Hindu Worship

Puja

Home worship

Offerings made to deities – offerings paced on a tray in-front of a deity

Includes flowers, fruits incense sticks, water, milk clarified butter and a lamp

Can be done daily or on festival days

Puja continued

Traditional puja involves 16 steps

All puja concludes with waving of a lamp – Arati, around an alter while worshippers sing hymns and verses of prayer

After prayers, food is redistributed amongst the worshippers as a gift from that deity – gift called prasad

Puja continued

Homa – ritual that involves burning offerings in a fire assembled according to Vedic

guidelines blessed by a priest (Brahmin)

Smoke brings healing an elevated spiritual awareness – purifies the atmosphere and heavens

Mantras are chanted while lighting the Homa fire - brings forward the energy of the deities

1 hour sitting at a Homa fire is equivalent to 1 month of meditation

Types of Temple Worship Japa - Individual silent or soft repetition

of mantras.

Bhajan - Singing of religious songs, individually or in a group, usually accompanied by instruments.

Kirtan – (to repeat) Congregational chanting of holy mantras accompanied by instruments and

simple dance.

Arotik - This is an ancient ceremony wherein certain pleasing articles are offered to the Lord in his deity form, accompanied by kirtan

Puja video clip (New York Hindu TempleWorship video clip

Temple Worship Temple visits during festival times

or special functions

Worship led by Brahmin priest

Priest bathing, removes shoes, rings temple bell

The deities are prepared: bathed, offered fresh flowers, incense and food

Offerings are made on behalf of the devotees

After final prayer, blessed food is redistributed -Prasad

Images of Temple Worship

Images of Temple Worship Continued:

Images of Temple Worship Continued:

Images of Temple Worship Continued:

Pilgrimage: Journey to Holy places

Reasons to Pilgrimage

To remember special people (saints)

To fix the mind on God and to glorify Him

For spiritual development and to gain spiritual merit

For purification and atonement of sins

For meeting and taking guidance from holy people

To perform specific religious rites

For self-reflection and contemplation

For an uplifting and memorable experience (spiritual inspiration)

Activities done while on Pilgrimage

Taking darshan or specific deities on your journey

Participating in worship (e.g. kirtan)

Charity, especially to priests and temples

Austerities and penance (such as shaving the head, and following certain vows such as celibacy)

Listening to talks and receiving advice on spiritual life

Specific rites / rituals