Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of various acts or forms of worship consisting primarily of prayers and offerings to a god.
  • noun Worship characterized by such acts.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A Hindu rite or ceremony of religion.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A Hindu religious ritual as an act of worship.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Sanskrit pūjā, perhaps (via a Prakrit form borrowed into Sanskrit) from Sanskrit *pṛñcā, a mixing, a filling up, satisfaction, from pṛṇakti, he mixes, fills, sates; see perə- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the Sanskrit पूजा (pūjā, "reverence or worship")

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Examples

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  • What Is the Inner Importance of Puja?

    The traditional rite of worship, called puja, is a sanctified act of the highest importance for the Hindu. It is the invoking of God Siva and the Gods and the heartfelt expression of our love, devotion and surrender. Aum.

    Bhashya

    Puja is a ceremony in which the ringing of bells, passing of flames, presenting of offerings and chanting invoke the devas and Mahadevas, who then come to bless and help us. Puja is our holy communion, full of wonder and tender affections. It is that part of our day which we share most closely and consciously with our beloved Deity; and thus it is for Saivites the axis of religious life. Our worship through puja, outlined in the Saiva Agamas, may be an expression of festive celebration of important events in life, of adoration and thanksgiving, penance and confession, prayerful supplication and requests, or contemplation at the deepest levels of superconsciousness. Puja may be conducted on highly auspicious days in a most elaborate, orthodox and strict manner by the temple pujaris, or it may be offered in the simplest form each morning and evening in the home shrine by any devotee. The Vedas proclaim, "Sacrifice resembles a loom with threads extended this way and that, composed of innumerable rituals. Behold now the fathers weaving the fabric; seated on the outstretched loom. 'Lengthwise! Crosswise!' they cry." Aum Namah Sivaya.

    December 29, 2006

  • I first learned this word from an episode of Sports Night.

    December 29, 2006