Hinduism For All

Important Vessels And Articles

Used For Worship

1. Pooja Mandapa :

A small wooden shrine to house the image of the Lord.

2. Panchaayatana Petika (Koil Aazhvaar) :

A small wooden or metallic box to accommodate the various images, after the worship is over.

3. Somasootra :

The tray with a tripod with an outlet for water. The deities are placed on this at the time of ceremonial bath.

4. Ghanta :

The bell, with a mount of an image of Nandi (Bull) (used by the Shaivaites and Smaarthas), Chakra (used by the Vaisnavites) or Hanumaan (used by the Madhvas). The resonating sound of the bell resembles OM. It is to keep all irrelevant noises away at the time of the worship and to invite

the deities.

5. Shankha (Conch) :

Mythologically Shankha is the remenant of the demon who was killed by Vishnu to retrive the Vedas from his custody. But the conch produces the sound ‘OM’ the name of primordial Lord. It is also used for the ceremonial bath of the deity.

Religious Significance :

In Indian mythology, the Shankha is regarded sacred and very auspicious. To initiate religious ceremonies, a shankha (conch shell) is blown. Vishnu, the God of Preservation, is shown with a shankha which is known as Paanchajanya in one hand and a disc or a chakra in the other.

The sacred conch shell is an integral part of Hindu symbolic and religious tradition.

Scientific Significance:

Leaving aside the mythology part, the conch shell’s significance can also be corroborated by science. If you try holding a shankha near your ear, the sound of the gently humming ocean can be heard. This is actually the natural vibration or cosmic energy of the Earth which gets magnified on entering the conch shell.

The Shankha, used in all traditional worship, is found naturally in the sea. Depending on the direction of the curvature, it is called Lakshmi Shankha (Dakshinaavarti) When the curve is in anticlockwise direction. It is called as Vishnu Shankh (Vaamaavarti) when the curve is in clockwise direction. The mere presence of the Lakshmi Shankha is considered as auspicious.

6. Abhisheka Paatra :

The vessel from which water drips continuously, also called Dhaara Paatra. Mounted on a tripod and placed on the image of deity, it is specially used for the bathing Shivalinga.

7. Sahasradhaara :

A plate with one thousand perforated holes through which the sanctified water is poured on the deity.

8. Shankhadhaara :

A plate with perforations shaped in the form of a conch.

9. Chakradhaara :

A plate with perforation shaped in the form of a chakra, the discuss. The said three Dhaara Paatras are used on special occasions especially in Temple rituals.

10. Sringi :

A vessel made from the hollow cow horn. This is tipped with the silver image of a cow’s head. This Sringi is usually used in bathing Shivalinga in the Shiva Pooja.

11. Panchapaatra :

A tumbler shaped vessel with a wide mouth is so named because of its wide-mouth. (Pancha – wide and not five as it is misunderstood; patra – vessel) used to store water used in the pooja.

12. Uddharini (Aachamani) :

A small spoon with a serpentine end to ‘draw’ water from the Panchapaatra.

13. Vardhini Kalasha :

The water jug which is used to store water to be used for ceremonial rites.

14. Arghya Paatra :

A small vessel wherein the water offered to the deity is collected. Sometimes five small cups are also used for collecting water offered during various upachaaras.

15. Aadhaara Sthaali :

The plate on which the water vessels are all placed in the prescribed order.

16. Aarti Plates :

Aarti Plates come in various shapes and dimension. There are various shapes of birds, animals etc. too which adorn the Aarti stand.

Aarti is the ceremonial waving of lamps to ward away the evil (the devotee considers the Lord in a very humane manners and waves lamp to ward away ‘evil eye’ of the other overzealous people).

Apart from these simple utensils for worship, the temple worship involves many other ornamental utensils and items which are used in the rituals with elaborate procedures.

One has to bear the fact in mind that ‘worship’ is a procedure to condition and discipline the devotee. Hence strict guidelines are ordained. It is to attain purity of mind and to realize the glory of God in all His majesty that such an elaborate set of rituals are prescribed. The rituals intend to induce a sense of renouncement on the part of the devotee during the course of worship. These offerings are not ‘demanded’ by the Lord, for the Almighty Lord is complete (Poorna) and needs nothing else to aid Him.

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This article is a snippet from the Book Hinduism For All, Authored by TS Srinivasan and Edited By Dr Ramchandrashekar. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in & across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture & Tradition.

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