Bal Gokulam Lesson 5 May 18, 2012

Reviewfrom Lesson 4 Who is the Goddess of all beings, or Shakti? Durga What demon did she defeat? Mahishasura

Review  Who is the daughter of the Himalayas? Also known as the consort of Lord Shiva.  Parvati Ma  This Goddess is known for her blessings of material, spiritual, and physical wealth.  Maha Lakshmi

Review Cont’d  She creates knowledge and is the consort of Lord Brahma  Saraswati  Why does she hold a book and Veena in her hands?  To symbolize eternal knowledge in religion and arts.

Today’s Lesson  What does a Hindu Home look like today?

Cleanliness A clean, organized house provides a healthy setting from which to grow and mature – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. A dirty and cluttered house is not conducive for a healthy and happy life. There is a saying that God lives in a clean house only. No matter how luxurious or simple your house is, keep it clean.  Cleanliness is next to Godliness!

Prayer/Puja Room  Most Hindu will homes have a prayer room or altar. A lamp is lit and God worshipped each day. Other spiritual practices like japa or meditation, reading of the scriptures, prayers, and devotional singing are also done in the prayer room. Special worship is conducted on auspicious occasions like festivals, birthdays, and anniversaries. Each member of the family communes with and worships the Divine here. We invoke His grace by communing with Him in the prayer room each day and on special occasions.  Since the Lord is considered the creator, He is therefore the true owner of the house we live in too. We are mere earthly occupants of His property, thus this notion rids us of false pride and possessiveness.  Since the Lord is all-pervading, and to remind us that He resides in our homes with us, we have prayer rooms.

Prayer Room Cont’d  Each room in a house is dedicated to a specific function like the bedroom for resting, the living room to receive guests, the kitchen for cooking etc. The furniture, decor and the atmosphere of each room are made conducive to the purpose it serves. So too a conducive atmosphere is required for the purpose of meditation, worship and prayer, thus the need for a prayer room.  Sacred thoughts and sound vibrations pervade the place and influence the minds of those who spend time there. Spiritual thoughts and vibrations accumulated through regular meditation, worship and chanting done there pervade the prayer room. Even when we are tired or agitated, by just sitting in the prayer room for a while, we feel calm, rejuvenated and spiritually uplifted.

Displaying Hindu Symbols  Where appropriate throughout the house, display Hindu symbols such as Om, Swastika, Bhagwa Dhwaj, pictures of holy places, spiritual personalities, etc. These will constantly remind you of your hoary heritage, and serve as an inspiration to live as an ideal Hindu.  Many symbols are considered auspicious, embodying the notion of inner purity. Sacred emblems are displayed in the home or temple to invoke good fortune

Celebrating Hindu Festivals  We celebrate a variety of Hindu festivals in our homes  To create a special atmosphere, diverting the mind from worldly concerns and joyfully focusing on spiritual matters.  To forge a healthy sense of belonging by peacefully bringing together individuals, families and communities.

Some of the ways we do this in our homes is  Fasting and feasting  Distribution of food (especially prasad)  Giving in charity (to temples, saints, the poor, etc)  Visiting relatives  Glorification of God (kirtan, bhajan, story recitals, puja, dance, drama)  Wearing new clothes  Decorating houses, streets and home temples with fruits, flowers, leaves and banana leaves

Language & Arts  Someone once said “If you want to destroy a culture, destroy the language”.  Language and arts are key things that form the basis of a civilization and culture. These too have been passed on through generations, so at home make every effort to preserve and practice them.  Learn to speak, read and write in your mother tongue.  Learn one or more Hindu arts (such as dancing, singing, rangoli, mehendi, etc), and when proficient, teach to others.  The personal satisfaction in being good in language and arts, as well as the gratification in preserving and promoting them is invaluable.