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7/5/2018 Puja - 18.SU.REL.1111.C50 EASTERN RELIGIONS

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Hin du Wo rsh ip (P u ja)

Puja is worship. It can be done at home, in the temple, at local outdoor shrines,

in the car, or at places of Pilgrimage. Basically, for Hindus, worship can happen

anywhere and is not con�ned to just within walls of a temple.

Puja is extremely multi-sensory and based on reciprocity between the

worshiper and the divine. All of the senses - visual, auditory, taste, touch, and

smell - are an integral part of worship because Hindus believe we perceive the

sacred through sensory ways.

Incense, food, water, dance, chanting, prayer, music, drums, scripture reading -

these are just some of the many vibrant elements of puja.

Shiva Puja - View this You Tube video on if you haven't watched it already in the deities section.

Ico n s

Images or Statues are often used to represent the gods. They are considered

receptacles of Divine Energy.

Worshipers know that the image is not the whole manifestation of God

because God pervades everything, but the image simply is a center or focal

point for our prayer. In other words, Hindus do not see this as idol worship,

but as a focus or representation of the god, which is ultimately Brahman.

Just as my southern Baptist grandmother did not believe the image of Jesus

hanging in her hallway was actually Jesus, but a reminder/representation of

Christianity, Hindus do not believe an icon of Shiva or Durga is actually the

deity itself.

Any image or icon is just a representation because we humans tend to like something tangible to look at and

focus on during devotion.

Elements of Puja

There are many aspects of Puja, including the following:

Darshan is the ritual Seeing of the Divine, which often entails intense feelings and emotions. Pentecostal

Christians may call this getting "�lled with the spirit."

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G84pghb0S4

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By seeing and being seen by the god/goddess the worshiper feels united

with that power. Deities are often adorned and then revealed from

behind a curtain during puja.

As you'll see, Darshan is a major part of both Hindu and Hare Krishna

worship.

Attending to the Deity is a

common aspect of puja as well.

The statues or icons are

welcomed, bathed, cleansed,

clothed, adorned, decorated and

cared for by the priests on a

daily basis.

They are carefully and lovingly

attended to and are also taken

out of the temple and paraded

through the streets or to the river for special festivals or processions.

Offerings of �owers, food, water, milk, ghee (butter), incense, songs, chants, sandalwood, etc. are given to the

deity.

The icon is often greeted with the Namaste and the worshiper usually walks around it clockwise with his or

her right side facing the statue. Shoes are almost always taken off before encountering the statue as well.

Arati is the waving of a light or lamp during puja. This can be as simple

as a single candle �ame or a very elaborate tiered lamp that is full of

light.

Arati symbolizes the light of Atman within us all. It also calls us back to

one of the most ancient gods, Agni, the god of �re that even the early

Aryans worshipped.

Kirtan is devotional worship through singing, music, dancing, chanting, etc. Kirtan is a blessing experienced

through sound and body and can be a very vibrant and stimulating kind of worship.

Kirtan takes on many forms, but usually includes gongs, drums, chants, the harmonium (a small organ type

instrument played on the �oor), and the sitar. You've heard the harmonium in several of the audio clips so far.

7/5/2018 Puja - 18.SU.REL.1111.C50 EASTERN RELIGIONS

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Think of Christian churches worshipping through a full gospel choir or

dancing in the aisles - this is kirtan. Hare Krishnas in particular love to

worship through Kirtan.

Durga Kirtan - If you didn't already view this in your deities section, watch this video.

Prasad is a bit like a Hindu communion. It is food offered to the deity during the service. Afterwards, the

blessed food is distributed to the worshipers to eat as a tangible form of divine grace.

Temples

Hindu temples are considered a Seat of the God. They are sacred

architecture and traditionally are dedicated to one central deity. So, in

one village, you may have a Shaivite temple, a Vaishnavite temple, a

temple to Kali, one to Krishna and perhaps one just to the speci�c

lingam characteristic of Shiva.

In America, since there is a smaller Hindu population, you usually will

have one temple that houses many different deities. Likewise, with less

than a 1% Christian population in India, you will �nd one church that

accommodates all Christian faiths. In India, you will not �nd a street full of Catholics, Lutherans, Nazarenes,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thgh2cVCLeE

7/5/2018 Puja - 18.SU.REL.1111.C50 EASTERN RELIGIONS

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Baptists, Methodists, etc. Instead, you will �nd a single Christian church.

Temples are where the divine meets the physical and where humans are said to receive special divine

assistance. Both public and private devotion happens here. Temple priests may lead chants or services or

individuals can come worship pray on their own.

At Hindu temples, you will usually be asked to remove your shoes

because it is sacred space. You should always sit lower than the deities and

take any offerings the priest may give you with your right hand.

If you sit on the �oor, make sure you do not sit with the soles of your feet

pointing outward towards the statues or priest because this is very

offensive.

If you plan on going to the Hindu temple for your religious service report,

make sure to go to their website (daytontemple.org) and read your RSR

Etiquette guide to learn about cultural differences and what different things happen during the service.

Home Altars

Home Altars play a vital role in the everyday life of a Hindu. Home Puja occurs at small shrines in the home.

Sometimes, they are shrines on top of bookshelves or tables. Other times, a Hindu family may have a whole

room dedicated to deity (often an older child's room who has moved out).

There, they will make offerings of �owers, prayers and food. If you visit a Hindu home, you will most likely

remove your shoes at the door, just like at the temple.

7/5/2018 Puja - 18.SU.REL.1111.C50 EASTERN RELIGIONS

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Street Altars

Puja can also be done in the streets of India. In the nooks and crannies of architecture, alleyways and rivers,

you will �nd makeshift altars and offerings to statues. As you've learned throughout this lesson, religion is

everywhere in India, both overtly and hidden.

Here is a street altar you may �nd interesting! Look closely - it is a giant facebook page draped onto a wall! It's

a devotional page to Saraswati and the Goddess. So, as you can see, an altar can be made out of just about

anything!

7/5/2018 Puja - 18.SU.REL.1111.C50 EASTERN RELIGIONS

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Festivals/Ho lidays

Besides individual puja, community puja is also very important. There are hundreds of different holidays

(holy days) that vary according to region, season, caste and geography in which Hindus will celebrate together.

We are going to look at two major holidays in this lesson.

Divali

Divali (sometimes pronounced Diwali

or Divwali) is the Fall Festival of

Lights . During this holiday, candles are

lit all around the home and business.

"Christmas" lights are also utilized to

decorate the house.

Lamps symbolize prosperity and many

will light �reworks, just like Fourth of

July. Houses are cleaned, much like a spring cleaning (but in autumn) which

symbolizes a renewal of life.

This is an especially important holiday for merchants because it bids good fortune to the beginning of a new

business year. It also celebrates the triumph of good over evil and truth over ignorance.

Gifts and sweets are exchanged and families celebrate together at the temple. Lakshmi is the goddess

associated with this holiday because she is the goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. Often, Hindus will say

part of the reason for cleaning your house is to get it ready to welcome the goddess, Laskhmi, inside!

7/5/2018 Puja - 18.SU.REL.1111.C50 EASTERN RELIGIONS

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Diwali Video Watch this short video to see the celebration in action! It will really give you a sense of the joy

of this holiday!

Holi

Holi is the Spring Festival of

Colors . It is a very joyful and

festive holiday. It is one of the