Hinduism Practices Flashcards
Why Hindus worship?
Some Hindu thinkers teach that atman, or the soul, is always one with Brahman. While some
Hindus think that the atman and Brahman always remain separate.
Hindu thinkers debate whether the atman achieves moksha by a person’s own efforts, or by
the grace, through Brahman or another deity.
Stories from Hindu tradition- Hindu worship
A king in South India failed to welcome a wise man so was turned into an elephant called
Gajendra as punishment.
When Gajendra was bathing in the lake, a crocodile attacked him. Gajendra remembered
a prayer to Vishnu and recited them. Vishnu came and saved him on his giant eagle,
Garuda, and took him straight back to vaikuntha, the spiritual realms.
Where Hindus worship
Hindu holy books teach about ways of finding and worshipping God. The Upanishads
recommend performing yoga and meditation. The Bhagavad Gita describes a path of
knowledge, following through reading holy books, and a path of action, followed through
exercise that focus the mind and heart on God.
All these types of worship can be performed at home, at a shrine or in any sacred space
outdoors. Hindus generally agree that the way a person worships is not as important as the
love and devotion in their heart when they worship.
Every village and town in India has at least one temple or mandir. The appearance of a
temple is intended to create a kind of heaven on Earth, where worshippers can be still and
find the e truth within themselves, that is , worship in the space of the heart. A highly
decorated temple is thought to drive off evil forces.
Inside the temple you would expect to find a murti (image of a deity) and a shrine
dedicated to that deity. You would also find side rooms for preparing offerings, and a
special room at the entrance for the guardian or vehicle of the deity
How Hindus worship
Bhakti means loving devotion to God. It is one of the four paths of yoga and uses the
emotions to reach union with God.
Puja
means ‘giving respect and honour’ Hindu worship, be it in the temple, a shrine at home,
in the open air is called puja. Prayers are said in front of the chosen deity, represented by the
murti, worshippers make offerings of flowers, fruit, rice and money.
Ceremonies
The main ceremony of worship is called arati. During puja, an arati lamp and arati tray will
usually be used. An arati tray will usually have representations of the four elements: earth,
fire, air and water. The lamp is always lit and passed round the deity with prayers and songs.
Then the flame is handed round on a tray so that worshippers can pass their hands over the
flame, and touch their eyes to receive the blessing of the deity.
Hindus will often touch or kiss the steps of a shrine or the feet of a deity, or offer a greeting as
a sign of respect and honour. This is known as darshan. They will sign hymns, known as bhajan
or kirtan and chant mantras. Japa is one way of chanting mantras, using a string of beads to
focus the mind.
Havan is a fire sacrifice that is performed on special occasions to the god Agni. It is a symbol
of the rituals of animal sacrifice in ancient Hindu scriptures and is often used in Hindu
marriages.
Personal deities
Bhagavan means a personal lord that Hindus worship to make the Supreme Being easier to
access and understand. They choose personal deities based on natural affection or
connections to their daily life.
Family murtis at home shrines are treated with great respect. They are washed, have their
clothes changed and are offered food as a sign of care. Photographs of loved ones who
have died are also put in the shrine. A bell is rung to tell the deity when worshippers are
ready.
Home shrines are the cleanest rooms in the house. Hindus worship at dawn – the sound of
God, OM, should be the first thing spoken each day.
The Swastika
The swastika is an ancient Hindu symbol of the sun and
prosperity. Today its crooked branches symbolises that the
human mind is unable to understand the truths about
Brahman. It also points in every direction, to show that God is
present in every place, form and life.
Festivals are generally considered to fall into four main categories, though many cover more than one aspect:
•Celebrating a key event in the life of a deity
•Celebrating the birth, life and achievements of a Hindu saint
•Seasonal celebrations of life and nature
•Joyful celebrations of family relationships and the cycle of human life.
Diwali
5 days
September/ October
Celebrates a key event in the life of a deity
The goddess Lakshmi - to bring prosperity, or the story of Rama and Sita - to mark the victory of light over darkness, and good over evil.
It is also the start of the Hindu New Year.
Houses are spring-cleaned and decorated to welcome Lakshmi, lights are lit to light the path to the home. Gifts and new clothes are bought and exchanged.
Lamps and fireworks are lit to show the victory of good over evil.
Holi
2 days
February/March
Celebrates a key event in the life of a deity
The victory of Prahlad and Vishnu over the demon Holika. It also remembers the story of Krishna and the milkmaids.
Fires are lit to remember the story of Prahlad being protected by Vishnu.
People wear old clothes and throw coloured paint to remember the fun that Krishna and the milkmaids have.
Everyone can join in and normal standards of behaviour are forgotten.
Karma Yoga
• This is the path of unselfish action by
doing the daily work and particularly
the duties of your stage in life and
caste, without the desire for reward
or selfish gain.
• Talent and fulfilling your own
potential for the good of society is
considered to be the path of karma
yoga.
• Gandhi, who worked tirelessly and
selflessly in campaigns for Indian
independence and the upliftment of
the untouchables, was seen as the
ideal karma yogi
Bhakti yoga
• Bhakti is loving devotion, so Hindus
who choose this path choose to
express their beliefs through a loving
relationship with a personal deity.
• Yogis following this path will sing and
chant God’s name.
• The yogi is surrendering to their chosen
deity and feels the experience of
complete peace and love of God. By
doing this they get refuge from God
and believe it will lead them to
moksha
Jnana Yoga
• Jnana is the path of knowledge and
understanding.
• This is achieved through deep
meditation and an experience of
oneness with the supreme spirit,
Brahman.
• Yogis following this path focus on the
limitations of this temporary life and
so instead focus on what is eternal.
• They believe that through this
understanding and knowledge, they
will gain true wisdom, knowledge and
happiness.
Astanga Yoga
• This is also known as ‘royal yoga’ and
is regarded by many Hindus as the
highest form of yoga as it is fulfillment
of all of the other three ways.
• This is a form of self-control over both
the senses and the mind.
• Raja yoga involves deep
contemplation of Brahman.
• When success is achieved, the yogi’s
personality is transformed and they
are freed from anger, greed, envy
and sadness
A guru is expected to possess four qualities. He must:
• Be well versed in the scriptures
• Know about Brahman
• Have overcome all human desires
• Be honest, sincere and trustworthy.
A sadhu
is a wandering holy man. They are often seen at Kumbh Mela, leading the
procession of pilgrims into the water.
A sannyasin
is a religious hermit who has reached the last stage of life. They give up all
possessions and contact with family, and own only a begging bowl, stick and prayer beads.
They are highly respected as an example of austerity, meditation and prayer.
A swami
master of the senses’. They are know for being highly knowledgeable about
the Hindu scriptures and belong to a religious order.
Mata Amritanandamyi (known as Amma)
is a holy teacher who travels the world showing
love by hugging people.
Sathya Sai Baba
was a popular modern guru
who had 15 million followers worldwide. He had
an ashram in India where thousands of Hindus
would wait daily in the hope of seeing him.
Hindus go on pilgrimage for the following reasons:
To make amends for something they have done wrong.
To strengthen their faith and become closer to God.
To show how committed they are to their religion or a particular deity.
To make a spiritual journey on behalf of someone unable to do it for themselves.
To ask for help or healing
To find out about a holy place.
Because members of their family have always gone on a particular place on pilgrimage
To say thank you for something good that has happened.
Pilgrimage is part of their dharma or religious duty.
Because pilgrimage is open to everyone and there are no division of age, class or
gender.
Pilgrims do some of the following on pilgrimage:
Make offerings to God
Circumambulator the temple
Say prayers
Chant mantras
Spend time in the presence of the deity
Leave ashes of a loved one
Wash in holy water
Collect samples of water/earth etc.
Buy and wear special clothes
Shave heads
Walk barefoot
Remain celibate
Focus on God
Hindus go to the following places on pilgrimage:
Varanasi is the point where two holy rivers meet, the Ganges and the Yumana rivers. It is
considered the ‘City of Lord Shiva’ It’s where many Hindus go to reflect on the temporal
nature of this life and the ultimate goal of Moksha. Varanasi is considered, ‘the Gateway to
Moksha’, and death in the city is believed to bring immediate salvation. The city is famous for
its ghats, where the deceased are cremated at the edge of the river.
Kumbh Mela is the site of the world’s largest pilgrimage. It takes place in four different sites,
every three years, with a large festival at Prayaga every twelve years. This is a very holy river
crossing, where the Ganges and Yamuna rivers meet the mythical river Saraswati.
The festival remembers the spilling of the nectar of immortality during a battle between gods
and demons. Therefore, bathing in the water here brings purification.
If pilgrims bathe in the Ganges on the day of the new moon, they are believed to be
released from the cycle of samsara. Pilgrims make offerings of garlands of marigolds by
dropping them in the river for Mother Ganges. They also offer water by scooping it from the
river and letting it fall back through their fingers. Traditionally, naked sadhus smeared in ashes
and wearing marigold garlands, lead the procession into the river.
As well as the festivities, the Kumbh Mela is about devotion and passion. Hindus do not forget
their duty to pray and receive special blessings
