Bhumi Puja

Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of South Carolina

On Tuesday, July 22, 2003, members of the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of SC gathered outside for a bhumi puja to honor the earth before an extensive construction project (including a new "multipurpose building" and living quarters for the priests) began at the temple. A bhumi puja is a kind of "ritual groundbreaking" ceremony in which devotees express appreciation for the earth upon which they are about to build and request blessings on the construction project.

Despite the impending rain and eventual thunderstorm, the group went on with the puja, moving it to the covered outdoor altar area instead of having it out on the grass. The group saw the torrential downpour as a sign of blessing from God.

One of the objects present at the puja was a nonanthropomorphic representation of Ganesha, the Lord of Beginnings and Remover of Obstacles, called a kumbha, made by placing a coconut on a brass pot of water with five mango leaves inserted between the coconut and the pot.

Sacred symbols, like the "aum" and the swastika, were drawn on the manila folder containing the contractor's building plans for the expansion of the temple. (The swastika is an ancient Indian solar symbol believed to bring luck and good fortune.)

Here the priest adds to the sacred symbols on the folder.

The folder was then placed at the center of the circle. The priest continued with the recitation of the ceremony as the devotees called their responses and tossed grains of rice on the folder.

Another view of the devotees tossing rice on the folder.

The priest recited the ceremony from a photocopy of a bhumi puja service; this type of puja is infrequent, so it is not generally committed to memory like the more common pujas. Notice the small shovel to the right of the priest and the half-gallon of milk. Later in the ritual, the shovel is used for the ceremonial groundbreaking, in which a small hole is dug in the ground. The milk, along with water from the puja vessels, is poured into the ground to consecrate it.

The devotees distribute more rice among themselves for the continuation of the ceremony.

A close-up of the various elements present for the bhumi puja (fruit offerings, rice, incense, flame, flowers). Note the folder containing the contractor's building plans to the right, covered in rice grains.

Here the group acknowledges the eight directions (not merely the traditional four of north, south, east and west, but including northwest, northeast, southwest and southeast), tossing rice toward each one.

Next, the group acknowledges the earth outside the altar area, the site for the ritual groundbreaking.

The group then removed several bricks from the altar area and began decorating them with sacred swastika symbols.

It appeared to be the men who performed this decorating, perhaps each as a representative of his family who was present.

When completed, the bricks were all arranged in a line in front of the small metal image of Ganesha that had been brought out for the puja.

The next part of the ceremony was the actual groundbreaking. A few of the devotees made their way out on the soggy earth to dig the ceremonial spade into the ground.

After a shovel of dirt was removed, the half-gallon of milk, along with water from the puja vessels, was poured into the hole to ritually consecrate the ground.

Next, offerings were made to Ganesha using a flower to sprinkle water over Ganesha's image and the recently-decorated bricks, as well as all the food offerings present. (Notice the metal Ganesha image is visible here, as well as a small metal cobra, an image of Shiva, on top of the bricks.)

Finally, sacred cords were tied on each person's wrist.

One of the devotees explained that the tying of these cords symbolized the unification of the temple members (including those unable to be present at the ceremony) in their purpose to undertake the construction project for the good of the whole community. The final prayer was that such peace and unity might spread to the entire world.

After the puja was completed, the entire crowd posed for a group photo, taken at their request, to document this "auspicious occasion."