Hindu priest
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A Hindu priest, used irrespective of gender, may refer to either of the following: * A
Pujari Pūjari is a designation given to a Hindu temple priest who performs pūja. The word comes from the Sanskrit word "पूजा" meaning worship. They are responsible for performing temple rituals, including ''pūjā'' and ''aarti''. ''Pujari'' ...
(IAST: Pūjārī) or an Archaka is a
Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
temple priest. * A
Purohita Purohita ( sa, पुरोहित), in the Hindu context, means ''chaplain'' or ''family priest'' within the Vedic priesthood. In Thailand and Cambodia, it refers to the royal chaplains. Etymology The word ''purohita'' derives from the S ...
(IAST: Purōhita) officiates and performs rituals and ceremonies, and is usually linked to a specific family or, historically, a dynasty. Traditionally, priests have predominantly come from the
Brahmin Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (guru ...
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, whose male members are designated for the function in the
Hindu texts Hindu texts are manuscripts and voluminous historical literature which are related to any of the diverse traditions within Hinduism. A few of these texts are shared across these traditions and they are broadly considered Hindu scriptures. These ...
.
Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
priests are known to perform prayer services, often referred to as ''puja''. Priests are identified as ''pandits'' or ''pujaris'' amongst the devotees. __TOC__


History

The origins of Hindu priesthood may be traced back to the Vedic religion, where the Brahmin varna was designated as the teachers of the
Vedas upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''. The Vedas (, , ) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the ...
as well as members of the priesthood class among the
Indo-Aryans Indo-Aryan peoples are a diverse collection of Indo-European peoples speaking Indo-Aryan languages in the Indian subcontinent. Historically, Aryan were the Indo-European pastoralists who migrated from Central Asia into South Asia and intr ...
. While the Brahmin community also engaged in other trades, they were highly discouraged in pursuits that were not religious, and texts such as the
Manusamhita The ''Manusmṛiti'' ( sa, मनुस्मृति), also known as the ''Mānava-Dharmaśāstra'' or Laws of Manu, is one of the many legal texts and constitution among the many ' of Hinduism. In ancient India, the Rishi, sages often wrot ...
instructed such individuals to be treated as though they were Shudras. In the cosmology myth that was conceived in several Hindu scriptures such as the
Puranas Purana (; sa, , '; literally meaning "ancient, old"Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (1995 Edition), Article on Puranas, , page 915) is a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics, particularly about legends an ...
, the Brahmin class emerged first from the mouth of
Purusha ''Purusha'' (' or ) is a complex concept whose meaning evolved in Vedic and Upanishadic times. Depending on source and historical timeline, it means the cosmic being or self, awareness, and universal principle.Karl Potter, Presuppositions of Indi ...
, the concept of divinity that permeated the entire universe in the form of a human being. They were hence religiously designated as members of the foremost
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, with their duties and means of livelihood instructed to them by God. The purohitas of kings were responsible for overseeing communal sacrifices and rituals, and the two elites of the society had a mutually beneficial relationship: The kings owed their legitimacy as rulers to the Brahmin class, who served as the purohitas, and the Brahmins owed the kings for their acquired status and political influence. Cruelty against members of the priesthood class was a high offence, and rules against such acts were strictly instituted. The word of the Brahmin also generally prevailed in situations of conflict. The sociologist
Max Weber Maximilian Karl Emil Weber (; ; 21 April 186414 June 1920) was a German sociologist, historian, jurist and political economist, who is regarded as among the most important theorists of the development of modern Western society. His ideas profo ...
was of the opinion that the central feature of Indian society was the importance of the Brahmins, and held that the status acquired by the class due to their association with the priesthood was unrivalled anywhere else in the world. With the rise of
Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
, the power of the Brahmin priesthood class started to wane. This is likely due to the Buddhist monastic notion that one's right conduct made one a Brahmin, rather than the Hindu notion that is based on birth. However, due to the fact the new heterodox movement made no attempt to oppose the varna system, the role of Brahmins as performers of religious rites survived. With their authority fading, forever, the class intensified the process of the
Hindu synthesis The history of Hinduism covers a wide variety of related religious traditions native to the Indian subcontinent. It overlaps or coincides with the development of religion in the Indian subcontinent since the Iron Age, with some of its traditions ...
, where the assimilation of popular cults led to the emergence of
Vaishnavism Vaishnavism ( sa, वैष्णवसम्प्रदायः, Vaiṣṇavasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu denominations along with Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. It is also called Vishnuism since it considers Vishnu as the ...
and
Shaivism Shaivism (; sa, शैवसम्प्रदायः, Śaivasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Supreme Being. One of the largest Hindu denominations, it incorporates many sub-traditions rangi ...
as the dominant traditions.


Functions

The primary responsibility of members of the priesthood class is to conduct daily prayers ('' puja'') at the local
temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...
and officiate Hindu rituals and ceremonies. A pujari assumes that all visitors to their temple wish to bear witness to a
darshana In Indian religions, ''Darshana'', also spelt ''Darshan'', (Sanskrit: दर्शन, , ) or ''Darshanam'' (darśanam) is the auspicious sight of a deity or a holy person. The term also refers to six traditional schools of Hindu philosophy ...
, an auspicious vision of the
murti In the Hindu tradition, a ''murti'' ( sa, मूर्ति, mūrti, ) is a devotional image such as a statue, or "idol" (a common and non-pejorative term in Indian English), of a deity or saint. In Hindu temples, it is a symbolic icon. Thus ...
, the temple idol, that serves as a representation of a given deity within the
sanctum sanctorum The Latin phrase ''sanctum sanctorum'' is a translation of the Hebrew term ''קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים'' (Qṓḏeš HaQŏḏāšîm), literally meaning Holy of Holies, which generally refers in Latin texts to the holiest place of th ...
. They perform daily pujas for the veneration of the deity, as well as for bestowing the deity's blessings upon the gathered devotees, where they prominently present an
arti Arti may refer to: Companies and organizations * Arti et Amicitiae, a Dutch artist's society in Amsterdam * Arti Sacrum, a Dutch artists' society located in Rotterdam, Netherlands * ''Arti'', an alternative name for the Guilds of Florence * AR ...
(lighted camphor upon a plate) that is ritually circled, facing the murti. After performing the puja by chanting the sacred mantrams, ringing the prayer bell, and sometimes by reciting the
sthala purana Purana (; sa, , '; literally meaning "ancient, old"Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (1995 Edition), Article on Puranas, , page 915) is a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics, particularly about legends an ...
(a regional Hindu legend that explains the significance of the temple), the pujari blesses the devotees by offering them
prasadam 200px, Prasad thaal offered to Swaminarayan temple in Ahmedabad ">Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad">Swaminarayan temple in Ahmedabad Prasada (, Sanskrit: प्रसाद, ), Prasadam or Prasad is a religious offering in Hinduism. Most o ...
(consecrated offerings of food), charanamritam or tirtham (water that was previously used to wash the feet of the murti), satari (a golden or silver crown that is placed upon the devotees' head, bearing an imprint of the murti's feet), and tilakam (sandalwood paste, kumkumam,
vibhuti In Hinduism, ''vibhuti'' ( sa, विभूति, vibhūti), also called ''bhasma'' or ''thiruneeru'', is sacred ash made of burnt dried wood, burnt cow dung and/or cremated bodies used in Agamic rituals. Hindu devotees apply ''vibhuti'' tradi ...
that is worn on the devotees' forehead).
Tulasi ''Ocimum tenuiflorum'', commonly known as holy basil, ''tulsi'' or ''tulasi'', is an aromatic perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and widespread as a cultivated plant throughout the Southeast Asian ...
leaves and the beverage
panakam Panakam, also spelled Panaka and Panagam, (; lit. 'sweet drink') is a traditional beverage originating in South India. According to Madhur Jaffrey it was known circa 1000 BCE; in 2014 she wrote that she has not seen it served but only mentioned i ...
may also be offered. The pujaris ritually consecrate offerings of fruits and flowers brought by adherents and return them, if requested. Individuals who wish to profess priesthood undertake a long course of study under a guru, and primarily study the Vedas, Dharmashastras, law, grammar, and the puja mantras that are usually learned from the Puranas. Priests, through their extended knowledge of religious literature, such as the ''
Bhagavad Gita The Bhagavad Gita (; sa, श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता, lit=The Song by God, translit=śrīmadbhagavadgītā;), often referred to as the Gita (), is a 700- verse Hindu scripture that is part of the epic ''Mahabharata'' (c ...
'' and the ''
Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
,'' attempt to encourage the Hindu community's devotion to Hindu deities. During Hindu
festivals A festival is an event ordinarily celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, mela, or eid. A festival co ...
, as well as traditional events such as
weddings A wedding is a ceremony where two people are united in marriage. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of marria ...
, the sacred thread ceremony, kumbhabhishekams,
antyesti Antyesti (IAST: Antyeṣṭi, sa, अन्त्येष्टि) literally means "last sacrifice", and refers to the funeral rites for the dead in Hinduism, which usually involves cremation of the body. This rite of passage is the last sams ...
, and special deity-specific ceremonies, priests may be called upon to conduct pujas. In order to perform a puja, the priests are required to have prior skills and knowledge. To be a qualified priest, they must know the required chants ('' mantrams'' and '' stotrams'') fluently in
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
, and be familiar with the materials required to perform the puja for various ceremonies and rituals.
Pandits A Pandit ( sa, पण्डित, paṇḍit; hi, पंडित; also spelled Pundit, pronounced ; abbreviated Pt.) is a man with specialised knowledge or a teacher of any field of knowledge whether it is shashtra (Holy Books) or shastra (Wea ...
, from an early age, are trained to memorise
hymns A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...
in order to chant them during rituals and ceremonies without aid. Receiving assistance to remember hymns and chants was historically frowned upon, as priests were expected to recite the hymns through memory.


Varna

The broad functions of the Hindu priesthood, such as expertise of the scriptures, as well as performing religious ceremonies, are allocated to those born in the
Brahmin Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (guru ...
class Class or The Class may refer to: Common uses not otherwise categorized * Class (biology), a taxonomic rank * Class (knowledge representation), a collection of individuals or objects * Class (philosophy), an analytical concept used differentl ...
in the
Manusmriti The ''Manusmṛiti'' ( sa, मनुस्मृति), also known as the ''Mānava-Dharmaśāstra'' or Laws of Manu, is one of the many legal texts and constitution among the many ' of Hinduism. In ancient India, the sages often wrote their ...
: While the functions of the Hindu priesthood have historically, as well as presently, been deeply associated with the Brahmin varna in India and Nepal, there do exist several Hindu communities who have sought to appoint their own members as priests for officiating ceremonies and religious practices. The reformist
Lingayat Lingayatism or Veera Saivism is a Hindu denomination based on Shaivism. Initially known as ''Veerashaivas'', since the 12th-century adherents of this faith are known as ''Lingayats''. The terms ''Lingayatism'' and '' Veerashaivism'' have been ...
sect of Karnataka reject the varna system mentioned in the scriptures, and do not employ Brahmins as priests. In the
Dravidian folk religion The early Dravidian religion constituted a non-Vedic form of Hinduism in that they were either historically or are at present Āgamic. The Agamas are non-Vedic in origin,Mudumby Narasimhachary (ed.) (1976). "Āgamaprāmāṇya of Yāmunācārya ...
, whose deities have been assimilated to some degree by mainstream Hinduism, the village deities are officiated by non-Brahmin priests, and the traditions are often non-Brahmanical and morbid in nature, including the practice of blood sacrifices and ritual slaughter.


Lifestyle

The daily lifestyle of Hindu priests traditionally consists of performing prayers as much as four to six times per day, which vary according to the religious tradition they subscribe to. Every morning, pujaris are in charge of performing the
abhishekam Abhisheka () means "bathing of the divinity to whom worship is offered." It is a religious rite or method of prayer in which a devotee pours a liquid offering on an image or murti of a God or Goddess. Abhisheka is common to Indian religions su ...
(bathing the murti with water and milk, and clothing the idol with traditional wear and jewellery). Priests who are not tied to temples commute to the homes of Hindu adherents, where they perform homams, yajnams, pujas, and a number of religious ceremonies. Priests generally abstain from the consumption of meat and alcohol, as these are perceived as ritually polluting. They are traditionally expected to not charge for their services, and are expected to subsist through the alms and danam (charitable offerings) offered by the Hindu community. Priests are also not generally required to practise celibacy. In
South India South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, as well as the union territo ...
, pujaris do not usually wear garments above their waists within, or sometimes even outside the temple, and are hence easily identified by their wearing of the sacred thread. In several regions of India, such as
Kashmir Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...
and northern India, priests maintain a shikha, only a tuft of hair upon their heads, citing the practice in preceptors such as
Kashyapa Kashyapa ( sa, कश्यप}, ) is a revered Vedas, Vedic Sage (philosophy), sage of Hinduism., Quote: "Kasyapa (Rudra),(Vedic Seer)..." He is one of the Saptarishis, the seven ancient sages of the ''Rigveda''. Kashyapa is the most ancien ...
.


Gallery


See also

*
Pandit A Pandit ( sa, पण्डित, paṇḍit; hi, पंडित; also spelled Pundit, pronounced ; abbreviated Pt.) is a man with specialised knowledge or a teacher of any field of knowledge whether it is shashtra (Holy Books) or shastra (Wea ...
*
Acharya In Indian religions and society, an ''acharya'' (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ; Pali: ''ācariya'') is a preceptor and expert instructor in matters such as religion, or any other subject. An acharya is a highly learned person with a tit ...
*
Pujari Pūjari is a designation given to a Hindu temple priest who performs pūja. The word comes from the Sanskrit word "पूजा" meaning worship. They are responsible for performing temple rituals, including ''pūjā'' and ''aarti''. ''Pujari'' ...


References


Further reading


Journals

* *


External links

* {{Hinduism topics