Pūjā

Lesson 27 established what a consecrated image is held to be. This lesson is about what is then done with it — and about how much of the theology is already sitting in the ordinary words.

The standard lexicon gives pūjā a single line of senses, and it is worth reading whole: "honour, worship, respect, reverence, veneration, homage to superiors or adoration of the gods" — cited to the domestic ritual sūtras, to Manu, and to the Mahābhārata.

One word, and it does not distinguish. Homage to a superior and adoration of a god are the same act under the same name.