In the Vedic (Hindu) religion, a puja is a ritual of worship and adoration to the GOD. According to the Vedas, Hinduism refers to Sanatana or Vaidika Dharma, which means eternal principles of life. According to the Vedas, one GOD is the Supreme Being (Bramhan) who is ultimately responsible for the creation, operation, and dissolution of everything. The ultimate goal of Sanatana Dharma is freedom (Moksha) from bondage and desires. The three paths required for integration with the Vedic Hindu spiritual approach are devotion, knowledge, and action. Even in its most basic form, puja is a synthesis of these three paths. A puja is founded on sincere and knowledgeable actions.

A puja performed at home or in a temple is a synthesis of devotion, knowledge, and action that brings spiritual peace by connecting to the Omnipresent God. “The worship of deities and rituals in a home or a temple should be carried out with child-like loving mind by devotees as little children play with joy using their toys as medium,” our guru says. In the Bhagavadgita (9-26), Lord Krishna says, “I will accept even a leaf or a flower or a fruit or water from them if it is offered with love, devotion, and purity of heart.”
Homam, Havis, Yajna, and Yaga are all terms that refer to a sacrificial/sacred act that involves offering to Gods through the medium of fire (Agni).