A purohit is the priest engaged by a family or community to perform rituals — daily and festival pujas, havans, weddings, housewarmings, naming ceremonies, and funeral rites. Traditionally the relationship is hereditary, with a family purohit (kula purohit) serving generations of the same households and maintaining knowledge of their gotra and customs. The role is distinct from that of a pujari (archaka), who serves the deity inside a temple, though one person may do both. A purohit's training covers the Vedic mantras, ritual procedures (karma kanda), and panchang reading needed to fix auspicious dates and muhurats for ceremonies.