Etymology of puujaa

[Asko H S Parpola]

On Thu, 12 Oct 1995, Pratap Kumar wrote:

> Hi, Michael,  
> Nice to read your views from time to time.  I learned a great deal from 
> you during my stay at the CSWR.  
> 
> Speaking of puucu and puuja -- and the idea of smearing the guests--
> 
> In Hindu weddings and also in traditional Hindu homes in some parts of 
> India (e.g., Andhra Pradesh) when a guest comes,he or she is smeared with 
> Turmeric paste mixed with sandalwood paste either just under the chin and 
> on the neck area or on the feet.  Thus there might be some relationship 
> with the idea of honouring the guest. 
> 
> Pratap Kumar
>  
> 
> 
> 
> On Sat, 7 Oct 1995 witzel at HUSC3.HARVARD.EDU wrote:
> 
> > 
> > Regarding the recent discussion.
> > 
> > 
> > Axel Michaels correctly stated Thieme's and Buehnemann's discussions of 
> > the word.
> > 
> > >>>
> > according to G. Buehnemann (Puujaa. Vienna 1988, p. 30) the etymology of
> >   puujaa has not yet been explained convincingly. Mayrhofer (Kurzgefasstes
> >   etymologisches Woerterbuch des Altindischen. 4 vols. Heidelberg 1965-80)
> >   suggest a derivation from Tamil puucu 'to smeare'. However, Thieme (Kleine
> >   Schriften, p. 792) connects the word with *pRn^ca kR 'to prepare a mixture
> >   for someone'. As far as I know there there is no final conclusion regarding
> > > its etymology. Buehnemann gives a fair account of the various positions.
> > >>>>
> > 
> > 
> > While the etymology remains unclear, it should be taken into accoun that 
> > the word, or rather the root, PUUJ occurs even in the Rgveda, though well 
> > hidden in an epithet of Indra: zacI-pUjana- 
> > This has nothing to do with Indra's (later!, "Homeric" wife, ZacI).
> > 
> > Further, the root occurs in names in Katha and Maitr. Samhita. It becomes 
> > more common only in the Vedic Kalpa Sutras. The old meaning seems to be "to 
> > honor" (also in early grammarians: Patanjali or Katyayana [I don't 
> > remember which]: rajnaam puujitah) .-- not anything like "to smear" as  
> > suggested by Dravidian. 
> > You don't smear your teacher or guests (at least not in India)  -----  not 
> > even with ointment. 
> > (The tilaka/tiika is a question appart, with a rather surprising origin)....
> > 
> > Though I hesitate to engage in guru-nindaa of my teacher P. Thieme,
> > it has to be said that the early occurence makes his particular Prakritic 
> > etymology (from which type of unattested Prakrit/Vedic popular speech?) rather 
> > unlikely. Details on the Vedic state of things in WZKS XXIV (1980), 
> > pp. 21 sqq. --  Thieme's etymology has been critized long ago by Katre.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >  
> > 
>  
> 
> 

If puujaa originally refers to worship, the Dravidian etymology from the 
root puucu 'to smear' is quite acceptable. We must remember that among the 
oldest objects of worship in South Asia are the sacred trees, and 
smearing the tree trunks with red-coloured powders and oils was an 
integral part of the early tree cult (cf. e.g. J. Auboyer, Daily life in 
ancient India, 1961, page 154). The Rgvedic sense 'to honour' may 
be due to a secondary widening of the meaning.  ---

Asko Parpola  (E-mail Asko.Parpola at Helsinki.Fi)
----------------------------------------------------------
Department of Asian and African Studies, Univ. of Helsinki