# Upachara

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In [Hinduism](/source/Hinduism), ***upachara*** ([Sanskrit](/source/Sanskrit): उपचार; service or courtesy)[1] refers to the offerings and services made to a [deity](/source/Hindu_deity) as part of [worship](/source/Puja_(Hinduism)).

## List

[Krishnananda Agamavagisha](/source/Krishnananda_Agamavagisha) states in the [Brihat Tantrasara](/source/Brihat_Tantrasara)[2] that the main worship is conducted with 5, 10, 16 or 18 articles. These are

### Panchopachara

This is the most basic mode, used for everyday offerings. It includes

1. *Gandha* : Fragrant items like [agarwood](/source/Agarwood), [musk](/source/Musk) & [sandalwood](/source/Sandalwood)
1. *Pushpa* : Flowers & leaves
1. *Dhupa* : [Incense](/source/Incense_in_India)
1. *[Dipa](/source/Diya_(lamp))*: offering of lamps/ light
1. *Naivedya* : Food consisting of uncooked(like fruits & milk) & cooked(like [payasam](/source/Payasam), boiled rice, vegetables, [curry](/source/Curry) & [dal](/source/Dal)) dishes

### Dashopachara

Alongside the 5 articles mentioned above, it also includes 5 additional items which are

1. *Padya* : Water for washing feet
1. *Arghya* : An offering consisting of water, [durva](/source/Durva), flowers & raw rice grains given in the hands of a guest in ancient times as a sign of reception & respect
1. *Achamaniya* : Water for rinsing lips for [achamana](/source/Achamana)
1. *Madhuparka* : An offering of honey mixed with curd, ghee, milk & sugar in specific quantities given before starting any ceremony as a sign of reception
1. *Punarachamaniya* : Water for [achamana](/source/Achamana) to be offered after giving *madhuparka*

### Shodashopachara

This is most prevalent mode. Apart from the articles mentioned in the previous list (except *Madhuparka*), it includes 8 additional items which are

1. *Āvāhana* : Invocation/Invitation; Invoking presence of the deity
1. *Snaniya* : Water offered for bathing
1. *Vastra* : New, unstitched, clean, unused clothes for wearing. For male deities, it is [dhoti](/source/Dhoti) & [uttariya](/source/Uttariya) while for female deities it is [sari](/source/Sari).
1. *Alamkara* : Traditional jewellery
1. *Tambula* : Offering of [paan](/source/Paan) after *naivedya*
1. *Tarpana* : Offering libations of water for satisfaction of disembodied & divine beings. In practice it is substituted with offerings of drinks like drinking water & [Pānakaṃ](/source/Panakam) alongside *naivedya*.
1. *Stotra* : Recitation of hymns & eulogies of the deity who is worshipped.
1. *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](/source/Stool_(seat)) made of wood or metals like gold & silver.
1. *Svagata* : Greetings of reception given by the host(the priest in this case) to the guest( the deity in this case).
1. *Malya* : Garlands made of flowers & leaves.
1. *Anulepana* : Unguents like [sandalwood](/source/Sandalwood) for anointing the body.
1. *Upavita* : Offering [sacred thread](/source/Janeu)

Some texts include all abovementioned articles(without omitting any) alongside additional articles like *shayya*(bedding) & *chhatra*(umbrella). 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](/source/Kali).

## References

1. Apte, Vaman Shivram (1957). ["उपचारः"](http://dsalsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.1:1:4010.apte). *The practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*. Poona: Prasad Prakashan.[dead link]

1. ["বৃহৎ তন্ত্রসার at www.archive. org"](https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.338822/mode/2up). 19 June 2021.

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