– Symbolism of Rituals in Temple Worship
The Agama texts mention that divinity may be worshipped in one of the four ways:
(1) Japa, recitation of the holy name as initiated by the Guru ;
( 2) Homa, oblations offered in Agni accompanied by appropriate hymns ;
(3) Archana, actual worship (of nine types); and
(4) Dhyana, meditation on transcendental and empirical aspects of divinity.
The first approach is through a pattern of sounds (nada/shabda) while the second is through the medium of Agni. Meditation is independent of concrete representations. All these three are individual approaches.
It is the Archa, the worship of a deity individually and in communion with fellow devotees that is easiest. Further, the Archa includes in itself the essentials of the other three approaches as well. Archana in temples is an integrated mosaic of individual and congregational worship; and is the most popular approach.
The formal worship of deities in Hindu traditions broadly follows the Vedic, Tantric or the mixed (Misra) procedures. The Vedic traditions are centered on Agni (fire) the visible representation of divinity and a medium to approach other gods in celestial realm. Oblations offered into Agni accompanied by recitation of appropriate hymns constitute Vedic worship. The Vedic traditions do not generally provide for worship of icons.
Tantric ideology views the divinity in terms of human or semi human forms (murti) and as represented by diagrams (mandala) and incantations of great merit (mantra).
The temple and iconic worship may appear like tantric. However, in practice the worship at temples involves both homa and archa rituals. The rituals here are a combination of concepts, procedures and symbolism. The symbolism behind this method of worship is that God pervades the universe and that the entire creation is his manifestation. The human mind with its limitations cannot easily comprehend God in absolute; but tries to comprehend divine spirit and bestow a form to the formless. (Na cha rupam vina devo dyatum kenapi sakyate, Vishnu samhita 29, 51).
The worship helps the devotee to visualize the incomprehensible divinity in chosen form and attributes so that he may dwell on it and engage himself in a certain service; else, the mind of an ordinary person might lapse into drowsiness or wither away. The texts suggest that human form of God’s image helps the devotee better to meditate on the divine attributes ; and to relate to the spirit of god with love, affection, friendliness, devotion, reverence etc. The temples generally house images of god in human form except in Shiva temples where the image will be in lingam form (even here the processional image will be in human form).
The worshipper is aware all the while that the forms (murti), sounds (mantras) and diagrams (mandalas) employed in worship are human approximations and are inadequate representations of God (prathima svalpa buddhinaam). Yet, he tries to find through them an approach to the Supreme. It is not very important whether it is archa or the Agni you choose, but it is the devotion and sincerity of purpose that matters. Here, concepts are more significant than precepts; procedures more significant than concepts and symbolism more relevant than procedures.
The temple worship ritual has two distinct aspects; symbolic and actual. The former is the inner worship (manasa puja or antar yajna) and the latter is the procedural aspect, the service (Upachara). In manasa puja, God is the worshipper’s innermost spirit; while in Upachara the personified god is treated and revered as the most venerated guest. The services are rendered with gratitude, love and devotion.
The Aagama texts, Tantra Sara and Siddha yamala list as many as sixty-four upacharas. However, in practice, about sixteen upacharas are conducted; hence the expression Shodashopachara puja. They are , in sequence:
- (1) seating ( aasana),
- (2) welcoming (swagatha),
- (3) offering water to wash feet (padya),
- (4) offering water to wash hands (arghya),
- (5) offering water to sip and rinse mouth (aachamana),
- (6) providing a bath (snana),
- (7) offering fresh clothes and decorations (vastra- abhushana),
- (8) offering fresh sacred thread ( yajno_pavitha),
- (9) offering aromatic substances like sandal paste (gandha),
- (10) offering flowers (pushpa),
- (11) burning incense (dhupa),
- (12) waving lights ( deepa),
- (13) offering four kinds of food (naivedya),
- (14) offering tambula (betel leaves with areca nut, camphor and spices),
- (15) prostrations (namaskara) and
- (16) send off(visarjana).
The offerings during the worship are meant to please different aspects of the divine. For instance, Arghya is offered to please celestial deities (deva priyartha), sandal paste is a favorite of the Brahma; flowers favor prosperity; dhupa is dear to Agni (vaishvanara priya); aarathi signifies victory (jaya prada); and offering food– naivedya or havis is for abundance (samruddhi).
Each of the five senses contributes to our joy in life. The five fold offering (Panchopachara) – of Gandha (sandal paste), Pushpa (flowers), Dhupa (fragrance), Deepa (lights) and Naivedya (food) – are submission to the Lord with a request to direct our five sensestowards the goodand the God.
- Abhishekha (pouring water over the deity) is an act of love and submission. It purifies the worshippers’ mind and fills with devotion.
- Flowers confer prosperity, gladden the mind and hence are Sumanas.Dhupas just as the flowers, gratify the deities immediately.
- Lights represent energy, fame and upward motion. Lights dispel darkness and ignorance.
- Satvic food(Naivedya) of agreeable scent and appearance mixed with milk along with flowers and fruits , offered with reverence and devotion gratify the deities .
- These offerings submitted with devote bows , prostrations and absolute surrender do please the Lord.
- Prasad and Charanmrit (the residue of the offerings made to the Lord) is most precious, sacred and purifying. It is most the sought after and one who receives it considers himself most fortunate and blessed.
These Upacharas are submitted to the deity only after conducting ceremonial purification of various kinds, infusing life force into the deity and establishing a proper communication with the divinity residing in the icon.
The entire ritual of daily worship is broadly classified into five stages of worship:
- (1) Aasana, welcoming the divinity to partake the worship;
- (2) Sthapana, seating and invoking life force into the deity;
- (3) Sannidhi_karana, establishing proper communication with the deity;
- (4) Archana main worship; and
- (5) Visarjana bidding farewell or literally dismissing.
Incidentally, in Mahabharata (Anushasana parva), Bhishma describes , among other things , the virtues of worship; and , talks about the significance of offering flowers , fruits , lights and food to the deity .
(KM Ganguli’s translation http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/m13b063.htm )
All the sixteen (shodasha) upacharas like tendering invitation, offering seat; offering water for the feet and to sip and to rinse the mouth and also for bath; presentation of dry and fresh garments,; serving food etc. are performed with devotion and reverence. The personified God is also the Lord of the Lords who oversees the universe (lokadyaksha).Therefore the honors that are due to a king are offered to the icon as Rajo-pachara. These include white umbrella, flywhisk, music, dance, vehicles of various sorts, flower pavilions, swings, chariots etc.
All the while the worshipper and the devotees are aware that the external worship characterized by splendor and spectacle is an overflow of religious devotion and is secondary to the main worship, the inner worship manasa puja of the antaryamin (the inner being) residing in ones heart.
The inner worship that takes place in the privacy of the sanctum is more significant than the external worship. These are in a sequence such as :
- Shudhi (purification of elements),
- Mudras (assumption of appropriate and effective gestures),
- Pranayama (regulation of breath to enable contemplation of the divinity),
- Dhyana (contemplation),
- Soham_bhava (identity of the worshipper with the worshipped),
- Mantra (words to help realize the deity in worshipper’s heart) and
- Mandala (diagrams representing aspects of divinity).
Shuddhi is not merely the purification of the sanctum and its ambiance as the worshipper purifies the earth (bhu shuddhi) and the elements but is also the symbolic transformation and accommodation of all the elements that constitute worshippers body and world around him.
Dhyana is an important sequence in internal worship. It is not a prayer in the sense, it is not recited in praise of the deity nor is the worshipper seeking through it fulfillment of his desires. It is essentially to attune the inherent divine nature of the worshipper with the divinity of the deity. The worshipper visualizes and contemplates on the resplendent form of the deity as abiding in his own heart.
Mantras that seek to evoke the power of the deity and the mystical designs (yantras or mandalas) that serve as fit abodes for the deity are also important.
The next step is very significant. According to Tantra ideology, the worshipper regards his body as a Yantra where the deity resides. As a prelude to worship per se, the worshipper literally breathes life into the deity during prana_prathista sequence. The idol is transformed to divinity itself. The worshipper does this by extracting the power or the luster (tejas) of the divinity residing in his heart by means of inhalations and exhalations (ucchvasa and nishvasa), and investing it upon the deity. At the same time, the worshipper draws the presence of the Highest Spiritual being (paramatma) into his own individual being (jiva).This process symbolizes invoking the divine residing in ones heart, extracting it (bahir agatya) and transferring it with ease (sukham thistathu) in to the deity in front (asmin bimbe).The transferred Tejas stays in the deity until the worship is formally concluded.
The placement (nyasa) of divine presence in the structure of the icon as also in the worshipper is an essential ritual sequence before the actual service (upacharas) commences. Through these nyasas collectively called bhagavad_aaradhana adhikara_yogyata-siddhi, the worshipper secures competence to worship the deity. He invokes divine presence in himself. This takes three forms.
(1) Matrka-nyasa: placement of fifty seed-sounds (beeja mantra) in several psychic centers (chakras) on different parts of the body.
(2) Devata-nyasa: placement of different aspects of divinity on limbs and different parts of body; and
(3) Tattva-nyasa: Endowments of twenty-four basic factors (as per Samkhya) to the deity in order to individualize it.
The first two forms of nyasa are Tantric in character and are intended to transform the abstract form of divinity residing within the worshipper into a concrete form of divine as invested in the icon.
The second form of nyasa is designed to suit a specific type of deity .The Vaishnavas adopt Keshavadi nyasa; the Shaivas adopt Srikantadi nyasa while Shakthas adopt kala nyasa.
The third nyasa is largely Vedic with traces of Tantra. It sometimes provides a structure for abstract form of worship.
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It is only after the deity is thus properly invoked (Avahita), established (stapitha), close at hand (sanhita), positioned right in front of the worshipper (sammukha), confined in a place of honor (sanniruddha) and well concealed under a canopy (avaguntitha), the worship (upachara) commences and acquires a significance. Unless the worshipper establishes his identity with the worshipped, the rituals have no meaning. The Agama texts prescribe, “God is not to be worshipped by one who has himself not become God” (nadevo bhutva devam pujayet).
After the formal worship is completed, the deity is dismissed (visarjana). This ritual signifies withdrawal of the divine presence (temporarily lodged in the icon) and taking it back into worshipper’s heart (which is its permanent residence). The mantras recited in this context say “ Come ,oh God residing in the icon come back into my heart-lotus” (Ehi ehi, prathima sthitha purushottama , mama hrutkamale); “Reside in my heart , O Lord of the worlds , along with your glory” (hrudaya kuru samvasam sriya saha jagatpate).
The foregoing is the broad pattern of ritual worship and its symbolism.
However, certain temples where the deity is Self-manifest (Swayambhu) or installed by celestial beings (Deva prathistaha) say, as in Tirumala, follow a slightly different procedure. Here, the deity is the repository of divine powers ; and the priest need not go through the prana-prathista ritual. The Upacharas (services) are rendered not to the main deity but to a smaller image of the Lord (Kauthuka beru).It is the kauthuka beru that is infused with prana at the time of upachara worship. The priest evokes Tejas from the main deity , not from his own heart , and transfers it to kauthuka beru.
Read Next :
Importance of water in temple rituals
Reference:
Agama kosha By Prof. SK R Rao
sreenivasarao's blogs 
sreenivasaraos
March 21, 2015 at 8:19 am
hi sreenivasarao s
this is very interesting and informative post. i would like to share one of my experience here. recently i have participated in abhishek of lord ganesh. what they do in this temple is, they clean thedeity with oil first just like what we do for abhyangan snanam, then they clean the deity with shikakaya, and then they start the abhishekam with water, milk, pachamrutham and sandal etc.
i was watching the whole process with concentration. when the abhishekam reached the stage of pouring milk, i started feeling as if the milk was being poured on me and started feeling cold and came out of my trance because of the cold feeling.
it was an experience which i did not experience previously and was not leaving my mind and heart. was it because of the power of those mantras ?
indu
krishna kumar sarma
April 18, 2022 at 8:08 am
Namaskaaram srinivasarao garu mee prayathnam & parisodhana anupamaanam anitara saadhyam . mee vanti vaaru ee lokaaniki yentho avasaram . mee vanti vaare jeevanmukthini pondutaku arhulu . meeru mukthulu. mee paada padmamulaku namaskaaramulu .. ayya ! meeku angeekaarm aithe naaku call cheyandi plzzzzzzzzzzz …. number ; 98664 35 35 9.
Dr krishnakumar (natyacharya )
April 18, 2022 at 8:19 am
Respected Sir ! Devaalayaalaku vunde naalugu praakaaraala antharaardham cheppandi .. Aachamanam chese samayam lo vaade PANCHA PAATHRA ku & vudhdharani ki gala antaraardhamunu cheppandi dayayunchi . namaskaaramulatho mee abhimaani
omendr singh
April 19, 2017 at 4:56 am
Tremendous knowledge , sir
sreenivasaraos
April 19, 2017 at 6:02 am
Thank you Dear Singh for digging out an old and a forgotten blog
Thank for for breathing a fresh life into it and for the appreciation
Please do also read the other articles on Tantra and Agama
Regards
harini
May 21, 2020 at 8:46 am
very elaborative, informative and interesting. I could see the interrelationships with architecture, divinity, Vaastu Shastra, and literature here.
sreenivasaraos
May 26, 2020 at 3:19 pm
Dear Harini
Thank you for the visit; and. for the comments
You are most welcome
Stay safe, healthy and happy
Have a great life
Cheers and Regards
sudarshana rao
July 11, 2021 at 12:00 am
wish it was in kannada !! Will take a few re reads to absorb it all.
Alok Jagawat
March 4, 2022 at 7:54 am
Namaste Sir,
I was looking for dhyan slokas of 64 yoginis so that I can atleast try to recreate the shakti on tadapatras or paper. Have tried Devta Dhyan Malika, several koshas and other books but I am unable to find the dyan slokas on all yoginis. There is a temple in orissa which has some moorthis but most of them are destroyed and some are even missing. You have been a one stop for me for years for your extensive write ups on esoteric subjects. Have you ever come across any granthas that mention the dhyana slokas of yoginis ?? Please guide
sreenivasaraos
March 5, 2022 at 4:27 pm
Dear Alok
The Yoginis, who are the attendants of the Goddess Devi, are regarded as daughters or attendants of the Matrkas, the Mother-like deities. The Matrkas are the aspects of Devi.
Ashta-Matrkas are the eight mothers who arrive with their eight attendants. With a leading goddess in every group each having eight attendants , the whole group amounts to 64 yoginis
The tradition following the cluster of eight Matrkas (Kaula Tantra) counts sixty-four Yoginis (Chaushatti Jogini). And, each of the 64 yoginis is also associated with currents or ‘winds’ in human astral body; or bodily centers (dhatus)
There are various theories as to the number 64. But they are also enumerated as 60, 64 or 65 and even 81.
The number 64 correlates to the currents or wind of human body as type of unproductive tendency. 64 also has its mystical use in Tantric rituals and numerology to get magical powers.
Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati by By Paramahamsa Dr.Rupnathji talks in great detail , among other things, about the Yoginis, particularly with reference to the structure of Sri Chakra.
Here, while detailing the Chapters of the Tantric Text Gandharva Tantra, he enumerates Yogini Nyasa- the Nyasa of Yoginis – to be performed with the mantras.
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On the other side, it is a popular belief that the yoginis had their origins in animistic traditions of Adivasis or aboriginal people. They worshipped Grama-Devatas. They are mentioned in the Skanda Purana variously as yoginis, Dakinis, Shaktis or Bhairavis.
Please check here for the Bija Mantras of the 64 Yoginis.
https://vedicgoddess.weebly.com/goddess-vidya-blog/chatuhsasthi-yogini-64-yoginis
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Shri Shiv Kumar Tiwari in his monumental work- The Tribal roots of Hinduism; Sarup and Sons (2002)-deals in great detail about the tribal origins and aspects of the Yoginis.
**
You queried about Dhyana Slokas of the Yoginis.
There are a number of texts as also webpages that carry discussions as also the Verses (Stotra-hymns) about the Yoginis; giving descriptions of their features, their Bija-mantras; as also their positions and functions in the Sri Chakra.
Such Stotras are rather inconsistent. Each School of the Tantra carries its own set of iconographic features; Namavalis etc.
Please do check and go through the following links.
I trust they would provide you some details; though not to the extent you might have desired.
I am aware, I may not have been of much help. Please excuse me.
Regards
SShri Chatuh-shashti-yogini-stotram
https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_devii/chatuHShaShTiyoginIstotram.html
shree chatuh-shashti- yoginee-stotram 2
https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_devii/chatuHShaShTiyoginIstotram2.html
yoginee-stotra-saaram
https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_devii/yoginIstotrasAram.html
Chatuh-sasthi -Yogini- Mantra
https://pdfcoffee.com/64-yogini-2-pdf-free.html
Chatuh -sasthi -Yogini-nama-stotram
https://stotranidhi.com/en/chatushashti-64-yogini-nama-stotram-in-english/
https://stotranidhi-com.translate.goog/en/chatushashti-64-yogini-nama-stotram-in-english/?_x_tr_sl=te&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc
Shri Yogeshvari Sahasranama Stotra
https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_devii/yogeshvarIsahasranAmastotram.html
64 Tantric Yoginis and their mantras
https://vedicgoddess.weebly.com/goddess-vidya-blog/chatuhsasthi-yogini-64-yoginis
https://www.devshoppe.com/blogs/articles/chaunsath-yogini-64
Click to access 27.pdf
Subbaraman
April 5, 2022 at 7:55 am
Recently in one of the Northern vs. Southern Traditional worship (and the tradition, the culture, the art etc.) debate, I read someone saying – whenever there are conflicts, we refer to only “Dharmasastra” and not on Agamas. What are actually Dharmasastras and how does it refer to the aesthetics of Hindu worship?
sreenivasaraos
April 6, 2022 at 9:16 am
Dear Sri Subbaraman
Agamas are a set of ancient texts and are the guardians of tradition. Each Agama consists of four parts: Jnana(knowledge), Yoga (meditation), Kriya (rituals) and Charya (ways of worship) .
The first part includes the philosophical and spiritual knowledge.
The second part covers the yoga and the mental discipline.
The third segment Kriya (rituals) articulate with precision the principles and practices of deity worship – the mantras, mandalas, mudras etc.; the mental disciplines required for the worship. They also specify the conduct of other worship services, rites, rituals and festivals.
The third part specifies rules for the construction of temples and for sculpting and carving the figures of deities for worship in the temples
The Fourth one, Charya, deals with priestly conduct and other related aspects ;and, includes rules pertaining to the observances of religious rites, rituals, and festivals.
The most widespread rituals of worship today are of the Agamic variety. The Agama methods are worship of images of God through rituals (Tantra), symbolic charts (Yantra) and verbal symbols (Mantra).
These, as also the rules for temple construction etc., are followed even to this day
.
*
Dharma Shastras are made up of a vast number of texts produced over the centuries. There are literally hundreds of Dharma Shastra texts; and a far greater number of related commentaries and digests.
Dharma Shastras are an impulsive mix of religion, morality and points of law. These texts are not directly related to Temple-worship.
Dharma Shastras are principally concerned with the rights and privileges of upper classes of the society, consecratory rights (samskaras), stages of life, rules of eating, duties of the kings, legal procedures, eighteen titles of law, categories of sin, expiations and penances, funerary and ancestral rites (antyesti and shraddha) and atonement rites (Prayaschitta) etc.
They are thus mainly occupied with the religious rites of a certain class of people and to an extent with the personal laws of marriage, inheritance etc; and they generally aim to induce ‘appropriate behavior’ of human beings.
The Dharma shastras came into prominence at the time when the orthodox society was under dire threat and when it was fighting for survival. The society had entered into an inward-looking self-preservation – mode. The severity of the Dharma shastras was perhaps a defensive mechanism, in response to the threats and challenges thrown at its pet social order
Dharma Shastras are not of much practical significance today, as its secular aspects dealing with marriage, right to property, inheritance etc. have since walked into the personal law and civil law books of the modern Hindu Law, through an indirect route.
In any case, in the present context, the secular functions of the Dharma Shastras are no longer relevant. And, their other aspects have also little to do with temple-worship, today.
Regards
Subbaraman
April 6, 2022 at 6:46 pm
Hi Sir,
Very kind of you to have given such a detailed explanation! Your blog is the one that I always refer to whenever I want to learn something about our traditions, history and culture. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge!
Kind regards,
Subbaraman
Anita Korde
May 16, 2023 at 12:36 pm
Dear Sir,
Namaskaram !
Can you kindly help me understand the circular shape of Devi temples.
Thank you.
Anita Korde
sreenivasaraos
May 22, 2023 at 6:08 am
Dear Anita
Pardon me for the delay in responding to your comment.
The Shilpa text Shiva-prakasha in its chapter titled Vastu-bhumi-bedha, describes sixteen (Shodasha) types of temple layouts: the Square (Chandura); Rectangle (Agatra);Trapezium (with uneven sides – like a cart – shakata); Circle (Vritta); Elliptical (kritta vritta); triangular (dwaja); diamond or rhombus (vajra) ; Arrow (shara); umbrella (chatra) ; fish (meena);back of a tortoise (kurma);conch (shanka); crescent (ardha-chandra); pot (kumbha);sword (khadga); and lotus (kamala).
These layouts have specific applications; and are not to be used generally.
For instance: the back of a tortoise (kurma), pot (kumbha), conch (shanka) and lotus (kamala) are recommended only for Vishnu and Shiva temples.
Similarly, the Circle (Gola or vritta); Square (Chandura), Rectangle (Agatra), fish (meena), diamond or rhombus (vajra) and sword (khadga) are recommended for Devi temples.
The rest of the lay outs are for other (lesser) deities.
**
But, all the texts, generally, agree that the square or the rectangular shape of layout are the best and most auspicious. These are widely used for housing the deities.
**
As regards the Circle (Gola or vritta) type of temples, dedicated to the Devi, not many temples are in existence.
It is believed that here are only yogini temples still standing today. Of the few such ones, the fairly well known are: 1. 11th-century Chatusath yogini located in the village of Mitaoli in Madhya Pradesh; and, 2. Chausath Yogini Temple, Hirapur , outside Bhubaneswar, Orissa.
**
The 64-Yogini temple, perched on a small hill, an hour’s drive away from Jabalpur, in Madhya Pradesh, is the most celebrated one. The circular temple is dedicated to 64 yoginis (Chausath Yogini), and has 64 small chambers in its interior. The central shrine of course is dedicated to Lord Shiva; and, there are slab coverings here that have perforations to drain rainwater.
In this temple, there are 64 deities, which is the square of 8. It is said; the Supreme Mother Goddess Mahadevi generated 8 sets of Yoginis; each of 8 Yoginis; bringing the number of Divine Yoginis to 64. Their statues were housed within the 64 chambers lining the circumference of the temple.
The 64 shrines containing the different yoginis face a round courtyard, in the middle of which is a podium housing a shrine to Lord Shiva. The plan is very similar to the Shiva Lingam/Yoni design, which always rests on a round base, the yoni.
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64 yogini temple
64 yogini temple 2
**
It was in the year 1911, the then India’s capital was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi (Now New Delhi). Thereafter, during the year 1912, the Colonial Authorities, assigned the task of designing and erecting a new Parliament house for India, to two British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. They, searching for a suitable Indian motif, finally decided to adopt the architectural design of the Circle (Gola or vritta) of the Chausath Yogini Temple at Mitaoli in Madhya Pradesh. The construction of the Indian Parliament House, which is still in use today, took six years to construct (1921-1927).
https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-8b23a8157921a7de8d8ad6e4dcf882d1-lq
The resemblance of the Parliament house to the Chausath Yogini Temple at Mitaoli, is remarkably astounding. The noticeable difference is that The Indian Parliament has 144 columns (instead of 64); and, is surrounded by gardens.
Thank you, Maa,
Cheers and Regards