The fourth of sixteen customary upacharas (“offerings”) made as part of devotion to a god.
- The upacharas follow the model of presenting the god as a distinguished visitor.
The term arghya literally means "to be revered," and the picture is offered a sip of water or another beverage as a symbol of respect in this gift.
- The actual act of giving may be done in a variety of ways, depending on the preferences of the worshiper.
- In some instances, the water vessel will simply be placed in front of the god's image with the expectation that the deity would accept it, while in others, the devotee (bhakta) will actually offer the picture some water.
The fundamental goal in both cases is to demonstrate affection for the god and to cater to its needs.
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