How often have you heard people say -- I have brought up my children , looked after my family, my parents and in laws etc.etc. I prepare breakfast very early in the morning, pack tiffins, prepare tea lunch and dinner. I wash all clothes in the washing machine. I keep the house spic and span. I go to office and spend seven dreary hours at the office table. I cut down on my sleep because I take the bus to reach the office. It is my kind of puja my kind of worship. I do not have the time for doing dhoop agarbatti or meditation.

This requires intense introspection. It is true that the Hindu dharma, and no other religion in the world gives freedom of expressing worship. All other religions are very clear about worship to Almighty, it is almost like a drill. Have you noticed the seriousness of people of the Islamic faith with which they reach the mosques in the afternoons on fridays. For the sunday Churchgoer, it is a religious duty which cannot be failed. Yes, only in Hindu dharma we have an array of worships, choose the one you like.

Now, think about the 'my kind of puja, my kind of worship '. First find out what was the motive behind your good work towards your children, parents etc.? Did you at any point in time think about its returns? Yes. These children will take of me during my old age. If I look after my elders, then by sheer example I will be able to teach them to be caring. My parents have brought me up, I think I owe it to them that I take care during their old age. Have you been egged on to keep the house spotless and dust free because of the praises that come with it? Working the dreary seven hours in the office are mostly for a good posting and quick promotion.

Did you at any stage feel that your duty towards your family was a debt repaid to Krishna? Did you ever dedicate your actions to God? God, has given you so much, you cannot even pen it down -- even a treatise for thanksgiving would be inadequate. Have you ever thanked him for that. While washing clothes did you think about the Lord? While listening to the bosses insults, did you ever thank the Lord? Were your actions devotional or of a perfunctory nature?

If yes, then it is your kind of worship to the almighty. Indeed, you have overcome the need of props to offer your actions to Him. You are many notches high in the echelon of service to God and his realisation.

If not, then your actions are categorised as 'Niyatama Karma' -- an obligatory duty which one is bound to perform. The non-performance of these duties leads to demerit. But its performance does not give you any credit points. Primarily, it is the motive behind your action which decides whether it will elevate you spiritually or not.

The shloka is repeated here for your patient perusal.

नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः ।
शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः ।।

नियतं = required कुरु = do कर्म =action,duty त्वं = you कर्म =action ज्यायो = superior हि = for अकर्मणः =than inaction.
शरीरयात्रा = maintenance of the body अपि= even च= and ते =your न= not प्रसिद्ध्येत्= would be possible अकर्मणः = by inaction.

If the purpose behind your 'dutiful' actions are mundane, then probably it is a good idea to spend some time in kirtan, satsang, puja and meditation. Remember, it is easiest to realise God in this Kali Yuga. Just by taking the name of the Lord, (japa) one can reach Him. Besides, there is little point in deluding oneself with that 'my kind of puja, my kind of worship'.

Most importantly, if you still think you cannot spend even a few minutes for the traditional, and old fashioned puja even then it is okay. It is your free will. But please, dear reader, please -- do not try to justify your actions. By trying to justify your actions, you are sowing seeds of doubts into the minds of people who are following the traditional methods of puja. And, think again, the minutes that you spent arguing and justifying 'your kind of puja and your kind of worship', were more than what takes to recite the Gayatri a 108 times.