1. Unit 4a: How & why do Hindus worship at home & in the mandir?\
This is an aum symbol
It is a special sign for God
It is often found in Hindu
homes or places of worship
Unit 4a: How & why do Hindus worship at home & in the mandir?

2. Unit 4a: How & why do Hindus worship at home & in the mandir?
Svetaketu always came proudly home after school each day. One day his father asked him about God, but Svetaketu didn’t know anything.
His father sent for a glass of water and asked Svetaketu to put some salt in it.
The next day, he asked where the salt was. Svetaketu could not see the salt, but he could taste it in the water in the glass.
‘That’s a bit like God in the world,’ said his father. ‘God is invisible, but is there in everything.’
Unit 4a: How & why do Hindus worship at home & in the mandir?

3. Unit 4a: How & why do Hindus worship at home & in the mandir?
Hindus believe that there is one God, but that God is represented by many different deities.
Lakshmi
Vishnu
Krishna
Ganesh
Hindus usually choose one particular deity to worship, and will have statues or pictures of this deity in their shrine.
Unit 4a: How & why do Hindus worship at home & in the mandir?

4. Unit 4a: How & why do Hindus worship at home & in the mandir?
This is a picture of a shrine in the home of a Hindu family.
Hindus have shrines so that they can worship at home.
The shrine is often placed in the living room, as this is where the family are all together.
Usually at least one member of the family will worship at the shrine each day.
Unit 4a: How & why do Hindus worship at home & in the mandir?

5. Unit 4a: How & why do Hindus worship at home & in the mandir?
Think about these parts of the puja
ringing the bell
touching/bowing to the image
making offerings
using incense
receiving prasad
cleansing the image
What do you think each of these parts symbolises?
Which of the senses are used in each part?
Unit 4a: How & why do Hindus worship at home & in the mandir?

6. Unit 4a: How & why do Hindus worship at home & in the mandir?
During the puja, Hindus offer gifts to the deity, often
in the form of food.
Can you think of other times when people give gifts or presents?
Christmas
Eid
Birthdays
Hannukah
Mother’s/Father’s Day
Why do they do this?
What does it symbolise?
Unit 4a: How & why do Hindus worship at home & in the mandir?

7. Unit 4a: How & why do Hindus worship at home & in the mandir?
This is a picture of a mandir.
A mandir is a Hindu place of worship.
As well as worshipping in their homes at a shrine, Hindus also worship at the mandir.
What does the word “worship” mean?
Can you think of other words to describe what
“worship” means?
Unit 4a: How & why do Hindus worship at home & in the mandir?