The English equivalents of ‘Puja’ are homage, reverence, adoration, respect, etc. The Puja system is related to religions, deities and God. In some religions there is an elaborate system of rituals for Puja while in some religions there is a simple method of prayer.

All major world religions originated in Asia. South Asia is the birthplace of four major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. All these religions originated in India. Christianity and Islam originated in Southwest Asia, for which Jerusalem, Mecca, and Medina are important places. In all these religions there is the concept of God. Only Sikhism focuses on gurus. But, the system of Puja and prayers is associated with all religions.

This system is visible in the world today. Almost all religions except Hinduism evolved during the last 2,600 years. Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world and its history is about 4,000 years long, but Hinduism also developed after the first agricultural revolution that took place about 10,000 years ago and the intervening period was the Vedic period in India during which such Puja systems had not taken root. .

To understand the purpose of Puja we will have to go back to the early stages of human civilizations when man was an inhabitant of the jungle and without refuge, because the system of reverence to some unknown power began to emerge in that period. This will also define the causes that impel human beings to perform Puja.

a) The Puja system arose to gain protection from unknown powers, natural calamities, dangers and disasters in the initial period:

In the early stages, man was a food gatherer, hunter, fisherman and lived without shelter in the jungle in small groups. There was no concept of God in that period. Small groups of people lived in isolation. However, they saw the impact of the natural calamity on their lives. They experienced the impact of forest fires, lightning, storms, heavy rains, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and began to fear such a phenomenon.

In order to protect themselves from such events, they must have visualized the role of an unknown superpower and began to show reverence to such powers. This culminated in the Vedic period in ancient India when an elaborate system of worship of the Fire God (Agni Dev), Wind God (Vayu Dev), Water God (Varun Dev), Sun God (Surya Dev) began. Dev) and the God of Lightning (Indra dev). .

In addition to such deities, a system of reverence was also invented to gain protection from each element of the earth’s environment. The trees, the land, the rivers, the hills, the animals, the reptiles, the birds, all became objects of reverence in the Vedic period. We can call it “animism”, which was the Puja system until the Vedic period.

b) The rise of Sakam Puja (worship with expectation of reward):

Since Hinduism developed from the Vedic religion, there are a multiplicity of gods and goddesses in the Hindu religion. There are hundreds of Puja systems associated with deities. There is a multitude of religious books. The concept of “Tridev” (Trinity, namely Bramha, Vishnu and Mahesh) was developed in the early stages of Hinduism.

The worship system was designed to please a particular deity to get some blessings and rewards. This Puja is for the fulfillment of human desires, needs, deliverance from suffering, offspring, marriage, increase in status and position, health, wealth and other desires.

The ancient kings organized “Aswa-medha Yagya” to enlarge their kingdoms and empires. According to the Ramayana, even Raja Ram resorted to this yagya and the yagya’s horse was captured by his sons Lav and Kush, triggering a war between father and sons. Yagya is an elaborate system of Puja that is practiced even today for a particular purpose.

However, this type of Puja is medium quality Puja, because it is done for material rewards. Lord Krishna in Shrimad Bhagwat Gita said the following:

“Antavat tu phalam tesam tad bhavaty alpa medhasam

devan deva yajo yanti mad bhakta yanti mam api”

(Chapter VII, Verse 23)

Translation: Men of low intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but my devotees finally reach my supreme planet.

c) Nishkam Puja system (worship without attachment to expectations)

Hinduism continued to transform through the centuries and became more scientific. It came to be regarded as a religion associated with the fundamental doctrine of Karma. This thought arose during the Mahabharata battle when Lord Krishna began to advise Arjun. The same preaching is found in Shrimad Bhagwat Gita.

According to Hindu doctrine, all beings have a soul and there is a process of reincarnation after death. These souls are arranged in a hierarchy. The fundamental point is to ascend in the hierarchy and then escape from the eternal cycle of birth and death through union with Brahma. The principle of reincarnation of the soul is the cornerstone of Hinduism and every soul must try to attain salvation (Nirvana, Mukti, Moksha) through spiritual practices. This should be the ultimate purpose behind Puja.

For this, Lord Krishna showed the paths of “Karma Yoga” (fulfillment of duty while remaining detached from reward), “Gyan Yoga” (knowledge of the absolute), and “Bhakti Yoga” (spiritual practice of fostering loving devotion to God ). Lord Krishna said in the Bhagwat Gita:-

“a-brahma bhuvanal lokah punar avartino rjuna

mam upetya tu kaunteya punar janma na vidyate”

(Chapter VIII, Verse 16)

Translation: From the highest planet in the material world to the lowest, all are places of misery in which repeated birth and death take place. But he who comes to my abode, oh son of Kunti, is never born again.

d) Rise of Sadguru Puja (worship of ascending masters):

Sadgurus (ascending masters) are embodiments of God Himself who live among us to guide us in our efforts to attain God. Lord Krishna in Bhagwat said that “saints are incarnations of God”. Sadgurus are known by different names in different religions. Hindus call them “Paramhansa”, Muslims call them “Qutub” and Christians call them “the ascending masters”. They have incarnated in almost all religions. Some prominent names are “Jesus Christ”, “Moses”, “Gautum Buddha”, “Lord Mahavir”, “Aadi Sankracharya” and “Prophet Mohammad”. The most recent incarnations of Sadgurus are known by the names “Ram Krishna Paramhansa”, Shri Sai Nath of Shirdi”, “Guru Nanak”, etc.

The Sadguru guides his disciple to attain God, for which Guru Bhakti (devotion to the Guru) is the most important requirement. Therefore, the disciples have a duty to hold their Guru in high reverence.

The life of modern man has become very complex. He cannot follow the elaborate Puja systems and rituals followed by his ancestors. There is a shortage of time and in these difficult moments; the only recourse left for human beings is to keep faith in Sadguru, who guides them towards spiritual betterment. Therefore, the worship of Sadguru is the most important Puja in the world today.