Preparation pack
The blank you fill in with Gurukkal
Every guide on this site marks certain items Confirm — the counts and quantities that differ between families and traditions, and that no website should invent. This is where those blanks get filled. Choose your ceremony, print the sheet, and complete the last three columns during your call with Gurukkal.
Why it arrives empty. Published lists disagree with one another, and they disagree most about exactly the things a family is about to spend money on — how many coconuts, how many betel leaves, which grains, which cloths. Each of those lists documents a real tradition. Printing one of them here as though it were the rule would be handing you someone else’s practice with this priest’s name on it. So the sheet is ruled, not filled.
Preparation pack
Vivāham — the Hindu Wedding
Every item below is explained in the full guide. 3 of the 14 rows are marked Confirm — those are the ones only Gurukkal can fill in.
| Item | Status | Who brings it | Exact count | Gurukkal’s note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maṅgalya / thāli or maṅgalsūtraThe form and the thread are family-specific. Confirm well in advance. | Required | Bride’s family | ||
| Homam materials, ghee, samidhaThe quantity depends on which rites are included. | Required | Family / priest | ||
| Homa kuṇḍam / fire-safe vesselConfirm who provides it, and that the venue permits it. | Required | Priest / venue | ||
| Kalaśam and the sacred vesselsKeep them clean; assemble only as instructed. | Required | Family / priest | ||
| Garlands for the coupleFresh on the day. Confirm how many, and for which rites. | Required | Family | ||
| Mango leaves and coconutsCounts differ materially between traditions. | Confirm | Family | ||
| Betel leaves and areca nutsCounts differ; do not guess. | Confirm | Family | ||
| Turmeric, kumkum, akṣata (rice), sandalwoodClean small containers unless an exact quantity is requested. | Common | Family | ||
| Fresh flowers, fruitFresh on the day; keep loose flowers separate. | Common | Family | ||
| New clothes for the coupleFollow your family custom for who provides what. | Common | Both families | ||
| Lamps, oil or ghee, cotton wicks, camphorTest them before the day. | Required | Family | ||
| Items specific to a rite your family keepsAṅkurārpaṇam, Sumaṅgalī Prārthanā and regional rites each carry their own. | Confirm | Family | ||
| Floor protection and a ventilation planA safety layer, not a ritual item — but the venue will ask. | Practical | Family / venue | ||
| Seating for the elderly, and waterA three-hour ceremony is a long time to sit on a floor. | Practical | Family |
Anything else he asks for
© Sri Kumar Naganathan Gurukkal — SaivaPriest.com. Prepared for one family’s own use. The counts written on this sheet are Gurukkal’s and apply to this ceremony only.
Preparation pack
Gṛha Praveśam
Every item below is explained in the full guide. 8 of the 20 rows are marked Confirm — those are the ones only Gurukkal can fill in.
| Item | Status | Who brings it | Exact count | Gurukkal’s note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalaśa / kalasamKeep it clean; assemble only as instructed. | Required | Family / priest | ||
| Gaṇapati or deity image, or the approved altar focusConfirm what Gurukkal uses in his sequence. | Common | Family | ||
| Lamp, oil or ghee, cotton wicksTest them safely before the ceremony. | Required | Family | ||
| Turmeric, kumkum, sandalwoodSmall clean containers unless an exact quantity is requested. | Common | Family | ||
| Raw rice / akṣataThe preparation may be guided by Gurukkal. | Common | Family | ||
| Fresh flowers and a garlandBuy fresh; keep the loose flowers separate from the garland. | Common | Family | ||
| Fresh fruitVariety and count vary. | Common | Family | ||
| Betel leaves and areca nutsCounts vary materially between lists. | Confirm | Family | ||
| CoconutsThe count depends on which modules are included. | Confirm | Family | ||
| Mango leaves / toraṇaCommon in many South Indian traditions; availability varies locally. | Confirm | Family | ||
| Homa kuṇḍam / fire-safe vesselOnly if homa is part of your confirmed sequence. | Confirm | Priest / either | ||
| Samidha / firewoodUse only Gurukkal-approved material. | Confirm | Priest / either | ||
| Ghee for the homaThe quantity is booking-specific. | Confirm | Family / either | ||
| Homa dravya / navadhānyaDepends on the Vāstu, Navagraha or homa sequence. | Confirm | Priest / either | ||
| New vessel for boiling milkConfirm the material and size with Gurukkal. | Common | Family | ||
| MilkThe ritual quantity and the amount for serving are separate questions. | Common | Family | ||
| Prasādam / naivedyam ingredientsCeremony and family specific. | Confirm | Family | ||
| Water vessels, pañcapātra, spoonsKeep them clean and within reach. | Common | Family / priest | ||
| Floor protection, foil or fire matEspecially important in a carpeted home. | Practical | Family | ||
| Ventilation and building permission planNot ritual samagri, but operationally essential. | Practical | Family |
Anything else he asks for
© Sri Kumar Naganathan Gurukkal — SaivaPriest.com. Prepared for one family’s own use. The counts written on this sheet are Gurukkal’s and apply to this ceremony only.
Preparation pack
Satyanārāyaṇa Pūjā
Every item below is explained in the full guide. 5 of the 14 rows are marked Confirm — those are the ones only Gurukkal can fill in.
| Item | Status | Who brings it | Exact count | Gurukkal’s note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satyanārāyaṇa image or vigrahaClean it and place it on a stable raised altar or pīṭham. | Required | Family | ||
| Kalaśa / kalaśamKeep it clean; fill and assemble it only as Gurukkal instructs. | Required | Family / priest | ||
| Turmeric, kumkum, sandalwoodSmall clean containers are enough unless an exact quantity is requested. | Common | Family | ||
| Fresh flowers and a garlandFresh and clean; keep the loose flowers separate from the garland. | Common | Family | ||
| Five varieties of fruitMany lists specify five varieties; the exact counts vary. | Common | Family | ||
| Betel leaves and betel nutsCommonly used, but quantities vary widely by tradition and by the number of offerings. | Confirm | Family | ||
| Coconuts and mango leavesCommon for the kalaśa and for offerings; confirm the exact count. | Confirm | Family | ||
| Raw rice / akṣataKeep raw rice available; Gurukkal may guide the preparation of akṣata. | Common | Family | ||
| Dīpam, oil or ghee, cotton wicksTest the lamps beforehand and keep matches or a lighter safely to hand. | Required | Family | ||
| Incense and camphorUse only in a ventilated, fire-safe area. | Common | Family | ||
| Pañcāmṛta ingredientsOften milk, yoghurt, ghee, honey and sugar; confirm whether and how they are used in Gurukkal’s sequence. | Confirm | Family | ||
| New cloth / blouse piece / towelUsed in many regional lists; do not buy specific counts until it is confirmed. | Confirm | Family | ||
| Coins for the offeringSome traditions use coins in the offerings. Keep these separate from the priest’s dakṣiṇā. | Confirm | Family | ||
| Sapāda / sheera / rava prasādamPrepare it in a clean vessel to the family or priest recipe. If your practice is not to taste it before it is offered, keep it aside. | Required | Family |
Anything else he asks for
© Sri Kumar Naganathan Gurukkal — SaivaPriest.com. Prepared for one family’s own use. The counts written on this sheet are Gurukkal’s and apply to this ceremony only.
Preparation pack
Gaṇapati Homam
Every item below is explained in the full guide. 5 of the 14 rows are marked Confirm — those are the ones only Gurukkal can fill in.
| Item | Status | Who brings it | Exact count | Gurukkal’s note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaṇapati image or vigrahaClean it and place it on a stable raised altar or pīṭham. | Required | Family | ||
| Homa kuṇḍam / approved fire vesselConfirm who provides it, and the approved fire-safe base. | Required | Family / priest | ||
| Ghee for the homamThe exact quantity depends on the scale and on Gurukkal’s prayoga. | Required | Family | ||
| Samidha / approved firewoodUse only the type and amount approved for this homam. | Required | Family / priest | ||
| Homa samagri / dry offeringsDo not substitute a generic havan mix without checking Gurukkal’s list. | Confirm | Family / priest | ||
| Dūrvā grassA Gaṇapati-associated offering; the quantity and use vary. | Confirm | Family | ||
| Modaka / kozhukattai or approved sweetConfirm the preparation and the quantity with Gurukkal. | Confirm | Family | ||
| Turmeric, kumkum, sandalwoodKeep in clean small containers unless an exact quantity is requested. | Common | Family | ||
| Fresh flowers and a garlandFresh flowers; keep the loose flowers separate from the garland. | Common | Family | ||
| Fruit, coconut, betel leaf and nutVery common, but the exact counts differ between lists. | Confirm | Family | ||
| Lamp, oil or ghee, cotton wicksTest beforehand, and position away from the path of the homa fire. | Required | Family | ||
| Kalaśa and water vesselsKeep them clean; assemble only as instructed. | Confirm | Family / priest | ||
| Floor protection and a ventilation planA North American safety layer, not a ritual item. | Practical | Family | ||
| Accessible extinguisher or waterKeep available according to your venue’s safety rules. | Practical | Family / venue |
Anything else he asks for
© Sri Kumar Naganathan Gurukkal — SaivaPriest.com. Prepared for one family’s own use. The counts written on this sheet are Gurukkal’s and apply to this ceremony only.
How to use it
- Before the call — read the guide for your ceremony so the items are familiar, and mark anything you already have.
- During the call — go down the Confirm rows with Gurukkal. Write the exact count, who is bringing it, and anything he adds. Ask about anything he wants arranged during the ceremony rather than in advance.
- After the call — the count column is now the shopping list. Divide the sheet between whoever is helping, and keep the original where the ceremony will be held.
Nothing here is sent anywhere. This page has no form, collects nothing and stores nothing — it is paper that happens to be printed from a website. What you write on it is yours.
Do not have a date yet? A request is an enquiry, not a booking, and asking costs nothing.