aasana brings peace and wealth to the devotee's house. Some astrologers specify different colors for the this Aasana to fulfill different desires. 
                Aasana of cotton is not recommended but that of silk (Resham -रेशम) is allowed especially in Vishnu Puja.  
                Wooden Aasana is not allowed in daily Pujan but it is used in some special Pujan on occasions like "Upanayana" or "Janeu". It is made of Mango wood and named as Peedha (पीढ़ा). 
                There are other Aasanas which are skins of animals like a deer or tiger but these are not used inside a house or temples. It is also not suitable to present time (देश और काल) as the wild animals are on the verge of extinction and Govt ban it. When the religious holy books were written the earth was full of forest and animals. At that time Mrigaasana (Aasana of deer's skin) and Vyaghraasan (Aasana of tiger's skin) were used by Rishi and Muni in the Jungle. Tiger's skin used to keep the wild animals away thus the Saadhak could go in Dhyana undisturbed.  
               The shape of an Aasana should be square. It is kept on the cleaned ground and before starting the worship it is made "Shuddha" (Pure) by holy water and Mantras. After the Puja is completed it is given a Pranam then it is lifted and kept at its place. 
               It is also to be noted that a devotee should use his own Aasana for the worship. The same Aasana should not be used by different devotees as is the case with Japmala.  
               When gods are invoked they are also offered Aasana. For them, Akshat is put on the ground as Aasana. Some Mantras are also spoken. One of the Mantras is like this:-

अयि विभो शरणागतवत्सल यदपि हीनमिदं भवतां कृते। 

तदपि भक्तजनं खलु वीक्ष्य मां समुचितं प्रियमासनमास्यताम྄। 

 (Ayi Vibho Sharanagatvatsala Yadapi Heenmidam Bhawatam Krite
Tadapi Bhaktjanam Khalu Vikshya Maan Samuchitam Priymaasanmaasyataam)
         Puja Aasanas are also available online at Amazon. 

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पान के पत्ते - Betel Leaves

Belel Leaves - Paan, Tambul

Betel leaves are known as "Paan" or "Tambul" in India. It is in use in India and South Asia from time unknown. It is used as a mouth freshener after a meal. In Hindu worship, it is also used as an offering to gods when all Naivedya is already offered. This Paan offering is in the shape of a roll which is called a "Beeda". But in this "Beeda" lime (Choona) is not applied. It consists of Supari (Areca nut), cloves, small cardamom, camphor (कपूर) and pieces of coconut flesh. There are different Shlokas for the offering of Paan, one of them is as below:-

ताम्बूलं   च   वरं   रम्यं   कर्पूरादिसुवासितम྄| 

सर्वभोगाधिकं स्वादु सलिलं देव (देवी) गृह्यताम྄|| 

(Tambulam ch Varam Ramyam Karpuradisuwasitam. Sarvbhogadhikam Swadu Salilam dev Grihyatam.) 

        Pann leaves are treated as auspicious. When Naivedyam is offered, it is put in a plate or Thali. But when for different Naivedyam there are not many plates, then these are offered to gods on betel leaves. Laddoos, fruits and Kheer are put on different Paan leaves and offered as Naivedyam to gods. 

          Sometimes like in "Satyanarayan Puja", many other gods are also invoked. To give them seats the Paan leaves are used. First, some Akshat is put on the cleaned surface and over it, Paan leaves are put. Then taking Akkshat, flower and Jal in the hand the concerning god is prayed and called as "Ehagachchha, Ehatishtha" and the things in hand are put on the Paan leaves. "Ehagachchha, Ehatishtha" (इहागच्छ, एहातिष्ठ) are Sanskrit words which means 'Come here and take your seat' (आप यहाँ आएं, यहाँ बैठें).

 

Ready for Kapoor Aarti

        When Arti is shown to gods, generally the Deepak (lamp) or Camphor (कर्पूर, कपूर) is placed over a Paan leaf over some Akshat on a plate.

        Since it is considered auspicious it is used in all auspicious Sanskaras like Wedding and Janeu (Upanayana, Putting the holy thread on the body). Paan has its use in many rituals of the wedding. For example, if some fruits are to be given in the hands of the bride or groom, first a Paan leaf is put on the palms and then over it, fruits are placed. Another interesting ritual in a wedding in Mithila (Bihar) is named as Galsedi. It is a welcome ritual for the bridegroom when the Barat (Marriage Procession - बारात) comes to the bride's home.  Before the groom gets down from the vehicle, a group of married women goes to him with a Deepak on a Thali containing colored Akshat spread on it. They take a Paan leaf warm it over the Deepak and touch the cheeks of the groom with it. It is called Galsedi. 

A Beeda of Paan. Gillori, Khilli

          Paan is a part of Hindu culture. It is a ritual to have a "Beeda" of Paan at a place of pilgrimage when the worship is over.  

          Perhaps in India, Paan is the fondest of people of Mithila (Bihar). It is a part of daily life there. People take it many time a day. Some people carry a box of Paan with them which is called "Panbatta"(पनबट्टा). Either they will keep Beedas of Paan in it or Paan leaves wrapped in a water soaked thin cotton cloth. The Paan eaters enjoy making Beedas of the Paan by taking leaves of Paan out of "Panbatta". If you ask a Maithil (A person of Mithila in Bihar) "Why do you eat Paan?" Then it is sure you will get an answer, "Paan and Makhaan are not available even in the Heaven." Makhaan is the foxnut (Euryale ferox) which is mostly cultivated in the ponds of Mithila.

A Panbatta - A box for Betel Leaves

          Paan of Benaras is famous. It has also been included into Bollywood songs. Remember the famous song of movie "Don" in which Amitabh Bachchan sings-'Khai Ke Paan Banaraswala, Khul Jaaye Band Akal Ka Tala'. Wazid Ali Shah is well known for his love of Paan. From that tradition, Paan in Lucknow includes many aromatic things in it. There is a range of Paan available there - ranging from a few rupees to thousands of rupees. A roll of Paan is also called Gillori here.
      Customs apart it is said to have medicinal properties in Ayurveda. It clears throat in a cough when chewed. Such Paan is taken with cloves, mint and 'Gulukand' (Gulukand is a jelly-like thing made from red rose flower petals). It is said to have aphrodisiac properties. 
          The plant of Paan is a climber which does not bear a fruit. It is cultivated for its leaves only. It requires a lot of water. Warm and humid weather is good for it but it cannot bear the direct sunshine. So for its cultivation in the field, a hut type of structure is made from which sunshine enters partly. 
          It has many varieties. Bengal mainly produces two varieties of Paan - Bangla Patta and Meetha Patta (Patta means leaf). Bangla or Desi variety is the most popular and cheaper too. Meetha Patta has a distinct taste and costs more. In Bihar, a popular variety of Paan is produced which is named as "Magahi". It is smaller in size compared to other varieties and less green too. It dissolves easily in the mouth. It is also costlier. Paan is also produced in Odisha and a variety of it is named after a district in Odisha-Ganjam. And there is Banarasi Patta which is more yellowish.
         As far as Hindu worship is concerned it should be used as per requirement. But daily consumption of it should be avoided because it is taken by most of the people with tobacco (Zarda) which causes cancer. Another ingredient areca nut (Supari) is also said to cause cancer. Again the Paan spitting is very disgusting and its spots on the roads and on the walls are an eye-shore.

    

Panchamrita - पञ्चामृत !

Panchamrit (पञ्चामृत)

Panchamrita is made of two words -Pancha + Amrita.

Pancha means Five.

Amrita means something that makes immortal, Nectar.

So the word "Panchamrita" means a preparation that has five ingredients each equivalent to nectar. Panchamrita has a special place in Hindu worship. It is prepared by mixing following five liquids in equal proportions:- 

1. Milk  (Unboiled)

2. Yogurt (Indian Household 'Dahi')

3. Honey  (शहद)

4. Liquid Jaggery (गुड़)

5. Ghee (Clarified Butter)

          The ingredients may differ in different regions in India. In South India ripe banana may also be added. Sometimes if one of the ingredients is not available the "Gangajalam" may be added. 

         This holy liquid (Panchamrita) is used in puja to give a bath to the god which is called -Panchamrita Snana. In the "Satyanarayana Puja" the God Vishnu in the form of "Shaligrama" is given a Panchamrita Snana by dipping Him in the Panchamrita kept in a pot. At the end of the Puja when Prasada is distributed among the devotees this Panchamrita is also distributed.

           In the Shiva-Puja, the Panchamrita is poured over the Shivalingam and spread all over it with the hand. After the Panchamrita Snana to Gods, it is necessary to give water bath or Gangajala bath so that He is clean. It is termed as "Shuddhodak - Snana" (Purifying Bath).

           At the time of Panchamrita Snana, the following Mantra is recited:-

पयोदधिघृतं चैव मधु च शर्करायुतं। पंचामृतं मयानीतं स्नानार्थं प्रतिगृह्यताम।।

(Payodadhi-Ghritam Chaiwa Madhu ch Sharkarayutam, Panchamritam Mayanitam Snanartham Pratigrihyatam)

O, God! I have brought Panchamritam for your Snanam (Bath) which is made of Milk, Curd, Ghee, Honey, and Jaggery. Please accept it!

  

           Some scholars recite the Mantra in the following form:-

पञ्चामृतं मयाSSनीतं पयो दधि घृतं मधु।

शर्करा च समायुक्तं स्नानार्थं प्रतिगृह्यतां। 

(Panchamritam mayaaneetam payo dadhi ghritam madhu |

Sharkara ch samayuktam snanartham pratigrihyatam ||)

Its meaning is same as the previous Mantra.

In detailed worship like at the time of "Prana-Pratishtha (प्राण -प्रतिष्ठा), after Panchamrita - Snana, separate Snanam is performed with each of the ingredients of the Panchamrita in the order as - Milk, Curd/Yogurt (Dahi), Ghee, Honey and Jaggery (Sarkara). For each of these "Snanam", there are separate Mantras. After these baths, the holy water bath is given as "Shuddhodak - Snana" (Purifying Bath).

            The Panchamrita in which the God is given a bath is also termed as "Charnamita". It is distributed among the devotees after Puja a teaspoonful each. "Charnamrita" means the Nectar which washed the feet of God". This term is also used for the holy water in which The God is given a bath. As in temples after the worship when we go to the Panditji, he puts the "Tilak" on our forehead and gives this "Charnamrita" (Holy water with Tulsi-dal) in our hand.  

          Apart from the purpose of worship, the Panchamrita has medicinal qualities. In Ayurveda, it is recommended for vigor and vitality. But the quantity should not be more than a teaspoonful each day. It is better to take it after used in God-Snanam as the medicine along with the 'faith' has a double effect. 

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Availability of ingredients:-

Though most of the ingredients are locally available in India, some of these are also available online at Amazon and Flipkart.

1. Milk  (Unboiled) - It is a perishable item hence not to be purchased online. 

2. Yogurt (Indian Household 'Dahi') - It is a perishable item hence not to be purchased online. 

3. Honey  (शहद) - It is available online in two varieties.
(i) Organic Honey - At Amazon ..... At Flipkart
(ii) Honey - At Amazon ........ At Flipkart

4. Liquid Jaggery (गुड़) - Many Brands, Hand Made
    Others Palm Jaggery Organic
    Sugarcane Jaggery Organic Jaggery Powder Jaggery Powder
    Palm Jaggery

5. Ghee (Clarified Butter) - Ghee at Amazon, Organic-pure-cow-ghee Cow-ghee-at-Flipkart Organic-Ghee