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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. 8 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. 9