Key Terminology for Worship in Hinduism

Question 1

Puja

Answer 1

worship, showing honor and revering God

Question 2

Arti

Answer 2

a - to
rati - virtue/light

worship involving waving lamps, in home, outside sacred places

Question 3

Sadhana

Answer 3

A means to accomplishing something, a discipline followed to achieve mocksha - puja is a Sadhana

Question 4

Bhakti

Answer 4

Devotion

alt. movement in Hinduism with origins in 6th century

Question 5

Bhakta

Answer 5

A devotee

Question 6

Istadeva

Answer 6

One’s chosen deity name or form

Question 7

Murtis

Answer 7

Images of God

Question 8

Swastika

Answer 8

Sign of good fortune found at shrines

Question 9

Arti tray

Answer 9

tray holding necessary items for puja

Question 10

Arti lamp

Answer 10

Lamp used in arti ceremony, waved before murtis in home, temples, and outdoors at festivals

Question 11

Diva

Answer 11

Lamp

Question 12

Incence

Answer 12

Used to sweeten the air for God to lift a prayer to heavens

Question 13

Prasad

Answer 13

Food offered to the deity, received back it is blessed by God and offered to worshipers

Question 14

Kalasha

Answer 14

Water Pot

Question 15

Angali

Answer 15

Gift or offering made in worship

Question 16

Gangajaj

Answer 16

Purest water, from Ganges

Question 17

Kumkum

Answer 17

Red powder used to mark bodies of worshipers/murtis

Question 18

Haldi

Answer 18

Yellow powder (tumeric) used to mark body or murtis
*Sandlewood ash also used*

Question 19

Panchamrit

Answer 19

Literally means the 5

yogurt, sugar, milk, honey, butter, mixed and offered to murti/washed in the panchmrit

Question 20

Mala

Answer 20

String of prayer beads, used for namjapa

*Hare Krishnas have 108 beads

Question 21

Tilak

Answer 21

Marks using powder on the bodies of worshipers, usually on forehead, self administered or by priest
*Unique marking for each of the major sampradayas (sects) ie Saivas with 3 lines

Question 22

Padya

Answer 22

Offering murtis water to wash their feet

Question 23

Aghya

Answer 23

giving food offerings

Question 24

Pushpa

Answer 24

Offering flowers

Question 25

Dhupa

Answer 25

Offering incense

Question 26

Bhajans

Answer 26

Devotional hyms of praise to God

Question 27

Mantras

Answer 27

Short verses (shloka) from the sacred Vedas or the name of God repeated

Question 28

Aum

Answer 28

Sacred sound, mantra embodying the presence and reality of Brahman

Question 29

Gayatri mantra

Answer 29

Means ‘great mantra’, memorised and recited as part of puja

*Originates from Vedas, refers to Brahman as the sun, Puja performed to the sun in the early morning

Question 30

Namjapa

Answer 30

Repetition of a name of God

Question 31

Shanti-path

Answer 31

Special prayer to end puja at home or in temple, asks for peace (shanti) in all the world