Why are mango leaves kept in the kalash during

puja ritual?
By : mandar
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Contents

1. Ritualistic worship
2. Arrangement of deities in the temple room according to spiritual science
2.1 Why should Lord Ganapati be kept in the centre?
3. Articles used in ritualistic worship
3.1 Importance of copper as compared to other metals in ritualistic worship
4. Usage of kalash in ritualistic worship
4.1 Why are mango leaves or betel vine leaves kept in the kalash ?
4.2 Why is the water stored in the kalash either poured under the Tulsi plant or sprinkled in the
premises?

Namaskar! We heartily welcome you all for this Satsang (spiritual meet)! Before we commence this Satsang
let us pay obeisance at the Holy feet of Sadguru (spiritual master) so that by His grace the very objective of
this Satsang is fulfilled. Please pay mental obeisance to your personal icon of faith and recite as follows:

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1. Ritualistic worship

Every religious ritual of Hindu Dharma consists of various components. Every component has its own
significance and these components have their own special design that is the shape, height and breadth of
every component is fixed or unique. The reason underlying such a design is that the every component should
be able to absorb the chaitanya (divine consciousness) present in the atmosphere. Besides the objective of
spiritual science or scriptures is to make that component conducive and complimentary for the man to receive
the divine consciousness.
When we see around with this point of view we find that people do perform puja and mental worship (
upasana); they do have spacious temple rooms in their home but since their actions or rituals are not
according to spiritual science due to ignorance, they do not get the desired benefit. Therefore in the case of
worship, action at every level starting from temple room has to be according to spiritual science. It is
essential that our temple room be sattvik. As far as possible it should be made up of teakwood and its colour

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should be wooden. The orientation of temple room should be in east-west direction. There should be no
Kalas (a small dome shaped structure with a pointed end) above it. We have to take into consideration all
these factors.

2. Arrangement of deities in the temple room according to spiritual

science

Every Hindu has his seat of faith. We do have idols and images of the deities in our temple room so that we
remember our icon of faith constantly and thus firmly establish our seat of faith. However we do not get the
expected benefit. That is because we do not know as to what is essential for us.
While observing this we have to take into consideration one more point and that is we should not do the
arrangement of idols or images in a temple room according to our whims and fancies. We have to be aware
of the fact that the arrangement should be correct from the point of spiritual science.
In some sects the deities are arranged in temple room in what is called Panchayatan form.The word
Panchayatan consists of Panch which means five and Ayatan which means house. The five main deities
considered here are Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh, Devi and Sun deity. In this type of arrangement
one of the five deities is considered as Chief deity and is offered a central seat and rest of the four deities are
placed in four directions around it.

Now let us see what is essential for us from a spiritual perspective:

Many a times it so happens that we have many images of deities in our temple room but the images
of family deity (Kuldevata) and Lord Ganesh are missing. If that is so then we have to set up images of
family deity and Lord Ganesh with utmost devotion. If according to the family traditions we are also involved
in the worship of such deities as BalKrushna, Lord Hanuman and Annapurna or such superior deities as Lord
Shiva or Durgadevi, then we should keep their images too.
The language of human beings is in words which is a language of sounds while the language of deities is of
light. Lord Ganapati does the function of converting our language of sound into the deities language of light
and vice versa; therefore it is essential to set up an image of Lord Ganapati in the temple room.

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We all know that in the beginning of all functions religious or otherwise Lord Ganapati is invoked first and
worshipped because he is destroyer of vighnas or obstacles. The other reason being through Him our
prayers to the deities reach them faster.

2.1 Why should Lord Ganapati be kept in the centre?

Now let us see how the arrangement of deities in the temple room be. According to spiritual science the
arrangement should be in the form of cone.
We have to keep the image or picture of Lord Ganapati in the centre. Then towards our right hand side the
images of female deities such as Family Deity is kept. Then images of other deities like Annapurna,
Durgamata are kept one behind the other. On our left we have to keep images of male deity that is male
family deity. Then such images of deities like Hanuman, Balkrushna etc. are arraned one behind the other.
Sometimes we may find that in an image male deity and female deity are together. For example Seeta-Ram,
Lakshmi-Narayan etc. In a picture where the female deity is on the left side of male deity then it is assumed
that she is giving blessings to her devotees along with her Lord. This is her savior form. In such a picture the
male deity is considered the main deity and such a picture is kept to the right hand side of Lord Ganapati. In
some pictures the female deity is shown on the right side of the male deity. This is her destroyer form. In such
a picture the female deity is considered to be the main deity and is kept to the left of Lord Ganapati.
There are mainly two forms of a deity: Saviour and destroyer. The form which blesses the devotee is called
Saviour or Tarak form . Such a deity is generally shown to be in blessing mudra (certain hand gestures) for
example Devi Mahalakshmi.
The form of Devi who kills the demon for example Mahishsur Mardini, who killed the demon Mahishasur is an
example of destroyer form of Devi. We have to keep the picture of that form of deity in the temple room in
which we are going to worship Her or Him.
After knowing the science underlying the arrangement of deities in the temple room our viewers must have
had some doubts in their minds. So let us see what are the answers to such doubts.

A. One of the doubts may be that whether it is correct to have number of deities in the temple room?
It is prudent to have a limited number of deities in the temple room. Here we have to remember that
according to science of spirituality we need to come from many to one. One who is a disciple that is who has
already acquired a spiritual guide or Guru and is staying alone then he should keep only Gurus photo or
picture in the temple room.
According to the holy verse Gurur Bramha Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheshwaraha | Guru Sakashat
Parabramha tasmai Sri Gurave namaha | guru is everything and the only thing for a disciple. That is why he
should keep only Gurus photo or picture in the temple room.
B. If other family members have faith in any other deity then what is to be done?
If Guru is a man then His picture or photo has to be kept on the immediate right side of Lord Ganapati and
then the image of male family deity is to be kept besides it followed by other male deities as mentioned
previously. When the Guru is female then Her picture or photo has to be kept on the immediate left side of
Lord Ganapati and then the female family deity to her left followed by the pictures of other female deities as
mentioned before.

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So up till now we have understood about the arrangement of deities in a temple room according to spiritual
science. We hope that you will be definitely doing the arrangement of deities in your temple room according
to the spiritual science as described in this satsang so that you will be benefitted spiritually. By following such
arrangement you will have spiritual experiences which are beyond mind and intellect.

3. Articles used in ritualistic worship

As we move next the important action is ritualistic worship of deities. In this age of strife called kaliyug the
worship of the path of devotion is recommended. Each person following the path of devotion has an important
part of worship and that is ritualistic worship of deities or puja. If ritualistic worship is done with spiritual
emotion then we get more benefit of deity principles. In order to get the grace of the deities with the help of
puja, the articles like platter of puja, lamp, bell and conch are the important useful components.
Let us now see about the articles used in ritualistic worship of deities. They are the tools used for the
ritualistic worship of our adorable deity. There are subtle frequencies of deities present in the atmosphere.
The articles or tools of puja or rituialistic worship are an excellent medium of receiving and transferring them
to the worshipper. That is the importance of these tools from the spiritual science point of view.
We are quite familiar with various tools used in puja ritual such as kalash ( a copper pot), copper plate, spoon
(achamani), a cylindrical copper vessel (panchapatra), abhishekpatra (a vesel meant for giving holy bath to
the idol of deity), tilak ( sandalwood paste), naivedya (food offering), Cups meant for putting Panchamrut (five
substances like sugar, milk, honey, curds and clarified butter), a platter, the stand for inserting incense
sticks, Pancharati (a type of lamp with five edges meant for waving), bell and basket meant for keeping
flowers. The metal articles are mostly made up of gold, silver, bronze, copper or brass.

3.1 Importance of copper as compared to other metals in ritualistic worship

Now a days use of stainless steel is prevalent. But it has less capacity to absorb sattvik frequencies as
compared to the metals mentioned before. Therefore the worshipper derives minimal benefit.
Thus we have seen that the metal articles are mostly made up of gold, silver, bronze, copper or brass. But
amongst them copper is most important. Let us see its specialties.
According to science of spirituality the articles prepared from copper have an important place in deity
worship. This is because copper has 30% capacity to imbibe sattvikta (the quality of sattva) when compared
to other metals. Besides it has also70% ability to destroy the raja-tama. Just as copper has the ability to
absorb the sattvik frequencies of deities, it has also capacity of transmitting them. Thus it becomes rich in
divinity in a short period. The sattvik frequencies of deities are then transferred to other components of puja.
Therefore copper is considered an auspicious metal.
It has been seen that some people use metal articles descended down the family lineage. Here the question
may arise as to how appropriate is this from the view point of spiritual science?
The effect of spiritual emotion of a worshipper towards the God is exactly reflected in the puja tools. Currently
most of the people are lacking in such spiritual emotion. Therefore the new tools used by them do not have
the ability to absorb the sattvikta. When such articles become old after many years of use in puja and aarti
only then they develop such capacity to absorb sattvikta. Therefore the use of new articles is not that
beneficial.
Up till now we came to know about the articles in brief. Now let us see some of them in details.

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4. Usage of kalash in ritualistic worship

Kalash ( water vessel) is an auspicious symbol of Hindu culture. It was generated during the
Samudramanthan or great churning of ocean. Lord Vishnu held Kalash filled with nectar during
Samudramanthan. All deities reside in the kalash. Therefore it has an important place in puja ritual. Let us
understand this with the help of a subtle drawing.

There is a certain space in the kalash which generates subtle sound vibrations which are of white colour.
The manifest principle of a deity having yellow colour is seen getting attracted to the kalash. The blue circles
seen inside the kalash is indicative of aap element (absolute water element). The circles and particles of
chaitanya (divine consciousness) are seen projecting from the medium of kalash.
Now let us see why is water used in a kalash and why is it that the leaves of mango tree or that of betel vine
are kept in it?

4.1 Why are mango leaves or betel vine leaves kept in the kalash ?
The kalash is used for creating seat for invoked deities during the puja ritual. First it is filled with water and
then leaves of mango tree or that of betel vine are kept in it. These leaves are known as leaves of deitys
seat. The deity principle gets maximaly attracted to these leaves of seat. The water inside the kalash keeps
this seat pure till the ritual of Pranapratishta (invoking deity into an image, idol, coconut or betelnut). Thus the
invoked deity principle stays for a long period.
In this kalash betel nut or some coins are then put. Thereafter a coconut is set up on the mouth of the kalash.
The tuft of coconut attracts the deity principle from the atmosphere and it is then transmitted to the water in
the kalash through the body of cococnut.

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The water is pure and clean to the highest extent. That is the reason it is able to attract the sattvik particles of
frequencies of deities. But it contains less quantity of raja particles and therefore has poor capacity to project
the sattva particles.
Putting a coin is symbolic of sacrifice. Through this medium there is sacrifice of wealth and jiva (embodied
soul)s attachment is reduced. This qualifies the worshipper to benefit more from the sattvikta of puja ritual. A
copper coin is put in the kalash. The copper has more capacity to project sattvik frequencies. It helps in
emanation of sattvik frequencies present in the water into the atmosphere.
Also a betel nut is kept in the kalash meant for puja ritual. Betelnut enhances sattva and raja components in
the water of the kalash. This increases the capacity of the water to emit manifest principle of deity.The betel
nut contains particles related to absolute earth element which are useful in binding of sattva particles related
to sattva component.This then easily helps in retaining the sattvikta of water for along time. Five precious
stones like pearl, diamond, emerald, blue sapphire, ruby and gold are also added to the water of kalash. The
five precious stones and gold have capacity to attract and emit the principles of five superior deities. This
benefits the worshipper. But with changing times the use of five preious stones and copper is reduced and
replaced by alloys which are spiritually of less benefit.
Now let us see as to why the water stored in the kalash is either poured under the Tulsi plant or is sprinkled in
the premises after the conclusion of puja.

4.2 Why is the water stored in the kalash either poured under the Tulsi plant or sprinkled in the
premises?
We are all familiar with the immense importance of Tulsi in Ayurved and spirituality. The purity means
predominance of sattva attribute. Tulsi has more capacity to attaract pure vibrations from the atmosphere
than any other plant.It also emits sattvik vibrations in the atmosphere all the twenty four hours. The Tulsi
absorbs the deity principle when chaitanya enriched water when poured under it and then emits them along
with its sattvik vibrations.This creates the envelope of vibrations of deity and the atmosphere around the
premises remains pure. This is form of divine armour. Similarly when water from the kalash is sprinkled in the
premises, the vibrations of deity principle are emited in high proportion in the premises and helps in its
purification.
Thus up till now we have learnt about the kalash and the substances kept in it during a puja ritual.

For more information on this article read Sanatan's publication 'Temple at home and Implements
used in the worship of God (Scientific Importance and Arrangement)'.

Close-up: If you get any spiritual experiences by following the view points mentioned in todays Satsang or if
you have any queries about the topic presented today, please inform us. Our contact details are
pravakta@hindujagruti.org

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