Why Puja is Necessary to Maintain Hinduism | Defending Hindu Traditions

Hinduism is different from all other religions and spiritual traditions. Nothing even comes close to it. So why is it that we don’t see puja as a critical aspect of that tradition?
Lets go through a little thought exercise. I want you to place yourself in the shoes of someone who has never met a Hindu in their life and gets invited to a puja in someone’s home. Immediately you become overwhelmed with the sounds of the Shankh blowing, the incense burning, the chanting of mantras, the offering of flowers and and an entire slew of practices that are stimulate your senses.
You poor little friend probably has a MILLION questions to ask you and is probably staring bug eyed at you not even sure where to begin or what to even ask.
At the end of the day, PUJA is one of the things that makes Hinduism distinct from other Spirtual traditions and cultures of the world. Many modern day Hindus and Indians just like to trumpet meditation as the more superior form of spiritual practice and to be honest, for those that say this don’t really understand
#HinduLifestyle, #Puja, #DefendingHinduism
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[@doom-mantia]

A ritual done without mindfulness is just a chore. Thanks for making these videos! Understanding our culture is key to upholding it!

[@saffiyehbrandhijaffer-mcne2800]

🙏Namaskar 🙏 Yu are so Great. Im actually very greatful for yur videos. I come from Shia Muslim family. But for personal reasons. I chose to come yo Hinduism. I kinda feel unfortunate that i missed out on a Hindu upbringing. And didnt have oppurtunity to learn much from Hindu practice & beliefs. Ive earnestly been trynna make up for it best i can. And not having any Hindu friends in person....i am my own source of motivation to pursue 🕉 Hinduism. I specifically choaen the Shiva/Shakti path And im currently studying Tirumantirum english translation. I been watching the white Sadhu ..Swami Satyananda Saraswati on KZbin for lessons on puja in English as well as other Swamis and Gurus . i am blessed to have found Hinduism . i just pray more that not only did i find it....but that ive been invited. Thankyu so much for every video yu post avout Hindu topics.💞🙏

[@ssam7384]

By any chance, are you Iranian ?

[@saffiyehbrandhijaffer-mcne2800]

@@ssam7384 ....No Im just American white...biologically anyway lol. ( German-Irish descent & Romanian & Hungarian all mix

[@sukhrajsinghbaisla4715]

@@saffiyehbrandhijaffer-mcne2800 you must read Bhagwatgita . Written by Shrila Prabhupad

[@swarnag6427]

Wow . You are reading thirumanthiram. Beautiful beautiful poetry. Did you decide on a guru ? Check out Chinmaya mission or Ramakrishna mission near you. Om Namath shiva ya

[@kaleyjanenigh]

@Saffiyeh, Brandhi Jaffer-McNeill I'm a white American Shakta myself! I love to see other Americans that practice Sanatana Dharma. Jai Mata di! 💖🙏

[@niveditakelly3602]

It is wonderful to find young people like you who cares so deeply for his root and tries to understand and, have the ability to explain so clearly what this great ancient culture is about. This timeless tradition is simply a way of life - observing one's own righteousness - Sanatan darma! Great work! Wish you all the best in your quest my dear. Namaskar 🙏

[@Master2011man]

You should be so proud man, this is a service you're doing to people like me (young americans/Hindus who live in Christian majority countries) and these videos are amazing. Hoping for some new ones soon!

[@Anu-hs2ku]

We need more views.

[@jonbanks653]

I love the inner change and peace doing puja brings me. However I sadly admit to not doing it every day. I need more self discipline but I do feel it when I do it.

[@SBha30]

Spending this time seeing this video is performing bhakti. You could have done many other none productive things but you chose to watch this, so don't be so hard on yourself bro.

[@MeAsMaP]

I can't perform the Pooja everyday... But I make sure I attend one at the local temple. Works the same. ☺

[@kushaq1173]

Jon Banks it's all right it's just about of recharge urself with puja whenever u feel low.

[@MeAsMaP]

Spreading your video and msg everywhere.... Before listening to you I was confused as to how I should proudly say I am a hindu without sounding like an extremist.. But now I know... I don't have to bother what other people think instead practice and preach what I believe in... I am a born हिंदू and live in India 🇮🇳... Glad I found you and your channel ☺

[@ravinsharma9886]

Wa Bhaiya...Amazing work as always...well thought out...great content...May Mother Saraswati continue to shower blessings upon you with this simple genius of content you have come forth with

[@shilpamungekar9035]

The more dangerous ones are those who out of laziness say we are spiritual but not religious hence we don't belive in rituals. The reality is sheer laziness. Pooja is a ritual requiring some discipline and tKes some time. Hence people don't want to do it. Some youngsters feel its not cool and they just don't know why a lamp is lit. I cannot do with out lighting a diya. I keep doing it throuout a day and say the mantra 'shubhankaroti kalyanam aarogyam dhanasampada, shatrubuddhi vinashaya, deepad jyoti namostute'.

[@rosaleenswami1186]

western influence may take over

[@saffiyehbrandhijaffer-mcne2800]

Honestly i thought the Spiritual. Ones are the ones who do the Pujas willingly with eagerness & amd pomp.. Earnestly savoring the sweetness of devotion. Religious people are the ones who justbdo the pujas without any care or interests in rhe meanings of the puja. They just do it. Cuz its traditiin only.. That is the difference between Spiritual & Religious.

[@AnkushYadav-nt1tf]

Nice one I am very happy to see you peoples are following hinduism outside my country....

[@awesomek23]

Thanks a lot. Om Shanti...

[@prudhvibhogireddy3661]

wonderfully told, by him... devotee, adn champion of Hinduism. Lord Vishnu, with h im

[@anshulpundhir8170]

Thanks for making the video. Very insightful.

[@s.pparamita9031]

Love it as always.

[@revinar5838]

Thank you for this! I'm new to Hinduism and I often feel like the lost friend example, expect that I put myself into that situation lol. I love what I have learned so far but I often feel there's just so much. Thank you again

[@AshrafulIslam-hq9dz]

Your videos deserve much more views!! Beautiful content

[@SBha30]

He is spot on about the importance of pujas. It brings awareness and calms the mind. This helps to clarify the maya that clouds the atman that is within each of us. I watched and loved this video but initially forgot to hit LIKE. Remembered that and came back to hit like :)

[@Gtzwanted]

Great intro to understanding puja vid. Hope you can make a part 2 to explain each of the 16 steps of it!

[@himanv]

Thank you for the clarity you bring to this topic!

[@saumya890]

This is an awesome channel. Mindful video!

[@neha21194]

Hey , we want more videos of yours, eagerly waiting for the upcoming ones😁

[@kirananand4902]

Well explained Shawn. Eshwar bless you always. Om

[@yashvinkhetoo2394]

Keep it up bruv! Well done. Very nice video!

[@shivpratap3601]

shawn , you are doing great job.keep it up .

[@raghupati1451]

Thank you and I like your video.Simple but great.Love and blessings,from India.

[@shilpamungekar9035]

Thanks for the good work

[@anujpacheriwal246]

Love from India brother !! U guys are doing a really gret job

[@simbabla]

beautiful video.. thank u shaun

[@falguni.bonaparte]

Hi Shawn, post more videos!! Om Namah Shivay 🕉❤️

[@MrAnshuman72]

You make lovely videos. Love from India. 😊🙏🏻

[@drippiink4972]

thank you very much for these videos... i am a trinidadian hindu raised in america and have not been able to properly worship in many years. your videos have helped me with a lot of my cultural confusion. every diwali i feel most at peace when i am giving offering. i hope one day you return to youtube and dispose more wisdom and education about the caribbean hindu lifestyle.

[@Abhinav_Tripathi_]

Do you know why he left KZbin

[@HinduLifestyle]

Jai Sri Raam! I'm back 😁

[@user-on4bk3hf1e]

​@@HinduLifestyle I have now discovered you Shawn Binda you look the same as five yrs back ,you stay well JaiShreeRaama

[@HinduLifestyle]

@@user-on4bk3hf1e Thanks for dropping in and watching! I'm back on KZbin now with the intentions of staying

[@macys6890]

Stay off your phones in the morning and say your morning prayers!

[@kmvandanakmvandana2285]

Beautifully explained to hinduism brother. Thank you so much😊👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@vishnuramesh8466]

Shawn u r doing great job .. . keep it up brother....🕉️❤️

[@spicylifevlogs8355]

Hi bro from india. Very nice to see you talking about hindu. We have many missions through which we already have presence in everywhere hare rama hare krishna we reached wven ghana also.

[@donhrithiksingh5453]

Bro why you stop making videos? Can anybody tell me why we stop hearing from Shawn?

[@anubhavrajmani4704]

Please make more videos to educate foreigners. I beg you 🙏. Your dedication and quality of videos are top notch and it should be addressed to common people

[@amitshah42]

Love and greetings from India ❤

[@Christine-nj3kl]

So happy you are doing this ... get teaching

[@tivo3720]

Great

[@7CMusic7]

Thanks dude!

[@bhaskardas4675]

I completely concur your thoughts

[@umaninstrumentalityprject2989]

wow, thanks very well explained!

[@starsend7737]

Hi Shawn, Good video ... But you missed out an important aspect. Puja is basically paying respects to the deity. If you see any Hindu Puja, the actions involved (like Aarti-welcoming by fire sort of; Prasad-offering food; sometimes even Washing feet, etc) are very similar to how you would treat an honoured guest, or say your king who is visiting your home, or you are visiting his/her home (i.e. temple). Sadly, this way of welcoming guests now one only sees in traditional stuff like weddings, or in Bollywood movies (like say Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gum's SRK welcoming scene etc). So, Hindus are basically honouring their beloved ancient king/queen. It might be that we incur some good karma from Puja, but unlike Abrahamics, where the more and harder you "pray", the more are the chances of you getting heaven, there is no such thing in Hinduism. Karma determines future suffering/happiness in Hinduism, unlike Abrahamics where "prayer" determines. Also, this is why temples in Hinduism are NOT considered congregation places for the "faithful to pray", but houses of diety (even legally I think).

[@lethal396]

Hai, i am from india (kerala, south india )

[@avaanrana1669]

Love u bro..always perfact..😘

[@Senator107]

This needs 10 times the views. I think there has been a reactionary stance against puja or ritual. It may be considered as a superstitious practice, but that is a shame. Because we might not initially understand a ritual does not mean we should reject it or dismiss it. Puja is very powerful.

[@bishnumishra1590]

Long time no see sean? How are you? By the way very great & informative video. Thank you very much. Shanti 🙏🙏🙏 Har Har Mahadev 🙏🙏🙏

[@tyronewhite5979]

I love the work your doing, keep it up,here in the UK can you believe we have only Temple here with a Caribbean "flavour" the others are very shut off and have a habit of making us West Indian hindus/regardless of our mix feel like outsiders

[@theeternal6890]

*We need more people like u. why did u stop posting on youtube?*

[@chochee07]

Nice vid!

[@scarletta.w8721]

Thanks

[@anish6199]

shared your video with them on twitter.

[@jujharsingh5461]

historically sikhs also preformed puja its also mentioned guru granth sahib ji but neo sikhs have deleted it I request my hindu brothers to safeguard this beautiful ritual

[@anuragmishra5312]

Jo bole so nihaal sat Sri akaal.

[@ladydede88]

Binging all your videos

[@rajjackal1373]

Very well explained

[@nishantky7378]

Awesome 😊✌️

[@desireswithhope]

2 times a month ? Bro, cmon. Where are you ? i hope everything is fine with you. Stay safe.

[@sitamanikyammullapudi539]

nice well understanding.

[@a.sunalsharma.naocha.1889]

Hare Krishna

[@Artfoodgalary1234]

I am your new subscriber 💖

[@rohitshan5805]

Subscribed you brother... Hats off to you brother... Jai maa bharti

[@swagatamahapatra2454]

great work

[@samenderdedha3997]

Very good. Love from India.

[@retaramgadoo2969]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@fivestarninja5050]

Trinihindu for life jai hanuman

[@niharika6967]

Respect from india

[@chanderprabhavlogs8581]

Nice good job

[@niharika6967]

kudos bro

[@juliabennellick]

im your 9600th sub 💖

[@dr.aaditya]

great bro ................well said...

[@yeager825]

U have explained it very well, more people needs to understand this, there are some peoples on youtube says they dont do puja as it is not written in ved and they try to impose it on other people, i dont know either they r doing it for a purpose or they dont know about it, people should listen to their own heart, and think it logically that a various complex rituals (puja) practised from begginig of human civilization cant be fake or misinterpreted, there are various reason to its but instead of listening to their mind they go on following peoples with so called facts, hinduism is not bonded by any text or books its free from beleifs nd alll hinduism is about seeking not abt imposing any ideas or philosophy,

[@koushikbd90.gmailkoushikbd29]

i am Hindu from Bangladesh

[@bhavayog]

You are wise beyond your years 🙏🙏

[@shubhampatil4506]

Good job

[@theybecameus]

👌

[@ip3931]

Hi there, it's 19:40 on Saturday in the UK, I've only just stopped crying, and I've sat on a chair with the assanyu and the few puja items I bought. To the best of my ability I am trying to begin but I still do not know the correct or tailored things to say or do. I hate myself. I end up just praying in Englia. I am unable to visit a mandir. I'm a lone living, seriously struggling, chronically ill, in debt, British born but full Indian female Hindu, non driving, council flat dwelling individual whose parents never taught me anything, and at 26, almost 27, I still have no degree, no full time job, no car, my body did not even develop, I have widespread skin disease, the town I live in is fully Muslim populated with the odd English person here and there. I have nobody and I am not coping. The only person I talk to is myself and I remember and speak to Bhagwan cluelessly. Brother please please please help me to find the correct practise for myself with clear guidance. I truly do want to become a proper and better Hindu as simoly being born Indian Hindu is not enough. Sorry I am sharing so much but I am in a very desperate situation and I deserve a better life. I will look forward to your reply. Thank you in advance.

[@anujkumarmishra8284]

Bro why have you stopped making videos?? It's been one year..no new videos you have uploaded. We love you man.

[@RajRaj-wu2je]

up there wide cosmos directly has connection to human being..life is like roller coaster..

[@nandhinim2676]

Please do more videos.

[@stephankaula3891]

Puja is a powerful spiritual practice. As every spiritual practice of any religion or spiritual path it is a means to reach the inner realm of the Self or God or Unitiy. So all these different spiritual practices finally merge into one practice into that One inner state. In this state every thought is a prayer, each action becomes a worship of the divine One consciousness, which in essence we all are and ever have been.

[@Yoginee22]

Also pls can you a a video on how our mantras which are in Sanskrit-possibly the most logical/scientific language and the effect of pronouncing, listening and be exposed to mantras when they are pronounced correctly....even the way the alphabets in Sanskrit follow a logical way the voicebox, larynx, tongue etc move to verbalise this ancient but rich language. 🙏🙏🙏

[@cocobwareee]

We have to do it to stay focused in the ever changing world

[@user-gp6se2rr5x]

Jia Shri Ram🚩🚩🚩🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@DEV1986july]

Happy Diwali

[@sanjanakhare5860]

As sifu rohit Arya says, the moment we stop worshipping the archetype the power of the archetype (there are millions 😅) tends to decrease and vanish over time. And Shawn you are so cool😎

[@rangilabetichodhapsipigemb6745]

🙏🙏😎😎😎

[@noobplayers9448]

Hey why you stop making vedios? We loves your vedios. We need more vedios.

[@MeAsMaP]

Where are you?? You haven't uploaded for so long. Hope you are well and the channel isn't closing.

[@harishsharma2974]

He had a child. He'll be back

[@trigcat3107]

Please come back and start uploading video my friend. Pleaseeeee🙏🚩

[@devendrasingh9322]

Rituals are nessesary for Hinduism to survive.

[@nishantkhampariya9824]

Hey shawn havent seen your video since last 6 year..where have you been from so long 🤔

[@bytheway3357]

Comeback bro 2021

[@SpiritualOutsider]

Hello can you do a video on prayer. Is it relevant in hinduism? If so how? Please. Thank you!

[@kaleyjanenigh]

I'm an American Shakta, and puja plays a huge role in my life. I have been practicing Sanatana Dharma for about 2 years, and it has changed my life. I so deeply revere Indian culture, history, and traditions. I am quite sure I was Indian in a past life, I just feel such a deep and genuine connection to it. When I began studying Hinduism, everything just clicked. You know the Truth when you hear it, and everything made complete sense to me. Thank you for this video. I'm subbing! 😁💖🙏

[@RishabhSharma-rs2ez]

Bro where are ur videos in the time of quarantine we are actually curious about west indian hinduism and yes want to know more during this quarantine when world is inclined right now towards spirituality we have plenty time to know like we are curious to kmow how weddings and other things take place

[@summerrain9240]

I prefer the meditation, if done properly will help you realize the true nature of the self. You will have a true understanding of the scriptures, the deities and life in general. It's not difficult..Life is a meditation. Try it and you will realize for yourselves :)

[@frankm.2850]

Hey Sean, what would you say is the core of Puja? Most mornings (or at least at some point during the day) I'll stand before a small altar in my bedroom, light some incense, ring a bell, and recite Iyengar's Patanjali Invocation & the Mahamrityunjaya mantra (3x) before practicing some pranayama & meditation. This is certainly a sadhana, but could it be considered a puja as well, or is there generally a specific structure?

[@marilynrichards3551]

I'm curious too :-)

[@ramakrishnaiyer9198]

Any act of bowing to the almighty, in any form, with your mind on it is a Puja. It can be elaborate as it is done in Temples ( shodacha upachara puja- puja of sixteen steps or Panchopachara puja- puja of Five steps), or simply light a lamp, an incense stick, and offer flowers/water/fruit as naivedyam. Invoke the mantras you know and recite them mind fully . The lamp that you light will represent agni ( fire) which will give you energy for the day. It is your conciousness which matters. The duration of the puja is your choice,only that it would be better to be conducted first thing in the morning before breakfast, and after a shower. Make it continuous habit ,exactly as you would do in your other daily aspects.

[@GauravKmrSingh]

why are you not uploading videos now?

[@himanshutiwari1537]

Hey bro , greetings from Uttar Pradesh , india , I'm from Varanasi , the religeous capital of the hindus , you're welcome here dear , you know much more of our religion than we know , but are you vegetarian ? Are hindu temples also present Toronto and other parts of Canada too , and do nom hindus also visit those temples ??

[@tc2334]

There are thousands of Hindus and hundreds of mandirs throughout Canada and yes non-Hindus often visit. 😊