The Religions Book

114

A devotee performs puja by

offering food to the image of a deity,

as if enticing it to eat. Images such

as this are believed to be filled with

the deity’s spiritual energy.

T

here has always been

an element of ritual and

worship in Hindu religion.

In the earliest traditions prescribed

by the sacred Vedic texts, it was

vital that sacrifices made at the

sacred fires be performed in

exactly the right way, and solely

by the brahmins or priestly class.

However, in the early centuries CE,

the approach to worship became

less exclusive, and this evolved

into the practice of bhakti (loving

devotion). Temples were built

housing images of the gods, which

could be visited by worshippers,

and gradually, alongside the

priestly rituals connected with

birth, coming of age, marriage, and

death, there developed a tradition

of making personal acts of worship,

or puja, to the deities that was

open to all, irrespective of class.

Honoring the gods

Puja involves making a simple

offering—vegetarian food, incense,

or flowers—before the image of a

god or goddess. It can take place

in a temple or in the home, and the

people performing it often mark

their foreheads with powder or

paste in acknowledgment of the

act of puja and the blessing of

the deity that results from it. At the

end of an act of puja, worshippers

may receive any food that has been

offered. The nature of the offering

is less important than the intention

behind the offering. Sometimes it

is enough simply to go to a temple

and look at the image of the deity.

IN CONTEXT

KEY MOVEMENT

The development of bhakti

WHEN AND WHERE

6th century CE, India

BEFORE

From prehistory Making

offerings before images of

deities characterizes worship

in many cultures.

From 1700 BCE In Vedic

religion, as in other early

civilizations, a priestly class

performs religious rites on

behalf of the people.

6th century BCE The

Upanishads introduce more

abstract concepts to Hindu

religious thought.

From 2nd century BCE In

Mahayana Buddhism, images

of buddhas and bodhisattvas

(enlightened beings) are used

as devotional aids.

AFTER

15th century Sikh worship

is based on devotional songs.

WE SPEAK TO THE

GODS THROUGH

DAILY RITUALS

DEVOTION THROUGH PUJA