Weekly Puja
Every Sunday morning
Join us online for our free weekly puja, a place to connect from anywhere in the world and meet as a community for worship. All are warmly welcomed to this free event regardless of their familiarity with Kashmir Shaivism. Previous puja recordings are available. Sign up below.
Details
Date: Every Sunday
Time: 10:30 am PST (1:30 am EST, 6:30 pm GMT, 11:00 pm IST, 3:20 am on Sunday AEDT)
Length: One hour
Location: Online live webinar
Cost: FREE/donations welcome
Free Weekly Sunday Puja Sign Up
You will be registered to our free weekly puja and will be added to our email list. Be sure you click confirm in our follow-up email and look for another email from us with instructions on how to participate. If you're already subscribed to our email list, you will receive the email with instructions. You may unsubscribe from our email list at any time.
What is a puja in Kashmir Shaivism?
In Kashmir Shaivism, a puja refers to a devotional ritual or worship practice performed by followers of the Kashmir Shaiva tradition. Puja is a Sanskrit term that means "adoration" or "worship." It is a way for devotees to establish a connection with the divine and remember their true nature.
During a puja in Kashmir Shaivism, various rituals and ceremonies are performed to honor and worship a higher source. The specific practices and procedures may vary depending on the individual's personal preferences. Puja typically involves the following elements:
Preparation: The devotee cleanses themselves physically and mentally to prepare for the puja. This may involve bathing, wearing clean clothes, and adopting a focused and reverent mindset.
Invocation: The puja begins with the chanting of mantras and the recitation of sacred verses to invoke awareness and presence. The devotee may also light incense sticks, ring bells, or play musical instruments to create a sacred atmosphere.
Offerings: Devotees offer various items to the deity as a symbol of devotion and gratitude. These offerings may include flowers, fruits, nuts, water, or other items considered auspicious. The offerings are placed before an image or representation of the divine.
Ritualistic Actions: The puja may involve performing specific actions or gestures, such as waving a lamp, rotating a sacred object, or making hand mudras (symbolic hand gestures). These actions are believed to have spiritual significance and help establish a connection with the divine.
Prayer and Meditation: The devotee engages in prayer and meditation, expressing their heartfelt intentions, seeking blessings, and surrendering to the divine will. This part of the puja allows for personal introspection and communion with the higher source.
Aarti: Aarti is a ritual of waving a lamp or a plate with lighted candles before the representation of the divine. It is accompanied by the singing of devotional hymns or mantras. Aarti signifies the removal of darkness and the illumination of knowledge and divine presence.
Conclusion: The puja concludes with the distribution of prasad, which is blessed food, fruits, nuts or sweets that have been offered to the divine. Devotees partake in the prasad as a sacred offering and a way to receive divine grace.
Puja in Kashmir Shaivism is not limited to external rituals but also emphasizes internal practices, such as meditation, self-inquiry, and the cultivation of inner awareness. The purpose of puja is to create a sacred space, purify the mind and heart, and establish a deep connection with the divine consciousness within oneself and in the external manifestations of divinity.
