HINDU ENCYCLOPEDIA

सनातन धर्म भूमिका

Meaning of "purohita"

Word

Purohita

Sanskrit

पुरोहित

IAST

purohita

In General

A priest is called as Purohita. Purohita is a learned person in religious matters, who does a spiritual service on behalf of another person. A learned man and a person doing service in temple are also called as Purohita.

Veda

Veda uses the word Purohita for a highly respected person. In the first mantra of RV we have this word, “Agni meele purohitam”. Here the meaning of purohita is: one who placed in front (Puras meaning "front", and hita, "placed"). Here agni is invited to lead other Devas to the sacred place. Purohita is used as a synonymous word for Rishi in many instances. Rishis are intellectuals, who move ahead of the society and society just follow them.

Purana

In puranas we cannot find a king instruct a Rishi to do a service, instead we can see rulers are taking advice from a Rishi.

Related entries found !

Word Sanskrit IAST In General Veda Purana