Puja

Puja - explain the term - and some examples of particular Pujas...

This term is used to refer to the act of venerating or honoring highly respected persons such as one's Guru or elders, or for the act of worshipping God or gods. The Rg Veda briefly mentions the use of this term, and the Brahmana texts, which treat the Vedic sacrifice in great detail, do not discuss Puja offerings at all. Use of the term is to refer to worship of deities occurs usually for the first time in an inscription from the second century B.C.E. Despite the uncertain orgins of term and practices for this term, Puja has been the dominant means by which Hindus has expressed their religious sensibilities in the past 2,000 years. Puja slowly came to be recognized and encouraged by Brahmanical authorities both for domestic rites and for the large-scale public ritual activities at temples. Puja rituals reflect their origin in hospitality practices, the whole series of actions demonstrating the respect and service of an honored guest. Typical of Puja practices is are invocation of the deity, offering of a seat, water to wash feet and hands and to rinse mouth, sandalwood paste and other unguents. Some temples annually or periodically take the images of deities out of the temple on procession through the surrounding area. An example of this is the Jagannatha temple of Puri does in large carts pulled through the city streets by temple servants. Puja rites in the home are similar to temple rituals in every respect, but on a smaller scale.

(obtained from __The A to Z of Hinduism__ by Bruce Sullivan)