बाह्य पूजा Bāhya pūjā🔗

(Ritual or outer worship)

Light the lamp and start the pūjā

om hrīṁ etat pādyaṁ śrīgurave namaḥ

Offer water from the kośa kośi (the fish-like vessel) at the Master's feet (symbolizes washing the feet of the Master).

om hrīṁ eṣa arghyaḥ śrīgurave namaḥ

Offer water from the conch shell (with flowers placed on the conch) at the Master's feet (symbolizes offering rice, bilva leaf, flowers and arugam pullu - sacred grass). Offer the flower as well to the Master.

ॐ ह्रीं इदं आचमनीयं श्रीगुरवे नमः

om hrīṁ idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ śrīgurave namaḥ

Offer water fom the kośa kośi at the Master's feet (symbolizes offering of water to rinse His mouth).

ॐ ह्रीं इदं स्नानीयं श्रीगुरवे नमः

om hrīṁ idaṁ snānīyaṁ śrīgurave namaḥ

Offer water from the kamaṇḍalu (holy water jug) at the Master's feet with the right hand and ring the bell with the left hand (symbolizes offering water for His ceremonial bath).

ॐ ह्रीं इदं वस्त्रं श्रीगुरवे नमः

om hrīṁ idaṁ vastraṁ śrīgurave namaḥ

Offer the saffron cloth at the Master's feet. This is done by taking water from the kośa kośi and circling it over the saffron cloth three times and offering the water at the Master's feet (symbolizes offering clothing to the Master).

ॐ ह्रीं एष गन्धः श्रीगुरवे नमः

om hrīṁ eṣa gandhaḥ śrīgurave namaḥ

Dab the middle finger in the sandal paste and fore finger in kuṁkum (vermillion) powder. First apply the sandal paste to the Master's feet, and then the kuṁkum on top of the sandal paste (symbolizes offering sandal and kuṁkum to the Master).

ॐ ह्रीं इदं सचन्दनपुष्पं श्रीगुरवे नमः

om hrīṁ idaṁ sacandanapuṣpaṁ śrīgurave namaḥ

Take a flower, dab it in the sandal paste and offer it at the Master's feet (symbolizes offering of our desires to the Master).

om hrīṁ idaṁ sacandanabilvapatraṁ śrīgurave namaḥ

Take a bilva leaf, dab it in the sandal paste and offer it at the Master's feet. (The bilva leaf is believed to have a cooling effect on the deity to which it is offered. Its three leaves stand for creation, sustenance and destruction. It also symbolizes the three eyes of Lord Shiva.)

om hrīṁ eṣa dhūpaḥ śrīgurave namaḥ

Ring the bell with your left hand, take the lit incense sticks in your right hand and move it in a circle near the Master's feet. (In the incense, we see the potential that is in ourselves. Just as the incense itself is worthless until it is put to the flame, we know that our lives are useless too, unless our potential is fulfilled. In the incense we also recognize that our lives are just as fleeting as its sweet smoke.)

ॐ ह्रीं एष दीपः श्रीगुरवे नमः

om hrīm eṣa dīpaḥ śrīgurave namaḥ

Ring the bell with your left hand, take the lit lamp in your right hand and move it in a circle near the Master's feet. (The glory of the Master's feet is intensified by the light emanated by the lamp).

ॐ ह्रीं इदं सोपकरणनैवेद्यं श्रीगुरवे नमः

om hrīm idaṁ sopakaraṇa naivedyaṁ śrīgurave namaḥ

Offer the food at the Master's feet (symbolizes offering food to the Master).

ॐ ह्रीं इदं पानार्थोदकं श्रीगुरवे नमः

om hrīṁ idaṁ pānārthodakaṁ śrīgurave namaḥ

Offer water from the kośa kośi at the Master's feet (symbolizes offering drinking water to the Master).

ॐ ह्रीं इदं पुनराचमनीयं श्रीगुरवे नमः

om hrīṁ idaṁ punarācamanīyaṁ śrīgurave namaḥ

Offer water from the kośa kośi at the Master's feet (symbolizes offering water to rinse His mouth).