WHAT ARE THE SHODASAUPACHARA?

Prayer is the first step in any worship of God.  A small pooja is performed and the God is invited and offered a seat etc and the various steps involved is called upachara.  There are normally 16 Upachara (Service) to God whenever a function is started.  We should mentally alert, concentrate and involve physically while offering pooja.  The Upachara, in short, are:

1) Dhyana: Think of the God or Goddess with full form in mind by chanting the Vedic verse give in there in. One can also hold a small flower in the right hand fingers pointing upward near the heart and held till the mantra is completed and then offered to the Lotus of feet gently as if it is offered from the hearts where inner divine resides.

Shukla-Ambara-Dharam Vissnnum Shashi-Varnnam Catur-Bhujam |

Prasanna-Vadanam Dhyaayet Sarva-Vighno[a-U]pashaantaye ||

OM Ekadantaya Vidmahe Vakkratundaya Dheemahi, Tanno Danti Prachodayat

2) Aawahan: Inviting the GOD or Goddess by chanting the Vedic verse. Behave mentally as though you are inviting a loveable guest in side your home.

Om Gannaanaam Tvaa Ganna-Patim Hava-Amahe

Kavim Kaviinaam-Upama-Shravas-Tamam |

Jyessttha-Raajam Brahmannaam Brahmannas-Pata

Aa Nah Shrnnvan-Nuutibhih-Siida-Saadanam ||

Om Mahaa-Ganna-Adhipataye Namah ||

3) AAsan: After inviting a guest to your house you would offer a comfortable seat for him to relax. In similar fashion imagine this situation by chanting the Vedic verse.

Om! Sri …………………………………. Swaminae Namaha,  ratna simhasanam samarpayaami.

4) Paadyam: As per our tradition, the guest is offered water to wash his feet after he relaxed for adequate time. (It is the principal of Hygiene). Imagine you are washing the delicate, lotus feet of Lord.

Om! Sri …………………………………. Swaminae Namaha,  padyo padam samapayami

5) Arghyam: It is said one should not offer water immediately when one enters your home, dodge a little and then offer him a tumbler full of water. This is similar to it. Feel that you are offering water (Potable) for the Lord for him to drink. All these services or Upachar are performed by chanting the concerned Vedic verse.

Om! Sri …………………………………. Swaminae Namaha,  Hastyo arghyam samarpayami.

5a) then Water is offered to drink as the guest would have come from long distance to see us and may be thirsty.

Om! Sri …………………………………. Swaminae Namaha, aachamaniyam samarpayami.

6) Snana: It again the practice of the tradition that the guest is given comfortable (Luke warm) water for talking bath. After bath the food is to be offered. Feel this service is being perfomed to the Lord.

Om! Sri …………………………………. Swaminae Namaha,  snanam samarpayami

7) Vastra: As a principle of hygiene, a washed and clean cloth is given to the guest before he is offered food. Here in you offer a new par of clothes to the LORD. (VASTR YUGMAM= Pair of Clothes)

Om! Sri …………………………………. Swaminae Namaha, vastram, abharanamashtakam samarpayami

8) Yagnopaveetam: In olden days the old people used to make "Yagnopaveeta" daily in their houses for offering to the guest. It is presumed that the guest had traveled for a long distance before he reach your house, during the course he had to take bath in the Rivers/streams and may lose his "Janevu" or "Jandem"

Om! Sri …………………………………. Swaminae Namaha, yagnopaveethamakshtam samarpayami

It is also important to note "Yagnopaveeta" used to be worn by both men and women immaterial of the sex. You might have noticed the statues of Goddesses shown wearing "Janevu" in museums. So whether you worship God or Goddess you have to offer "Janevu".

9) CHANDANAM/GANDHAM" After getting dressed and wearing "Yagnopaveeta" the host offer good smelling sandal wood paste (Not the one which was made a week back or so). "Sugandham" (Good Smelling), "Manoharam" (Should steal the heart) is the quality of Sandal wood paste narrated by Vedic verse. It is expected to apply the sandal wood pate gently on the neck (Larynx side). It is not expected to sprinkle or throw it on the Deity.

Om! Sri …………………………………. Swaminae Namaha,  divya parimala gandham samarpayami

10) PUSHPAM: After you have offered the sandal wood pate, fresh flowers shall be offered to the Lord. Do not throw them instead nice decorate them with love and affection. This gives you a good feeling and nice going on the forward path. The type of flowers and its colurs are narrated in Vedic verses like "Japa Kusum" (Hibiscus) etc;

Om! Sri …………………………………. Swaminae Namaha, nanavidha parimala patra pushpaani samarpayami, pushpayi pujyami.

11) DHOOPAM: You are trying to make the surroundings more pleasant to impress upon the guest by Sandal wood paste, Flowers of beautiful colours and smells. In continuation to it you are lighting incense sticks to make it more welcoming.

Om! Sri …………………………………. Swaminae Namaha, dhoopam agrapayami samarpayami

12) DEEPAM: It is not expected to make your guest to sit in dark. In olden days when electric power was not in use, lamps were used to be kept on stands slightly away from the place where people used to dine.

Om! Sri …………………………………. Swaminae Namaha, deepam dashyaami

13) NAIVEDYAM: After all the above services or arrangements are accomplished, it is time to offer food to the guest. Here the quality and type of food to be offered is narrated depending on the Deity follow the version of the Vedic verse. It is similar to the members of your own family that all do not like same dish.

Om! Sri …………………………………. Swaminae Namaha, naivedyam samarpayami

14) TAMBOOLAM: After delicious food, it is the practice to offer Pan for proper digestion. The quality of Pan is narrated in the verses. "Pooghiphala (Beetle nut) Samayuktam, Nagavalli dalairyatam (Japatri petals) karpoora churna (Edible Karpoor powder) samuktam, tamboolam". Do not offer dried leaves and coloured wood.

Om! Sri …………………………………. Swaminae Namaha, tamboolam samarpayami

15) NEERAJANAM: It is again customary that in every auspicious occasion AArati is shown to the hero/heroin of the event. Similar way treat this important and auspicious occasion as Lord himself has come to you home, with utmost devotion offer "Aarati" to him/her. After it is offered put a drop of water in it and show it to the people around. Put you both hands above (Not to burn) and put them on your head follwed by covering your eyes as a mark of respect and reverence.

Om! Sri …………………………………. Swaminae Namaha, karpoora niranjanam sandharshyami, raksha raksham dharayami.

16) MANTRA PUSHPAM/PUSHPANJALI: The guest had given his valuable time to you, so you have to say thanks to him by saying pleasant words is the meaning of "Mantra Pushpam" By holding the flowers either yellow or white in colour, chant Vedic verse , place the on his lotus feet with utmost devotion and dedication.

Om! Sri …………………………………. Swaminae Namaha,  pushpam pujayami

These Upachara or services forms the complete activities of Shodasa Upachara. Some of the saints having the authority added some more ritual to it in due course of time. They are in the order of the serial numbers shown above are depicted below.

1a PRANA PRATISHTA: Energizing Lord by chanting Vedic verse. It is expected to hold flowers with the tips of fingers (Right Palm) forming a cow head. The hand shall be held up till the verse is completed. Thus energized flowers shall be placed on Lord's lotus feet.

5b AACHAMANAM: Offering water (Potable) to the Lord.

5c PANCHAMRITA SNANAM It is like applying oil and flour to the body (Generally on week end or Fridays by ladies in home) to clear the dust and dirt from the body. Similar way a paste is formed by mixing Milk, Curd, clarified Ghee(cow), crystal sugar, and honey. Feel that you are applying this paste to the Lord's body and help him in taking bath. This is followed by bath with fresh water.

9b AABHARANA: Offering jewelry to the Lord. Feel that you adore the Lord with every ornament by yourself.

17 AATMA PRADAKSHINA: Revolving round you and saluting the Lord with in yourself.

18 PRADHAN NAMASKARAM: Giving vote of thanks once again.

19 KSHMA PRADHANA: To beg apology for any mistake you did in offering the services.

kayena vaacha, manasendriyairva

budhyatmana va prakriter swabhavat

karomi yad yad sakalam parasmai

narayanayeti samarpayami.

These are otherwise called "DEVOPACHARA"

In addition there are "Rajopachara" like To Held Umbrella on Lord, Weaving fan, Singing a song to please him, Dancing before him to give him entertainment, Playing orchestra, Showing Mirror to him, Providing horse and elephant ride etc;

Variations: There are certain variations in Shodasa Upachar, some of them are,

S.No 4 and 5 are interchanged.

11a ACHAMANAM; water is offered to LORD to drink after lighting the lamp.

If there is lack of time atleast "PANCHOPACHARA"  should be offered.  They are,
 1) CHANDANA/ GANDHAM: Sandal wood powder pate offering.
 2) PUSHPAM: Offering Flowers
 3) DEEPAM: Lighting a lamp before Lord
 4) Naivedyam: Offering Specified dishes to Lord.
 5) TAMBOOLAM  with  Fresh beetel nut leaves