Hinduism: Approaching Deity

Question 1

What is Havan or Homa?

Answer 1

• A ritual burning of offerings such as grains, ghee, and sugar in a consecrated fire
• Prayers and mantras are chanted
• A way of purging Karma
• The devotee and their environment becomes purified, and negative energy is dispelled
• The devotee’s chakra becomes re-energised
• Brings peace, prosperity, good health and success

Question 2

What is Puja?

Answer 2

• Most common form of worship
• Expressing devotion to a god or spirit through invocations, prayers, songs and rituals
• Food is offered at the shrine for the gods to bless
• Honouring and communicating with the gods through nature, paintings, sculptures etc.

Question 3

What is meditation?

Answer 3

• A way to become one with your Atman
• Brihadaranyaka Upanishad:
  “Having become calm and concentrated, one perceives the self within oneself”
• Many different types of meditation that all involve concentrating on something

Question 4

What is Japa?

Answer 4

• Personal prayer
• Involves repeating a mantra or sacred name with concentration and devotion
• This awakens a deity

Question 5

What is Bhajan or Kirtan?

Answer 5

• Devotional song
• Form of communal worship
• Kirtan is call and response

Question 6

What is Darshan?

Answer 6

• Ceremonial worship
• Involves first cleaning yourself, buying new clothes, beautifying yourself with kumkum powder and henna
• Feeling a connection and gaining spiritual fulfilment through looking at an image of a deity, source of natural beauty, or living saint

Question 7

Why are temples important?

Answer 7

• They are places to worship Gods
• Usually associated with one sect (in India)
• All types of Hindus are allowed to worship
• Contain Murti
• Priests prostrate themselves in front of the Murti and lead the worship

Question 8

Why are shrines important?

Answer 8

Offerings may be made to gods, who may then bless them

Question 9

Why is the outdoors important?

Answer 9

• Close to nature
• Exposed to the elements
• Experiencing the world as it really is
• Shiva is associated with the outdoors and wild animals/often depicted wearing a leopard skin

Question 10

Why are hills important?

Answer 10

• Higher up - closer to God
• The Himalayas cut India off from the rest of the world
• Gods are believed to live in the hills
• The sources of many rivers, e.g. Ganges and Indus, are in the hills

Question 11

Why are rivers important?

Answer 11

• Hindus believe water is the source of life
• A confluence, where two rivers meet, is very sacred
• Ganges starts in the Himalayas - hills are also sacred
• Many people have their ashes scattered in rivers as it is seen to be purifying of karma - they believe it is a direct route to Moksha

Question 12

Why are sites of pilgrimage important?

Answer 12

They are often in sacred places

Question 13

What are the different types of holy men in Hinduism?

Answer 13

• Gurus (those who dispel spiritual darkness)
• Sadhus (medicants)
• Swamis (spiritual masters)
• Yogis (those who practice yoga)

Question 14

What is the purpose of pilgrimage?

Answer 14

Pilgrimage is optional, but it serves to bring Bhakti devotionists closer to Moksha.

Question 15

Why is Varanasi a site of pilgrimage?

Answer 15

• It is where the River Varuna and the River Asi flow into the River Ganges
• The River Ganges is the holiest river in Hinduism
• Where rivers meet is a highly spiritual place, as multiple sources of life meet