Section 3.2: Forms of Worship (2)

Question 1

Why do people engage in worship?

Answer 1

Overall, people engage in worship as part of their religious duty; worship allows devotees to communicate with God, through both meditation and prayer. In addition, worship allows Hindus to generate positive karma and, ultimately, achieve moksha, which is anybody’s life aim. Worship also allows Hindus to gather as a community, engage all of the senses and, therefore, focus on spirituality.

Question 2

What is puja?

Answer 2

Puja is the closest word in Hinduism to the concept of ‘worship’ and suggests devotion and adoration, with the hope of blessings in return.

Question 3

Who leads worship in the mandir?

Answer 3

In the mandir, worship is led by the pujaris as they are the only ones who can enter the inner sanctuary (garbha-griha). Priests lead devotion each day and anyone may come to join them in prayer.

Question 4

What happens during morning worship?

Answer 4

During morning worship, the pujaris ring the temple bells, prepare the murti and, then, offer flowers, incense and food to the gods. This food will eventually become prasad. Worship is conducted throughout the day in a similar manner, with sacred songs often being sung in the evening.

Question 5

What happens to the murtis during puja?

Answer 5

During puja, the deities are seen to have daily needs, so their murtis are bathed, garlanded and dressed by the pujaris. Food is offered so that the deities can eat and, then, they are also allowed to rest.

Question 6

What are the requirements of a worshipper?

Answer 6

In order for worshippers to take part in puja at the mandirs, traditional clothing should be worn and they must be ritually clean. This means that menstruating women and some people from lower varnas were forbidden from entering certain mandirs.

Question 7

Why do worshippers remove their shoes at the entrance of a temple?

Answer 7

Shoes are removed at the entrance of the temple complex to prevent dirt from entering the garbha-griha (another reminder of the sacred/profane distinction). This is to ensure that worshippers are removed from the world beyond the walls of the temple and are, instead, able to focus on God.

Question 8

What happens during the aarti ceremony?

Answer 8

During the aarti ceremony, an aarti lamp is lit and passed around the congregation. While this is happening, prayers are said and songs are sung. Aarti lamps are put onto a tray and are passed around the assembled worshippers, before the worshippers put their hands over the flame and immerse themselves. Immersion is a way of gaining blessings and favour from God. Four or five lights are present on the aarti tray to represent the five elements.

Question 9

What is darshan?

Answer 9

Considered to be a reciprocal act, darshan is the term that refers to God’s giving of blessings; looking at a deity in reverence as part of worship means that the deity is looking back at the worshipper and giving him or her its blessing.

Question 10

What is japa?

Answer 10

While chanting mantras, a worshipper may use japa - a method of using a string of beads (known as japamala) which help the worshipper to focus the mind. Each bead represents a different holy name for the deity and the worshipper will use the beads to help them recite and honour each of these names.

Question 11

Why do Hindus give offerings?

Answer 11

In offering food to God, Hindus are showing the devotion that they hold.

Question 12

What is the purpose of circumambulation?

Answer 12

Hindus will circumambulate around murtis or the temple as a sign of respect and to gain good fortune.

Question 13

What happens during worship at the mandir?

Answer 13

Devotees ring bells situated at the front of the mandir, announcing that worshippers are present and that offerings are about to be made. Bells also serve to draw the mind’s attention to the here-and-now of puja and should cancel out the sounds of the world beyond the mandir. While the pujari leads ceremonies, worshippers may sing devotional songs and hymns, which are accompanied by drums, cymbals and harmoniums. Puja ends with the aarti tray being passed around the congregation, with each worshipper cupping their hands over the flames and then passing their hands over their heart and head. Circumambulation may follow, before food offerings are distributed around the congregation as prasad.

Question 14

Where do Hindus usually make shrines in the home?

Answer 14

Hindus usually have spaces set aside in their home for a shrine to their chosen deities. These take the form of small rooms or cupboards, but some may convert basements or attics into rooms for puja.

Question 15

Who usually takes on the role of puja in the home?

Answer 15

All family members can participate in home puja, although women often take on this role.

Question 16

What do shrines in the home usually contain?

Answer 16

Shrines in the home usually contain small vessels, jars of red kum-kum powder, yellow turmeric and sandalwood paste, flowers and leaves, food offerings, small ghee lamps, aarti lamps and small bells.

Question 17

What happens during home puja?

Answer 17

Participants will bathe to demonstrate respect and cleanse the soul, before inviting the murti to worship with a bell. Offered a special seat, a water offering is offered and, then, the deities are given a bath using panchamrit and water. Turmeric power, red kum-kum and sandalwood paste is put on each deity and rice is placed in front of it. Brightly-coloured flowers are laid before the murtis and incense sticks are lit to create a fragrant atmosphere. Perfumed oils are also burnt to signify the destruction of selfish desires. A small ghee lamp is lit and then waved before the deity and, after being offered, food is shared as prasad.

Question 18

What is the signficance of the eleven steps of home puja?

Answer 18

Each item relates to the five elements or the five senses, showing that all life comes from God. Therefore, worship should involve these elements/senses to develop a holy state of mind and to honour God in an appropriate manner.

Question 19

Why should Hindus worship at the mandir?

Answer 19

Worshipping at the mandir brings a community to Hinduism and pujaris are present in the mandir to guide any form of puja. A variety of deities are available for prayer in the mandir, which links to the point that many mandirs are purpose-built. Mandirs hold spiritual significance and act as sacred areas.

Question 20

Why should Hindus worship at home?

Answer 20

Worship at home is more varied, allowing Hindus to have flexibility in their worship. Hindus can also worship murtis of their choice. For this reason, there is less pressure on Hindus when worshipping at home. All members can participate in home puja, but women often take the role at home, which contrasts that at the mandir.

Question 21

What is bhakti yoga?

Answer 21

In Hinduism, the simplest way to experience and understand the relationship between the atman and Brahman is bhakti yoga. Given that Brahman is without form, the worshipper needs to focus on a personal deity - this is known as ishwara. To form a relationship with the ishwara, the Hindu praises the name of God in its presence, bows before the image, chants its name and offers daily puja.

Question 22

Who can follow bhakti yoga?

Answer 22

All people, regardless of varna and ashrama, can follow bhakti yoga, as all it requires is an emotional awareness of God and daily devotion. A Hindu who is a true devotee of God is known as a bhakta and many Hindus aspire to achieve this state of being through intense devotion.

Question 23

Why is bhakti yoga important?

Answer 23

Intense devotion provides a deep spiritual understanding, cleans unearthly thoughts from the mind and purifies the body and removes any sense of self-interests, providing the devotee with peace and joy.

Question 24

Why is visual imagery necessary in Hinduism?

Answer 24

Bhakti yoga is often undertaken with the aid of images of the gods (murtis). Images are used as a way of concentrating the mind through devotion. By having love and faith in God, Hindus believe that God and the gods will provide them with blessings. Images are used to guide focus and idols act as points of concentration to focus their minds. They are also used to meditate and communicate with God. Visual imagery shows God’s presence, allowing Hindus to present their devotion.

Question 25

What is the most common form of acoustic worship in Hinduism?

Answer 25

Mantras are the most common form of acoustic worship: these are chants or prayers to God, which involve the repetition of holy sounds, words or verses of scripture. Through repetition of a phrase or prayer, the mind concentrates on God.

Question 26

What is the OM symbol?

Answer 26

Consisting of three sounds, the symbol is seen in shrines and temples. A-U-M is the sacred vibration made by Brahman and is regarded as the first sound of creation. Together, the three sounds are a mantra and, when the sounds are uttered together, Hindus believe that they can access their inner nature and be in touch with God. OM is said to symbolise Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and the symbol is used to represent the concept of nirguna Brahman (so, when images are used, this is known as saguna Brahman and is the idea that God has form and can be pictured).

Question 27

Why is acoustic worship important?

Answer 27

All sounds are divine since they derive from OM, which is the sacred vibration. Drums, conch shells and flutes all have religious significance. For example, drums were created by Brahma and are crucial for they set a rhythm and give off a beat that makes one feel the music within. Mantras produce sacred sound-vibrations that resonate with the chakras to cause eternal change. Repeating mantras establishes positive karma and intense repetition is said to bring about moksha. To ask for fortune, health and knowledge, Hindus take part in nada yoga; devotional worship produces a connection and brings inner peace.

Question 28

What are samskars?

Answer 28

There are 16 samskars, which are rites of passage and are discussed in various texts, such as the Upanishads and the Laws of Manu.

Question 29

What is a rite of passage?

Answer 29

A rite of passage is a religious event that marks a significant event.

Question 29

What is a rite of passage?

Answer 29

A rite of passage is a religious event that marks a significant point.

Question 30

Why are rites of passage important?

Answer 30

Rites of passage are important for they mark stages of life and, therefore, give a sense of structure. All 16 samskars begin at conception: they go from birth and end after death, helping the atman through its journey of samsara. Samskars also show the movement between ashramas, acting as a sign of devotion. They are also a sign of public commitment to the faith.

Question 31

What is the sacred thread samskar?

Answer 31

Associated with the highest three castes, the sacred-thread samskar marks the transition from childhood to adulthood between the ages of eight and sixteen. Boys, from this age, enter the brahmacharya ashrama and, thus, are expected to remain celibate until their education is complete.

Question 32

How does the sacred thread ceremony run?

Answer 32

An appropriate day for the ceremony is identified by a pujari or astrologer and the child takes a bath on the morning of the ceremony. With the head shaved, a white dhoti is worn, covering the lower part of the body. After having a meal with his mother, the child and father stand in different places, whilst the hold a piece of cloth together. A fire ritual (homa) is performed with offerings of rice and ghee made towards Agni, made with the intention of allowing the child the right to study the scriptures. A loop of white cotton (yajnopaveet) is placed over the left soldier, which hangs diagonally across the chest. Made sacred with water, the father offers prayers to the gods and then touches the child’s chest. Kneeling on their right knee, the child asks to be taught the Gayatri hymn, which is recited ten times. After the child makes the vow of celibacy, they also make promises to obey their father and religious authorities. They are provided with a staff to symbolise them taking the right path.

Question 33

What are the three promises a child is expected to make at the sacred thread ceremony?

Answer 33

A child is expected to promote knowledge from the religious thinkers and scientists, to look after, respect and obey their parents and to look after and help their community.

Question 34

When is the sacred thread worn?

Answer 34

Hindus are expected to wear the sacred thread everyday for the rest of their lives. Each year, it is renewed in a special ceremony called Ganesha Chaturti - a festival commemorating Ganesha’s birthday.

Question 35

What is the vivaha samskar?

Answer 35

In Hinduism, the vivaha samskar refers to marriage and marks the beginning of the grihastha ashrama - this is when a Hindu marries and takes responsibility for their own family. Based on Vedic traditions, Hindus are able to strive for kama (one of the purusharthas), which includes sexual activity with the intention of having children.

Question 36

What happens during the marriage ceremony?

Answer 36

At the beginning of the marriage, the bridegroom and family are welcomed at the bride’s house. Blessings are sung with the bride and groom facing each other and a silk cloth is held between them by the priest. Rice grains are distributed among the guests. Then, the daughter is given in marriage by her father to the groom, whom promises to be moderate in the observance of dharma, artha and kama. A single cotton thread is rubbed in turmeric and tied around the couple’s wrists and gifts are exchanged. Fires are lit and offerings are given. Holding hands, the couple promise to live together and, after that, the bride steps onto a stone, symbolising her willingness to overcome difficulties in pursuit of a life obeying and fulfilling dharma. As the main part of the ceremony, the couple take seven steps around the fire, with each one marking a different aspect of life. If the wedding is held during the day, the couple look at the sun in order to be blessed or, if at night, they look at the pole star. Blessings are then given by the elders and pujari.

Question 37

What is the antyeshthi samskar?

Answer 37

As the final samskar of life, this samskar involves the cremation of the body and the associated death rites. In Hinduism, the afterlife is the life after the death of one’s body, but it is not the end of the atman’s life. Cremations occur with the intention of helping the atman on its journey towards liberation (moksha).

Question 38

How are Hindus cremated in India?

Answer 38

Funerals occur very soon after death seeing that there is a risk of the body decaying and exposing those nearby to disease and impurity. Bodies are usually cremated, rather than buried. Cremations occur to help the atman leave the physical body behind and to end all attachments to the previous body. Many Hindus hope to die by the Ganges. Corpses are washed and wrapped in white shrouds, with a garland of flowers on top of the body.

Question 39

What happens during the funeral?

Answer 39

Funeral pyres are made of wood and sandalwood. Ghee and perfumes are used to cover the smell, with nuts and rice being thrown into the flame as offerings. Mourners recite prayers and scriptures and the eldest son walks around the funeral pyre three times before lighting it. Lit first at the north side and then in other directions, the eldest son must stay at the pyre until the fire has died before collecting all of the ashes and then scattering them.

Question 40

What are shraddha rites?

Answer 40

After the death, there is a period of mourning, known as shraddha. In the religion, death is considered to be unclean, so all relatives will bathe after a funeral and will not go to any social gathering until the period has finished. Overt grief is not encouraged as the deceased is seen to be one step closer to liberation. A final ceremony will remember all the deceased members of the family and there are offerings of rice and milk. Once the spirit has moved on, the eldest son must perform the shraddha rites for his ancestors on the new moon of each month of the first year after the death of his parents.

Question 41

How are funeral rites performed in the United Kingdom?

Answer 41

British law states that cremations cannot occur in the open-air, so Hindu cremations must take place at funeral directors or at a local crematorium. Floral wreaths placed on top of the coffin are often made into the shape of the OM symbol. Ashes are collected after the cremation and are often flown to India for relatives to scatter in the Ganges. There are a number of funeral directors established in the UK to cater for Hindu funeral arrangements, such as Smethwick Asian Funerals in the West Midlands.