As per the holy scriptures some religious rituals are incomplete without the help of other components, for example, specific material or Pujan Samagri is necessary in vedic ritualistic worship of God.
These components aiding the religious rituals an important link in seeking the grace of God. Understanding the spiritual importance of each of these components or Puja Samagri actually enhances the bhav (Spiritual emotion) towards the God, thereby making the religious ritual rich with bhav. With this objective in mind the spiritual importance and salient features of the pooja components (Pujan Samagri) like turmeric, vermilion, gandha (sandalwood paste), flowers, akshata, betel nut, coconut, Panchakhadya, incense sticks, camphor etc. used in ritualistic worship.
There are 25 main componanets and material (Puja Samagri) used in Hindu ritualistic worship?
1. Water of the seven Holy Rivers:
The Holy Rivers Ganga, Godavari, Narmada, Kaveri, Krushna, Brahmaputra and Yamuna are considered the seven Holy Rivers. Water from all these seven rivers is collected in the ritualistic pot, which is used during ritualistic worship. ‘Water from these seven Holy Rivers has the ability to attract and transmit the frequencies of Saptadevtas (seven Superior Deities). India is known as the most sattva predominant place on earth because it is the only country through which all these seven rivers flow. Many yogis have undertaken penance on the banks of these rivers so as to acquire the Principles of the Saptadevtas in the Universe. This water from the ritualistic pot is used for performing the abhishek. The subtle sound frequencies from the ritualistic pot absorb the frequencies of the Saptadevtas in the water and effectively transmit them into the atmosphere. Since these subtle sound frequencies have a higher speed and expanse, the effectiveness of the frequencies of the Saptadevtas transmitted into the atmosphere through the water of the seven rivers remains in the environment for a longer period. Since these frequencies are transmitted with the help of the particles of the Absolute Water element in the water and the particles of the Absolute Ether element from the sound frequencies in the ritualistic pot, this water can be consumed as tirth (Holy water). By doing so with bhav and devotion, the Divine frequencies in this tirth activate the five vital energies in the form of gases that are in dormant state surrounding the navel, in the body of the devotee. With the help of these subtle gases these Divine frequencies spread all over the body of the devotee. As a result, purification of the vital energy body and vital energy sheath of the embodied soul occurs. Hence, consuming tirth gives the embodied soul sattva predominant satisfaction and its mind becomes Blissful and enthusiastic.
2.Cotton vastra
Why is milk or gandha used when making a vastra from cotton? : The cotton vastra represents the Sushumna Nadi of the kundalini (Cosmic energy system) and the seven cotton beads in the vastra are associated with the seven centers of the kundalini system, in the body of the embodied soul. The cotton thread joining these beads is the link to the manifest Chaitanya (Divine consciousness) providing sattva predominant frequencies to the entire body. When the attributeless Chaitanya in the Absolute zero manifests as per the bhav of the embodied soul towards God, its color is white and shining. In contrast, the attributeless Chaitanya is like transparent water; it is however dormant in this state. The cotton beads and the thread joining them are the carriers of the manifest Chaitanya in the body. Milk is used to make the constrictions in this thread because the flow of manifest Chaitanya is like the flow of milk. When this Chaitanya is provided to these beads, these bead-like centers of the kundalini in the body are activated and the embodied soul comes into a state of duality and on the strength of non-duality carries out the functions related to the physical body in the Universe. The use of gandha is preferable to milk when making the vastra. Due to the coating of gandha the frequencies of the Deities are activated faster and get attracted to the cotton vastra. By adorning the Deity’s neck with this sattva predominant vastra, the Deity assumes His ‘with attributes’ form faster and begins functioning for the embodied soul in a shorter time.
3. Janeu (Sacred thread)
What is the Science in offering the janeu to Deities?
Offering the janeu to Deities means binding the expanse of the brilliance of Deities in the rounds of the sacred thread and evoking them to function in duality. As the janeu is made of thread and is charged with energy of a mantra, the frequencies of sound emitted by it activate the attributeless Principle of God from the Universe. This then functions for the embodied soul as per its bhav towards God. The thread of janeu represents the silver link between God (non-duality) and the embodied soul (duality). Offering the janeu is an important process of interaction of duality and non-duality. Wearing this sacred thread after the ritualistic worship endows one with the sattva predominant Chaitanya of the Deity.
4. Turmeric and Vermilion
Turmeric being a tuber, the frequencies of the earth in it are in far greater quantity than in stems growing above the surface of the earth. Vermilion is prepared from turmeric. Since turmeric and vermilion are offered to Deities, the worshipper benefits from the frequencies of the earth in them, as well as from the frequencies of Deities. Consequently, the sattva component in him is enhanced and his ability to tolerate raja-tama (distressing) frequencies also increases. How to identify pure vermilion? : Constituents of pure vermilion are pure turmeric, diluted lime powder solution made in water and a small quantity of pure camphor. Though vermilion is made from turmeric, the odour of turmeric is entirely eliminated from it and a Divine scent takes its place. The odour of turmeric is evident only when it is sniffed. In contrast, the scent of pure vermilion is evident up to a certain distance. Pure vermilion has indigenous humidity and yet is completely dry. Its touch is cold like that of ice. Pure vermilion is blood red in colour. By applying this vermilion on the forehead, negative energies are prevented from entering the body through the midbrow region. In the past eras (Satyayug, Tretayug and Dwaparyug) pure vermilion was available. With the passing of the eras the sattva component in the vermilion has gradually waned. In the current times, pure vermilion is scarcely available.