Archanam: The Divine Offering

Archana, the worship of the Lord, is a sacred act of devotion that bridges the human soul with the Divine. Worship can be offered to the Lord in many forms—through a beautifully crafted image, a picture, or even a mental visualization of His divine form. The image chosen should resonate with the heart and mind of the devotee, evoking feelings of love and reverence.

Worship can be performed externally, with offerings of sacred items, or through an interior act of devotion—an expression of pure feeling and deep spiritual intent. This inward form of worship, marked by the profound bhava or emotion of surrender, is a higher path reserved for those whose intellects have been purified by divine grace. While the rules of Varnashrama-Dharma guide the practice of worship for many, advanced devotees may worship the Lord in the manner that speaks directly to their hearts. The essence of all worship is to please the Lord, to surrender the ego, and to fill the heart with love for Him.

In Srimad Bhagavad Gita (9.26), Sri Krishna reveals the profound simplicity and purity of devotion:

"Patram pushpam phalam toyam yo me bhaktyā prayacchati

Tad aham bhakty-upahṛtam aśnāmi prayatātmanah"

"Whoever offers Me with devotion and a pure heart, a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or even water—I accept that offering as devotion."

Archanam, the fifth form of bhakti, epitomizes this simple yet potent offering to the Supreme. It encompasses puja, ritual worship, offering mantras, bhajans, arati, food, flowers, and even clothing to the Lord. The beauty of Archanam lies in the expression of love through offering, where the devotee, out of pure devotion, desires to give their best to the Supreme. This act brings inner satisfaction, peace, and a deeper connection to the divine.

Vedic scriptures advocate deity worship to cultivate a personal relationship with the Supreme. While the Lord pervades all of creation as the Paramatma. He also accepts personal worship through various forms constructed of physical materials.

This paradox is reconciled in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita (7.21):

"Yo yo yām yām tanum bhaktah śraddhayārcitum icchati

Tasya tasyācalām śraddhām tām eva vidadhāmy aham"

"Whatever form a devotee desire to worship with faith, I make that faith firm and unflinching."

Thus, God graciously accepts any form that the devotee lovingly chooses, whether He manifests as Rama, the noble king; Narasimha, the fierce protector; or Krishna, the playful child. This worship allows the devotee to connect with God in a form that resonates with their inner love.

Archanam is not confined to temples. One can offer daily worship to their Ishta Deva at home, or even engage in manasa puja—mental worship. Each offering, whether a simple flower, a chant of His holy names like the Sahasranama or Ashtotara, or the waving of the aarti lamp, is imbued with devotion.

In temples, aarti is an essential part of archanam. After offering food and clothing to the deity, aarti is performed by waving auspicious items like a ghee lamp, flowers, and a peacock fan before the deity to invoke divine protection and blessings. As stated in the Skanda Purana, witnessing the aarti of the deity can purify one from countless past sins.

King Prithu exemplified the full potential of archanam. He carried out nearly one hundred Ashwamedha Yagnas and nearly became an Indra, Satakradhu. When the Lord appeared before him, he asked for a unique boon:

“Vidatswa Karnayudhamesha me Varaha”

“- Please grant me a five hundred years to listen to your glories!”

Then he gave the kingdom to his children and went to Tapovanam to meditate (Tapas) alone. In this form of worship. Prithu demonstrated the unique significance of Angaarchana by offering each sense organ as a lotus in worship:

"Netra kamalam samarpayāmi" – I offer my lotus eyes.

"Śrotra kamalam samarpayāmi" – I offer my lotus ears.

"Hridaya kamalam samarpayāmi" – I offer the lotus of my heart.

Prithu Maharaja's devotion is further illustrated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, where he is praised for honouring the Kumaras, the four sons of Brahma, and showing by his example how to serve the Lord. His devotion led him to perform numerous sacrifices to please Lord Vishnu, who personally appeared in these sacrifices, blessing the kingdom with prosperity.

The importance of deity worship is emphasized, particularly for minimizing sinful reactions accumulated over many lifetimes. Deity worship is not simply a ritual but a spiritual process of purification, where the devotee deepens their love for the Lord by regularly engaging in personal or temple worship.

Moreover, the process of Sankirtana Yajna (congregational chanting of the Holy Names) is especially emphasized in this age of Kali Yuga, as prescribed by the Vedas. This practice, along with deity worship, allows one to achieve spiritual perfection, as evidenced by the life of Maharaja Prithu. Through Archanam, devotees employ hearing, chanting, remembering, and serving the Lord’s Lotus Feet. This holistic practice of worship, whether performed externally through rituals or internally (manasa) through meditation, becomes a channel to receive divine grace.

True worship extends beyond the temple walls. Sadguru Swami Nigamananda Saraswati urged his disciples, "Shiva Gyane Jiba Seva", Serving the poor and honouring saints is worship of the Lord, His cosmic form for the Lord is present in all forms, manifesting as both the sentient and the insentient. Scriptures affirm that every being is but a reflection of the Lord. The highest form of worship is to see Narayana, the Supreme, in every creature, even in the smallest worm. When the devotee beholds all life as a manifestation of God, worship transcends ritual—it becomes a way of life, imbued with the boundless love of the Divine.

Archanam, the divine art of offering, is a powerful path to connect with the Supreme. As we engage our senses in worship, offering flowers, chanting sacred names, and performing arati, we cultivate the eternal bond of love with the Lord, receiving His blessings and grace, both in this life and beyond. Through the lives of great devotees like Prithu Maharaja, we learn that archanam is not just an act but a transformative process leading us to the divine.

Yamuna Aarti

Picture Courtesy: Shyama Mohanty