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A Hindu priest may refer to either of the following: * an ''archaka'' conducting ritual worship at a Hindu temple * a Vedic ''purohita'' Traditionally, priests have come from the Brahmin caste, although in various parts of India, people from other communities (such as Lingayats in parts of Karnataka) have performed the function. In modern times, archakas have been recruited from various communities with lesser regard to caste. Hindu priests are known to perform services often referred to as ''puja''. Priests are identified as ''pandits'' or ''pujaris'' amongst devotees. Priests were the instigating factor to why ordinary people of Hindu religion became indulged severely in a devotional path. Hindu priests through their extended knowledge of the literature, the ''Bhagavad Gita'' and the ''Ramayana'' were able to encourage the Hindu community's devotion to Hindu deities. ==Responsibilities== Their primary responsibility is to conduct daily prayers (''puja'') at the temple. During Hindu festivals, traditional events such as weddings, the sacred thread ceremony, performance of last rites and special deity ceremonies, priests are called upon to conduct puja's either at the temple or at the location of the event. In order to perform these puja's, the priests are required to have prior skills and knowledge. To be a qualified priest, they must know the required chants (''mantras'' and ''strotas'') fluently in Sanskrit and be familiar with the materials required to perform the puja for various ceremonies and rituals. Pandits from an early age were trained to memorize hymns in order to chant them during rituals and ceremonies without aid. Receiving assistance to remember hymns and chants was frowned upon, and were only expected to recite the hymns through memory. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Hindu priest」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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