aradhya Sanskrit word meaning ‘object of worship or reverence’. In traditional Indian society, reverence was almost a way of life. Elders, especially one’s parents and teachers, were held in godlike esteem. The Indians revered life in any form as sacred; hence, ahimsa (nonviolence) and vegetarianism were two important features of the ideal Indian life. In the Hindu polytheistic tradition, which continues even today, the countless Vedic deities, along with the later gods and goddesses in the Hindu pantheon, serve as aradhya objects. A popular form of aradhya in today’s Hindu society is often a chosen deity worshiped in a household. See also AHIM MSAA. D.K.C.