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How To Worship Harihara In Hinduism - A Comprehensive Guide

Comprehensive Guide to Worshipping Harihara in Hinduism

Harihara, a unique form of deity in Hinduism, represents the synthesis of Lord Vishnu (Hari) and Lord Shiva (Hara), symbolizing unity and harmony between Vaishnavism and Shaivism. Worshipping Harihara not only honors both deities but also emphasizes the importance of seeing divinity as unified rather than divided. This guide will provide a step-by-step approach to perform a simple and eco-friendly Harihara puja, including the necessary items, rituals, mantras, and concluding steps.

1. Cleanliness and Preparation

Before starting the puja, personal cleanliness and the cleanliness of the puja space are of utmost importance:

  • Personal Cleanliness: Bathe and wear clean, traditional clothes, preferably in colors associated with both deities.
    • For Vishnu (Hari), wear yellow or golden clothes.
    • For Shiva (Hara), wear white or light blue clothes.
  • Puja Space Cleanliness: Clean the puja space, preferably a small altar or puja room. Ensure there is minimal clutter and the space is calm and serene.
  • Eco-friendly Setup: Use natural and biodegradable materials such as clay or metal for idols, organic flowers, and wooden or brass items for the puja.

2. Time for the Puja

  • Perform the puja in the early morning after bathing, or during the Pradosha Kala (dusk), which is auspicious for worshiping Lord Shiva and Vishnu together.
  • Choose a calm and peaceful time when you can fully focus on the divine energy.

3. Puja Items Required (Eco-friendly)

Use natural, traditional, and biodegradable items for the puja. Here's a list:

  • Harihara Idol or Picture: Use an eco-friendly clay idol or a laminated picture.
  • Brass or Copper Lamp: For lighting, use ghee or oil lamps made from copper or brass.
  • Flowers: Use organic flowers, particularly lotus, bilva (bael leaves) for Shiva, and tulsi (holy basil) for Vishnu. Avoid using plastic or artificial flowers.
  • Fruits: Offer seasonal and organic fruits such as bananas, apples, coconuts, or mangoes.
  • Incense Sticks: Use natural incense made from sandalwood, rose, or other traditional materials.
  • Turmeric and Kumkum: Organic turmeric and kumkum (red powder) for marking the forehead of the deity.
  • Chandan (Sandalwood paste): Use natural sandalwood paste.
  • Water and Abhishekam Liquids: Use pure water and other eco-friendly liquids like milk, honey, yogurt, and coconut water for abhishekam (bathing the idol).
  • Puja Plate: A brass or copper plate to hold offerings.

4. Simple Steps for the Puja

1. Invocation (Dhyana)

  • Clean the space and set the Harihara idol or image on the altar.

  • Sit facing east or north, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths to calm your mind.

  • Chant the Harihara Dhyana Mantra to invoke the deity:

    Mantra:

    Om Hariharaya Vidmahe Shiva Vishnu Rupaya Dhimahi Tanno Harihara Prachodayat

2. Lighting the Lamp and Incense

  • Light the brass or copper lamp using ghee or oil.
  • Light natural incense sticks and gently offer it in a circular motion towards the deity.

3. Offering Flowers and Leaves

  • Offer fresh organic flowers, tulsi leaves for Vishnu, and bilva leaves for Shiva while chanting:

    Mantra for Vishnu:

    Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

    Mantra for Shiva:

    Om Namah Shivaya

4. Abhishekam (Bathing the Deity)

  • Perform abhishekam with purified water and eco-friendly liquids like milk, yogurt, honey, and coconut water, one by one, while chanting the respective mantras.

    • Use natural water or holy water from a river if available.

    Abhishekam Mantra:

    Om Ganga Cha Yamune Chaiva Godavari Sarasvati Narmade Sindhu Kaveri Jale 'smin Sannidhim Kuru

5. Offering Fruits and Naivedya

  • Place the fruits and naivedya (food offering) like coconut, fruits, and organic sweets (such as jaggery-based laddus) in front of the deity.

  • Chant the Harihara Naivedya Mantra:

    Mantra:

    Om Annapurne Sadapurne Shankara Prana Vallabhe Jnana Vairagya Siddhyartham Bhiksham Dehi Cha Parvati

6. Aarti (Waving the Lamp)

  • Perform aarti by waving the ghee or oil lamp in a circular motion in front of the deity while singing the Harihara Aarti or any Vishnu and Shiva aarti.

    Aarti Mantra:

    Om Jai Harihar Bhagwan, Jai Vishnu Jai Maheshwara

7. Prayers and Mantras

  • Offer prayers to Harihara for harmony, peace, and unity in your life and in the world.
  • Chant the Harihara Ashtakam or recite the 108 names of Harihara.

5. Concluding the Puja

  • Conclude the puja by chanting a final prayer and thanking the deity for their blessings.

  • Mantra for Conclusion:

    Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah Sarve Santu Niramayah Sarve Bhadrani Pashyantu Ma Kashchit Dukhbhag Bhavet
  • Offer flowers to the deity and bow with folded hands.

6. Prasad Preparation

  • Prasad should be simple and made from organic ingredients. Some examples include:
    • Jaggery-based laddus, sweet rice (using jaggery and coconut).
    • Fruits such as coconut, bananas, or other fresh fruits.
    • Kheer (sweet rice pudding) made from rice, milk, and jaggery.

7. Eco-friendly Disposal of Leftover Puja Items

  • Flowers and Leaves: Collect the used flowers and leaves in a biodegradable bag and immerse them in a nearby water body or compost them.
  • Ashes from Incense and Lamp: Ash from the lamps or incense can be sprinkled around plants or trees as it nourishes the soil.
  • Milk, Water, and Other Liquids: Offer the remaining abhishekam liquids to plants or trees.
  • Leftover Prasad: Distribute the prasad to family members and neighbors, ensuring no food is wasted.

8. Importance of Worshiping Harihara

Worshiping Harihara symbolizes the balance and unity between creation and destruction, preservation and transformation. It teaches devotees to honor all aspects of divinity without division, promoting a message of peace, unity, and harmony among different paths of spiritual belief.

9. Benefits of Worshiping Harihara

  • Spiritual Harmony: Balances the energies of creation (Vishnu) and destruction (Shiva), promoting inner harmony.
  • Health and Prosperity: It is believed to bring good health, prosperity, and the removal of obstacles in life.
  • Unity in Family and Society: Worshipping Harihara fosters unity and understanding among family members and communities.

By following these simple, eco-friendly steps for the worship of Harihara, you can experience the spiritual and ecological benefits while respecting the environment.