How to perform Home pooja for a Moorthy

Let us see how to perform the pooja at home offered to a Moorthy as a figurine or a picture. To perform this, one does not need the special deeksha. This can be performed in a simple short way. First, one should understand the proper rules and methods to perform the pooja. Let us first see which way we should keep the figurine or the picture and which way the person should sit to perform the pooja.  If the picture of figurine is kept facing east, the person should sit on the right side facing North. If it faces north, they should sit facing east. They should not sit in front of the image facing it directly.

 

If these two directions are not possible, then we can set the image facing west and sit in front of the Image facing east and perform pooja. When the Moorthy is set facing west, one should not sit on the right side which is facing south to perform pooja. One should not sit on the left side of the Image. The Image should not be set facing south. The person should not sit facing south. It is not proper according to Sasthra to eat food prior to performing the pooja. When it is possible, one should always learn from a Guru about the proper sasthras and rules and receive deeksha before performing pooja at home.

 

To pray and to invite the Divine which is in our heart to come out to reside in the Image that is being worshipped. Then, light a lamp, offer argyam, paathyam, achamaneeyam and do an abhishekam. Then decorate the image with cloth and flowers. Then pray with offering of flowers. Then we can light a lamp, agarbhatti or burning incense or camphor to perform the pooja.  Then the regular pooja will be conducted with one of the several methods.

 

Japa Samarpanam: Through the Manthras of the Deity, recite the prayers manthras 108 or 54 or 27 times in the mind and offer flowers.

 

Prarthana: Recite Devotional prayer songs in any language of choice, like Thevaram, Thiruvachagam or any other devotional songs.

 

Yathasthanam, Padhyam, Achamaniyam, and Argyam are offered to the Image and praying with thanks to the Divine force which came from our heart to get in back there.

 

Dhvanichandar Pooja: Performing a pooja to Dvanichandar – the Upa-Devatha of the Deity like Chandikeswarar for Siva - offering the flowers and Prasadam that was offered to the Divine and praying to bless us with the effects of the service to us.

 

At the conclusion of pooja the prasadam are taken by everyone. The above are the rules of pooja rules according to Agamas and Sasthras.