Manasa Puja

Even though the benefits of doing puja are self-evident, as can be judged by the extremely peaceful state of mind one attains on the culmination of the puja, it is not always practicable for devotees to perform a traditional puja. For this reason, Amma has given a form of mental (manasa) puja which can be done anywhere, like meditation

As a result, we see a silent transformation taking place in society as the number of people doing this mental puja, and thereby enjoying its benefits, increases dramatically.

This happened after Amma explained carefully at many public programmes that what God wants from us, in the end, is our mind, and the problems that we store up there. All the external articles used in the puja rituals are mere symbolic representations of the mind and its contents, and our intentions. Manasa puja allows us to concentrate on our mind and our goals without the use of physical articles. In all of Amma's public programs, and during the Brahmasthanam festivals, we can see Amma guiding thousands of Her children who are sitting silently engaged in the blissful practice of manasa puja.

In a puja, God accepts our mind, purifies it and gives it back to us as His blessed gift; this is symbolised by the prasad (consecrated food) we receive after doing a puja. One of the meanings of the word "prasad" is "happiness". Whether we do a puja with physical articles or simply with our minds, we are preparing ourselves for the happiness God promises as our minds grow quiet, concentrated and pure.

Mantras

Archana

Lalita

Initiation

Manasa Puja

Seeing Within

Mass Puja