Pujya
/ˈpuːdʒ.jə/noun
Worthy of reverence or worship, especially in Hindu or Buddhist contexts.
Did you know?In Sanskrit religious usage, pujya can describe deities, teachers, elders, or sacred beings whose presence calls for ritual honor rather than ordinary respect.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
pūj
“To honor, revere, or worship”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
pūjya
“Worthy of honor or worship; venerable”
Middle Indo-Aryan
Pali/Prakrit
pūjja
“Worthy of honor; venerable”
Medieval Indo-Aryan
Sanskrit-derived usage
pūjya
“An honorific for a revered religious person or teacher”
Modern South Asian languages
Hindi and related languages
pūjya/पूज्य
“Revered, venerable, or worthy of worship”
Modern English
English
pujya
“A transliterated South Asian religious term meaning worthy of reverence or worship”