Describing about the rituals connected with the worship of lord Vishnu, lord Mahadeva told Parvati— A devotee can worship Lord Vishnu by making his idol. This mode of worship is known as ‘Sthapita’ (installation of an idol). There are also some sacred places related with lord Vishnu which are called ‘Swayam-Vyakata’ (self manifested) like Indradyumna Sarovar, (Kurma sthan), Kashi, Prayag, Dwarka, Naimisharanya, Mathura etc. In all these holy places, Lord Vishnu had manifested himself. A devotee should get up early in the morning and perform ‘achaman’. He should then chant the holy name of Lord Vishnu. He should take his bath and sit down to worship Lord Vishnu.
A devotee should install idols of Lakshmi-Narayana on a beautiful pedestal and adorn it with flowers. He should then make offerings of various articles like akshat, fruits, flowers, etc. to the deity. While worshipping, it is most necessary that a devotee followes the rituals as mentioned in the ancient scriptures like Shruti, Smriti, Vedas etc. He should chant the shlokas of Purusha-Sukta as well as the cryptic mantra for the accomplishment of ‘Shodashopachar’. He should light a ghee lamp and make offerings of articles like camphor and betel leaves to Lord Vishnu. While making offerings in the sacrificial-fire, chanting of a shloka either from Purushasukta or Srisukta is mandatory.
There are some specific days which are considered to be specially auspicious for the worship of lord Vishnu–Amavasya, Saturday, solar eclipse, lunar eclipse etc
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In Hinduism, the worship of Lord Vishnu is deeply rooted in ancient rituals and traditions. As Lord Mahadeva explained to Parvati, there are various ways through which devotees can express their reverence for Lord Vishnu. One significant mode of worship is known as ‘Sthapita’, which involves the installation of an idol representing Lord Vishnu. Additionally, there are sacred places associated with Lord Vishnu known as ‘Swayam-Vyakata’ or self-manifested, such as Indradyumna Sarovar, Kurma sthan, Kashi, Prayag, Dwarka, Naimisharanya, and Mathura, where Lord Vishnu has manifested himself.
The ritual begins with the devotee waking up early in the morning and performing ‘achaman’, a purificatory ritual involving sipping water while reciting specific mantras. Following this, the devotee chants the holy name of Lord Vishnu and takes a bath before sitting down to engage in the worship of Lord Vishnu.
Central to the worship is the installation of idols of Lakshmi-Narayana on a beautiful pedestal, which is then adorned with flowers. The devotee makes offerings of various articles such as akshat (rice grains), fruits, and flowers to the deity. It is imperative that the devotee adheres to the rituals prescribed in ancient scriptures like Shruti, Smriti, and Vedas during the worship. Chanting the shlokas of Purusha-Sukta, along with the cryptic mantra for the accomplishment of ‘Shodashopachar’, is considered essential. Lighting a ghee lamp and making offerings of articles like camphor and betel leaves to Lord Vishnu are also part of the worship ritual. During the offering in the sacrificial fire, chanting a shloka from either Purushasukta or Srisukta is mandatory.
Certain days are considered especially auspicious for the worship of Lord Vishnu, including Amavasya (new moon), Saturday, solar eclipse, lunar eclipse, and other specific occasions.
These rituals not only symbolize devotion but also serve as a means for devotees to connect with the divine and seek blessings from Lord Vishnu, the preserver and protector in Hindu mythology.