Various articles are used in temples of Kerala for pooja, homa, nivedya etc. They are summarized below:
(i) POOJA
(a) For Normal rites
1. Essential equipments
(i) Kinti (water vessel with a spout) - Two numbers; (ii) sankh (conch) with base (iii) chandana. otam (for keeping sandal paste); (iv) Hand-bell; (v) Pooppalika (flower-plate (vi) Nilavilakks (stand-lamps) with sufficient number of wicks; (vii) Aavana-palaka (seat for the priest for comfortably sitting without touching the ground); (viii) Kotivilakk (Hand-lamp): (ix) Dhoopakkaal (incense-stand) and (x) Kalasas (pots) (xi) Praneethah (a small bowl for punyaha)
2. Flowers
Flowers prescribed for the deity including garlands for the deity
3. Grass
Darbha (kusa grass)
4. Dravyas
(i) Ghee: (ii) Sesame oil; (iii) Sandal-paste; (iv) ashta-gandha (incense powder of eight articles); (v) abhisheka-dravyas (vi) akshatha
Special flowers like erikku-poovu ,tri-foliate leaves qf koovalam, darbha
3. Dravyas
(i) Coconut (ii) leaves of trees like arayaal, mango etc (iii) twigs of trees like Chamatha, Arayaal, Peraal, (iv) barks (v) specified type of fire woods like jackwood (vi) coconut husks (vii) plants or bushes like Mukkuti (viii) paddy (ix) sugarcane (ix) molasses (x) honey (xi) Kadali plantain etc of required quantity. (Dravyas vary according to type of rite, homa etc)
(ii) HOMAS
(i). Equipmenta and other items
(i) Bricks (depending on number of homa-kundas)
(ii)Sand (iii) Darbha (iv) Srukk/ Sruva, Joohu (v) Aajya-sthaalee (vi) Bowl for sampaatha (vii) Vessels for offerings (viii) and dravyas required for pooja rites
(ii). Flowers
As per requirements for the concerned pooja
(iii) Dravyas
Ghee and other items required for each homa
(iii) NIVEDYAS
Pooja\ Homa Vazhipaat
Nivedyas for each pooja and homa differ with respect to the type of pooja/homa and also the deity, apart from the rituals followed in each temple.
In this context it is essential to stress that all pooja equipments are to be used after pioperlyrubbing with wood ashes and cleaning with pure-water.similarly, the dravyas should be pure and of excellent quality and as per the requirements laid down in thaanthric texts. Generally suddhi of nivedyas is done with ghee. Dravyas have to be
properly handled, keeping the principle of suddhi (purity) as they are offered to the
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supreme power. It is the bounden duty of all concerned (Thanthri, Saanthikkars,
Kazhakakkars or other temple staff) to ensure that these stipulations are essentially followed, as the very power of the deity and sanctity of the temple are based on the purity of articles offered, purity in actions and above all purity of mind .
