Pūjā (Buddhism)

In Buddhism, a Pūjā (offering or worship) is a ritual devotional action made to a Buddha, deity or to the Triple Gem.

[5] Common elements of a Buddhist Pūjā include the recitation of certain formulas, prayers, and texts (such as parittas, sutras or dharanis) which are often accompanied by different physical acts like bowing, prostration and the hand gesture of the añjali mudrā.

It often includes material offerings such as a lit candle or oil lamp,[6] incense,[7] flowers,[8] food, fruit, water or drinks.

"[18] By contemplating on an offering, one tangibly sees life's impermanence (Pali: anicca), one of the three characteristics of all things upon which the Buddha encouraged his disciplines to recollect.

In one sūtra translated into Chinese in 2nd century named the Dispelling the Regrets of Ajātaśatru Sūtra, a five-part puja is outlined which consists of:[24] Over time, this grew into a more elaborate seven-part liturgy (saptāṅgavidhi, saptāṇgapūjā or saptavidhā anuttarapūjā), which includes:[23] This seven-part liturgy, notably found in the Bhadacaryāpranidhāna ("Vow of Samantabhadra's Deeds"), a part of the Gandavyūha section of the Avataṃsakasūtra, became a central element in many Mahāyāna practices.

[23] The specific actions in a Mahāyāna puja vary considerably depending on the tradition, but it generally includes offerings such as water, flowers, incense, fragrant food, and light (candles, butterlamps, etc).

Pujas may also involve the chanting or recitation of specific ritual texts or sadhanas, and the names or mantras of Mahayana Buddhas and bodhisattvas, such as Avalokiteshvara, Amitabha, and Manjushri.

For example, many of the elements of the Indian pujas can be found in the Lotus Samādhi outlined by the Tiantai patriarch Zhiyi in his Great Calming and Contemplation.