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Place of Worship/
Worship
A temple, or a mandir, is a Hindu place of worship.
It is a building where Hindus go to pray and worship
their gods. Many temples are dedicated to Vishnu,
Shiva, or Krishna, some of the most popular Hindu
gods. Hinduism does not require people to gather as
a community in a place of worship. Men and women
might go to a temple during a festival or on set holy days
throughout the year. In Hinduism, worship takes place
mainly in the home.
The Temple
Worship in the temple is similar to worship in the
home.
Inside a specially built temple is a large hall with pillars
along both sides. There is no seating, but a carpet
covers the floor from wall to wall. The focus point of
this open space is the Garbagriha, the shrine room
containing the statue of a god or goddess. There is a
canopy over the Garbagriha. A number of steps lead
up to the shrine from the floor area below. A Hindu
priest is in charge of the shrine. He gets everything
ready for puja in the temple. He ‘dresses’ the statue in
colourful robes and garlands of flowers.
A shrine to the god Ganesha in the home.
Worship in the home
Every family has a shrine to their favourite god in a
prominent place in their home. The shrine can be quite
plain, or can be decorated in an elaborate manner. The
centrepiece of every shrine is a statue or an image of the
god or goddess.
At puja (worship) each morning , the family light a
small lamp, ring a little bell, burn incense, make an
offering of flowers or fruit, and say the daily prayer.
The sacred word Om or Aum is chanted over and over
again. The household shrine contains objects which
appeal to the five senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell,
and touch. This shows that every aspect of the person
is involved in puja.
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A Brahmin priest preparing a Temple shrine for worship.
When people arrive at the temple, they remove their
shoes as a sign of respect for a sacred place. Everyone
sits crosslegged on the floor facing the shrine. Families
may sit together, or men and women may sit across
from each other.
© Alpha Press Ltd.
Section C: Foundations of Religion - Hinduism
Pictures of Hindu gods on a temple ceiling.
Worship in the Temple
The cow is sacred
A bell rings, this signals the beginning of puja. A lamp
is lit and incense is burned. Hindus believe the scent
of incense is pleasing to the gods. Offerings of fruit
and sweets are made to the gods. These are symbols
of goodness and kindness and are to be given with
a good heart. The priest says prayers and blessings
over the offerings. The food is later shared among the
worshippers to distribute the blessings. A part of the
Vedas is read and people chant verses from sacred
texts. The sacred flame burns brightly as the chanting
continues. The priest waves the sacred flame in a
circle before the statues of the gods. Then the flame is
passed among the worshippers as a sign of blessing.
In India, the cow is regarded as
sacred and worshipped for its
life giving qualities. It is a gentle
animal that provides milk for food,
hide for leather goods,
and dung for fuel. Hindus often
decorate cows with garlands of
flowers, paint their bodies, and
anoint their heads with oil.
Brahman
Hindus visit the temple to worship the gods and
goddesses. Each statue points to a different aspect
of the supreme Brahman. When Hindus pray and
present offerings at home or in the temple they are not
worshipping the actual statues, they are worshipping
that part of Brahman that the statues represent.
Questions
1. Name two places where
Hindu worship takes place.
2. When Hindus perform puja what are they
doing?
3. What is the role of a priest in a Hindu temple?
4. List the important features of either:
a. a household shrine.
b. a Hindu temple.
5. Describe the different elements of worship in
a Hindu temple.
Section C: Foundations of Religion - Hinduism
© Alpha Press Ltd.
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