puja, in Hinduism, ceremonial worship, ranging from brief daily rites in the home to elaborate temple rituals. The word puja is derived from the Dravidian pu (“flower”). In its simplest form, puja usually consists of making an offering of flowers or fruit to an image or statue (murti) of a god. The components of a puja vary greatly according to the sect, community, region in India or neighboring countries, time of day, needs of the worshipper, and religious text followed. Generally speaking, in a puja, a deity, manifested in its image, is accorded the honor given to a royal guest. The attentions (upacharas) paid to the deity in the form of the image begin in the morning, when the image is gently roused from sleep, and extend through the day, including ritual bathing and dressing, the serving of the usual three meals, and the final ceremony of putting the image to bed for the night.
A puja may also include a circumambulation (pradakshina) of the image or shrine and, in an elaborate ritual, a sacrifice (bali) and oblation to the sacred fire (homa). Special ceremonies according to the festival calendar may also be observed, such as swinging the murti or playing games according to the season.
One important type of puja in Indian temple and private worship is arti, the waving of lighted lamps before an image of a deity or a person to be honored. In performing the rite, the worshipper circles the lamp three or more times in a clockwise direction while reciting a prayer, chanting a mantra, or singing a hymn. In Indian households, arti is a commonly observed ritual element accorded specially honored guests. It is also a part of many domestic ceremonies.
Some pujas may be performed by the worshipper alone, whereas others may require the services of a ritually qualified person, such as a priest (pujari). A puja may be performed for a specific announced purpose or simply as an act of devotion.