Devotees commonly purify themselves
before worship, and the purity of the
site, and the objects used in worship,
must be either established (in the case
of a place or things not generally used
for worship) or maintained (as in the
case of a temple or other regularly estab-
lished place).
In its most basic conception, the
temple is a home for the deity, a ritually
pure environment. Most temples have at
least two different “purity zones,” an
outer zone into which the devotees may
enter, and an inner zone closest to deity,
restricted to the temple priests. In their
purity requirements, deities show as
much variation as one finds in the
human community, and stricter con-
cern for purity indicates higher status,
just as for human beings. Whereas vil-
lage deitiesare often served by non-
brahmin priests and typically take
offerings of meat, blood, and liquor, the
higher deities are always served by brah-
min priests, and the food offered to
them is invariably vegetarian. As the rit-
ually purest of all human beings, the
brahmin priest acts as an intermediary
between the high deities and other wor-
shipers, shielding the deity from poten-
tially contaminating contact. His high
ritual purity also makes the brahmin a
universal donor, from whose hand all
people can receive prasad without fear
of pollution. For further information see
C. J. Fuller, “Hindu Temple Priests,” in
T. N. Madan (ed.), Religion in India, 1991.Pujari
In its most basic meaning, the word
pujari denotes “one who does puja
(worship).” In theory this word could
refer to any worshiper, but in general
usage the meaning is more restricted. It
usually designates a man performing
worship as his means of livelihood,
either as a priest in a temple, or as a
religious “technician” hired to perform
ceremonies for others. For further infor-
mation see C. J. Fuller, “Hindu Temple
Priests,” in T. N. Madan (ed.), Religion in
India, 1991.Pulaha
In Hindu mythology, one of the six sons
of Brahma, all of whom become great
sages. All are “mind-born,” meaning that
Brahma’s thoughts bring them into
being. The others are Kratu,Angiras,
Pulastya, Marichi, and Atri.Pulakeshin II
(r. 609–42) Greatest king in the
Chalukya dynasty, which ruled much
of the Deccan peninsula from the
Chalukya capital at modern Badami.
Pulakeshin was a contemporary of the
Pushyabhuti emperor Harsha, whom
Pulakeshin defeated in battle to con-
tain Harsha’s southward expansion.
Pulakeshin also defeated the Pallava
dynastyking Mahendravarman, who
was killed in battle with Pulakeshin’s
army. He, in turn, was finally defeated
and killed by Mahendravarman’s son
Narasimhavarman. For several cen-
turies afterward, the Chalukya and
Pallava Dynasties warred with onePujari
Puja offerings, including flowers and red tika
powder, are left for a deity as a sign of honor
and respect.