Bell ringing: It focuses attention on the divine principles of the invoked deity and drives away negative energies and emotions.
Lamp lighting: Giving deepam (or light) represents the light that resides inside us, the genuine Self that we offer to God in sincere devotion. It removes darkness, which symbolizes ignorance. Thus light symbolizes knowledge. It enlightens the presence of the deity and our inner self by reflection.
- Oil lamp: It attracts sattvik vibrations a maximum distance of one meter.
- Ghee lamp: It attracts all sattvik vibrations in the surrounding environment.
Incense burning: It clears out the negative energies from the space and uplifts the spirits from the grounding sense of smell. It stabilizes a wandering mind.
Water offering: It represents cleanliness and providing emotional purity from our inner source. It is an act of inner renewal that has the ability to release negative karma from the past.
Milk pouring: It makes to emanate auspiciousness from the deity as raw milk is highly sattvic. It symbolizes pure love to god. Traditionally poured on Shivalingam as the highest expression of deepest love towards the Lord.
Flowers: It symbolizes our gratitude through the beauty of their various colors and fragrances, while inspiring feelings of joy and contentment. It also symbolizes good fortune for us. It is a way of giving ‘something’ (good) to the world that grows inside us as a consequence of performing these things.
The flower we present to the deity symbolizes the good that has blossomed within us. The completion of the puja is also marked by the offering of full flowers.
- Datura makes happy Lord Shiva.
- Lotus makes happy goddess Lakshmi.
- Jasmine makes happy Lord Hanuman.
- Palash makes happy goddess Saraswati.
- Marigold makes happy Lord Ganesha.
- Red Hibiscus makes happy Maha Kali.
Unbroken rice: It represents fullness since it is pure and entire. It is also used as a substitute of offerings not present in the puja.
Sandalwood paste: It symbolizes the giving of something beautiful touched with our own hand. This results in a peaceful atmosphere because sandalwood is calming and helps the devotee in concentrating throughout the puja ritual.
Fruits: It represents placing the results of our actions at the Lord’s feet. This necessarily involves detachment from the material world, devotion, and self-sacrifice and surrender.
Prasad: It is an offering of food, and it is particularly meritorious if it is cooked. It is thereafter distributed to the devotees as the deity’s blessings. The significance of offering food to God is imbued with divine consciousness and spiritual enlightenment. Always be conscious and aware that you are partaking in God’s special grace while eating the Prasad. Therefore, eat it with respect.