Hindu Worship

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Hindu Worship
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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

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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

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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

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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 Temple
• Worship video clip

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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

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Images of Temple Worship
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Images of Temple Worship Continued
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Images of Temple Worship Continued
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Images of Temple Worship Continued
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Pilgrimage Journey to Holy places
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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)

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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