Puja

Puja

Introduction

Puja in Sanskrit means reverence or worship it is a religious ritual. Puja usually includes providing an offering to the object of puja, such as flowers or food, and possibly lighting a candle or incense.

Puja may be performed by an individual worshipper or in gatherings. Sometimes a puja is done for the benefit of certain people, for whom priests or relatives ask blessings. A puja can be either a simple ritual or a very complicated one depending upon the way it is performed.

Puja is a multisensory experience. One observes the offering of the lighted lamps, touches the ritual objects and feet of the deity (where possible), hears the ringing of the bells and the sacred chants being recited smells the incense, and tastes the blessed food offered at the end of the ritual.

Buddhist Priests chant prayers in Tibetan language while performing puja. Every puja ritual is performed based on individual scriptural texts, passed down by Lord Buddha Shakyamuni and various ancient masters. Through prayer supplications and offerings, the puja ritual invokes the blessings of individual Buddhas or meditation deities.