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A pandit or pundit (Devanagari: पण्डित, pronunciation: / /) is a Hindu, almost always a Brahmin, who has memorized a substantial portion of the Vedas, along with the corresponding rhythms and melodies for chanting or singing them.
Pundits are hired to chant Vedic verses at yagyas and other events, both public and private. The chanting is meant to be listened to with a quiet mind for the purpose of spiritual development for the listener as well as enlivening of the atmosphere at an event. Most pundits are vegetarians for spiritual reasons.
Pandits, or natives learned in the dharmasastra, were also employed as court advisors during the 18th and 19th Centuries. Initially, British judges had very little knowledge of Hindu customs and oral traditions, and they could seek information from them on particular questions. The practice was abandoned by 1864, as judges had acquired some experience in dealing with Hindu law, and applied the increasing volume of case law that had developed.
More General Uses
In India today, pandit is a term of great respect given to Indian classical musicians (usually Hindu) acknowledged to be masters, such as Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Pran Nath, or Pundit Ravi Shankar. In this latter sense, it is analogous to Ustad.
Within the Hindu religion, those who conduct religious services at mandirs temples, and generally give lectures from the many holy books of Hinduism are called pandits. They are generally Bramhins who live a life as prescribed in the Vedas.
Jawaharlal Nehru was known as Pundit Nehru, though it was more of an affectionate term used to compliment India's first prime minister, rather than stating that he mastered the Vedas.
The English word 'pundit' is derived from this term.
See also
"Pundit (India)"