LEARN PUJA
Puja glossary
A quick reference for common puja terms you may see across guided practice, traditional instructions, and festival-specific rituals.
Glossary (Quick Reference)
Core Puja Terms
Puja
A ritual act of worship honoring the Divine through prayers, offerings, mantra, and symbolic gestures.
Deity
The divine form being worshiped, whether understood as God, Goddess, or a particular manifestation of the Divine.
Ishta Deva
One’s chosen or especially beloved form of the Divine, often the personal focus of devotion.
Murti
A sacred image or idol used as the focal form of worship.
Darshan
The devotional act of seeing and being in the presence of the deity.
Bhakti
Devotional love, reverence, and heartfelt orientation toward the divine.
Sankalpa
The formal statement of intention for the puja. It identifies who is performing it, for what purpose, and in what sacred context.
Mantra
A sacred sound, phrase, or verse recited during worship to invoke, praise, focus, or align the mind with the divine.
Shloka
A devotional or scriptural verse recited in Sanskrit.
Stotram
A hymn of praise recited to honor the deity.
Archana
A form of worship in which the names or qualities of the deity are recited, usually along with flowers or akshata.
Upachara
A service or offering presented to the deity as part of reverential worship.
Pancha Upachara
A simplified five-offering form of puja, commonly centered on gandha, pushpa, dhoopa, deepa, and naivedya.
Shodashopachara
The traditional sequence of sixteen offerings presented to the deity in formal worship.
Vratam
A devotional observance or vow, often tied to a specific lunar day, deity, or spiritual intention.
Sadhana
A disciplined spiritual practice; daily puja may be understood as a form of sadhana.
Japa
Meditative repetition of a mantra, often using a mala (rosary) to keep count.
Mala
A string of prayer beads, usually 108, used to count the number of mantra repetitions during japa.
Bhajan
A devotional song or hymn praising the divine, often sung in groups.
Kirtana
Call-and-response chanting of divine names and stories, used to cultivate devotion and joy.
Kirtan
Alternate spelling of Kirtana, meaning devotional call-and-response singing.
Bhakti Yoga
The path of devotion emphasizing personal love for the Divine through practices such as bhajan and kirtan.
Japa Mala
A string of prayer beads (mala) specifically intended for counting mantra recitations.
Itihasa
Literally 'so it happened'; refers to the great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Ramayana
One of the two major Sanskrit epics describing the life and adventures of Prince Rama.
Mahabharata
The other major Sanskrit epic, which includes the Bhagavad Gita and recounts the struggle between the Pandavas and Kauravas.
Upanishad
Philosophical texts forming the concluding portion of the Vedas, focusing on the nature of reality and self.
Dharma
The moral and religious duties that sustain the cosmic and social order; often translated as righteousness or law.
Atman
The individual soul or self, considered eternal and ultimately identical with Brahman in many schools.
Brahman
The ultimate, unchanging reality underlying everything in the universe.
Moksha
Liberation from the cycle of birth and death (samsara) and union with the Divine.
Linga
A symbolic representation of Shiva, often a cylindrical stone set in a yoni base.
Trishula
A three-pronged trident symbolizing Shiva’s power to create, preserve and destroy.
Lotus
A sacred symbol representing purity, spiritual awakening and the unfolding of consciousness.
Devata
Sanskrit term for a deity or divine being, encompassing gods and goddesses.
Ritual Actions
Achamanam
A ritual sipping of water performed for inner purification and mental reset before worship. It helps mark a transition into sacred attention.
Prokshanam
Sprinkling sanctified water over oneself, the altar, or puja materials to symbolically purify and consecrate the space.
Dhyanam
Meditative contemplation on the deity before or during worship, used to steady attention and deepen devotional focus.
Pranayamam
Controlled breathing practiced before puja to steady the mind, quiet distraction, and prepare for focused worship.
Aavahanam
The act of respectfully inviting or invoking the deity into the form, image, or focus of worship.
Bhootocchatana
A preparatory act intended to remove negative or obstructive influences before worship begins.
Prana Pratishta
Invoking divine life presence into the image, murti, or focus of worship.
Asanam
Offering a seat to the deity as an honored divine guest.
Padyam
Offering water for washing the deity’s feet, symbolizing reverence and hospitality.
Arghyam
Offering welcome water, often symbolically fragrant or honored, to receive the deity respectfully.
Achamaniyam
Offering water for sipping as part of the hospitality sequence extended to the deity.
Snanam
Ritual bathing of the deity, either symbolically or physically, as an act of purification, refreshment, and reverence.
Abhishekam
Ceremonial bathing of the deity with water or sacred substances such as milk, honey, or panchamritam.
Deepam
Offering light before the deity, symbolizing knowledge, purity, and the removal of ignorance.
Deeparadhanam
Ceremonial lighting or offering of the lamp at the beginning or during worship, invoking sacred presence and clarity.
Ghanta Nadam
Ringing the bell during puja to sanctify the atmosphere, focus the mind, and invite auspicious presence.
Naivedyam
Presenting food to the deity before it is received back as blessed prasad.
Neerajanam
Waving light, often camphor or lamp, before the deity in a concluding act of reverence.
Aarti
A devotional offering of light, typically done near the end of worship, in which the flame is circled before the deity.
Mantrapushpam
Offering flowers with mantra, often near the conclusion of puja, as a final act of praise and surrender.
Pradakshinam
Circumambulating the deity clockwise as a gesture of reverence and surrender; when space is limited, this may be done symbolically.
Namaskaram
Bowing or prostrating before the deity as an expression of humility and devotion.
Kshamapana
Asking forgiveness for mistakes, omissions, or imperfections in the ritual.
Udvasanam
The respectful conclusion of worship, in which the deity is ceremonially thanked and the formal puja is brought to a close.
Nyasa
Ritual placement of mantras on parts of the body to consecrate oneself before worship.
Mudra
Symbolic hand gesture used in ritual and meditation to focus energy or convey meaning.
Visarjan
Formal release of the invoked deity at the end of puja, sometimes involving immersion of the image.
Trataka
A practice of steady gazing, often on a symbol or flame, used to develop concentration before worship.
Ratri Puja
Night worship involving special offerings and mantras performed after sunset.
Panchamrita Snanam
Bathing the deity with five nectars—milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar—during ritual ablution.
Gandham
Application of sandalwood paste and other sacred fragrances to the deity as an act of cooling and beautification.
Kumkuma Tilak
Applying red vermillion mark on the forehead of worshippers or the deity during ritual.
Dhupam
Offering of incense sticks or fragrant powders to purify and sanctify the ritual space.
Ritual Objects & Materials
Akshata
Unbroken rice, often mixed with turmeric, used in blessings and offerings.
Kalasham
A sacred vessel, usually filled with water and invoked as a seat of divine presence.
Panchamritam
A sacred mixture, commonly made from milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sugar, used especially in ritual bathing.
Pushpa
Flower offered in worship.
Patra
Leaf used in worship, especially sacred leaves such as tulasi or bilva.
Durva
A sacred grass especially associated with offerings to Lord Ganesha.
Shankha
The sacred conch used in puja, often associated with purity, auspiciousness, and ritual sound.
Ghanta
The ritual bell used in puja to mark auspiciousness and help focus attention.
Thali
A plate or tray used to hold puja items and offerings.
Tirtham
Sanctified water distributed after puja and received reverently.
Vastram
Cloth or garments offered to the deity as part of adornment and hospitality.
Yajnopaveetam
The sacred thread offered to the deity as part of formal worship and adornment.
Kumkum
Red sacred powder used in worship and for tilak markings.
Tilak
A sacred mark applied on the body, often the forehead, as part of worship or blessing.
Camphor
A substance often used in final light offerings such as aarti or neerajanam.
Abharanam
Ornaments or jewelry offered to or adorning the deity.
Alankara
The decoration and adornment of the deity with clothing, flowers, and ornaments.
Nirmalya
Items remaining from a completed puja, such as flowers or offerings already used in worship.
Bimba
A sacred image or visual representation used as a focus of worship.
Rudraksha
Sacred seeds used to make malas (prayer beads) and considered protective in Shiva worship.
Tulasi Leaf
Holy basil leaf offered particularly in worship of Lord Vishnu and Krishna.
Bilva Leaf
Leaf of the bel tree offered especially in worship of Lord Shiva.
Vibhuti
Sacred ash applied to the body or offered as a blessing, symbolizing purity and detachment.
Yantra
Geometric diagram used for meditation and worship to focus the mind on a particular deity or concept.
Deepa (Diya)
An oil or ghee lamp used to offer light to the deity and symbolize knowledge.
Dhoopa (Dhupam)
Incense offered to the deity, representing the fragrance of devotion.
Pradakshina Mala
Garland placed around the deity before circumambulation as a sign of respect.
Chowki
A small wooden stool or platform used to hold the deity or ritual items during puja.
Asana
Mat or cloth on which the worshipper sits during puja and meditation.
Uddharani
Spoon used to offer water to the deity and for personal sips during worship.
Panchapatra
Small vessel that holds water for purificatory rites and hospitality to the deity.
Rangoli
Decorative patterns drawn on the floor with rice flour or coloured powder to welcome auspiciousness.
Offerings & Hospitality
Madhuparka
A sweet ceremonial mixture offered as a mark of welcome and honor.
Prasad
Blessed food or offering received back after it has been offered to the deity.
Tamboolam
Betel leaves and related items offered near the end of puja as a gesture of completion and hospitality.
Temple & Tradition Terms
Veda
Ancient Hindu scriptural sources that include mantra and ritual foundations.
Purana
Traditional Hindu narrative scriptures often referenced in devotional practice.
Bhagavata Purana
One of the major Puranas, especially important in many devotional traditions.
Sanatana Dharma
A traditional self-description of Hinduism, often translated as the eternal way or eternal dharma.
Kaliyuga
The present age in Hindu time cycles, often referenced in devotional literature.
Mandir
A Hindu temple where worship, chanting and community ceremonies are performed.
Garbhagriha
The innermost sanctum of a temple where the main deity’s murti is installed.
Mandapa
A pillared hall or porch in a temple used for congregational worship, music and ceremonial activities.
Gopuram
A monumental and ornately decorated tower at the entrance of many South Indian temples.
Shikhara
The spire or tower above the sanctum of a temple, symbolizing connection between earth and heaven.
Sampradaya
A lineage or tradition through which practices and teachings are transmitted.
Agama
Scriptures outlining temple construction, deity installation and ritual procedures.
Archaka
Temple priest or officiant who performs rituals and maintains the sanctity of the temple.
Sthapati
Traditional architect responsible for temple design and construction according to sacred principles.
Shilpi
Traditional artisan or sculptor who crafts idols and temple ornamentation.
Vaastu Shastra
Traditional Hindu architectural guidelines focusing on directional alignment and spatial harmony.
Shilpi Shastra
Traditional guidelines governing sculpture and the crafting of sacred images.
Pujari
General term for a temple priest who conducts rituals and manages daily worship.
Pandit
A learned ritual specialist or scholar who leads ceremonies and teaches scripture.
Nagara Style
North Indian temple architecture characterized by curvilinear towers (shikharas).
Dravida Style
South Indian temple architecture marked by towering gopurams and pyramidal vimanas.
Samskara & Occasional Terms
Samskara
A life-cycle sacrament or rite, such as naming, sacred thread, marriage, or last rites.
Kalyanam
A ceremonial divine wedding celebrated in some temple and festival traditions.
Homam
A fire ritual in which offerings are made into consecrated fire with mantra; usually a more elaborate practice.
Yajna
A sacrificial or offering ritual, often involving sacred fire; closely related to homa or havan in many contexts.
Havan
A fire offering ritual; often used interchangeably with homa in common usage.
Navagraha
The nine planetary deities honored for cosmic balance and auspicious alignment.
Dikpalaka
A guardian deity associated with one of the directions.
Panchalokapala
A set of guardian deities invoked in certain larger ritual contexts.
Haridra Ganapati
A turmeric-form Ganesha worshiped especially for obstacle removal before the main puja.
Varuna Puja
Worship of Varuna, associated with waters, purity, and sacred order.
Shankha Puja
Ritual worship of the conch as a sacred and purifying object.
Patra Puja
Offering sacred leaves one by one during worship.
Muhurtam
An auspicious time selected for beginning an important ritual act.
Balavihar
A structured learning environment for children in some Hindu communities.
Upanayana
A rite of passage marking a child's initiation into formal study, often involving a sacred thread ceremony.
Jatakarma
Birth rite performed soon after a child's birth to welcome and bless the newborn.
Namakarana
Ceremony in which a newborn child is formally given their name at an auspicious time.
Chudakarana
First haircut or head-shaving ceremony (also known as mundan) performed for a child as a purificatory rite.
Karnavedha
Ear-piercing ceremony performed as one of the traditional samskaras for boys and girls.
Vidyarambha
Ceremony marking the beginning of formal education, often involving the child writing their first letters.
Vivaha
The Hindu wedding ceremony, considered a major samskara sanctifying the union of bride and groom.
Antyeshti
Funeral rites performed at the end of life, often involving cremation and final prayers.
Shraddha
Ceremony performed to honour departed ancestors, typically including offerings of food and prayers.
Griha Pravesh
House-warming ceremony performed before moving into a new home to invoke blessings.
Kalyana Puja
Ritual wedding of a deity or divine form, typically performed in temples during festivals.
Annaprashana
First feeding of solid food to a baby, often rice, marking a milestone in a child's growth.
Satyanarayan Puja
Popular household ritual worship of Lord Satyanarayan (a form of Vishnu) performed for prosperity and well-being.
Navagraha Puja
Ritual worship of the nine planetary deities to harmonize cosmic influences and remove obstacles.
Chandi Homa
A fire ritual dedicated to Goddess Chandi (Durga) to invoke protection and strength.
Vahana Puja
Blessing and consecration of a vehicle to ensure safety and auspiciousness.
Hanuman Jayanti
Celebration of Lord Hanuman's birth, typically involving special puja and recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa.
Guru Purnima
Festival honouring spiritual teachers and gurus, observed on the full moon of the Hindu month of Ashadha.