Panchayatana Puja

Panchayatana puja is the system of worship which was most

common in every Brahmin house till few decades ago.

The Panchayatana is a system which consists of the worship of

five deities:

"Adityam Ambikaam Vishnum Gananaatam Maheswaram"

Aditya is Lord Surya.

Ambika is Goddess Devi.
Vishnu is Lord Narayana.
Gananaatham is Lord Ganesha.
Maheswara is Lord Shiva.
These five are the great divine force whom every householder
worships as pancha devata puja. Based on the tradition followed
by the family, one of these deities is kept in the center and the
other four around it and worship is offered to all the deities.

Adhi Shankara systemised the Sanatana Dharma(Hinduism) and

classified it into broad Six categories.

Shaiva - with Shiva as the Presiding deity

Vaishnava - with Vishnu as the Presiding deity
Shaktha - with Devi as the Presiding deity
Ganapatya - with Ganesha as the Presiding deity
Kaumara - with Subramanya as the Presiding deity
Sowra - with Surya (planets) as the Presiding deity

Deva Puja and Archana is one of the most important duties

imposed by the Shastras. The Shastras are filled with details of
the Panchayatana puja details and Adhi Shankra only prescribed
us to follow it without fail.

The panchayatana scheme represent the five elements:

Akashasyadhipo vishnuh agneshchaiva maheshvari |

vayoh suryah kshiterishah jivanasya ganadhipah ||

Akasha : Space : Vishnu

Vahni : Fire : AmbikA
Vayu : Air : Aditya
kShiti : Earth : Shiva
Jala : Water : Ganapati
All the five deities are not Panchaloka or any other metal idols;
But these five are represented by small natural stones found in
various parts of India.

Name of Deity : Ganesha

Bhuta(Tatwa) : Apu(Water)
Name of the Stone (Sila) : Red Sonabhadra
Name of the River : Sone
Name of the State where found in India : Bihar
Names of flowers and leaves used for worship : Lotus and
Bandook flowers

Name of Deity : Surya(Sun)

Bhuta(Tatwa) : Vayu (Air)
Name of the Stone (Sila) : Crystal
Name of the River : Vallam
Name of the State where found in India : Tamil Nadu (Tanjavur)
Names of flowers and leaves used for worship : Bandook flower
and plantain tree

Name of Deity : Vishnu

Bhuta(Tatwa) : Akasha(Space)
Name of the Stone (Sila) : Saligrama
Name of the River : Gandaki
Name of the State where found in India : Nepal
Names of flowers and leaves used for worship : Tulsi (basil),
Ashwatha, and Amalaki leaves. Marigold, Punnaga, and yellow
flowers

Name of Deity : Shiva

Bhuta(Tatwa) : Prithivi(Earth)
Name of the Stone (Sila) : Banalinga
Name of the River : Narmada (Omkara-kunda)
Name of the State where found in India : Madhya Pradesh
Names of flowers and leaves used for worship : Godlen shower
tree Flower ,Bel leaves & Amalaki leaves. Akund (Calotropis
gigantea), Crown flower Nagalingam flower

Name of Deity : Ambika(Devi)

Bhuta(Tatwa) : Agni(Fire)
Name of the Stone (Sila) : Swarna Mukhi (Rekha Shila)
Name of the River : Swarnamukhi
Name of the State where found in India : Andhra Pradesh
Names of flowers and leaves used for worship : Red flowers -
Hibiscus or China rose and Neem leaves

The image of that particular devata is kept in the centre,

surrounded by the other gods. If he is a devotee of Vishnu, he
places the idol of Vishnu in the centre with the other idols
surrounding it. If he is a devotee of Lord shiva, a lingam is
placed in the middle with the other images around it. If he is a
devotee of Suryanarayana, he has a sphatika as the central
object of worship.
The positioning in the panchayatana poojas are as follows:
Shiva Panchayatana Puja

Vishnu                     Devi

              Shiva

Surya                    Ganesha

Shiva at the center

Surya at Southeast
Ganesha at Southwest
Devi at Northwest and
Vishnu at the Northeast.
Ganesha Panchayatana Puja

Vishnu                     Devi

              Ganesha

Shiva                    Surya

Ganesha at the center

Vishnu at Northeast
Shiva at Southeast
Surya Southwest and
Devi at Northwest
Vishnu Panchayatana Puja

Shiva                     Devi

              Vishnu

Ganesha                    Surya

Vishnu at Center
Shiva at Northeast
Ganesha at Southeast
Surya at Southwest and
Devi at Northwest
Devi Panchayatana Puja

Vishnu                     Surya

              Devi

Shiva                    Ganesha

Devi at center,
Vishnu at Northeast,
Shiva at Southeast,
Ganesha at Southwest and
Surya at Northwest
Surya Panchayatana Puja

Shiva                     Devi

              Surya

Ganesha                    Vishnu

Surya at Center,
Shiva at Northeast,
Ganesha at Southeast,
Vishnu at Southwest,
Devi at Northwest

Along with this people worshipping Subramanya will include Him

in the form of a (silver) Snake or Vel (spear)
Panchayatana Puja is a systematic procedure which involves
physical and mental discipline, requires inner and outer
cleanliness. This - when done systematically will surely bring the
progress in the material world and the final truth - awareness of
the true Self. By following it, one obtains the Lord’s Anugraha,
without which liberation is not possible.