Pujari
/puːˈdʒɑːri/noun
A Hindu temple priest or ritual officiant who performs worship and offerings.
Did you know?A pujari’s ritual authority traditionally comes not only from belief but from mastery of specific mantras, purification rites, gestures, and offering sequences.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
pūjā
“Worship, reverence, or ritual offering to a deity or honored person”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
pūjārin / pūjārī
“A person who performs pūjā or conducts acts of worship”
Medieval Indo-Aryan
Prakrits
pūjāri
“A worshipper or officiant associated with ritual worship”
Medieval period
Hindi and related languages
pūjārī
“A temple priest or person who performs religious ceremonies”
19th Century
English
pujari
“An English borrowing referring to a Hindu temple priest”
Modern English
English
pujari
“A Hindu priest or ritual officiant, especially one serving at a temple”