Sacred Spaces & Holy Places 1.Hindu Worship 2.Holy Places 3.Sacred Spaces

Hindu Worship: Home Worship Home  A decorated shrine can be found in a Hindu home, which serves as an altar for worship  The shrine is decorated with framed images of deities, which serve as points of focus to help the mind concentrate on the abstract ideals that the deities represent

Home Worship: Puja  The most common form of home worship is called puja, a form of thanksgiving in which offerings are made to the deities  Devotes place all of the offerings on a tray near the shrine, which include flowers, fruit, incense sticks, water, milk and a lamp

Home Worship: Puja  All puja concludes wit the waving of a lamp around the altar while worshippers sing hymns and praise  After the final prayers, the food that has been offered to the deities is now considered blessed and is re- distributed to those who are present at the ceremony as a gift from the deity

Hindu Worship: Temple (Mandir) Worship  Worship in a Hindu temple is not a requirement nor is it necessary  Hindus usually visit temples during festivals or for special functions

Temple (Mandir) Worship: Hindu Priests  Worship in a temple is conducted and lead by a priest and his helpers.  In the morning the priest rings the temple bells, prepares the deities, and offers fresh flowers, incense and food on behalf of the devotees.

Holy Places: Pilgrimages  Pilgrimages or Journeys to holy places are acts of devotion and are an important part of Hindu life

Pilgrimages: The Holy City of Varanasi (Benares)  One holy place that Hindus strive to visit at least once in their lifetime is the Holy City of Varanasi, which is located along the west bank of the Holy Ganges River.

Pilgrimages: The Ganges River  The Ganges River is believed to have fallen from heaven to earth, giving life to people and watering the plains to produce food  Bathing in the river is the first thing pilgrims do – it is believed that bathing in the Ganges cleanses them of maya Holy Places Exercise