Tantric Way of Worship

In Tantric Pooja, actually deity does not come from outside and sit in the idol
and receive pooja but is the one which is inside the Sadhak (worshipper, who
does the pooja). Deity or Shakti is installed (during prana prathista -
installing vital air) into the idol or yantra (mystic diagram) by taking it from
the right nostril (pingala nadi), then worshipped. After visarjana (disposal),
diety is again taken into the body of the sadhak through left nostril (Ida
nadi).

Pooja or ritualistic worship of the deity is a very important part of
Tantra-Sadhana. It forms a part of purascarana also.

In any pooja, the preliminary processes include sankalpa or religious resolve
and ceremonial purification of all the items involved in it as the asana or
seat, the vessels, and the flowers. Bhootapasarana or driving away all the evil
spirits that may obstruct the pooja is another important item. Pranayama or
regulation of the mind through the control of breath, bhootashuddi or purifying
the elements that compose the body of the worshipper (five elements – earth,
water, space, fire, air), nyasas or placing different seed letters (beejakshara)
in different parts of the body, dhyana, meditation on the god, and then prana
prathista (only in case if it is not installed – in temples deity is already
installed but in case of house every day awahana and visarjana should be done –
installation and disposal).

However the cardinal part of the pooja is the “upacharas” or ways of ritual
service. In the shortest mode of pooja they are five: gandha (sandal paste),
pushpa (flowers), dhoopa (incense), deepa (lighted lamp), and naivedya (food).
After all these rituals deity should be disposed off.