Lord Shiva Archana

Items Needed:

  • Lota of Water/ Jug of water
  • A Paan leaf
  • Items for Abhishek (Water, Milk, Dahee, Honey, Sugar, Panchamrit*), 1 to 2 ozs in separate containers.
  • Lord Shiva murti in a taali
  • Mango leaf or spoon
  • 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 Shivaya 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 Shivaya 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 Shivaya Namaha Aasanam Samarpayaami.

Step 7: Wash Feet of Deity

Washing the deity’s feet with clean water as the mantra is chanted.

Om Shri Shivaya 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 Shivaya Namaha Argyam Samarpayaami.

Step 9: Offer Deity Water to Sip

Offer the deity water to drink while the mantra is chanted.

Om Shri Shivaya Namaha Aachmanam Samarpayaami.

Step 10: Bathe the Deity

Bathing the deity with various auspicious items as the mantra is chanted. 

  1. Bathe with Water
  2. Bathe with Milk
  3. Bathe with Dhahi
  4. Bathe with Ghee
  5. Bathe with Honey
  6. Bathe with Sugar
  7. Bathe with Panchamrit

After offering all items wash and dry the deity and place on a clean taali.

  1. Om Shri Shivaya Namaha Shhudhoka Snaanam Samarpayaami.
  2. Om Shri Shivaya Namaha Dughdha Snaanam Samarpayaami.
  3. Om Shri Shivaya Namaha Dhahi Snaanam Samarpayaami.
  4. Om Shri Shivaya Namaha Grit Snaanam Samarpayaami.
  5. Om Shri Shivaya Namaha Madhu Snaanam Samarpayaami.
  6. Om Shri Shivaya Namaha Sharkaraa Snaanam Samarpayaami.
  7. Om Shri Shivaya Namaha atha Paanchamrita Snaanam Samarpayaami.
Step 11: Offer Clothes/Cloth/Cotton

Dressing the deity with clean clothes as the mantra is chanted.

Om Shri Shivaya Namaha Vastra Samarpayaami.

Step 12: Chandhan, Sindoor, Saffron

Apply to the Deity’s forhead.

  1. Offer Chandhan as tilak.
  2. Offer Sindhoor as tilak
  3. Offer Saffron as tilak
  1. Om Shri Shivaya Namaha Chandanam Samarpayaami.
  2. Om Shri Shivaya Namaha Sindhooram Tilakam Samarpayaami.
  3. Om Shri Shivaya Namaha Haridra Tilakam Samarpayaami.
Step 13: Offer Washed Rice

Offer washed rice to the deity.

Om Shri Shivaya 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 Shivaya Namaha atha Pushpam Samarpayaami.

Chant 108 times.

Om Shri Shivaya 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 Shivaya 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 Shivaya 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 Shivaya 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 Shivaya 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 Shivaya Namaha Aachmanam Samarpayaami.

Step 20: Offer Kasaili

Offering the deity betel nut/Kasaili as the mantra is chanted.

Om Shri Shivaya Namaha Taambulam Samarpayaami.

Step 21: Offer Coins

Offer a washed coin to the deity as the mantra is chanted.

Om Shri Shivaya 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 Shivaya 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 Shivaya Namaha Pushpanjali Samarpayaami.

Step 24: Lord Shiva Aarti

Om Jai Shiv Omkara, Swami Jai Shiv Omkara।
Brahma, Vishnu, Sadashiv, Ardhangi Dhara॥ Om Jai Shiv Omkara॥

Ekanan Chaturanan Panchanan Raje।
Hansanan, Garudasan Vrishvahan Saje॥ Om Jai Shiv Omkara॥

Do Bhuj, Chaar Chaturbhuj Dashabhuj Ati Sohe।
Trigun Roop Nirakhate Tribhuvan Jan Mohe॥ Om Jai Shiv Omkara॥

Akshamala Vanamala Mundamala Dhari।
Tripurari Kansari Kar Mala Dhari॥ Om Jai Shiv Omkara॥

Shvetambar Pitambar Baaghambar Ange।
Sankadik Garunadik Bhootadik Sange॥Om Jai Shiv Omkara॥

Kar Ke Madhya Kamandalu Chakra Trishuldhari।
Sukhakari Dukhahari Jagpalan Kari॥ Om Jai Shiv Omkara॥

Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv Janat Aviveka।
Madhu-Kaitabh Dou Mare, Sur Bhayheen Kare॥ Om Jai Shiv Omkara॥

Lakshmi Va Savitri Parvati Sanga।
Parvati Ardhangi, Shivalahari Ganga॥ Om Jai Shiv Omkara॥

Parvat Sauhen Parvati, Shankar Kailasa।
Bhaang Dhatoor Ka Bhojan, Bhasmi Me vaasa॥ Om Jai Shiv Omkara॥

Jataa Me Ganga Bahat Hai, Gal Mundan Mala।
Shesh Naag Liptavat, Odat Mrigchhala॥ Om Jai Shiv Omkara॥

Kashi Me Viraje Vishwanath, Nandi Brahmchari।
Nit Uth Darshan Paavat, Mahima Ati Bhaari॥ Om Jai Shiv Omkara॥

Trigunswami Ji Ki Aarti Jo Koi Nar Gave।
Kahat Shivanand Swami, Manvanchhit Phal Pave॥ Om Jai Shiv Omkara॥

Pawan Tanay Sankat Haran Managal Moorti Roop,
Ram Lakhan Sita Sahit Hridaya Bhasu Sur Bhoop

Step 25: Closing Prayer

Firstly turn clockwise 3 times.

Say Closing Prayer.

Finally Atha Udvasana, ask the deity to forgive you for any mistakes your may have unknowingly made. 

Bow and ask to leave. 

Aum Kayena Vacha Manasendriyairva
Buddhyatmanava Prakriteh Svabhavat
Karomi Yad Yat Sakalam Parasmai
Narayanayeti Samarpayami

Aum Asato Ma Sad Gamaya
Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya
Mrityor Ma Amritam Gamaya

Aum Tvameva Mataa Cha Pitaa Tvameva
Tvameva Bandhu Cha Sakhaa Tvameva
Tvameva Vidyaa Dravinam Tvameva
Tvameva Sarvam Mama Deva Deva