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Incense guide
The 16 Steps of Puja (Shodashopachara)
A plain-language answer from the makers of Aadhya incense and dhoop.
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Quick answer
The 16 Steps of Puja (Shodashopachara)
Shodashopachara is the sixteen-step form of puja, treating the deity as an honoured guest: invocation, seat, water for the feet, hands and mouth, bath, clothes, sacred thread, sandal paste, flowers, incense (dhoopa), lamp (deepa), food, betel, circumambulation and final prayers. Lists vary slightly by tradition.
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The sixteen steps
- Avahana: invoking the deity.
- Asana: offering a seat.
- Padya, Arghya, Achamana: water for the feet, hands and sipping.
- Snana: bathing.
- Vastra: clothes.
- Yajnopavita: the sacred thread.
- Gandha: sandal paste.
- Pushpa: flowers.
- Dhoopa: incense.
- Deepa: the lamp.
- Naivedya: food.
- Tambula: betel leaves.
- Pradakshina and Namaskara: circumambulation and prostration.
- Pushpanjali and prayers to conclude.
Shorter forms
Daily home worship often uses the five-step panchopachara: sandal paste, flowers, incense, lamp and food.
Frequently asked questions
What does shodashopachara mean?
Sixteen (shodasha) offerings or services (upachara).
Where does incense come in?
Dhoopa follows the offering of flowers and comes before the lamp.
Do I need all sixteen steps at home?
No; many families follow the five-step panchopachara daily.
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