Puja (Sanskrit: पूजा; Pāli: Pūjā) means “offering” or “reverence.”
It originated in ancient India and symbolizes an act of expressing respect and gratitude toward what is pure and noble.
In Buddhism, Puja is a gesture of homage and devotion to the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha, and the protective deities, reflecting the practitioner’s inner sense of gratitude and dedication.
There are many forms of Puja: offering flowers, lights, incense, and food; chanting scriptures or mantras; sitting in meditation; or dedicating wholesome deeds for the benefit of all being.
While outer offerings are expressions of form, the true Puja arises within — from the purity, awareness, and compassion of the awakened heart.
