Online Workshop: Puja- Worship & Divine Offering 101

Learn how to do Puja (worship ceremony) at home. A part of the legacy of classical Yoga passed on to us from our gurus, is the practice of Puja, or symbolic worship of the divine. In all of our Sivananda Ashrams and Centers worldwide we have received our current format of Puja from Swami Vishnudevananda. Sitaram Chaitanya, who performs this Puja daily at the Sivananda Yoga Ranch, will be guiding you on how to bring this practice to your home.

About Puja: 

Puja is ritual worship wherein a visual or concrete representation of God is treated as an honored guest. They are welcomed, bathed and dressed in fine garments and jewels, garlanded, offered flowers, incense and food, and praised with hymns and mantras. The devotee attempts to externalize his/her inward love for the Supreme.

Puja is one of the different modes of Bhakti Yoga, the devotional approach to mystical union. Even the Vedantins are extolled by the greatest of non-dualists, Sri Shankara, who recommended this form of worship in order to steady and purify the mind. Lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad Gita that worship of the devas and of God is to be considered the sattvic or pure type of austerity of the body.

What you will learn in this workshop:

• The traditional Puja done at Sivananda Ashrams daily
• The items needed for Puja 
• The meaning behind the offerings 
• Proper order of Sanskrit mantras and verses used
• Recitation of 108 Names of Krishna
• Recitation of 108 Names of Swami Sivananda 

Also included in this workshop:

• PDF Text for Daily Worship (downloadable to save) 
• Recordings to do Daily Puja at home (downloadable to save)

Who should take this workshop:

This workshop is available to everyone. No special requirements/ knowledge are needed. Puja is a bhakti (devotional) practice, with this practice one develops an expansion and openness of the heart.

How does it work? 

Once registered, we will send you the confirmation email with a packet needed to follow along as well as instructions on how to set up an altar at your home & items needed.

About the teacher:

Sitaram Chaitanya is a devoted brahmachari serving full time at the Sivananda Yoga Ranch Ashram for many years. Sitaram Chaitanya regularly performs Puja in the main ashram temple each morning with joy, devotion and discipline.