Wikipedia
Upachara
In Hinduism, upachara ( Sanskrit: उपचार; service or courtesy) refers to the offerings and services made to a deity as part of worship.
Although the upcharas differ according to the form of the prayer, a typical list of 16, which parallels the process of welcoming an honoured guest, is as follows:
- Ahvahana: Invocation of the deity
- Asana: Offering a seat to the deity
- Padya: Offering water to wash the feet
- Arghya: Offering beverage
- Achamaniya: Offering water to rinse the mouth
- Snana or abhisekha: Bathing
- Vastra: Clothing or offering a garment
- Yagnopavit or Mangalsutra: Putting on the sacred thread
- Anulepana or gandha: Sprinkling with perfume
- Pushpa: Offering flowers
- Dhupa: Burning incense
- Dipa or Aarti: Waving of an oil lamp in front of the deity
- Naivedya: Offering food
- Namaskara or pranama: Reverential prostration or salutation
- Parikrama or Pradakshina. Circumambulation
- Visarjana: Taking leave.