“What is the necessity for performing a puja?”, question atheists. In response to this, we try to justify at length and also get into arguments if needed. Now instead, let us put this question to ourselves. Let us question ourselves more intensely. The Lord is omnipresent. What is the necessity of specially invoking Him who remains everywhere at all times? How can He be sent away through the ritual of udvāsana?

To be very frank and honest, these procedures of invocation and sending Him off are only to enable us to squeeze in the puja ritual within a given time slot. The truth is that, with the attitude that our breath is itself japa and that all our daily tasks are themselves offering to the Lord, our puja procedure should continue endlessly all through life. However, do we have the capacity to perform such continuous lifelong worship? We want the facility of bringing the worship to an end after sometime.

To facilitate this, we invoke the all-pervading energy into an idol, worship Him in it for a while and then send Him away. This is one explanation.

Our power of concentration is very limited. Hence to establish this concentration (ekagrata) within the short span of time, a suitable form has been given to the all-pervading energy. Once a form is established, there have to be some tasks associated with it. Hence our seers have detailed a puja procedure that one should follow.

People find it impossible to retain the concentration (ekagrata) on a dot or on a feeling. If around that dot a circle is drawn and some freedom is given to the mind to move around within that space, the mind is happy. Puja is the circle that is drawn around a dot called ‘idol’ to facilitate concentration. Gradually, the mind will move towards fixing the concentration on that dot. This is the second explanation.

We are enjoying the many material comforts as desired by us. The Supreme Lord is none other than our dearest father, mother and closest relative. To say it simply, He is our family member. Naturally, we desire to share with Him our joys and comforts. To facilitate this, a procedure of worship has been created. This is another point of view.

Now, assume that your father has earned and passed on to you a lot of wealth. This wealth is no doubt yours, but its original owner is still your father, isn’t it? Is it fair on your part to enjoy it all, without first looking into the needs and comforts of your father? Similarly, the true owner of all your possessions is that Paramatma, who has passed it on to you. Is it fair to enjoy comforts without first offering them to Him? Hence His comforts should all be attended to before you begin to enjoy them. This is a dharma that cannot be overlooked. The way to do so is through the process of archana/ puja. This is the 4th point of view.

You may argue that if the Supreme Lord were really to be our family member, then what is the need to specifically voice out our desire to Him? He should automatically understand our wants and fulfill them. But in reality, at the beginning of the puja, we state our sankalpa (intent behind the puja) and express the desires we seek to be fulfilled.

Yes, it is true that He has the trait of not granting anything until it is sought. It was only after all the Devatas went and pleaded, that He agreed to take on the incarnation as Krishna. Only when the Devatas performed the Chidyaaga in the Chidagni kunda did the Divine Mother emerge.

Why does the Supreme Lord follow this principle? Will He not be aware of our difficulties unless and until the prayers are recited?

The real reason behind your offering prayers to the Almighty is to kill the ego that exists within you. It is not to inform the Lord of all your difficulties and needs.

If the destruction of your inner demons takes place without rooting out your ego, then they will again re-emerge in your heart. That is why the Lord will not answer unless you pray.

Our intellect in general is primarily clouded with traits of passion (rajas) and ignorance (tamas_)_. As a result, excessive desires, inertia, excessive sleep, procrastination etc. develop. The physical body demands tainted and dirty comforts. The mind of those who are in this state will not turn towards prayers.

There are also some people who are predominantly pure. They easily slip into a stage of temporary detachment and find no necessity to pray to God. They perform countless good deeds, limitless charities and religious practices. But they will not pray to God seeking His protection. It is imperative for them too have to pray for, without a prayer, protection will not be offered.

Sattva guna is indeed a compulsory requirement. However the highest person is he who while adhering to the sattvik traits also dutifully abides by the procedures and practices of offering archana and puja.

Even those who have had a vision of Srihari cannot stop their sadhana. Only if the sadhana continues, can the vision of Srihari too continue. The one who declares that he has obtained salvation has undoubtedly not received it. This is for sure.

The one who bloats with happiness for having secured Swamiji’s blessings and a residence in the ashram, is sure to be shown the door should he stop his pujas, archanas and sadhana that got him there. It is purely due to the merits of your previous births that you could get this blessing of residing within the ashram. If you do not continue your pujas and Sadhana then there will be no additions to the balance and the old balance will get depleted quickly. At that point since you will not have any balance of merit to your credit, you will not get such an opportunity again. That is why it is essential that after coming to the ashram your pujas, anushthanas and sadhanas should only increase.

The demonic traits quickly attach themselves to the person. They are like virus. Diseases come due to lack of internal resistance. The bad traits come due to lack of spiritual energy, a weak mind and lack of Guru bala (strength or blessings of Guru).

Bhaktimala June 1991