Items for Abhishek (Water, Milk, Dahee, Honey, Sugar, Panchamrit*), 1 to 2 ozs in separate containers.
Lord Raam murti in a taali
10 to 12 flowers (108 flowers or petals if doing optional offering)
Mango leaf or spoon
Thaali with deeya with oil and wick
5 to 6 Napkins (for drying murti)
Piece of cotton wool or saffron cloth
Chandhan
Sindhoor
Saffron
Handful of washed white rice
3 sticks of Agarbhati (incense)
Essence/perfume
Fruit or prasad or sweet
1 suparee
1 coin
1 block crushed camphor
3 to 4 cloves (with head)
Bell
*Panchamrit is a sweet drink prepared using five ingredients that are yogurt or dahee, milk, honey, sugar and ghee.
Set up:
Clean area for Archana
Wash all leaves or flowers
Make (spoon) with Mango leaf
Step 1: Purification
Take lota of water in hand and sprinkle water over all puja items.
Om Apavitrah pavitro va sarvavastham gato pi va sa bahyabhyantarah suchi.
Step 2: Washing of Hands
Any religious or ritualistic act should begin with acamana or ceremonial sipping of water with prescribed mantras. Wash hands then sip water three times and wash hands again.
Wash: Om Shri Hasta Prakshalam Samarpayaami.
Sip: Om Shri Keshavaya Namaha
Sip: Om Madhavaya Namaha
Sip: Om Shri Narayanaya Namaha
Wash: Om Shri Hasta Prakshalam Samarpayaami.
Step 3: Seek Blessing
Focus on Shri Ganesh, Mother Saraswatie and Guru seeking blessing to start worship.
Om Shri Ganeshaya Namaha.
Om Shri Sarawatyai Namaha
Om Shri Guru Bhyo Namaha
Step 4: Contemplation
Place your thoughts on the deity being invited. Focus on the form of the deity and characteristics.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Dhyaanam Samarpayaami.
Step 5: Invitation
Invite the deity for the archana. Place a paan before the feet of the murti. Hold flower in hand, say mantra then offer the flower on the paan leaf.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Aavahanam Samarpayaami.
Step 6: Offer a seat
Invite the deity to take a seat for you to worship. Take and hold another flower in hand, say mantra then offer the flower. on the
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Aasanam Samarpayaami.
Step 7: Wash Feet of Deity
Washing the deity’s feet with clean water as the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Paadyam Samarpayaami.
Step 8: Wash Mouth & Hands of Deity
Offering the deity water to rinse hands and mouth as the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Argyam Samarpayaami.
Step 9: Offer Deity Water to Sip
Offer the deity water to drink while the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Aachmanam Samarpayaami.
Step 10: Bathe the Deity
Bathing the deity with various auspicious items as the mantra is chanted.
Bathe with Water
Bathe with Milk
Bathe with Dhahi
Bathe with Ghee
Bathe with Honey
Bathe with Sugar
Bathe with Panchamrit
After offering all items wash and dry the deity and place on a clean taali.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Shhudhoka Snaanam Samarpayaami.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Dughdha Snaanam Samarpayaami.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Dhahi Snaanam Samarpayaami.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Grit Snaanam Samarpayaami.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Madhu Snaanam Samarpayaami.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Sharkaraa Snaanam Samarpayaami.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha atha Paanchamrita Snaanam Samarpayaami.
Step 11: Offer Clothes/Cloth/Cotton
Dressing the deity with clean clothes as the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Vastra Samarpayaami.
Step 12: Chandhan, Sindoor, Saffron
Apply to the Deity’s forhead.
Offer Chandhan as tilak.
Offer Sindhoor as tilak
Offer Saffron as tilak
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Chandanam Samarpayaami.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Sindhooram Tilakam Samarpayaami.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Haridra Tilakam Samarpayaami.
Step 13: Offer Washed Rice
Offer washed rice to the deity.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha atha akshataan Samarpayaami.
Step 14: Flower Bath/Optional 108 offering
Either adorn the deity with flowers and/or optionally offer 108 flowers or petals. Offering one at the end of each mantra on the recitation of the word “namaha”.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha atha Pushpam Samarpayaami.
Chant 108 times.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha.
Step 15: Incense Aarti
Light incense sticks, perform incense aarti to the deity while chanting the mantra. Place safely in an incense stand or in a container safely.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Dhoopam Samarpayaami.
Step 16: Essence/Sandalwood paste
Sprinkle essence/perfume/rose water or spread fresh sandalwood paste on the deity as the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Ghandam Samarpayaami.
Step 17: Offer a light
Wave the deeya/lamp/light to illuminate the freshly decorated deity while chanting the mantra.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Deepaha Samarpayaami.
Step 18: Offer Prasad
Offer water to the deity then offer prasad, fruit, sweet. The offering can be as elaborate or as simple as circumstances allow.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Naivedyam Samarpayaami.
Step 19: Offer Water
Offer the deity water to drink as the mantra is chanted. Offer the water to the mouth of the deity.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Aachmanam Samarpayaami.
Step 20: Offer Kasaili
Offering the deity betel nut/Kasaili as the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Taambulam Samarpayaami.
Step 21: Offer Coins
Offer a washed coin to the deity as the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Dakshinaam Samarpayaami.
Step 22: Offer Camphor and Cloves
Offer a washed cloves (which has a head) and a small piece of camphor to the deity as the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Niranjanam Samarpayaami.
Step 23: Offer a Handful of Flowers
Offer a handful of flowers or petals to the deity as the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha Pushpanjali Samarpayaami.
Step 24: Lord Raam Aarti
Shri Rama Chandra Kripalu Bhajuman, Haran Bhavbhay Darunam। Nav Kanj Lochan, kanj Mukh Kar Kanj Pad Kanjarunam॥
Shri Rama Chandra Kripalu Bhajuman…। Kandarp Aganit Amit Chhavi, Nav Neel Neerad Sundaram। Pat Peet Maanahu Tadit Ruchi-Shuchi Naumi Janak Sutavaram॥