HINDUISM Practices and Rituals

Hindus worship in many different ways - there is no standard. Practices and Rituals Practices and rituals are learned and passed on from previous generations. Hindus worship in many different ways - there is no standard. Daily worship mainly takes place at home, where a decorated shrine serves as altar. Altar contains images of deities, in the form of framed pictures or marble statues. Images serve as points of focus, help concentrate on ideals that deities represent.

Puja Ceremony Puja is Sanskrit for reverence, honour, worship Religious ceremony, involves making offerings to a chosen deity so as to seek blessings and a spiritual connection with the divine. “I dedicate to you God, what is truly yours.” Acknowledgement of one’s smallness and or humility. Removes ego, which is the only true hurdle on the path to success.

The Puja ceremony Puja can be a simple ritual at home, an elaborate “open air” festival, or a service at a temple lead by a priest. Hindu worship may take place whenever an individual wishes; usually daily. Before Puja one should have recently bathed, and have an empty stomach.

Performing a Puja Ceremony During a Puja ceremony the Image of the deity is treated like a guest of royalty. The worship consists of offering something to the icon of worship, such as flowers or food; possibly lighting a lamp & incense, & retrieving & consuming the blessed food as Prasada. A Puja can be observed in silence or accompanied by prayers, chanting, scripture reading, or meditation.

Worship in Temples Worship in a temple is not necessary or required. Visit temples during festivals and specials functions. Vary from simple village huts to grand buildings. Highly decorated with statues & pictures of gods and goddesses, treated (bowed to) like royalty. Shrine or Murti is central to worship in the temple.

The priest leads the devotions each day. Morning: he rings the temple bells, prepares the deities, + offers fresh flowers, incense, and food on behalf of devotees. Evening: devotees sing sacred hymns and share in Arati and Kirtana. Arati: Ritual in which light from wicks soaked in purified butter is offered to a deity while singing songs of praise. Ward of evil. Kirtana: Devotional singing and dancing.

Yoga and Meditation Yoga means “yoke,” or the Atman in union with the Brahman. One who meditates concentrates on a single object, sound, or idea until in a deep meditative state, experiencing the divine presence.

Pilgrimages Important element in Hinduism. Ganges River, flows from the great Himalayas (very sacred). Believed that bathing in the Ganges river cleanses them of their sins. Varanasi, most venerated city located along the Ganges. Cultural capital of India. Traditional center of learning of Philosophy, Sanskrit and Religion.

Varanasi on the Ganges