Upachara


In Hinduism, upachara refers to the offerings and services made to a deity as part of worship.

List

states in the Brihat Tantrasara that the main worship is conducted with 5, 10, 16 or 18 articles. These are

Panchopachara

This is the most basic mode. It includes
  1. Gandha : Fragrant items like agarwood, musk & sandalwood
  2. Pushpa : Flowers & leaves
  3. Dhupa : Incense
  4. Dipa: offering of lamps/ light
  5. Naivedya : Food consisting of uncooked & cooked dishes

    Dashopachara

Alongside the 5 articles mentioned above, it also includes 5 additional items which are
  1. Padya : Water for washing feet
  2. 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
  3. Achamaniya : Water for rinsing lips for achamana
  4. Madhuparka : An offering of honey mixed with curd, ghee, milk & sugar in specific quantities given before starting any ceremony as a sign of reception
  5. 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, it includes 8 additional items which are
  1. Āvāhana : Invocation/Invitation; Invoking presence of the deity
  2. Snaniya : Water offered for bathing
  3. Vastra : New, unstitched, clean, unused clothes for wearing. For male deities, it is dhoti & uttariya while for female deities it is sari.
  4. Alamkara : Traditional jewellery
  5. Tambula : Offering of paan after naivedya
  6. Tarpana : Offering libations of water for satisfaction of disembodied & divine beings. In practice it is substituted with offerings of drinks like drinking water & Pānakaṃ alongside naivedya.
  7. Stotra : Recitation of hymns & eulogies of the deity who is worshipped.
  8. 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
  1. 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.
  2. Svagata : Greetings of reception given by the host to the guest.
  3. Malya : Garlands made of flowers & leaves.
  4. Anulepana : Unguents like sandalwood for anointing the body.
  5. Upavita : Offering sacred thread
Some texts include all abovementioned articles alongside additional articles like shayya & chhatra. 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.