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Poojaa - Types
See also       Bhaagvat Puraan, 11/22;     What is Poojaa       Cure by Poojaa

Poojaa or worship is of two types - Nish-Kaam and Sa-Kaam. Nish-Kaam Poojaa is done without any desire and Sa-Kaam Poojaa is done to fulfill some wish. When a Poojaa is done with some desire, its fruit depends on the simplicity and complexity of the Pojaa done. For example, if somebody does Poojaa with the desire of some specific situation or thing, if the fruit is hindered by some previous life's Karm strongly, then one doesn't get its fruit by doing Poojaa only one time. One has to do it several times.

But today's people don't have so much patience and lose their patience and as a result they lose even the belief in Devtaa. It is not good. It may harm instead of benefiting. In fact the same Sa-Kaam Poojaa is successful which is done methodically with the complete Shraddhaa in Karm, Devtaa and its fruit. Thus both, method and Shraddhaa, are necessary to get desire fruit.
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Bhagavaan's worship is said to be of five types - Abhigaman, Upaadaan, Yog, Swaadhyaaya (self-study), and Ijyaa. Cleaning Bhagavaan's place is called "Abhigaman". Gathering flowers and sandalwood paste etc things is called "Upaadaan". My Isht Dev is not different from me - this feeling is called "Yog". To do Jap by understanding the meaning of one's Isht Dev's Mantra is called "Swaadhyaaya". Reading Sookt, or Stotra, doing Bhagavaan's Keertan, studying Shaastra etc also come under "Swaadhyaaya". To worship one's Isht Dev methodically is called "Ijyaa". They give Saarshti, Saameepya, Saalokya, Saayujya and Saaroopya named Mukti respectively."
[Padm Puraan, 4/17]
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Another division is - Aaturee, Sautikee, Traasee, Saadhanaabhaavinee, and Daurbodhee. 

(1) Aaturee Poojaa - A patient should neither take bath, nor do Jap, nor worship. He should do only Darshan of his Isht Dev (idol, or Soorya's Darshan), remember his Mantra and offer flowers. When he becomes all right, then he should take bath, salute his Guru and pray that "By the grace of your Prasaad, I should not be blamed to abandon Poojaa." After taking his blessings he should resume his Poojaa. Feed Braahman and give Dakshinaa. 
(2) Sautikee Poojaa - Sootak is of two types - Jaat Sootak Sootak) and Mrit Sootak (Paatak). In both kinds of Sootak, one should do only mental worship. After Sootak is over, one can resume normal worship after taking blessings of Guru and Braahman.
(3) Traasee Poojaa - Who has been afflicted by his enemies, he should do worship with whatever is available to him or even mentally. 
(4) Saadhanaabhaavinee Poojaa - When one cannot get Poojaa materials and does Poojaa only with available leaves, flower or fruits; or mentally, it is called Saadhanaabhaavinee Poojaa. 
(5) Daurbodhee Poojaa - A woman, an old man, a child and a fool worship in whatever way because of their A-Gyaan (ignorance), that is called Daurbodhee Poojaa.
(Naarad Puraan, p 431-432)
(Bhaagvat Puraan,  11/26)

How to Worship
Naarad Jee said - Now I tell you the method of Vishnu's worship - This worship is of three types - Vaidik, Taantrik and mixed. One should worship Him with all three methods. Vaidik and mixed methods are prescribed for all three Varn - Braahman, Kshatriya and Vaishya, but Taantrrik worship is prescribed only for Shoodra. Bhagavaan's idol is of eight types - of stone, of metal, of iron, of clay, picture, of sand, Manomayee (as one likes), and of gems. These idols are established with two methods - movable and immovable.

Bhakt should worship Him with whatever is easily available to him. In idol worship giving it bath and ornaments (flowers) are all right (means just give it a bath and offer flowers). Offering even water is good. Gather all worship materials and sit on a Kush Aasan facing north or towards the idol. Draw an 8-petal lotus flower and establish the idol on it. Give it a bath, the clothe it nd adorn it by flowers, etc. Offer Naivedya (jaggery, Kheer, Ghee, Pooree, Maalpooaa, Laddoo, milk, yogurt etc). After worship one should do Dhyaan and finish the Poojaa. One may do Havan also with Havishya Ann. One should touch his head with offered flower or flower garland. After the Poojaa is finished, if the idol is for Visarjan, one should do its Visarjan too. This is Vaidik and Taantrik Poojaa of Bhagavaan.
[Padm Puraan, 4/20]

People worship in several ways - 
(1) Panchopachaar Poojaa - Worship done by five articles, normally by water, flowers, incense, flame of a candle or Ghee lamp and an offering of sweets is called Panchopachaar Poojaa
(2) Shodashopachaar Poojaa - Worship done by 16 articles, normally by water, flowers, incense, flame of a candle or Ghee lamp, sweets, red vermilion, rice etc is called Shodashopachaar Poojaa. Symbolically it is done by five elements, the ten senses, and the mind.
(3) Mental Worship - In mental worship the Panchopachaar Poojaa articles are replaced by the five gross elements of earth, water fire, air and space along with their corresponding subtle energies.

Poojaa Materials

There are normally 16 materials to worship (Shodashopachaar) our Deity with, but the following are normally must - Rolee (or Haldee - turmeric powder); rice, flower, sandalwood paste, lamp, incense sticks, Dhoop (sweet smelling material to burn), and Naivedya (food to offer - sweets, or fruits, or dry fruits), and Panchaamrit. If it is Vishnu Poojaa, then Tulasee leaves are also must. Optional materials are Paan (betel leaf) etc.
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Yam Raaj said to Braahman - "If one doesn't get flower or leaf, he can worship Him with Ann (cereals etc) - rice, wheat, raw rice with husk (Dhaan), barley etc.
(Padm Puraan, Paataal Khand, p 596)

Panchopachaar Poojaa
Panchopachaar Poojaa means worshipping the Deity with five things or elements, it is customary. These five things are - symbolic dedication of (1) Jal (water) (2) Akshat (rice) (3) Pushp (Flowers) (4) Dhoop-deep (incense and lighted lamp) and (5) Naivedya (sweet offering), and keeping them one by one in a dish.
Water is symbolic of modesty and compassion. Rice implies happiness, prosperity and beauty. Dhoop-deep implies spreading light by self-effacement. Naivedya implies sweetness and gentleness of nature. By Panchopachaar worship the Saadhak resolves to equip his personality with righteousness.

There is another version and explanation of five things - (1) Gandh - fragrance - incense or sandal paste etc, representing Earth element; (2) Naivedya - food - sweet porridge, fruit etc, representing Water element; (3) Deep - lamp, representing Fire element; (4) Dhoop - incense smoke, representing Air element; (5) Pushp - flower, representing Space element. Thee should be offered to the Deity in the beginning and at the end of the worship.

Shadopachaar Poojaa Process
Poojaa's complete process is called Poojaa with Shodashopachaar (Shodash Upachaar - 16 processes to the Deity) - 

(1) Aavaahan - Welcoming the Deity.
(2) Aasan - Offering seat.
(3) Paadya - Washing His feet.
(4) Arghya - washing the hands.
(5) Aachaman - Offering water to drink.
(6) Snaan - Bathing.
(7) Vastra - Offering clothes.
(8) Yagyopaveet - Offering Yagyopaveet - Of the 72,000 Naadee in our body, Sushumnaa Naadee is the most important one as it is through this the Kundalinee Power rises, that is why it is called Brahm. Naadee also. This bestows us with the knowledge of Ultimate Par Brahm. Recognizing this we symbolically we offer a sacred thread to the Deity.
(9) Aabharan - Offering ornaments - Recognizing that we are a part of Divinity and the outer. ornaments we wear are the attachment to Maayaa, by offering our ornaments to the Deity is a symbolic gesture of renouncing the worldly attachments.
(10) Gandh - Offering sandalwood paste.
(11) Pushp - Offering flowers.
(12) Dhoop - Offering perfumed incense.
(13) Deep - Offering lamp or light.
(14) Naivedya - Offering food.
(15) Taambool - Offering betel leaf.
(16) Pradakshinaa Namaskaar - Circumambulation and saluting the Deity.

Poojaa With 32 Materials
A more elaborate Poojaa will be by 32 materials to the Deity - 

(1) Aavahan (inviting), (2) Aasan (seat), (3) Paadya, (4) Arghya (offering water), (5) Aachaman (drinking a little sip), (6) Madhupark (Panchaamrit), (7) Snaan (bathing), (8) Vastra (clothes), (9) Upaveet (Yagyopaveet), (10) Aabharan (ornaments), (11) Gandh (fragrant water on Him or offering incense), (12) Akshat (rice), (13) Pushp (flower), (14) Dhoop (incense stick), (15) Deep (lamp), (16) Naivedya (sweets or dry fruits, or fruits), (17) Taambool (betel leaf), (18) Dakshinaa (money), (19) Phal (fruits), (20) Neeraajan (offering water), (21) Pushpaanjali (flowers), (22) Pradakshinaa (circumambulating), (23) Namaskaar (saluting), (24) Stotra (praying or reciting Mantra), (25) Chhatra (umbrella), (26) Chamar (fanning), (27) Vaahan (ride), (28) Nritya (dance), (29) Geet (singing), (30) Vaadya (musical instruments), (31) Praarthanaa (praying), (32) Visarjan with Mantra Pushpam and Shaanti Paath (sending off the Isht with Mantra, flowers and peace prayer).

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