punya

Punya, often transliterated as puṇya, is a term used in Indian religions to denote merit or virtue earned through good actions. In Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, punya is part of a karmic framework in which virtuous deeds generate positive consequences for the individual. It is frequently contrasted with paṇḍa or paapa (sin or negative karma) and is thought to influence outcomes in this life and future existences, including rebirth and spiritual progress.

Merit is traditionally accumulated through acts such as charity (dāna), truthfulness, self-discipline, study of sacred texts, ritual observances, and pilgrimages. Different traditions offer varying explanations of how punya is stored, transferred, or exhausted, but the core idea remains that ethical behavior creates moral credit that can aid spiritual development and favorable rebirth.

In devotional and scriptural contexts, punya is described as a constructive force that supports welfare and spiritual ascent. It interacts with other karmic categories within cosmologies that describe multiple realms of existence, and it can be cultivated through compassionate action and devotion as part of broader ethical duties.

In Indonesian and Malay, the word punya has a distinct, everyday usage as a verb meaning to have or own, as in saya punya buku (I have a book). It is widely used in colloquial speech to indicate possession and is not etymologically linked to the Sanskrit concept in common usage, though the same spelling appears in both languages.