Hindu Rituals

Puja Puja: Hindu worship ceremony Worshipping one or more Hindu deities The image of a deity is called a murti. Usually takes place in the home, but it can also be conducted in a temple.

Puja in a Hindu Home Most Hindu families have a place of worship in their home. Worshippers remove their shoes, ring a bell to summon the murti, light a lamp, and burn incense. The murti is washed and decorated with garlands or flower petals. A small amount of red paste is placed on the foreheads of the murti and the worshippers.

Puja in a Hindu Home Worshippers make an offering of fruit, light, flowers, or sweets to the murti. A lamp is moved around the murti to indicate the presence of God. Devotees place both hands above the lamp flame and touch their foreheads to receive the deity’s blessing. Any food that has been part of the puja is eaten by everyone present.

How does engaging all of the senses make worship more meaningful? What is the significance and purpose of the images of the deities used during puja?

Temple Worship Hindus visit the mandir (temple) any time Can drop in any time or day of the week A Hindu temple is a complex of shrines, each devoted to a different deity Main deity in the centre As worshippers enter the temple, they remove their shoes and wash their hands then approach the shrine to make an offering As they approach, they ring a bell to announce their arrival to the murti. Video

Temple Worship Puja in the temple is similar to the ritual in Hindu homes, but is led by a priest Ritual service begins with the singing of mantras (sacred sounds/words/phrases) and traditional Indian music The priest will perform puja while chanting verses from the scriptures Worshippers sing and clap while the lamp is circled around the deities Priest may take the lamp around worshippers to bless worshippers The service ends with a sharing of the blessed food offering

Temple Worship In another important ritual, havan, a fire offering, the priest lights a fire, then pours butterfat or oil into it while chanting from the Vedas The priest offers prayers for purity, dips his finger into water, then touches his ears, eyes, nose, mouth, arms, body, and legs Worshippers do the same to remind themselves that God lives within them

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