Sadhana Ritual

Sadhana ritual

sadhana means ritual work or holy act. And is a way to cleanse and renew…


One meal of only Satvic, or light foods should be eaten during the day. These can be fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, or butter. Nothing should be heavy or starchy.

This ritual is done at night. Starting at 10:00 pm. local time, take a ritual bath. A bath is prepared to the temperature of your liking. It is scented with essential oils or bath salts. The person sits in the tub, relaxes, clarifies their mind for the purpose of the ritual, and gets in the mood for it. This can be done with the lights dimmed or with candlelight, if preferred.

Loose clothing of an appropriate color for the deity involved is worn.

The ritual area is swept, and perhaps otherwise cleaned. It must be free of debris, dirt, and clutter.

The altar is set up. An altar cloth of an appropriate color for the primary deity worshiped is used. A small wooden table with one candle, statue of the god or goddess to be worshiped, one of Shiva and one of Ganesha as well. A yantra or symbol for the deity primarily worshiped is used. These may be found in any of numerous sites or books about various Gods, or you can even make one up. 2 pieces of cloth, essential oil, flowers, incense, potable water, food for offering, and a musical instrument. None of this has to be elaborate. Or, a small area on a floor or the ground will do nicely as well. The altar may stay up, or it may be taken down when not in use, as per needs and preference.

The working area is not of a set size. It should accommodate a circle large enough for the participant and the altar. As this is normally done solitary, the circle may be as small as about 4 ft in diameter. The size should make it feel “cozy” and “intimate” with the person celebrating.


  1. Facing south, take the cup of water in your left hand, cover it with your right hand, and hold it in front of you. Look at the statue of Shiva and mentally ask Him to take away all impurities. Say AUM NAMAH SHIVAYA 11 times. With your right hand, take drops of water from the cup in your left hand, and sprinkle it over your body.

  2. Take a drop of water in your right hand and sip it. Make no noise as you do this. Then, say each the following mantra once, sipping water between them:




    The inside and outside of your body is now purified.

  3. Take a little water in the left palm. Starting in the south, sprinkle water in that direction as you say AUM NAMAH SHIVAYA Repeat for west, north, east, then finally repeating south.

  4. Worship Ganesha briefly. He is the God of luck. Worshiping Him is auspicious to the success of your ritual.

    Repeat AUM GAM GANAPATYAI NAMAH 11, 21, or 108 times. Offer Him incense, light, rice, flowers, and tilak, as per the simple pooja. Pray to Ganesha in that puja that thissadhana or “Holy action” will be successful.

  5. A vow is taken. take water in the right hand and hold the arm at shoulder level. State the date, place, your name and family, what you intend to do, and that you are going to be successful in the sadhana. Then, let a drop of water roll down your fingers and fall onto the floor to the right side. This must not fall on the altar. Be very determined when you make this vow. The vow, or Samkalpa, makes the siddhi or success.

  6. Guru puja is performed. This is to send energy and thanks to whoever taught you this. You can very well thank the gods Themselves for this. Repeat the mantra AUM PARAM TATVAYA NARANYA NAMAH and AUM GURU BRAHMA, AUM GURU VISHNU, AUM GURU MAHASHVERA”

  7. The yantra, or symbol of the deity is now worshipped by offering incense, light, rice, flowers, and tilak.

  8. Repeat 4 or 11 mala of 100ish mantras of
    This is to get the blessing from the TEACHER. The true teacher is not the human being who taught you to do any of this, but rather the divine Itself. There is much confusion over the concept of “guru worship”. You do NOT worship the human being in front of you! No human being deserves worship! It is from the divine Who led you to the teaching. The divine used whatever people or tools He/She/It had most available and most appropriate.

  9. Repeat the mantra for whatever deity you are offering the sadhana, or holy action to 11 or 21 mala of 100ish mantra each. The mantra can be found in various books or websites about particular deities.

    If you do not have a mala appropriate for the deity, or one at all, you may use a crystal mala, or you may have 2 sets of stones on your altar. One set of 100 or 108 stones to count mantra. The other set is of 11 or 21 and is used to count malas.

  10. Repeat 4 or 11 mala of 100ish mantras of

  11. When finished, leave the candle or lamp burning until it goes out. Never extinguish this light in any way.

  12. This ritual is done once for a prayoga. For a full sadhana, or holy action to a god, this is done 3, 7, 9. 14. 28, 40, or 108 consecutive days.

  13. The next day after the sadhana is completely finished, wrap all of the unused items – incense, oil, food, yantra, stones, partly burned candles, etc and either bury them or drop them into a river, lake, or stream.

    The sadhana is done. Good luck.


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