The word ‘puja’ is derived by adding the suffix a in the passive voice to the root puj. The suffixes of ang and tap are also added sometimes. The word ‘puja’ means worship, salute, honour, adore, praise, laud, the ritual of worship, the sixty-four rites of worshipping Shakti, austerities, contemplation, honouring of guru, the worship of weapons and vehicles before war, action, the establishment of the different faces of different forms of Shakti, the aids for doing ritual worship, culture, respect, reverence, homage to superiors, adoration of the gods, and homage.
In the sense of ritual worship, puja can involve a structure with many elaborate steps. The place of worship and the person who does the worship have to be physically clean. The worshipper has to start the puja with a calm and spiritually-oriented pure mind.
First, the avahana or the invoking of the deity is done. Then, the deity is offered a seat or asana. In the next step of padya, the deity’s feet are washed, symbolically or physically. Water is also offered for complete washing of the deity’s body. Arghya is water offered to the deity for washing the mouth. In snana or abhisheka, water is symbolically offered for the symbolic bathing of the deity. Then, vastra or clothes are given to the deity. Then the sacred thread is put on the deity. Then, perfumes or anointments are applied on the deity through gandha. The deity is offered abharana or ornaments.The deity is also offered chhatra or umbrella. Flowers or pushpa are offered to the deity.
Then, dhupa or incense is offered to the deity. Naivedya or food offering is given to the deity. Achamaniya or water is offered for sipping by the deity. A lamp or arati is waved before the deity. The deity is offered chamara or fly-whisk. The worshipper then prostrates before the deity, thus offering namaskar or pranam. Then, the worshipper does a parikrama or circumambulation of the deity. In some rituals, there is visarjana or moving the deity or saying farewell to the deity.