(I) What is Nitya-Puja ? Nitya means daily. Puja in Sanskrit meant to adore, to worship. Puja is to worship God.

Therefore Puja performed every day is known as Nitya-Puja. Nitya-Puja evokes feelings of love and adoration. On occasions it may feel mechanical, robotic or ritualistic. (II) Why is Nitya-Puja performed in the morning? The scriptures declare that the early hours of the morning are considered especially auspicious. Therefore any sacred activity performed in the morning will bear greater fruit. Meditating on God and the Saint will awaken our spiritual attributes Dharma, Jnan, Vairagya, and Bhakti. So there is no better auspicious time for puja than early morning. After a night s rest, the mind is more peaceful than at any other time of the day. !ith a peaceful mind, thoughts of a "ivine still the mind further and make it pure. This will let you transform the day s chores into bhakti, into a festival, to keep it free of misfortunes, the morning puja is a must and boon. A uni#ue fringe benefit of morning puja is that the mind is calmed by the divine inspiration of God and $is Sadhu and is better able to ford through the day s problems at work and home. (III) Why personal Puja is necessary? Some people reveal naively that one of their family members performs a puja and lights a divo in the Ghar mandir, so the rest have no need to do puja themselves% This is not true. !hen we feel hungry, if someone else eats on our behalf, will that satisfy us& !hen we are thirsty, if someone else drinks the water, will it #uench our thirst& 'f we feel sleepy, and if somebody else sleeps for us, will we be rested& (o, only we can do those things for ourselves. (o one can do them for us. (IV) Murtis is the Puja What should the Murtis be li!e? There is only one creator, sustainer and protector of the infinite universes and $e is Paramatma. The murti of any ishta devata can be worshipped. (V) What is the se"uence of the Nitya-Puja routine? Nitya-Puja vidhi activities are) *. Getting ready for Puja : The +u,a must be the very first thing one does in the morning. Most satsangi will not drink or eat anything before their Nitya-Puja..

One wakes up in the morning before sunrise and takes bath or shower. -or puja get dressed with washed clothes. +referably these clotes are kept separate from those worn during the day. -or males, a dhotiyu and a shal are suitable. -or females, Sari or traditional dresses are suitable. After puja, the clothes should be neatly folded and stored away. This inspires noble thoughts during puja. 't is best not to wear a shirt and a pair of trousers, shorts or ,eans during such an auspicious activity. $ave a cup of water, spoon and some sweet, dry fruit, or fruit to offer to God during pu,a. Satsangies often keep separate set of pots to be used only for +u,a or other such activities. .. Place and Asan for the Puja : The idea is to do pu,a where you have minimum distraction. +ick such a spot, if you wish play a /irtan, "hun cassette in the background. Sit on a piece of cloth or mat 0asan 1 facing (orth or 2ast. (ow, pour spoon of water in your right palm and drink it as follow) first time chant 3aum (arayanay (amah3 before drinking, second time chant 3aum $araye (amah3, and third time chant 3aum $arikrusnay (amah3. (ow take a spoon or two of water and wash your right right palm before ne4t step. (ow you are ready for tilak 5handlo. This step is slightly different for male and female. -or male, the tilak should be imprinted on the forehead using Gopi chandan paste and then in the middle of the tilak a round kum6kum 0red1 chandlo should be imprinted. -or female, only the /umkum chandlo in the forehead is prescribed in Sikshapatri. 7. Mansi Puja: $ere are some ideas about how to do the morning mansi pu,a, you can modify and add to it as you wish. "uring Mansi +u,a, close your eyes, recogni8e that you are soul. 'magine that you are in service to God. 9ou wake him up, help him clean his teeth, take a nice bath, bring him appropriate clothes, ornaments to wear and so forth. Serve him breakfast, accept prasad from him. "o arti. :. Puja: After mansi pu,a, open your eyes. 'n front of our asan another asan should be laid, for the Murtis. The Shikshapatri and the ti ak-!hand o should be placed neatly on one side. ;ay the murties in front of you and invite lord to accept your +u,a through the Murties.

Then do following) *. Offer flowers, and food<water you had prepared. .. At least do = malas 0 going through each bead of the rosary while chanting1 while sitting, 7. At least two malas standing up 0on your left leg and hand e4tended above1, :. At least = pradakshina 0circling murties in clockwise direction1 =. At least > "andwat or +anchang +ranam. Male satsangies should do dandwat while female satsangies do +anchang +ranam. >. (ow offer your prayers. O Mahara,% +lease protect me from the maya. +lease protect me form our indriyas and antahkaran. +lease protect me form all types of evil, bad company. +lease accompany me at all times. -inally one touches the charans0lotus6feet1 of the murtis and brings one?s hands to one?s eyes. This is known as charan sparsh. @. (ow politely re#uest Mahara, to take his place in your heart. A. -old up the murties laid in front of you. B. (ow, read at least slokas. This is the end of morning +u,a. (ow it is time to wrap up. +ut everything back as it was before. (VI)What are the benefits of Nitya-Puja? Cy doing the pu,a everyday will bring you closer to ;ord. (ot ,ust that but $e will stay with you at all times and help you in doing good things. $e will also become very happy on you. One achieves bhakti Dlove of GodE by hearing and chanting about the Supreme ;ord?s special #ualities even while engaged in the ordinary activities of life in this world. Some useful items and slokas are given below Nithya Pooja Vedhi (Daily Pooja Procedure)

#ist of pooja items needed

/umkum Termeric 0hadli1 Akshantam "mi# itt $ bit o% kumukum or turm$ri!, gh$$ or oi in ri!$& Sandalwood paste -ruits F flowers

Cetel leaves and Cetel nuts +ancha patra "pr$%$rr$d s iv$r or !opp$r p at$, tumb $r, spoon "udrani&& !ater 5hamphor "karpoor %or aarati& F plate for aarati Oil lamps "pr$%$rr$d gh$$, !astro oi , ti oi & Cell Agarbati "hoop (aivadyam < +rasadam

"eva6t6archana $m guru-bramha guru-%ishnu guru-de%o mahesh%arah Guru6sakshat para6bramha6tasmai sree gurave6namah Gayatri +rardhana om mu!ta %idru-mahe-manila dha%ala-cha-yair-mu!ai-sri!shanaih yukta vindu6kala6nibandha6ratna makutam tatvardha6varnatmikam gayatri varada6bhayamku6shakashah shubram kapalam6gadam shankham chakra6madhara6vinda yugalam hastairvaha nitimbha,e. Gayatri mantram $m bhurbha-%asu%ah tatsa-%itur%a-renyam Chargo6devasya6dhimahih dhiyo6yonah pracho6dayat "hiparadhana " ight th$ t'o oi amp k$pt in %ront o% th$ god& "hipam6,oti para6bhramha dhipam sarvata6mopaham &hipena sadhyate sar%am puja-samaye dhipam namostute 'chamanam Om keshavaya6swaha "tak$ on$ sip o% tirtam('at$r %rom pan!ha patra& Om narayanaya6swaha "tak$ on$ sip o% tirtam('at$r %rom pan!ha patra& Om madhavaya6swaha "tak$ on$ sip o% tirtam('at$r %rom pan!ha patra& Om govindaya namah "no' tak$ tirtam and pour it into th$ pan!ha patra& Om vishnave namah Om madhusudanaya namah Om trivikramaya namah Om vamanaya namah Om sree dharaya namah Om hrushi6keshaya namah Om padma6nabhaya namah Om damodaraya namah Om sankarsha6naya namah Om vasu6devaya namah Om pradyum6naya namah Om annirudhaya namah

Om purushottamaya namah Om adhoksha,aya namah Om narasimhaya namah Om achyutaya namah Om ,anardanaya namah Om upendhraya namah Om haraye namah Om sree krushnaya namah Ghanta6nadamu "!hanting this mantram tak$ th$ b$ in your right hand and ring& aga6mardhamtu devanam, gama6nardhamtu rakshasam kuru6ghanta6ravam tatra6devatahvana lanchanam eti ghantanadam krutva Ganapati prardhana shuklam6baradharam vishnum sasi6varnam chaturbu,am prasanna6vadanam dhyayet sarva6vighnopa6shantaye Chuto6chatanam "by !hanting this mantram spray 'at$r around you& uttishtastu bhuta pishachah yete bhumi6bharakah yetesha mavirodhena bramha6karma samarabeh +rana6yamamu 0chanting this mantram you have to hold your right hand on nose as mentioned, hold the middle and inde4 finger in between your eye brows, thumb on right nostrils, ring finger and little finger on left nostrils, hold it gently1 om bhuh om6bhuvah om suvah om mahah om ,anah om tapah om6satyam om6tatsa6vitur6varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo6yonah prachodayat om apo6,yoti rasomrutam bramha bhurba6vasuvarom Sankalpam mama upatta samasta6duritakshaya6dvara sree lakshmi6venkateshvara swami prityardham, shube6shobhane muhurte adya bramhanah dvatiya6pararde shveta6varaha kalpe vaivasvata6manvantare kaliyuge pradhama6pade ,ambudvipe bharata6varshe bharata6kande asmin varta6mana vyava6harika chandra6manena prabhavadi shashti samvatsaranam madhye GGGGsamvatsate GGGGayane GGGGrutow GGGGmase GGGG.pakshe GGGGtidow

GGGGvasare GGGG shubha6nakshatra "g$t th$ abov$ d$tai s %or th$ !urr$nt day, %rom pan!hagam ( unar !a $nd$r& shubha yoga shubha6karana evanguna visheshena visishtayam shubha6tidow asmakam saha kutumbanam kshema6stairya bhakti6ghnana vairagya6sidhyardham dharmardha kamamoksha chaturvidha phala purushardha sidhyardham putra6powtra6bhivrudhyardham, sarva6bishta sidyardham loka ksmemardham yavachakti dhyana6vahanadi shoda6shopachara sree laksmi6venkateshvara swami devata6mudishya sree lakshmi6venkateshvara swami prityardham kalasha pu,am karshye /alasha pu,a kalasham gandha6pushpa6kshatai rabhyarchya "pour 'at$r, akshantam, % o'$r in th$ ka asham and app y gandham on thr$$ sid$s& tadupari hastam nidhaya "p a!$ your right hand on ka asham and !hant th$ %o o'ing mantra& kalashasya mukheh vishnuh kante6rudra6samasritah mule6tatrastito bramha6madhye matru6ganah6smrutah kukshowtu6sagara6sarve sapta6dvipa6vasundhara rug6vedodha ya,ur6veda sama6vedo6hyadharvana amgaischa6sahita6sarve kalashantu samasritah ayantu devapu,ardham mama6 duritakshaya6karakah atra gayatri savitri shantih pushti6karishvariHH apova edagm sarvam vishwa6bhutanyapah pranaga apah pashava aponna6mapo6mrutamapah samradapo viradapasvara dapaschamdagam syapo6,yotigom6 shyapoya,u syapasatyama6pasarva6devata apo bhurbhavasuva rapa omHH gangecha6yamune chaiva godavari sarsvati narmada sindhu6kaveri ,alesmin sanidham6 kuruh, kaveri tunga6bhadracha krusha6venicha gowtami bhagirdhi6cha vikhyatah pancaganga prakirtitah kalashodakena pu,a dravayani samprokshya,devamatma6namcha somprokshya "tak$ th$ 'at$r %rom ka ash and sprink $ on god, pooja arti! $s ) yours$ %& Ganapati pu,a adha maha ganapati pu,am karishye om gananam tva ganapatigm hava6mahe, kavimkavinamu6pamashravastamamH ,yeshta ra,am bramhanam bramhana spata anashrunvannuti bhisida sadanam sree maha6 ganadi6pataye namah dhyayami dhynam samarpayami avahayami asanam samarpayami padayoh padyam samarpayami hastayoh arghyam samarpayami shuddha6chamaniyam samarpayami shudhoka snanam samarpayami vastra6yugmam samarpayami haridra6kunkumam samarpayami gandhan6dharayami akshatan samarpayami

parimala patra6pushpaih pu,ayami om sumughaya namah om eka dantaya namah om kapilaya namah om ga,akarnikaya namah om lambodharaya namah om vikataya namah om vighnara,aya namah om ganadhipaya namah om dhumaketave namah om ganadhipaya namah om phalachandraya namam om ga,ananaya namah om vakratundaya namah om shurpa6karnaya namah om herambaya namah om skanda6purva,aya namah sree maha6ganadhipataye namah eti shodasha namavali pu,am samarpayami, dashamgulam gugu6lopetam sugandhancha manoharam kapilagoghruta6sama6yuktam dhupoyam prati gruhyatam. Om sree maha ganadhipataye namah dhupamagrapayami Om sree maha ganadhipataye namah dipam darshayami om sree maha ganadhipataye namah naivedyam samarpayami mangalam sumukho6deva mangalam aghu6vahana mangalam vighna6ra,aya mangalam skanda6purva,a om sree maga6ganadhi6pataye namah karpura nira,anam samarpayami Ivakra6tundaH mahakayaHkoti surya6sama6prabhaH avighnam kurumedevaHsarva6karyeshu sarvada eti pradakshina purva6namaskaram samarpayami adhipita pu,am6karishye +eeta6pu,a om adhara6shaktye namah mula prakrutye namah kurmaya namah varahaya namah anantaya namah ashta6diga,ebhyo namah tanma6dyeskhirarnavaya namah kshirarnava madye6shveta dvipaya namah sveta6dvipa syadhih kalpa6vrukshaya namah kalpavruksha6syadhah suvarna6mantapaya namah eti peeta6pu,am samarpayami.

Adha6dwara6palaka pu,am6karishye +urva6dvare dvara6sriyai namah ,ayaya namah vi,ayaya namah "hakshina6dvare6dvara6sriyai namah nandaya namah sunandaya namah +aschima dvare6dvara6sriyai namah balaya namah prabalaya namah Jttara6dvare dvara6sriyai namah kumudaya namah kumudakshaya namah 2ti dvarapalaka pu,am samarpayami Ataprana pratishtapanam karishye +rana pratishtapanam Om asunite6punarasma suchakshuh6punah pranamihano6dehi6bhogam ,yokpa6shyema surya6mucha6ramta manumate mrudayana svasti. amrutam6vaiprana amruta6mapah prana6neva yadhastana6mupahvayate. Avahito6bhava, stapito6bhava, sannihito6bhava sannirudho6bhavah Avakuntito6bhava, varado6bhava,shanto6bava mama suprasnno6bhava stirasanamkuru. Om narayanaya vidmahe vasudevaya6dhimahi, tanno vishnuh prachodayat dhyanam samarpayami. Asanam +urusha e vedagm sarvam yadbutam yacha6bhavyayam utamrutatva syeshanah yadane6 nati6rohati. asanam samarpayami. +adyam 2ta6vanasya6mahima ato,ya6yagmscha purushah padosya vishva6bhutani tripada6syamrutamdivi. padayoh padyam samarpayami. Arghyam Tripa6durdva udaitpurushah padosyeha Chava6tpunah tato vishva6,va6kramat Sashananashane abiha6stayoh arghyam samarpayami Achamanam Tasmadvi6rada6,ayata vira,o adhipurushah Sa,ato tyarichyata paschadbumi mado6purah achamaniyam samarpayami.

Madhuparkam 9atpu6rushena havisha6devayaghna matanvata vasamto asyasi "a,yam gmishma edhma6sharadavih maduparkam samarpayami. Snanam Sapta6syasan paridhayah trisaptasamidhah krutah devaya6dyaghnam Tanvanah abadhnan purusham pasum . snanam samarpayami. +anchamruta snanam "!hanting this mantra and do mi k abish$kam& om apyaya6svasa6metute vishvata6soma vrusniyam bhava6va,asya sangate kshirena6snapayamiH "!hanting this mantra do !urd abish$kam& dadi6kravano akarisham, ,ishno6rasvasya6va,inah surabino6mukha6karat prana a yugmshi tarishat dadnasnapayami. "!hanting this mantra do gh$$ abish$kam& sukra6masi ,yoti6rasim te,osi devo6vasa6vitatpu6natva6chidrena pavitrena, vaso6suryasya6rasmibhih a,yena6snapayami. "!hanting this mantra do hon$y abish$kam& madhu6vata ruta6yate madhu6ksharanti sindhavah madvirna6samtvoshadhih madhuna snapayami. "!hanting this mantra do sugar abish$kam& svadhuh pavasva6divyaya ,anmane svadurindraya suhavetu namne, svadurmitraya varunaya vayave bruhaspataye madhu6magm adabhyah sharkarayasnapayami. "!hanting this mantra do !o!onut 'at$r abhish$kam& yah6phala6nirya aphala apushpa6yascha6pushponih bruhaspati prasutastano mumchan tvagnhasah phalodakena snapayami. Shuddodaka snanam "!hanting this mantra do 'at$r abish$kam& om apohi shtamayo6bhuvah tana6ur,eda6dhatana,maheranaya chaksha6seyo vasivata6 morasah, tasyabha,a6yatehanah ushati6riva6matarah tasmadaranga6mamavah yasyakshayaya ,invadha apo,ana yatachanah shuddodaka snanam samarpayami. Kastram

Abivastranu vasananyarsha bhidheno sudughah puyamana, abhi chandra6bharta6veno hiranyo6bhyashvan radino6devasoma. Kastrayugmam samarpayami 9aghnopavitam 9aghnopavitam paramam pavitram pra,apateryat saha,am purastat Ayushya6magryam pratimuncha shubram, yaghnopavitam balamastute,ah 9aghnopavitam samarpayami. haridra kunkuma Sarva6mangala mangalye sive6sarvardha6sadike saranye6tryambike devi (arayani namostute. $aridra kunkuma samarpayami. Akshatalu Ayanete6parayane durvarohantu pushpinih $rudascha pundarikani samudrasya6ghru eme Alankaranardham akshatan samarpayami. Gandham Gandhadvaram dura6dharsham nitya6pushtamkarishinim 2shvarigm sarva6bhutanam tvami6hupahvaye sriyam Gandham samarpayami. +ulu patram 9opama6pushpam veda pushpavan +ra,avan pashuman bhavati 5handramava aapampushpam pushpavan +ra,avan pashuman bhavati. Angapu,a Om pu,ya padaya namah Om sugulbaya namah Om anaghaya namah Om a,aya namah Om vyapakaya namah Om svangaya namah Om pu,aya namah Om vishva6brute namah Om vishva6dhatre namah Om charu bhushaya namah Om nanayudhaya namah Om sumukhaya namah Om padmanetraya namah Om sushrutaya namah padow6pu,ayami gulpow6pu,ayami ,amghe6pu,ayami ,anuni6pu,ayami uru6pu,ayami katim6pu,ayami nabhim6pu,ayami hrudayam6pu,ayami stanow6pu,ayami kantam6pu,ayami bahun6pu,ayami mukham6pu,ayami netre6pu,ayami karnow6pu,ayami

Om bhakta6piyaya namah Om sarveshvaraya namah Om sreevaraya namah

lalatam6pu,ayami sirah6pu,ayami sarvanyamgani6pu,ayami

*hant ashotottara shatanamava i o% th$ god to 'hom you ar$ p$r%orming this pooja "hupamu Kanaspa tyudbhavairdi6vyernana6gandai susamyutaih aghreya Sarvadevanam6dhupoyam6prati6ghruhyatam dhupamaghrapayami. 2karti0one ghee vatti6dipa harati1 Cramhanosya6mukha6masit, bahu6ra,anya krutah uru6tadasya 9advaisyah padbyagm shudro6a,ayata sa,ya6mekarti samyuktam Kahni6nayo,itam maya6ghruhena mangalam dopam trailokyam timirapaha Chaktya dipam prayachami devaya paramatmane trahimam krupayadeva, "ivya6,yotir6na6mostute, ekarti dipam darshayami, dipanantaram achamaniyam Samarpayami. Achamana6natamram pushpanim samarpayami. (aivedyam Om bhurbha6vasuvah tatsaviturvarenyam bhargo6devasya dhimahih "hiyo6yonah prachodayat, Om apo6,yoti raso6mrutam brahma6bhurbha6vasuvaro Om pranaya6swaha Om apanaya6svaha, Om vyanaya6svaha, Om udanaya6svaha, Om samanaya6svaha, +gods nam$ to 'ho this pooja is p$r%orm$d, devatabyon namah -or $#amp $ sr$$ akshmi-v$nkat$shvarasvami d$vatabyona namah (arikela<kadaliphala<kshiram naivedyam samarpayami, Madhye6madhye paniyam samarpayami. Jttara6poshanam samarpayami $astow6prakshalyami padow6prakshalyami, Sudhachamanam samarpayami hiranya6garbha6byonnamah Suvarna6pushpa dakshinam samarpayami pugiphala0nuts1 Samayuktam nagavallidalai0leafs1ryutam /arpura6churna samyuktam tambulam prati6ghruhyatam. 2ti tambulam samarpayami. Mantra pushpamu Om dhata6purastadya6muda,ahara Sakrah pravidvan pradisha6s6chatasrah Tamevam vidva6samruta ehabhavati (anyah pandha ayanaya vidyate. Om sahasra6sirsham6devam vishvaksham vishvam6shambhuvam, Kisham narayanam deva6maksharam paramampadam.

Maha mangala6harati 0karpura harati1 Kedaha6metam purusham mahantam aditya6varnam tamasastu pare Sarvani rupani vichitra dhirah namani6krutva abivadan yadaste 9asha6skaram bala6vantam prabhutvam tvameva ra,adipati rbubhuva Samkirna nagasapati6r6niranam samangalyam Satatam dirghamayuh karpura nira,anam samarpayami /alyanadbuta6gatraya kamitardha6pradaene Sree mad6venkata6nadhaya srinivasaya mangalam Sarva6mangala mangalye sive6sarvarda sadike Sharanye6tryambake6devi narayani namostute. Om sarvesham svastirbavatu Om sarvesham shantirbhavatu Om sarvesham purnambhatu Om shantih shantih shantih Jttara karpura nira,anam samarpayami (ira,ananantaram achamaniyam samarpayami Achamni yanantaram pushpanim samarpayami +radhakshinam 0tell this mantra three times and do pradhakshan clockwise1 yanikani6chapapani ,anmantara krutanicha tani tani pranashyanti pradakhinam pade6pade, popoham papakarmaham papatam papa sambhavah trahimam krupayadeva sharanagata vatsalaHH anyadha6sharanam nasti tvameva6sharanam mama tasmat karunya6bhavena raksha raksha ,anardana. +radakshina purva namaskaram samarpayami. +unahpu,a 5hatam dharayami. 5hamaram vi,ayami, (rutyam darshayami. Gitam shravayami, Andolikam samarpayami, asvarohanam samarpayami, Ga,arohanam samarpayami, panchanga sravanam samarpayami. Samasta ra,o6pachara devo6pachara bhaktyo6pachara Shaktyo6pachara pu,am samarpayami. (yunata kshamapana 9asyasmrutyacha namoktya tapah pu,a6kruyadishu (yunam sampurna tam yatisadyo6vandeta machyutamHH Mantra hinam kriya6hinam bhakti6hinam ,anardhana, 9atpu6,itam mayadeva pari6purnam tadastumeHH

0by chanting this mantra ,alakshant live it1 anayapu,aya dhyana6vahanadi shodashopachara pu,a vidhanena bhagavan sarvatmakah sarvam sree lakshmi venkateshvara6swami 0you can replace with god name to whom you are doing pu,a1 suprita6suprasanno varada6bhavamtu. Ghantapu,a Sanakadi devata bhyonamah tirdha6snanam samarpayami. (irmalyam gandhan dharayami. (irmalyam akshatan samarpayami. (irmalyam pushpanim pu,ayami bali nivedayami. Tirdham 0chanting this mantra take tirdham1 akala mrutyu6haranam sarva6vyadi nivaranam samasta duritopa6shamanam sree lakshi venkateshvara swami 0you can replace with god name to whom you are doing pu,a1 padodakam pavanam shubham. +rasadamu 0chanting this mantra take flower and prasadam1 Kishnu padotpalam pushpam tatpushpam sirasa6vaham koti6,anma krutam papam tat6 kshanesa visashyati. Jdvasana 0GGG.1 yaghnena yaghna6maya,anta devah tani dharmani pradhamanyasan teganakam mahi6masasya6,ante yatrapurve sadhyasanti devah yadha6stanam prave6shayami. "evatarchana sampurnam.