Guru Pūrṇima

Pañcopacāra (5- Step) Pūjā Viddhi

Chinmaya Mission West
E-Balavihar Mahābhārata Summer Camp 2020

Contact:
bvsummercamp@chinmayamission.org

Chinmaya Mission West Mahābhārata E-Balavihār Camp 2020

 Symbolism of Guru Pūrṇima

Think about the first time you learnt to ride a bike, play a piano or to even write
your name. There was someone guiding you until you learnt to be on your own.
In other words, any knowledge we want to learn needs a teacher. Spiritual
knowledge also needs a teacher because it is the subtlest of all.

The teacher, whom we reverentially call as Guru shows us the path to live an inspired life of
service and devotion, awakening and fostering the desire in us to come to know our own
Divine nature.

Just as a river flows continuously towards the ocean, knowledge and culture has been continuously
passed on through several generations in Sanātana Dharma. This lineage of teacher and disciple
across these several generations is called as the Guru Paramparā.

Bhagavān Veda Vyāsaji was one of the foremost teachers who systematically setup the tradition of
Guru- Śiṣya - Paramparā (Teacher-disciple lineage) and ensured that the knowledge gets passed on
with pristine purity. Guru Pūrṇima is a day when we honor day of Bhagavān Veda Vyāsaji's
manifestation, and remember His contribution and also that of the entire lineage of teachers due to
whom we are able to benefit from the teachings of our scriptures.

We bow down in gratitude to the Revered Teachers of our Paramparā- Bhagavān Ādiśaṅkarācārya,
Swāmi Tapovanji Mahārāj, and Swāmi Śivānandāji Mahārāj.

We bow down in gratitude to Their most Illustrious student, Pūjya Gurudev Swami Chinmayānandaji
(founder of Chinmaya Mission) who brought this ancient wisdom of the Ṛṣis into our lives.

Why Do We Perform Pūjā?

Pūjā is the ritual means to worship the Lord in the many beautiful
forms in which the Lord appears.
We chant sacred mantras that help us to connect to the Divine all
around us and within us. Traditionally, Pūjā is performed with 16-steps (Ṣoḍaśopacāra) of
ritual welcome, which includes welcoming the Lord, washing feet, offering flowers, giving
food, etc.
The purpose of Pūjā is to bring peace, calmness, love and tranquility to our mind by giving the
mind a sacred Altar at which to invoke all auspiciousness and higher thoughts. By offering our
mind to the Lord through our effort and prayer, He returns that mind soaked with Love,
Devotion and Tranquility.

Chinmaya Mission West Mahābhārata E-Balavihār Camp 2020

 Pūjā Items
Children: Please ask your parents to help you get
the needed items ready for Monday 6th July, 2020 Morning.

1. IMAGE:
Print , Cut Out and fold the Picture of our
Guru Paramparā

2. PLATE:
New Paper Plate or Ārati Plate

3. Chandanam (Sandalwood Paste) &

Kumkum powder (small quantity)

4. Handful of Akṣata (rice mixed with little

turmeric and few drops of ghee)

5. A Few Flowers

6. An Electric Tea- Light as Our Lamp

7. Incense stick & holder *

* Kindergarden – 8th Grade Children, please
use Akṣata instead

8. A Few Fruits/ Nuts / Raisins in a small bowl

Chinmaya Mission West Mahābhārata E-Balavihār Camp 2020

 Pūjā Steps

After setting up, with the image upright on the plate and space in front
for the offerings, we begin the steps…
Before Each Step, you can sing a few lines of your favorite Guru
Bhajan.

1. Gandham Offer the Chandanam & Kumkum

Chant: to the Lord by mixing with little
Om Veda-Vyāsa-Svāmine Namaḥ water, and applying to the
Gandham Samarpayāmi forehead of the picture

2. Puṣpam
Chant: Offer the Flowers at the feet of
Om Veda-Vyāsa-Svāmine Namaḥ the Guru (at the base of the
picture)
Gandham Samarpayāmi

3. Dhūpam
Chant:
Om Veda-Vyāsa-Svāmine Namaḥ Offer Fragrant Incense
Dhūpam Samarpayāmi

4. Dīpam
Chant: Offer the Lit Lamp to the eyes of
Om Veda-Vyāsa-Svāmine Namaḥ the Guru
Dīpam Samarpayāmi

5. Naivedyam
Chant: Offer the fruits/nuts (food
offering) at the base of the
Om Veda-Vyāsa-Svāmine Namaḥ picture.
Naivedyam Samarpayāmi

Chinmaya Mission West Mahābhārata E-Balavihār Camp 2020

 ALTERNATE MANTRAS

You can perform this simple 5- Step Pūjā Daily for the form of the Lord you
love the most! This is your Iṣṭa Devatā.

Some forms are listed below…

Lord Śiva Om Śrī Mahādevāya Namaḥ

Lord Ganeśa Om Gam Gaṇapataye Namaḥ

Lord Viṣṇu Om Nārāyaṇāya Namaḥ

Mother Saraswatī Om Śrī Saraswatyai Namaḥ

Mother Lakṣmī Om Śrī Mahā Lakṣmyai Namaḥ

Bhagavān Hanumānji Om Śrī Hanumate Namaḥ

Lord Kṛṣṇa Om Śrī Kṛṣṇāya Namaḥ

Lord Rāma Om Śrī Rāmāya Namaḥ

Guru Om Śrī Sadgurave Namaḥ

Chinmaya Mission West Mahābhārata E-Balavihār Camp 2020