Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 187

OR SACRIFICE
PUJA,
stars,
each with
its
own name.
147
He must pronounce
the
name
of the yoga, as also that of the star.
19. He must think of the karana, of which there are
eleven in each lunar month, each with its own name. The
same formality must be gone through as with the star and
the yoga.
All these divers objects to which the Brahmin must turn
his thoughts when performing the sam-kalpa are so many
personifications of Vishnu, or rather are Vishnu himself
under different names. Besides this ordinary sam-kalpa,
there is another more elaborate one, which is reserved for
grand occasions, and which will be described further on.
This pious introduction to all their ceremonies averts,
by virtue of its merits, every obstacle which the evil spirits
and giants would put in the way. The name of Vishnu
alone, it is true, is sufficient to put them to flight, but
nothing can resist the power of the sam-kalpa.
Puja or Sacrifice
;
1
.
Of all the Hindu rites, puja is the one that occurs most
frequently in all their ceremonies, both public and private,
Every Brahmin is abso-
in their temples and elsewhere.
lutely obliged to offer it at least once a day to his household
gods.
There are three kinds of pujas the great, the
intermediate, and the small.
The great sacrifice is composed of the following parts
The evocation of the deity.
1. Avahana.
2. Asana.
A seat is presented to him to sit on.
He is asked if he has arrived quite safely,
3. Swagata.
and if he met with no accident on the way.
—
:
4.
Padya.
Water
is
offered
to
him
for
washing
his
feet,
Water is presented to him in which flowers,
and sandalwood powder have been placed.
6. Achamania.
Water is offered that he may wash his
mouth and face in the prescribed fashion.
5.
Arghya.
saffron,
He is offered in a metal vessel a
7. Madhu-parka.
beverage composed of honey, sugar, and milk.
8.
Snana-jala.
1
Water
for his bath.
Puja means honour, respect, homage, worship.
Ed.