In the present scientific of the world, where the man is accustomed to quick results, putting a question mark on the utility and importance of spiritual activities like worship & devotion is, but natural.

Not only does devotion & worship demand a continuous and contact effort, but also faith and belief, which are the two pillars upon which the construction of Devotion stands.

When a person listen's to the qualitities, sing devotional songs in the praise of the supreme Lord, and remember him, with complete faith and devotion, he acquires such firmness of character, which help's him to control and pacify his sensual desires like lust, anger etc. This happens because of the environment which is created as a result of these activities. This environment affects the surroundings in the some way as the fragrance of the flower is carried to all around it, by the air.

Therefore it is beneficial for each man to engage himself in devotion and worship, to have full control over the sensual desires. Even being in the company of a worshipper helps in that objective.

THE NECESSITY FOR THE WORSHIP OF THE FIVE DEITIES

The methods of worship practised in the Sanatan Dharma is completely scientific, because the rituals which are performed to worship the five dieties (PANCH MAHABHUTA), The matter constitutes of these PANCHA TATVA or PANCH MAHABHUTA and each of the PANCH DEVA are considered to be PANCH MAHABHUTA - EARTH, WATER, FIRE ETHER (Sky), AIR as the Lord of the each of the element

These five basic elements exists because of the three qualities of the nature i.e. SATVA (PURE), RAJA (INFERIOR TO SATVA) & TAMA (DARK)

Out of the five basic elements of which every matter is made ETHER or Sky is considered to be constituted of Pure quality (SATVA GUNA), where as the AIR is considered to be a mixture of SATVA & RAJA quality, the FIRE is RAJO GUNA, the EARTH constitutes of DARK QUALITY (TAMO GUNA), where as the WATER constitutes of a mixture of RAJA & TAMA GUNAS

All the living beings which exist in this world, have the five basic elements as the constitutes of the body, from which their bodies are made. Goswami Tulidas has written in the Ramcharitmanas

KSHITI JALA PAAVAKA GAGAN SAMEERA,
PANCHA RACHITA YAHA ADHAMA SAREERA

i.e. The `mean' body is made up of Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. The mans nature is directly proportional to the presence of certain excessive element in his body.

Although Lord Vishnu being the supreme power is the only worthy of reverence or worship, yet the fact is that the common man worship the deities according to their nature, which itself depends upon the five basic elements.

THE FIVE DEITIES (PANCHA-DEVA)

The following shloko describes about the five deities as the Lord of each of the five basic elements.

Meaning : (The Lord of 'ether' is Vishnu, the Lordess of 'Fire' is Durga, Sun is the Lord of 'Air', Shiva is the Lord of 'Earth' and Ganesha is the Lord of 'Water'.

A person who has one of these element as dominant, prefers to worship that deity, who is the master of that excessive element which dominated his body. And this is the reason we see so many sects, methods of worship etc.

DIVISION OF SECTS

Those who worship 'Ganapati' are called 'GAANAPATYA' (worshipper of Ganesh)

Those who worship 'Shakti' are called 'SHAAKTA'

Those who worship 'Lord Shiva' are 'SHAIVA'

Those who worship 'Lord Vishnu' are called 'VAISHNAVA'

The worship of the five deities actually is the worship of the basic elements from which the body of a human being is made. As a result of this body becomes healthy & strong. Therefore it is a must for every human being.

THE IMPORTANCE OF ADORATION IN WORSHIP

All of the three duties or actions (KARMA) come under the act of adoration or reverence. The three duties being

1. Daily Duties (Nitya Karma),
2. Duties performed with an aspiration for a specific purpose (Naimittika Karma),
3. Spiritual Duties (Aadhyatmika Karma)

Those duties or actions are considered to be the daily duties, by the performance of which one attains no virtues, but by the non-performance of which, one certainly commits sin for example taking bath, doing worship during the dusktime (SANDHYA)sprinkling water in reverence to the deceased ancestors (Tarpana) and worshipping the deities etc.

DUTIES PERFORMED WITH AN ASPIRATION FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE (NAIMITTIKA-KARMA)

Those duties which are performed with an aspiration for a specific purpose are called NAIMITTIKA KARMA, and his desires are certainly fulfilled because of those actions. But on the other hand if those duties or actions are not performed then he does not get those results. For example if a sonless father does duties according to the methods described in the sacred books, to have a son, then his desires will certinly be fulfilled.

SPIRITUALS DUTIES OR ACTIONS (AADHYATMIKA KARMA)

Those duties which are performed without having any desires, are called spiritual duties or actions. Even if they are not performed they do not give inauspicious results.

Apart from these three types of duties by which a man can worship, there are also other methods by which he can worship, like the yogis do in the state of deep meditation (SAMAADHEE) by having full control over there respiration.

Our revered sages have classified the religious duties into three categories -

1. Duties or Actions (Karma)
2. Devotion or Worship (Upaasana)
3. Knowledge (Gyaana)