Jnana Mudra and Chin Mudra

Jnana Mudra (psychic gesture of knowledge)

Assume a comfortable meditation posture.

Fold the index fingers of both hands so that the touch the inside root of their respective thumbs.  

Spread the other other three fingers of each hand so that they are relaxed and slightly apart.

Place the hands on the knees with the palm facing downwards and the three unbent fingers and thumb of each hand pointing towards the floor in front of the knees.

Relax the hands and arms.

Variation

      Some people prefer to practise jnana mudra with the tips of the thumb and index finger touching.  This is also correct.  

Chin Mudra (psychic gesture of consciousness)

Chin mudra is performed in the same way as jnana mudra except that the palms of both hands face upwards, with the backs of the hands resting on the knees.  Relax the hands and arms.

Sequence

       One of these two mudras should be adopted whenever practising meditation, unless otherwise specified.

Benefits

  

     Jnana mudra and chin mudra are simple but important psycho-neural finger locks which make meditation asanas such as padmasana, siddhasana, siddha yoni asanas, sukhasana, vajrasana and others, complete and more powerful by redirecting the nervous impulses from the hands upwards to the body.  The palms and fingers of the hands have many nerve root endings with constantly emit energy.  When the finger touches the thumb, a circuit is produced which allows the energy that would normally dissipate into the environment to travel back into the body and up to the brain.

       When the fingers and hands are placed on the knees, the knees are sensitised, creating another pranic circuit that maintains and redirects prana within the body.  In adition, placing the hands on the knees stimulates a nadi which runs from the knees, up the inside of the thighs and into the perineum.  This nadi is known as gupta or the hidden nadi.  Sensitising this channel helps stimulate the energies at mooladhara chakra.

       When the palms face upward in chin mudra, the chest area is opened up.  The practitioner may experience this as a sense of lightness and receptivity which is absent in the practice of jnana mudra.

Variation

       Jnana and chin mudras are often performed with the tip of the thumb and index finger touching and forming a circle.  Beginners may find this variation less secure for prolonged periods of meditation as the thumb and index finger tend to separate more easily when body awareness is lost.  Otherwise, this variation is as effective as the basic position.

Practice note:

       The effect of chin or jnana mudras is very suble and it requires great sensitivity on the part of the practitioner to perceive the change in consciousness established.  With the practice, however, the mind becomes conditioned to the mudra and when it is adopted the signal to enter a meditative state is transmitted.

Note:

      The word jnana means 'wisdom' or 'knowledge', thus jnana mudra is the gesture of intuitive knolwedge.  Chin, on the other hand, is derived from the word 'chit' or 'chitta' which means 'consciousness'.  Chin mudra, therefore, is the psychic gesture of consciousness.

     Symbolically, the small, ring and middle fingers represent the three gunas or qualities of nature: tamas, inertia; rajas, activity and creativity; and sattwa, luminosity and harmony.  In order for consciousness to pass from ignorance to knowledge, these three states must be transcended.  The index finger represent individual consciousness, the jivatma, while the thumb symbolises supreme consciousness.  In jnana and chin mudras the individual (index finger) is bowing down to the supreme consciousness (the thumb), acknowledging its unsurpassed power.  The index finger, however, is touching the thumb, symbolising the ultimate unity of the two experiences and the culmination of yoga.

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Sources:

1) Excerpts from the book on "Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha" by Swami Satyananda Saraswati.

2) Excerpts from the book on "Meditations from the Tantras" by Swami Satyananda Saraswati.

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16 Step Puja Worship in Hindusim or Shodasa – Upachara Puja

Preparatory Steps to the Sixten-step Puja

1.  Light a Lamp.

2.  Offer flowers chanting:

      dipajyotih param brahma dipajyotir janardana
      dipo me haratu papam dipajyotir namo'stu te

       The light of the lamp stands for Brahman, the unmanifest truth as well as for Lord Vishnu (in his manifest form).  Let that light of lamp remove my papas, results of omissions and commissions.

3. a)  Acamanam

       Take a sip of water after chanting each of the following mantras:

       Om acyutaya namah
       Salutation unto the Lord who is imperishable.

       om anantaya namah
       Salutation unto the Lord who is limitless.

       om govindaya namah
       Salutation unto  Lord Govinda.

      b) Guru Dhyanam - Visualisation of one's Guru.

       gurubrahma gururvishnuh gururdevo mahesvarah
      gurusaaksat param brahma tasmai srigurave namah

       The Guru is Brahma, the guru is Vishnu, the guru is Mahesvara.  The guru is ultimate truth.  Unto that guru my prostration.

       c)  Vignesvara Dhyanam -  Visualisation of Lord Ganesa.

         Lightly tap the temples with the knuckles, chanting the following mantra

         suklambaradharam vishnum sasivarnam caturbhujam

         prasannavadanam dhyayet sarvavighnopasantaye

       May one meditate upon Lord Vignesvara, who wears the white garment, who is all pervasive, who has bright complexion (like the full moon), who has four hands (representing all power), who has an ever-smiling face (or an elephant face), for the removal of all obstacles.

       d) Pranayamah - Breath Control

       While closing the right nostril with the right thumb, inhale through left nostril chanting mentally:

       Om bhuh om bhuvah om suvah om mahah om janah om tapah om satyam

       Hold the breath inside by closing the right nostril with the right thumb and left nostril with ring finger, while chanting mentally:

       om tatsaviturvarenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah pracodayat

       Close the left nostril with the ring finger and exhale through the right nostril chanting mentally:

       om apo jyotiraso mrtam brahma bhurbhuvassuvarom

       The seven worlds are pervaded by the Lord the creator.  Om is the basis of everything.  That Lord is the one who is the most worshipful.  We meditate on that all-knowing Lord.  May he set our intellects in the right direction.  The Lord is the waters in the rivers and oceans, the light in the luminaries, the taste in food, the essence of everything, the body of the vedas, the threefold worlds and om.

4.       Sankalpah - Statement of the purpose of the puja.

       Clasp your right palm over the left palm holding a flower; place them on your right thigh.  Offer the flower at the altar, after chanting:

       mamopatta - samasta duritaksayadvara sriparamesvara - prityartham devapujam karisye.

       I do the puja to Lord Deva* to obtain the grace of Lord through the removal of all afflictions resulting from my omissions and commissions.

* Deva may be substituted by any other deity, such as Mahaganapati, Mahavisnu, Mahasarasvati, Mahalakshmi.

5.   Asana Puja - Worship of the Earth to Purify the Seat.

      Sprinkle water on your seat while chanting:

       prthvi tvaya dhirta lokah devi tvam visnuna dhrta

      tvam ca dharaya mam devi pavitam kuri casanam

       O Mother Earth, all the worlds are held by you.  You are held by Visnu.  May you hold me, O Goddess, and purify my seat.

6.  Ghanta Puja - Worship of the Bell to Purify the Atmosphere.

       Ring the bell while chanting:

       agamartham tu devanam gamanartham tu raksasam

      kurve ghantaravam tatra devatahvanalanchanam

       For the arrival of the deities and for the departure of destructive forces, I ring the bell, marking the invocation of the deity.

7.     Kalasa Puja - Worship of Pot of Water to Purify all Puja materials

       Offer flowers in the pancapatram, small pot, which has been filled with water and decorated with sandal paste and vermilion.  Cover the pancapatram with the right palm and chant:

       gange ca yamune caiva godavari sarasvati

      narmade sindhu  kaveri jalesmin sannidhim kuru

       O Rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri, may you all be present in this water!

       Sprinkle the water from the pancapatram on all the puja materials and on oneself.

8.    Atma Puja - Worship of the Self.

      Fold hands and chant:

       deho devalayah proktah jivo devassanatanah

       tyajedajannanirmalayam so ham bhavena pujavet

       The body is the temple.  The jiva is the deity of this temple since the beginningless time.  May one remove wilted flowers that are looked upon as ignorance and worship the Lord with an understanding that he is non-separate from oneself.

The Sixteen step Puja:

1.  Avahanam - Invocation

       Visualise the form of the deity and chant a sloka addressed to the deity.  Take flowers and aksatas, rice, in hand and after chanting, offer at the feet of the Lord.

     असमिन बिम्बे देवं ध्यायामि   (or the chosen deity)  ध्यायामि
          asmin bimbe sri devam           (or the chosen deity)   dhyayami
     असमिन बिम्बे देवं ध्यायामि  (or the chosen deity)  आवाहयामि

          asmin bimbe sri devam           (or the chosen deity)  avahayami

          I visualise Lord Deva, I invoke his form in this image.

2.  Asanam - Seat

       Offer flowers at the feet of the Lord, chanting:

    आसनं सामर्पयामि
        asanam samarpayami
        O Lord! I offer you a seat.

3.  Padyam - Water for Washing the Feet

       Offer water in a cup, chanting:

    पपद्यम् समर्पयामि
        padyam smarpayami
       O Lord! I offer you water for washing the feet.

4.  Arghyam - Water for Washing the Hands

       Offer water in a cup, chanting:
   
   अर्घ्यं समर्पयामि
       arghyam samarpayami
       O Lord! I offer you water for washing the hands.

5.  Acamaniyam - Water for Inner Purification

       Offer water in a cup, chanting:

   अचामनियं समर्पयामि
       acamaniyam samarpayami
       O Lord! I offer you water for inner purification.

6.  Madhuparkam - Sweet

       Offer water (or any offering such as ghee, curds, honey or sugar) in a cup, chanting:

   मधुपर्कं समर्पयामि
       madhuparkam samarpayami
       O Lord! I offer you the sweet.

7.  Snanam - Bath

      Offer water in a cup, chanting:

   स्नानं समर्पयामि
      snanam samarpayami
      O Lord! I offer you a bath.

      Offer water in a cup, chanting:

      स्नानान्तरम् अचामनित्यं समर्पयामि
   snanantaram acamaniyam samarpayami
    After the bath, I offer you water for inner purification.

8.  Vastram - Cloth

     वस्त्रं समर्पयामि   
          vastram samarpayami
          O Lord! I offer you cloth.

          Offer flowers or aksatas, chanting:

       उपवीतं समर्पयामि     
              upavitam samarpayami
             O Lord! I offer you the sacred thread.

9.  Abharanam - Ornaments

      Offer flowers or aksatas, chanting:

       आभरणं समर्पयामि

       abharanam samarpayami
       O Lord!  I offer you ornaments.

10. Gandham and Kumkum - Sandal paste and vermilion

      Offer flowers, aksatas or sandal paste, chanting:

       गन्धान् धारयामि

       gandhan dharayami

       O Lord!  I offer you sandal paste.

    गन्धस्योपरि हरिद्र्कुन्कुमं समर्पयामि
       gandhasyopari haridrakunkumam samarpayami
       O Lord! I offer you vermilion over the sandal paste.

11. Puspam - Flowers

       Offer flowers, chanting:

       पुष्पाणि समर्पयामि

       puspani samarpayami
       O Lord! I offer you flowers.

       One may chant    अषतोत्तरसतनमवलिः "astottarasantanamavalih", the one hundred and eight names of the Lord.  With each name offer flowers.

12.  Dhupam - Incense

      Show the incense to the Lord with circular clockwise motion three times; simultaneously ring the bell with the left hand, and chant:

धूपमाघ्रापयामि

       dhypamaghrapayami
       O Lord!  I offer you incense.

13.  Dipam - Lamp

       Show the lamp held in the right hand with a circular clockwise motion three times; simultaneously ring the bell with the left hand, and chant:

       दीपं संनदर्शयामि

       dipam sandarsayami
       O Lord! I offer you this light.

       Offer a spoon full of water in the cup, chanting:

       dhupadipanantaram acamaniyam samarpayami
       O Lord! After dhupa and dipa, I offer you water.

14.  Naivedyam - Food

a)  Sprinkle water on the food while chanting:

ॐ भुर्भुवसुवस्सुवः ॐ तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यम् भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियोयोनः प्रचोदयात

       om bhurbhuvassuvah om tatsaviturvarenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyoyonah pracodayat.

       The three worlds are pervaded by the Lord, the creator.  Om is the basis of everything.  That Lord is the one who is the most worshipful.  We meditate on that all-knowing Lord.  May he set our intellects in the right direction.

b)  Ring the bell and offer the sanctified food with a flower in hand, with a sweeping motion from the food up towards the altar, for each of these six chants:

रॐ प्रणय स्वाहा   ॐ अपानाय स्वाहा    ॐ व्यानाय स्वाहा

     Om pranaya svaha.  Om apanaya svaha.      Om vyanaya svaha.

ॐ उदानाय स्वाहा. ॐ समानाय स्वाहा.   ॐ ब्रह्मणे स्वाहा

      Om udanaya svaha.  Om samanaya svaha.  Om brahmane svaha.

       I offer to this prana.  I offer this to apana.  I offer this to vyana.
       I offer this to udana.  I offer this to samana.  I offer this to the Lord.

c)  Offer food at the feet of the Lord while chanting:

       naivedyam nivedayami
       O Lord!  I offer you food.

d)  Offer water while chanting:

   नैवेध्यन्तरम् अचामनियं समर्पयामि
       naivedyanantaram acamaniyam samarpayami
       O Lord! I offer you water after the food.

e)  Offer betel leaves and nuts, chanting:

ताम्बूलं समर्पयामि

       tambulam samarpayami
       O Lord!  I offer you betel leaves and nuts.

*(If you don't have tambulam you may chant tambulartham aksatan samarpayami and offer aksatas instead).

15.  Karpura-niranjanam - Lighted Camphor

a)  Standing, show the camphor with circular clockwise motion three times; simultaneously ring the bell with the left hand and chant:

      na tatra suryo bhati na chandratarakam
      name vidyuto bhanti kuto yamagnih
      tamevabhantamanubhati sarvam
      tasya bhasya sarvamidam vibhati

       There the sun does not shine, nor do the moon or stars.  There this lightning does not shine;  what to talk of this fire:  That (awareness) shining, everything shines after it; by the light of that awareness, all this shines in various forms.

       Offer lighted camphor, chanting

    कर्पुरनिरन्जनं संटर्शयामि
        karpuranirajanam sandarsyami
        O Lord! I show you lighted camphor.

b)  Offer a spoonful of water into the cup while chanting.

   अचामनियं समर्पयामि
       acamaniyam samarpayami
       O Lord!  I offer you water for inner purification.

16.  Vandanam - Salutation

a)   Continue standing and offer flowers, chanting:

   मन्त्रपुष्पं समर्पयामि
      mantrapushpam samarpayami
      O Lord!  I offer you flowers with sacred chants.

b)  Turn around oneself three times clockwise while chanting the mantras given below:

       yani kani ca papani janmantarakrtani ca
      tani tani vinasyanti pradaksinapade pade

       May those omissions and commissions done in this life and also in the previous births and the resulting afflictions perish with every pradaksina.

       tava tattvam na janami kidrso si mahesvara
       yadrso si mahadeva tadrsaya namo namah

       O Lord!  What is your nature?  I do not know your nature.  Whatever be your nature, I offer salutations to you who are of that nature.

      Offer salutations, chanting:

   प्रदक्षिणनमस्करान् समर्पयामि
       prakasinanamaskaran samarpayami
       O Lord!  I offer you circumambulation and prostration.

c) To seek forgiveness, one may chant:

       mantrahinam kriyahinam bhatihinam mahesvara
       yatpujitam maya deva paripuranam tadastu te

       O Lord!  may the puja done by me, even though devoid of proper mantras, wanting in the steps and in devotion, be received by you as complete.

       Release the deity by offering flowers and aksatas at the altar and chant:

       asmad bimbad avahitam sridevam yathasthanam pratisthapayami

       The Lord Deva (or the chosen deity) invoked at this atltar is placed again in his own glory.

       Samarpanam - Dedication to the Lord.

       Take water int he right hand and pour the water in front of the deity while chanting:

       kayena vaca manasendriyairva buddhayatmana va prakrtessvabhavat
       karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai narayanayeti samarpayami

       Unto Lord Narayana, I dedicate all the acts that I perform with my body, speech, mind, senses and intellect which are born of deliberation or natural tendencies.

       Complete the puja with salutation.

       Take the water, flowers and naivedya as prasada from the Lord.

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Source:  Excerpts from the book on Purna Vidya - Puja & Prayers by Swamini Pramananda Saraswati and Shri Dhira chaitanya.
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In Indian Culture..Why do we celebrate Puja?

In Indian Culture Why do we celebrate Puja?

       Puja is one of the most beautiful ways to bring out the devotee within oneself and establish a relationship with Isvara, the Lord.  Puja is called kayikam karma, an action invoking one's limbs.  It also includes speech and mental action in the form of chanting and thinking of the Lord.

Physical Form of Worship

       In a physical form of worship, such as puja, there is a greater field of expression of one's devotion than is possible in purely oral or mental forms of worship.  The body, mind and speech are all involved in a puja. The forms, colours, fragrances and sounds of the various items of worship arrest one's mind and aid in evoking devotion in oneself.

       A Puja is performed in order to express one's gratitude to Isvara for all one has been given in one's life. The very creation in which one is born is considered to be a gift of the Lord.  The body-mind-sense complex is made up of five basic elements: space, air, fire, water and earth which also constitute the creation. Through the sense perceptions backed by the mind one perceives the Lord's vast creation and appreciates his glories.

Fivefold offering - pancopacara-puja -

       Traditionally, a form of worship is known as pancopacara-puja, worship with fivefold offering, is performed.  This worship acknowledges the presence of the Lord and makes a simple offering of the five elements through a symbolic offering of puspa, flowers; dhupa, incense; dipa, light; naivedya, food and gandha, sandalwood paste.  These objects represent the elements space, air, fire, water and earth respectively.

Puja at Home

       Puja is generally performed by an individual at home.  Most homes have an altar where one or more deities are kept.  The choice of deity is a personal one.  It does not matter which deity is chosen as each one represents Isvara in a different form or aspect.  The deity that one chooses is called Ista-devata, one's desired deity.

Panchayatana Puja 

       Traditionally, those who strictly follow the Vedic way of life perform a puja called the pancayatana-puja.  The following verse describes the deities worshiped in this puja:

आदित्यम्  अम्बिकां विष्णुं गणनाथं  महेश्वरम्

पञ्चायज्ञापरो नित्यं ग्र्हस्थः पञ्चा पूजयेत  

adityam ambikam vishnum gananatham maheswaram

pancayajnaparo nityam grhasthah panca pujavet

adityam - the sun deity; ambikam - Goddess Ambika; visnum - Lord Visnu; gananatham - Lord Ganesa; mahesvaram - Lord Siva; panca-yajna-parah- one committed to the five sacrifices; nityam - daily; grhasthah - householder; panca - five; pujayet - may worship.

"A householder who is committed to the performance of the panca-jajnas, five daily sacrifices, may do pancayatana-puja daily to five deities: the sun deity, Goddess Ambika, Lord Visnu, Lord Ganesa and Lord Siva."

       The five deities in this puja are traditionally invoked in the form of naturally occurring stones.  For instance, sphastika, a crystal which occurs in various places in India, represents Aditya (the sun deity); stones with specific markings, obtained from River Svaranamukhi in Andhra Pradesh represents Goddess Ambika; saligrama, obtained from River Gandaki in Nepal, represents Lord Visnu; a red stone called sonobhadra from River Sona represents Lord Ganesa; and bana-linga, obtained from River Narmada, represents Lord Siva.

       The idols are placed in the prescribed manner.  For Siva-pancayatana-puja, Lord Siva is placed in the centre, surrounded by the other deities; for Visnu-pancayatana-puja, Visnu is placed in the centre surrounded by all the other deities and on.  A puja is performed to all the deities in either a five-step worship or a sixteen-step worship.

Steps of a Puja

       Whether a puja is performed at home or in a temple, the essential steps are the same.  The basic puja is called the pancopacara-puja, in which one makes a fivefold offering.  A more elaborate puja is called the sodasopacara-puja, a sixteen-step puja, in which one additionally offers clothes, ornaments and other similar items that one enjoys.  The most elaborate puja is called the catussasti-upacara-puja, a sixty-four step puja, where the offerings include music, dance, chariots, elephants and other similar items.  Whatever one enjoys in life can be offered to the Lord as an expression of gratitude.

       With minor variations, the following steps are customarily followed in any puja.  After taking a bath and preparing the altar, one sits in front of the altar in a comfortable posture.  One begins the puja by lighting a lamp, which symbolises knowledge.  In order to be prayerful, one invokes an attitude of purity within oneself by doing acamana, which involves chanting the Lord's name three times and sipping water with each chant. This is followed by a prayer to Lord Ganesa, who is the remover of all obstacles.  Next, one performs pranayama, which helps one gain a relative compousre of mind. Sankalpa is done next to identify the person, yjamana, doing the puja and to state the purpose for which the puja is done.  Then one rings the bell.  The sound of the bell is considered auspicious and is said to ward off negative influences from the place of worship.

       Following these steps, one sacrifices water in the water pot through chants and purifies the various articles of worship by sprinkling the sanctified water on them.  These articles include the place where one is seated, the bell and the flowers.

       The jayamana then offers prayers to the Lord within himself by reciting a verse in which one's body is likened to a temple and the self within is likened to the deity.  As a final preparatory step one offers prayers to one's guru.

       The main puja may be brief or elaborate.  It begins by invoking the presence of the Lord in a given symbol.  This symbol may be a picture or an idol of a given deity, such as Ganesa or Lakshmi; or even a lump of turmeric powder; a betelnut; or a kalasa, a brass pot of water.  Once the Lord is invoked, the symbol is looked upon as the Lord until the puja is completed.

       The Lord is treated as a revered guest.  He is offered a regal seat and his feet are washed.  He is then given a bath and offered clothes and various ornaments.  Flowers are offered along with salutations.  While offering flowers and salutations, the Lord is addressed by the various names. They may be sixteen in number, one hundred and eight in number, or one thousand and eight in number. These names reveal the glories of the Lord and his essential nature.  Naivedya is offered to the Lord in the form of freshly cooked food or fruits. The Lord is then provided with comforts and music and dance is offered unto him.

Aarati

       After the various offerings are completed, one offers arati to the Lord by lighting a camphor and chanting prayers.  Following the arati one offers flowers and salutations.  One concludes the worship by asking for forgiveness for any inadequacies, omissions and commissions in the performance of the puja. Once the puja is completed, the Lord is requested to return to his abode.  The offerings that are made to the Lord are distributed as prasada to everyone who participates in the puja.  

Items Needed to Perform Puja

       The following items are needed to perform the sixteen-step puja:

1)      An altar with a vigraha, idol, of the deity to be worshipped.  If an idol is not available, a picture of the deity may be used.

2)  An oil lamp, oil and a wick.  One lights the lamp at the beginning of the puja and makes sure that it remains lit until the puja is completed.

3)  Aksatas, unbroken rice grains to which turmeric powder is added.

4)  Pancapatra, a vessel with water and spoon for offering water.  The water may be poured into another cup during the offering.

5)  Canadana, sandalpaste and kummkum, vermilion.

6)  Dhupa, incense sticks.

7)  Dipa, a small oil lamp.

8)  Naivedya, food offering.

9) Puspa, flowers kept on a plate.

10) Ghanta, bell.

11)  Karpura, camphor with a holder for burning it.

The altar should be clean and can be decorated as one wishes.  Metal vessels and utensils are preferable.  If these are not available, paper plates and cups may be used.  The utensils for the puja should be kept apart and not used for other purposes.

[If some of the offerings listed above such as vastra, puspa and so on, are not available, one may use aksatas instead).

Brief Explanation of the Steps

       After lighting a lamp, one performs the sankalpa.  The sankalpa identifies the person doing the puja (yajamana and the purpose for which the puja is done.  A common purpose in all puja is 'durita-ksaya' - the removal of duritas, impurities of the mind.  One may pray for other reasons, but an important element in all prayers is to seek a mind free from confusion and wrong thinking.

       The initial step is invoking the presence of the Lord in the given symbol.  Once invoked, the symbol becomes the Lord and is looked upon as such until the puja is completed.

       The Lord is received with an attitude of devotion and is then offered, acamana, vastra, cloth and the other items described.

       While offering flowers, one addresses the Lord by the various names that reveal the Lord's nature or describe his glories.  One may chant sixteen, one hundred and eight or one thousand and eight names of the Lord.

       Naivedya is then offered at the altar.  For naivedya, one may offer fruits (fresh or dried), nuts or cooked foods. It is customary that we do not offer the Lord pre-made, store-bought or leftover foods.

       Arati is performed by dimming or switching off the electric lights in the room and offering lighted camphor.

       When vising a temple, one may go around the deity clockwise three times as an act of salutation.  Since the Lord also abides within, one may turn around oneself three times, in a clockwise direction, while remaining in the same spot.  Both these acts are known as pradaksina.

       In performing the puja, there may have been errors of omission and commission.  One asks for forgiveness of the Lord for these.

       After the puja, the Lord is requested with a prayer to return to his original abode.  The prasada is then taken from the altar and distributed to all.

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Source: Excerpts from the book on "Purna vidya" - Vedic Heritage Teaching Programme by Swamini Pramananda Saraswati and Sri Dhira Chaitanya.
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