Offerings to God पञ्च उपचार

This week, while I was busy with preparations for the Ganesh Festival, a thought came to my mind. Whether it’s Ganapati Sthapana or a Satyanarayan Pooja or any other Pooja, there are some specific incantations and certain offerings made to the Deity. Have you ever wondered why are these specific things offered?

It is believed that some traditions have been carried forward from the Vedic period when rituals and prayers were largely around nature, environment, and its elements.

The basic offerings we offer to any Deity are 5 in number and are called “Pancha Upachara पञ्च उपचार”. Pancha पञ्च means Five and Upachar उपचार means service or offering.

पञ्च उपचार (Panch Upachara) is an offering to a Deity invoking one’s 5 senses and honouring the 5 elements of nature - which the entire universe is composed of.

What are these Pancha Upachara / Five Offerings?

1. गन्धं धारयामि। Gandham Dharayami (I anoint (You) with Fragrant Paste) गन्ध (Gandha) is the chandan / sandalwood paste that the worshipper takes on his finger and applies to the Deity. We use our sense of touch and offer गन्ध (Gandha) to God as a representation of the पृथ्वी (Prithvi) / Earth element. And hence the Samsrkit verb form used is धारयामि (Dharayami) – ‘I hold’ – to show the involvement of the sense of touch.
   

2. धूपं आघ्रापयामि। Dhoopam Aghrapayami (I offer/make (You) smell lighted Incense) Dhoopa sticks or Agarbatti or Incense is lighted and offered to God. It invokes the sense of smell, hence the verb आघ्रापयामि (Aghrapayami) – which loosely translated means ‘make one to smell’. And it pays respect to the वायु (Vayu) / Wind Element that is instrumental in carrying and dispersing any aromas.
   

3. दीपं दर्शयामि। Deepam Darsayami (I offer/show lighted lamp). A Deepa or Lamp is then offered by calling on the sense of sight with this representation of the अग्नि (Agni) / Fire Element of Nature. The verb दर्शयामि (Darshayami) means “to show”. Agni holds a lot of importance in our traditions and rituals.
   

4. पुष्पैः पूजयामि। Puspaihi Pujayami (or पुष्पं समर्पयामि। Pushpam samarpayami) (I worship with flowers / submit a flower) Next, flowers representing the आकाश (Akash) / Space or Ether Element are offered. By incanting the names of the flowers and leaves aloud as they are offered one by one, we involve the sense of Hearing.
   

5. नैवेद्यं निवेदयामि। Naivedyam Nivedayami (I proffer food items) Finally, Naivedyam/Prasad is offered to God. It is an obeisance to the आप (Aapa) / Water Element. Water nourishes every living organism. Without Water no living being can survive. And yes, this is related to our sense of ‘taste’ as all of you would have guessed already!

Isn’t it wonderful that the Panch Upachara Puja reminds us of the Man-Nature connect by involving all our 5 senses to recall and honour one by one the 5 Elements of Nature that each thing in the Universe is made up of?