We follow the Hindu religious calendar and regularly meet on zoom with our community all over the globe to worship the divine together. We celebrate all of the main festivals such as Navaratri (the Nine Nights of the Mother Goddess), and Śivaratri. Most pūjās are open to all, but some require prior initiation. In these pūjās you can connect to the energies of the mantra deities. Often but not always we will send a mantra file so that you can join in the recitation of a part of the pūjā. We announce the dates on our Facebook page, pujawisdom and welcome you to join. Contact Us.
Kāmya pūjā is pūjā with a specific desire. The need for Kāmya pūjā can be indicated in jyotish or Vedic astrology. It can also be a strong wish such as wanting a job or marriage, the need for astral protection, or changing an aspect of life.
Niṣkāmya pūjā is pūjā without a specific desire. It is pūjā done for spiritual growth. It is the worship of the Hindu deities (devatās) which are specific forms and functions of the divine. This is done to support or initiate a daily spiritual practice, and it is best to attend the pūjās regularly for some time.
Private pūjās
Usually Kāmya pūjās require a private pūjā at some point. Especially jyojyotiṣa pūjās need the energy to be very focused on a specific issue such as birth on an eclipse or other astrological constellations. In this, the entire pūjā will be dedicated to you and whatever issue you come with. These require a lot of specific materials and technical knowledge such as creating and worshiping maṇḍalas. The ritual itself will take 5-6 hours, plus elaborate preparations. These are one-time events, sometimes combined with attending group pūjās for a period of time.
The complete list of pujas is very long, and often the more specific sadhanas are prescribed by the astrologers with whom I cooperate. The following are but a few examples.
Where?
We perform the pūjās at our temple in Belgium, and you are most welcome to visit and sit with us in person or on zoom. Pūjās can also be done at your house. This is especially relevant for pūjās that clear the house of negative energies, or for house entry and other auspicious functions.
During every pūjā we explain some of the mantras and practices. This engages the intellect and encourages mental presence. It fosters an understanding through which you can be more actively involved in the process.
Most pūjās take many hours which can be quite challenging, hence it may be difficult to stay focused. Try to stay actively present during the pūjā as much as you can. Pūjā is a ceremony which moves energies, so be open to shifts in mind, body and emotions.
Some pūjās can also be performed without your presence, or present for a short duration only. For larger works we can do a series of pūjās in your absence and then include you in the final pūjā.
At present, we work mostly via zoom
The energies invoked in the rituals move in the one unified field of consciousness. Time and space are a mode of perception and have no reality of their own. They are not an inherent quality of manifestation, but rather of perception itself. The energies we work with are present in the one consciousness whether it is in your home or in our temple. Even though in-person attendance is preferable, there is a long-standing tradition of doing pūjā without the presence of the patron. To this, we now add the zoom link so that you can witness the pūjā if you wish to.
Zoom Etiquette
- We ask you to keep your video camera on during the entire pūjā, so we can maintain contact.
- Mute your microphone, and unmute only when you’d like to say something.
- Please take a shower and wear fresh clothes.
- Stay focused, don't let your living room and mobile phone distract you from the pūjā. Sit in ceremonial space. Pretend like you are physically present with us and don't do anything you wouldn't do in the temple. Don't eat, and don't engage with anything else. We realize that this is not always possible. It is only a guideline.
Gaṇapatipūjā
Gaṇapati is the Lord of Beginnings, and brings blessings for your journey through life. By His grace we attain our goals, and our path is made clear and freed from all obstacles.
His mantra is the first one we practice when we begin mantrasadhana. He is the guardian at the door who allows us entry into the higher practices. He can help us to navigate the difficulties of integrating a spiritual practice in daily life. As lord of the earth element he helps us to structure our life in a way that is conducive to our spiritual practice.
We worship Gaṇapati when we start a new undertaking, or when we wish for new opportunities in life. As Lord of obstacles we invoke him when things are stuck. We worship him also when we need a new job, a new house, or at the onset of any auspicious function such as marriage, first entry into a new house, the start of a business venture, etc.
Almost every month we have a Gaṇapati group puja, and that is a good first puja to attend to get acquainted with the work.
Śivapūjā
Śiva means the good, the beneficent. He brings healing and peace of mind. His main ritual is abhiṣekaṃ, a bath of nectar to cool the mind and heal our wounds. Lord Śiva is pure consciousness. When we expand our awareness beyond the personal level we get a very different outlook on life, and the hardships we are facing can become less problematic.
Śiva is the great yogi, and with His blessings we can make great progress on the spiritual path.
Lakṣmīpūjā
We all need Lakṣmī in our life. She is the attainment, the completion, the tree laden with fruit, the fields ready for harvest, overflowing with riches freely given by mother nature. She is abundance, opulence, fullness and contentment. She is satisfied and gives satisfaction. She is golden, and red, because She is fertile.
We worship Her when we need more of those qualities in our life. She blesses us with opulence and abundance. A new job, a relationship, a happy home. No matter how spiritual our aspirations are, we all need some Lakṣmī in our life. So that we may receive what we need, and can use our gifts to their full potential.
Kālīpūjā
Kālī is a Great Goddess, and She is the divine mother. She protects Her children, She gives birth and at the end of life she takes it away to complete the cycle and start all over again. She integrates the shadow and the light, death and life, matter and spirit.
She can be of tremendous help on the spiritual path, and in life She can bless us with great gifts. There is nothing which She cannot give.
Her protection is divine, and She closes the door to evil spirits and calls them to order.
Tripurasundarī
Tripurasundarī is the Great Goddess who is the thrill of existence, the awe and wonder we feel when perceiving something very beautiful. When we get touched very deeply and feel our inner core is being moved by that experience. She is the activity of consciousness. As the Mother Goddess, She gives birth to every experience, every form, every color and flavor of existence.
She exists as the Śrīyantra, the diagram of 9 intersecting triangles, which is a graphic representation of Her mantra. The worship of the Śrīyantra is a complex process which honors Tripurasundarī as the queen of the universe and of all the layers of our being. She is our most inner self, our sense of freedom and being the agent of our deeds in the world is Her power. She is the freedom of consciousness.
Jyotiṣa astrological pūjās
Astrological pūjās for planets, nakṣatras and other jyotiṣa elements are large rituals to pacify or strengthen, as the case may be, the energies of the birth chart. This is always to be indicated by competent astrologers. When malefic planets affect us, they can create negative energy currents which manifest as habitual patterns that bring about experiences and results which are not aligned with our deeper intentions.
In these pūjās we first create and worship the navagrahamaṇḍala, the diagram of the nine planets. The specific energies are then addressed, and this is followed by offerings into the sacred fire.
Most of the time, japa or silent repetition of the planetary mantra is also needed.
