There are critics who look down upon the custom of of making offerings at temples to God. They say it is not a good attitude to offer something to God with the hope of getting something in return, like a barter; or a bribe to escape from the effects of one's past karma.
The problem is not the act of offering a pooja to God but the cynical and negative attitude of such critics. They fail to understand the true spirit of the system of worship that our Rishis and acharyas established and passed on to us from time immemorial.
When an individual offers a pooja to the Lord, he does it in a spirit of humility. The mantras and shlokas we chant during a pooja also clearly reflect the attitude of thanksgiving - "O Lord, this universe belongs to you, there is nothing here which I can really call 'mine' ; whatever I have is a prasadam I have received due to your grace. Whatever I am offering to you now, is also yours. What is yours, I am returning to you."
This is the clearly demonstrated in the act of Tarpanam - we take a handful of water from a river or ocean and offer it back while chanting the appropriate mantras. This attitude is called as 'Prasada Buddhi' - of accepting all that one gets in life (including the challenges & difficulties) as a prasadam from God.
Therefore, we need not feel apologetic or guilty about the act of offering a pooja to the Lord, as long we understand the true spirit of the ritual.
Let us always offer a pooja always as a thanksgiving to God for all that he has given us and pray for his divinen grace to guide us on the path of Dharma!
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