Upachara
In Hinduism, upachara (Sanskrit: उपचार; service or courtesy)[1] refers to the offerings and services made to a deity as part of worship.
List
Krishnananda Agamavagisha states in the Brihat Tantrasara[2] that the main worship is conducted with 5, 10, 16 or 18 articles. These are
Panchopachara
This is the most basic mode. It includes
Dashopachara
Alongside the 5 articles mentioned above, it also includes 5 additional items which are
- Padya : Water for washing feet
- Arghya : An offering consisting of water, durva, flowers & raw rice grains given in the hands of a guest in ancient times as a sign of reception & respect
- Achamaniya : Water for rinsing lips for achamana
- Madhuparka : An offering of honey mixed with curd, ghee, milk & sugar in specific quantities given before starting any ceremony as a sign of reception
- Punarachamaniya : Water for achamana to be offered after giving madhuparka
Shodashopachara
This is most prevalent mode. Apart from the articles mentioned in the previous list (except Madhuparka), it includes 7 additional items which are
- Snaniya : Water offered for bathing
- Vastra : New, unstitched, clean, unused clothes for wearing. For male deities, it is dhoti & uttariya while for female deities it is sari.
- Alamkara : Traditional jewellery
- Tambula : Offering of paan after naivedya
- Tarpana : Offering libations of water for satisfaction of disembodied & divine beings. In practice it is substituted with offerings of drinks like drinking water & sharbat alongside naivedya.
- Stotra : Recitation of hymns & eulogies of the deity who is worshipped.
- Namaskara : Bowing down or prostrating before the deity with folded hands in reverence.
Astadashopachara
It includes all articles mentioned in the previous list except Punarachamaniya, Tambula & Stotra, it includes 5 additional items which are
- Asana : Offering a seat in the form of a mat for sitting on ground or low stool made of wood or metals like gold & silver.
- Svagata : Greetings of reception given by the host(the priest in this case) to the guest( the deity in this case).
- Malya : Garlands made of flowers & leaves.
- Anulepana : Unguents like sandalwood for anointing the body.
- Upavita : Offering sacred thread
Some texts include all abovementioned articles(without omitting any) alongside additional articles like shayya(bedding) & chhatra(umbrella). Additional items offered in case of female deities include lac, collyrium & vermilion. Some deities are offered articles which aren't offered to other deities. For example, alcohol is offered to Kali.
References
- Apte, Vaman Shivram (1957). "उपचारः". The practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Poona: Prasad Prakashan.
- "বৃহৎ তন্ত্রসার at www.archive. org". 19 June 2021.