Upachara

(“honoring,” “entertaining”) In its literal
meaning, this word denotes the act of
showing politeness, courtesy, or honor
to any superior. In the context of worship, the meaning has been extended to
refer to the things that are normally
offered to the deity as part of the standard hospitality that would be offered to
any honored guest. Although there are
differing enumerations of these offerings, one of the most common lists has
sixteen of them: summoning (avahana),
offering a seat (asana), water for washing the feet (padya), thirst-quenching
beverages (arghya), water for rinsing the
mouth (achamaniya), bathing (snana),
clothing (vastra), affixing the sacred
thread (yajnopavit), fragrant unguents
(anulepana), flowers (pushpa), incense
(dhupa), lamp (dipa), food (naivedya),
reverential salutation (namaskara), circumambulation (pradakshina), and
dismissal (visarjana). To give all sixteen
offerings is a long and detailed ritual,
and the most common of the offerings is
the eleventh, the offering of light, which
is also known as arati.