Shodashopachara Pooja

There are Sixteen Steps involved in Performing Shodashopachara Pooja. All the Rituals are Common  but Mantras may be different basing on Pooja (Ganesh pooja,Krishna Pooja, Shiva pooja, Durga Pooja ..etc).


Steps Involved :

• Avahanam : The god to be worshipped is called upon that is a worshipper invokes the god or goddess he/she wishes to worship.
• Aasanam : Offering seat ( Appropriate position)
• Paadyam : The feet of the God must be Washed.
• Arghyaam : Water containing sandal paste, rice, grains and flowers is poured over the deity.
• Achaman : Water is offered to diety .And the Same water is sipped by Devotee himself
• Snanam : Offering Bath to god(diety).
• Vasthram : Offering new clothes
• Yagnopaveetham : Offers Sacred thread to diety
• Gandham : Sandal wood paste ,Sindoor, kumkum Is applied to diety.
• Alankaram : Decorating the diety
• Pushpam :- Flowers are offered to the deity.
• Dhupam - Incense sticks or camphor are lit. Incense sticks purifies the atmosphere
• Deepam - A lamp is lit and placed in front of the deity.
• Naivedyam - Eatables are offered to the deity. Later distributed as prasadam for devotees
• Thambulam : Betel leaves and nuts are offered to diety
• Harathi is given to the diety.

Devotees offers namaskars to the diety, And then give Dakshina to the priests who performed the pooja.

In Hindu Communities  Shodashopachara Pooja is Considered As Full-flegded pooja.