Topic 4 The diversity of Hindu practices that shape and express identity Flashcards
How is Puja performed in the home?
Most popular form of puja occuring in the cleanest room of the house and conductted by most senior women (unless on menstural cycle). Usually have a colourful shrine with murti around it often specific to famillies.
Inclues bathing and dressing as well as offering water, perfume flowers, lighting insence and offering prashad (food). then followed by arati ceremony.
1.Light in the form of a ghee lamp is wavered before the diety. Lamp leads devotees from dark to light
2.Prepare items
3.Place pots in a metsl tray (more pure)
4.bathe ensure you are clean and pure as a sign of respect
5.enter room with eldest man first ideally before sunrise (action of brahman)
6.light ghee deities waking up
7.light insense cleanses room
8.express devotion this can be done through darshan with the murti
9.remove and dry murti
10.add colourful clothing
11.recite prayer from the vedas
12.smear powder on murtis and devotees
13.give offerings prashad
14.sing songs to deities
15.end with aarati to recieve blessings from the light
Quotes for Puja
“May Brahma (the divine one) pluck the strings of your inner soul… And feel his own presence within”
“A leaf or flower, water, fruit, a devotee in love may bring I cherish from that earnest soul the love that makes the offering”
“there are two ways of contemplation of Brahman in sound and silence”
“I promise you will come to Me for you are dear to Me”
“may the divine fountain of eternal grace and joy enter your soul”
“(Darshan) Is a matter of experiencing the deity” I an Jaminson
“an essential aspect of puja is communion with the divine” hindu scholar
“The Mandir offers a refreshing tranqullity”
Why is Puja performed at the home important?
means that Brahman can be worshipped anywhere. Puja should be performed twice a day its easier for them to worship their deities. Having own shrine allows of individuality as different aspects of Brahman has different personalities. E.g good luck from Gansha and prosperity from Lakshmi. Gives woman importance allows passing down of traditions and is a part of dharma
How is Puja performed in the Mandir
- Murti or symbol of deity
- A canopy over deity to honour it
- A priest to care for the sacred image of the deity and to give each worshipper Prashad.
No set time for worship. Priest begins by lighting sacred fire and burning small pieces of wood and ghee. He then performs the havan ceremony (fire sacrifice to god agni) including purification of individual before approaching God. Another ceremony being arati.
Must take shoes off and ring bell to wake up spirits
“The mandir offers a refreshing tranqulity” Hinduism today website
Why is Puja performed at the mandir important
Appeals to the senses and create a heaven on earth. Highly decorated and the murtis on the shrines are dressed in colourful clothes and jewelerry . they are meant to drive off evil spirits. Puja is performed by Gurus who can offer help and understanding to the religion by interpreting the Vedas or offering advice about dharma.
Why is Puja important for developing a relationship between the devotee and the deities
There is a personal relationship between the deity and the devotee. Based on the love (bhakti). The relationship and devotion can be expressed in many ways as there are no specific rules that must be followed. The preparation of food to the deities at the home or temple (shrine) allows Hindus to serve God (Seva) and to express their devotion cementing the relationship between devotee and God. The deity will help the devotee in their life and ultimatley help them reach moksha/
Why does a Hindu perform Darshan during Puja
Darshan- from the sanskirt word Darsana which means sight/vision refers to the sight of a holy being.
The darshan of a living guru is thought to be very specialit opens the heart and gives peace, blessings and divineenergy (shakti).
the entire focus is absorbed in the image of the deity. The devotee is seen by their deity.
Hindus must be hygeinic they can chant mantras or sing hymns.
A hindu may touch the kiss feet of the murti in hope of recieving a divine blessing and to show honour and respect
Darshan quotes
“May the divine fountain of eternal grace and joy enter your soul” Rig Veda
“To one who is spiritually realised it is a matter od experiencing the deity” Ian jaminson
“an essential aspect of puja is communion with the divine”- scholar
Why does a Hindu perform circumbulation during Puja
Pradakshina- sanskrit for circumbulation, Hindus walk around he garbha griha (central part of the mandir) in the left hand direction keeping the shrine on their right.
done in clockwise direction because Hindus assume that God is on their right side. Reminds them they should live life on the right path (dharma) Helps them to shed and unwind themselves from wordly possesions and materialism.
Australian Hindu council”The circumbulation should be done slowly…. our thoughts and actions must dwell into the deity”
Why does a Hindu accept Prashad during puja
Prashad means ‘that which gives peace’ it refers to the food Hindus offer to God during any from of worship, ritual or ceremony. offerings can include sweet rice, fruits, milk, cocnuts.
After they ahve been offered to the deities they share them between the devotees as the prashad has been blessed. The devotee is offering his heart to God.
Special form of prashad is the charanamrit which is the water or milk used to wash the murtis feet.
“i cherish from that earnest soul the love that makes the offering”
What are the merits and failings of personal worship
Merits: they have a choice of what kind of blessing they recieve gives women some power in the household demonstrates the power of Brahman as it shows he is everyone and in everything. Brings the deities blessing to the home. More convinient
Failings: Not guided by a guru meaning there may be a lack of guidance with things such as dharma. May not have specialist equiptment mandir has e.g Havan service wont be as large because there may not be room. less commitment. darshan difficult to achieve because there are more of you
merits and failings of congregational worship
Merits:meet other members of the community, have specialist advice from gurus and priests who have studies the vedas and can help with dharma “no one else has the power to do this. Guided worship can help new Hindus and may help those who need a structure. larger scale.
Failings: Not available to all if you dont live near a mandir or a family member is ill. May not have a particulae deity that u want to worship.
Why do festivals perform an important part within hinduism
- Opften most important parts of Hindu calender e.g holi is festival of fertility and harvest it happens in springtime and reminds Hindus to be thankful for nature that brahma created and vishnu preserves.
- Also remind Hindus of hindu legends and important deities such as rama and sita in diwali.
- way of linking with the divine some festivals are particularly worship focused (diwali) contain alot of puja.
- They may attend the mandir more regularly to recieve darshan.
- bring Hindu communities together and create a sense of belonging (holi throw gulal powder)
What is the background to the festival of Holi
Krishna was remembered for being a playful child who played tricks on the milkmaids and cows. At holi hindus are allowed to play tricks on eachother with no consequences and throw gulal powder at eachother,
Radha was the loveliest of the cowgirls. She was the wife of anya. They were friends (krishna) as children and then lovers while krishna lived amongst the cowherds of vrindavan. they had to hide their love from society as radha was married. Krishna left to fulfill his dharma to safeguard the virtues of truth and justice. radha waited faithfully for him. when he came back from war he was married and became king radha still waited and her love for krishna is so divine she became a deity.
Hiranyakshyap was a demon king who considered himself the rule of the universe he hated his son because prahalad was a faithful devotee of vishnu. The king was so cross with his son that he tried to kill him, after many failed attempts he asked his sister holika to kill the boy. he took prahlada into a fire as she had the power not to be killed from fire. she abused her powers so lost them and burnt. prahalad prayed to vishnu and survived
What is the spiritual significance of the following events. The god of fire, Blessings of babies by agni, the virtue of love
The God of fire:Agni exsists as fire, in the atmosphere as lightning, and in the sky as the sun. he is symbolised by the inner natural will aspiring for knowledge. There are three kinds of agni in us the fire of anger, the fire of passion and the fire of digestion. These need to be spiritually and mentally worked on to recieve liberation.
Blessings of babies by agni:Hindus would worship agni and offer him food he will watch over you with a thousand eyes. Agni is the messenger betweem Gods and human thought which may help with human connect with the divine. Agni allows babies to be blessed by brahman. In rural india mothers carry their babies around the fire clockwise on holi as agnis rememberance.
The virtue of love: Hindus aim to follow bhakti. showing love or devotion to deities or others. through prashad or making charitable donations to gain punya. “One should attainwealth with hundreds of hands but should distrtibute it with thousands of hands”
How does the festival confirm and strengthen faith? Good overcoming evil, benevolence of Gods, reminds aims in life to help others
Good overcoming evil:story of holika shows how if you worship deities, you will recieve areas you need. it meant that the King’s son overcame the powers of holika because she used them for evil. Following good hindu practices can help you navigate difficulty in your life. removes social barriers and class divide.
Benevolence of Gods:Story of holika shows the benevolence of vishnu for looking after prahlada. Holi reminds people that those who love Brahman will be saved.
Reminds devotees of aim in life to help others:Most important aspect is worship of God which can be fulfilled in many ways e.g darshan. by puja deities will help you with what you need. also brings community together through anna dana and leaving an extra plate.
What is the story which forms the background to the festival of Durga Puja?
Durga Puja celebrates Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura (Buffalo demon), who terrorized the gods after receiving a blessing from Shiva that only a woman could kill him. The gods combined their powers to create Durga, granting her ten arms and divine weapons—Shiva’s trident, Vishnu’s disk, and Agni’s spear—to defeat Mahishasura.
The festival also honors the Pandavas from the Mahabharata, brothers who reclaimed hidden weapons after exile and worshipped the Sharmi tree before winning their battle.
Additionally, some believe Rama sought Durga’s power to rescue Sita from the demon in the Ramayana.
Describe qualities of Goddess Durga
- Durga in sanskrit means a fort or Durgatinashini translating to the one who eliminates sufferings
- Many arms represent 10/8 directions in Hinduism
- Triyambake three eyed goddess left eye desire (the moon) right eye action (the sun) and central eye knowledge (fire)
- vehicle lion/tiger master of power,will determination
- Conch shell symbolises om holding onto god in sound form
- bow and arrow control of kinetic and potential
- thunderboly signifies firmness
- not fully bloomed lotus- continous evolutipn of spiritual quality amidst lust and greed
- discus entire world is subserviant to durga
- sword symbolises knowledge
- trident inactivity activity non activity
Quotes for Durga Puja and meanings
“Durga Puja is the greatest
Hindu festival in which God is
Guin) adored as Mother.” (Madhuri The quotation means
Hindus worship Durga as mother.
“I am the Father of this Universe. I am
the Mother of this universe, and the
Creator of all.” Bhagavad Gita
The quotation means that
Brahman should also be worshipped for his motherly qualities- this can
be in the form of Durga.
What are the roles of the main characters in that story?
- The demon Mahishasura shows that you should not use your powers for evil.
- The tri murti shows that if you come together as a community, you can
achieve and overcome obstacles. - Durga shows that having femininity doesn’t mean you’re incapable of doing what you want.
- The Pandava brothers show that if you worship; nothing is impossible
What is the spiritual significance of the following events? Thanksgiving and Helping others
*Thanksgiving- Pray to Durga to thank for protection.The community is also thankful for all the wonderful things in nature.
*Helping others- in the story the Durga helped the people be saved from the evil demon buffalo. Through the story Hindus can learn how to be better people and achieve their dharma. In the Ramayana story it also shows the role of men and woman in Hindu society. The quotation means that you should worship the female power of shaki. Durga puja is the only festival that worships female shakti.
What is the importance of avatars —Durga as divine mother?
Durga represents divine mother and the power of shakti or cosmic energy. She is the energy aspect of Shiva and cares for her children. She gives maternal prosperity and spiritual freedom.
Worship of Durga as mother goddess. Durga puja is the greatest Hindu festivals were God is adored as Mother. “Some goddesses are always portrayed in isolation and these are the forms believed to be the closest representations of shakti a good example of this is Durga. Jaminson
Durga Puja starts on the first and ends on the tenth day of the bright half of Aswin (September-October) This is because the mother of Durga who was the wife of the King of the Himalayas wanted to see her daughter. Durga was only permitted by Shiva to visit her mother for nine days a year. The festival of Durga marks her brief visit an ends with the Vijaya Dasami Day, when Durga leaves for her return to Mount Kalias, her image is worshipped for nine days then cast into water. The tenth day is called Dussera. Processions occur in streets and villages.
How does the festival confirm and strengthen faith? Good overcoming evil, importance of prayer and worship, reminds devotees of aims in life
*Good overcoming evil.
In the story of Mahishasura, the demon used his powers irresponsibly and had to face the consequences of his actions. Here, the good Gods overcame the evil demon and won. Durga also shows the female shakti and demonstrates the power that women hold. Durga killing Ravanna.
Importance of prayer and worship
* At Durga puja, Hindus would focus their worship and prayer towards nature and the crops. This is similar to the motherly nature of Durga. They often plant barley and offer it as prashad because it smells nice. Make shrines of durga place in water pray dor girls last day
Reminds devotees of aims and duties in life
* Worship and prayer are important to a Hindu because they can receive grace through darshan or Prashad. This will ultimately help them on their journey to Moksha. Reminds Hindus to maintain Shakti celebrates women’s role in puja.
What is the role of the community of believers in ensuring the traditions of the
festival are maintained?
The festival also happens over 10 days and encourages deep puja and many rituals. The role of varnashramadharma also plays a role
in ensuring the traditions survive; men and women, dependent on ashrama and varna, must perform certain dharma to gain karma.
Festivals also create unity in communities; people come together to celebrate important times of the year to affirm their faith and
develop what they already know.
● Use traditional scriptures and hymns during certain parts of the ceremony.
● Worship 9 girls and wash their feet- they represent the nine forms of durga
● People will send messages to each other wishing a happy Durga Puja
