The article is aimed at providing food for thought to all those involved in spiritual Sadhana, irrespective of their particular tradition, without challenging the authenticity of the religious practices, which are meant for different purposes.
PUJA: The process of worshipping an invisible divine being in its multiple forms, like idols, water pots (Kalasa), photographs, and Yantras (geometric diagrams), using countless things as offerings to the divine during the course of the Puja. These are known as Upacharas. Our scriptures have described a few categories of offerings: Panchopachara (5 items), Shodashopachara (16 items), Dvatrimshad Upachara (32 items), and Chatushashtyupachara (64 items). Besides these offerings, Abhisheka (ritual bathing) is done using various items, such as Panchamruta, Scented water, Vibhuti, Kumkum, Turmeric, and the list goes on.
This is not a new idea; the four Vedas have listed the following deities:
Indra: “The king of the gods, whose epithets include thunder, rain, and warfare.”
Agni: “The god of fire, sometimes regarded as a messenger between mortals and gods.”
Soma: “A god who is identified with the moon.”
Surya: “The sun god, representing light and vigor.”
Varuna: “The god of the seas and of cosmic order.”
Ushas: “The goddess of dawn.”
Rudra: “The god of storms and destruction, later identified with Shiva.”
No elaboration is required for these gods; they represent NATURE. Nature is known to be divine.
Concepts in the Upanishads:
Yes, Upanishads, went little ahead and gave concept of
Brahman: The ultimate reality, the source and essence of all existence.
(Four Mahavakyas referring Brahman are from Upanishads. Aitareya, Brihadarnyaka, Chandogya, Mandukya – Respectively from Rig, yaju sama and Atharvana vedas)
Atman: The individual self, which is not different from Brahman
Trimurti: The trinity of Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer).
Devi : Brahman in feminine principle.
Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 11.6.3.5–6 belonging to Shukla Yajurveda reads
के ते त्रयस्त्रिंशत् ?
अष्टौ वसवः, एकादश रुद्राः, द्वादश आदित्याः, ते एकत्रिंशत् ।
इन्द्रश्च प्रजापतिश्च — एते त्रयस्त्रिंशद् देवाः ।
Ke te tryatrimshat ?
Astau vasavaha ekadasha rudraha, dwadasha adityaha,
te ekatrimshat, indrashcha prajapatishcha -ete trayatrimshad devah
Here also, there is no mention of the divinities in its several forms to whom we are performing the Puja(s).
Then, from where did these divinities emerge and what are they ?
The article will continue but the blogger looks forward to comments / views on this one.
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