Namaste. The Samskritam (Sanskrit) words JAPA and PUJA are very commonly used and heard by HIndu families, especially in India. However there is an interesting connection between the two and its inner meaning.
As per our Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) scriptures, Japa and Puja are one of the steps done to cleanse ourselves spiritually (or religiously) to attain mental tranquility and enabling us to travel on our path to Nirvana or Moksha.
The letter PA stands for PAPANASANA - the exhaustion of the results of undivine actions, commonly known as PAPA or sins.
The letter JA stands or JANMAVICCHEDA (or Janamavimochana) - the cessation of the cycle of births and deaths which is Moksha.
It is interesting that the same two letters (Ja and Pa) constitute the two words JAPA and PUJA which are one of the significant steps on our spiritual evolution. It is also said ( I have not verified) that the numerical value of these two letters in Sanskrit adds up to eighteen (18) which has a very special significance in all the HINDU religious activities.
(Acknwledgement: Above info collected from the chapter written by R.S.Nathan in the book "Symbolism In Hinduism" by Chinmaya Publications).
Hari Om.
As per our Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) scriptures, Japa and Puja are one of the steps done to cleanse ourselves spiritually (or religiously) to attain mental tranquility and enabling us to travel on our path to Nirvana or Moksha.
The letter PA stands for PAPANASANA - the exhaustion of the results of undivine actions, commonly known as PAPA or sins.
The letter JA stands or JANMAVICCHEDA (or Janamavimochana) - the cessation of the cycle of births and deaths which is Moksha.
It is interesting that the same two letters (Ja and Pa) constitute the two words JAPA and PUJA which are one of the significant steps on our spiritual evolution. It is also said ( I have not verified) that the numerical value of these two letters in Sanskrit adds up to eighteen (18) which has a very special significance in all the HINDU religious activities.
(Acknwledgement: Above info collected from the chapter written by R.S.Nathan in the book "Symbolism In Hinduism" by Chinmaya Publications).
Hari Om.