Sixteen Upacharas & Worship Methods
Standardised worship methodologies applicable across deities defining the manner of puja.
Abhishekam and Worship Methods
Abhishekam is the ritual bathing of a murti or linga; the upachara methods define how a deity is served in the first place. Together these fourteen entries are the underlying grammar behind most of the deity-specific rituals elsewhere in this catalogue.
Rituals in this group (5)
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Panchopachara Method Reference method Applicable to any deityDefines the five-step worship method: gandha, pushpa, dhupa, deepa, naivedya.
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Shodashopachara Method Reference method Applicable to any deityDefines the sixteen-step classical worship method used in major pujas.
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Panchayatana Method Reference method Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Surya, GaneshaDefines the Smarta method of worshipping five deities via representative symbols.
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Abhisheka Vidhi Reference method Applicable to any deityDefines the sequence and substances used in abhishekam across traditions.
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Homa Vidhi Reference method Applicable to any deityDefines the structural sequence of a Vedic/Agama fire ritual from sankalpa to purnahuti.