Kumaripuja, Kumārīpūjā, Kumari-puja: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Kumaripuja means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaKumārīpūjā (कुमारीपूजा).—It is a special item in Navarātripūjā. According to the definition 'Kumārikā tu sā proktā dvivarṣā yā bhavediha,' Kumārī is a two-year old female child. To worship such a child is Kumarīpūjā, and it should be conducted accompanied by sumptuous feasts and presentation of clothes etc. There are no hard and fast rules as to how many Kumārīs should be worshipped and as to the manner and method of the worship. The same Kumārī may be worshipped during all the days of the Pūjā, or every day one more girl may be worshipped like this:—one girl on the first day, two on the second day and so on. Or it may be in the order 4, 6, 8 etc or 4, 8, 12, 16 etc. Even if the daily number be nine it is in order. There is no rule that Kumārīs alone should be worshipped; any one of the navakanyakās would do. A girl two years old is called Kumārī, three years old Trimūrti; four years old Kalyāṇī; five years old Rohiṇī; six years old Kālī; Seven years old Caṇḍikā; eight years old Śāmbhavī; nine years old Durgā and ten years old Subhadrā. These girls are called Navakanyakās. But, a child less than two years of age should not be worshipped, because it will not be fully sensitive to taste, smell etc. Also, age alone does not render Kumārīs suitable for worship. They should be absolutely free from ulcers, leprosy, ugliness, squint-eyes, dwarfishness, lameness, bad odour, stigma of low birth etc. For the achievement of special objects a Brahmin child should be worshipped; for victory, a Kṣatriya child and for profit, a Vaiśya or a Sūdra child should be worshipped. The Brahmin may worship brahmin childern; the Kṣatriya, Brahmin and Kṣatriya children; the Vaiśya, Brahmin, Kṣatriya and Vaiśya children; and the Śūdra, Brahmin, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya and Śūdra children. (Devī Bhāgavata, 3rd Skandha).
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)Kumārīpūjā (कुमारीपूजा) refers to the “worship of a maiden”, and formed a part of the Navarātra Tantric ritual (an autumnal festival of the warrior goddess Caṇḍikā).—On Mahānavamī: worship of Bhadrakālī with mantras from the Kālīkula in Orissa (Sanderson 2007, 255–295); worship of the Goddess in a trident; repetition of rites on Mahāṣṭamī; kumārīpūjā (worship of a maiden); rathayātrā (chariot procession) of the Goddess.—Various 8th century sources refer to rituals such as kumārīpūjā, for example: Devīpurāṇa, Kālikāpurāṇa, Kṛtyakalpataru, Durgābhaktitaraṅgiṇī, Durgāpūjātattva, Durgāpūjāviveka, Bhadrakālīmantravidhiprakaraṇa in Sanderson (2007); account of the Durgā Pūjā in Kelomal, West Bengal (Nicholas 2013).
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus CatalogorumKumārīpūjā (कुमारीपूजा) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—[tantric] L. 636. Burnell. 146^b.
—by Harakumāra Ṭhakkura. L. 255.
Kumārīpūjā (कुमारीपूजा):—[=kumārī-pūjā] [from kumārī > kumāra] f. the worship of Kumārī or Durgā (a ceremony performed at the great Durgā festival, when a girl between ten and twelve years old is placed on a pedestal as the representative of the goddess, and fed with offerings made to the idol).
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Puja, Kumari.
Starts with: Kumaripujana.
Full-text: Harakumara thakkura, Navakanyaka, Shambhavi, Maiden, Kalika, Kalyani, Durga, Bhadra, Candika, Rohini, Trimurtini, Rathayatra, Trimurti, Kumari, Navaratri.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Kumaripuja, Kumārīpūjā, Kumari-puja, Kumārī-pūjā; (plurals include: Kumaripujas, Kumārīpūjās, pujas, pūjās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Varahi Tantra (English Study) (by Roberta Pamio)
Chapter 29 - The worship of Caṇḍikā < [Summary of the Vārāhī Tantra]
Chapter 5 - Details of Puraścaraṇa and Japa < [Summary of the Vārāhī Tantra]
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Shakti and Shakta (by John Woodroffe)
Chapter XXVII - Pañcatattva (the Secret Ritual) < [Section 3 - Ritual]