Puja ≠ Worship

Episode 1 of the HAF's What's in a Word? podcast, hosted by Hindu American Foundation, titled "Puja ≠ Worship" was published on March 4, 2025 and runs 5 minutes.

March 4, 2025 ·5m · HAF's What's in a Word?

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Summary

What's in a word? A lot actually. English words like idol, god, and sacrifice are often used—without careful consideration—to translate Sanskrit words common in Hindu Dharmas. In doing so, quite a bit gets lost in translation.So what can we do about it? Educate!And HAF's Samir Kalra, Esq., and Dr. Vijay Satnarine, our Director of Education, are doing just that in our newest podcast, "What's in a Word?" In this series, Samir and Vijay dive into the meanings and histories behind some of these questionable translations.In this first episode, we’re exploring the word WORSHIP and why it may not fully capture the essence of Puja or Archana in Hindu tradition. Discover the fascinating origins of these terms and the importance of choosing a language that honors the depth of Hindu practices.At HAF, we're changing the way we talk about Hindu Dharmas. Stay tuned as we tackle more everyday words like "idol," "sacrifice," and "gods" in upcoming episodes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Description

So what can we do about it? Educate!

And HAF's Samir Kalra, Esq., and Dr. Vijay Satnarine, our Director of Education, are doing just that in our newest podcast, "What's in a Word?" In this series, Samir and Vijay dive into the meanings and histories behind some of these questionable translations.

In this first episode, we’re exploring the word WORSHIP and why it may not fully capture the essence of Puja or Archana in Hindu tradition. Discover the fascinating origins of these terms and the importance of choosing a language that honors the depth of Hindu practices.

At HAF, we're changing the way we talk about Hindu Dharmas. Stay tuned as we tackle more everyday words like "idol," "sacrifice," and "gods" in upcoming episodes!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.