Theme 4 (Religious Practices that Shape Religious Identity) Flashcards
How is Puja performed within the home?
- conducted by most senior woman (unless on her period as she is seen as impure)
- purity is v important (bathe before worship)
- shrine in cleanest room of house
- murtis treated with great respect (washed, clothed & offerings made)
- arti lamps key part (passed around to receive blessings)
Examples of some of devotional acts of puja
+ bell is rung to awaken deity
+ feet of murti washed
+ eyes & heart of the murti are touched with a blade of grass dipped in ghee
+ hymns and mantras said
Why is puja performed in the home important?
- passes on traditions of the family
- promotes peace & harmony in house
- allows for blessings
- allows focus outside of materialism
- helps them feel spiritually elevated
- shows loving devotion to Brahman
- enables personal relationship w God
How many steps of puja are there?
+ examples of these & their meanings
16 steps
+ dress murti in colourful clothing
+ smear powder on murti & family (represents denomination)
+ avoid eating at least one hour before ( will eat prashad after deity have blessed it)
+ place in pots & on metal tray (purest material)
How is puja performed in the Mandir?
- daily services led by Brahmin priests
- recite Vedas to worshippers
- Temples appeal to the senses-colours, sounds and smells
- Temples have a murti, a canopy over the deity to honour it & a priest to care for it and give each worshipper prasad
Examples of features of puja in the Mandir
+ men and women sometimes separated
+ sacred fire lit & pieces of ghee, wood & camphor burnt
+ walk around shrine singing, dancing & chanting
+ Havan & Arti ceremonies
+ offerings made e.g fruit & milk
+ Garbagriha (inner sanctuary of the temple which can only be entered by a Brahmin)
How is puja performed in the Mandir important?
- can focus on God without distraction
- safeguard Hindu tradition & culture
- hub for Hindu community
- way to feel closer to the deity (seen as visiting deity’s home)
- visited as part of pilgrimage & festivals
- further offerings can be made
- best place to receive Darshan
Why is puja important for developing a relationship between the devotee and the deities?
+ relationship is very intimate & personal
+ can be expressed in a variety of ways
+ individual choice (scripture guides)
+ some branches of Hinduism are hugely focused on devotional worship e.g Vaishnaivas
+ allows Hindus to perform seva (service)
What is Darshan?
+ why do Hindus perform it during puja?
Darsana=sight/vision
- involves staring into eyes of the deity to receive blessings
- must follow personal hygiene practices
- may sing hymns or mantras
- may touch feet or kiss murti
+ opens the heart and gives peace, blessings and shakti
+ entire focus is on deity
+ allows Hindus to be seen by deity
+ provides spiritual fulfillment & unconditional love
+ teaches to look up to what is above us
What is circumambulation?
+ why do Hindus perform it during puja?
Devotees walk around the central chamber of the shrine (garbha griha) keeping it on their right at all times (clockwise direction) as the deity is always righteous
+ reminds Hindus to lead a good life on the right path
+ shows Brahman is the centre of all & all thoughts and actions should be centred on him
+ removes sin
+ complete focus on deity
What is Prashad? (examples?)
+ why do Hindus accept it during puja?
offerings of food & water which Hindus give to the deity they are worshipping (e.g sweet rice, fruits, milk & coconut)
+ shows devotee offering heart to God
+ believes deity returns some (consecrated)
+ seen as a way to purify body, mind & spirit
Merits & Failings of Personal Worship
+ more intimate & personal
+ allows for worship of personal deity
+ allows for closer connection to God
+ may suit Hindu best
- no structure
- may lack motivation
- may lack support
Merits & Failings of Congregational Worship
+ led by priest
+ brings community together
+ away from everyday stresses
+ can be more enjoyable
+ can feel closer to deity
- not personal
- distractions
- time constraints
Puja Key Quotes
“may the divine foundation of eternal grace and joy enter your soul”
“Hindu temples are… designed for meetings between individual devotees and the deities” (Jamison)
“matter of experiencing the Deity and entering a personal reciprocal exchange with the Supreme Personality” (V.A Ponmelil)
“a leaf, a flower a fruit or even water with devotion”
“The Mandir generates devout faith in God (…) and guides the individual towards spirituality” (Hinduismtoday.com)
What do Hindu festivals often focus on celebrating?
-birth, life and achievements of a Hindu saint
-a key event in the life of a deity
- seasonal celebrations of life & nature
-family relationships and the cycle of human life
Why do Hindu festivals perform an important part in Hinduism?
+ create a sense of community
+ remind Hindus of duties & aims
+ confirm & strengthen faith
+ allow for spiritual focus
+ joyful & happy occasions
+ way of celebrating key events/times
What are the 2 origin stories of the festival of Holi?
+ meanings & how each story linked to part of the festival
1) Legend of Prahlad & Holika
2) Legend of Krishna & Radha
+ 1) represents power of good over evil &
-bonfire is lit to signify burning of Holika
+ 2) mischievous nature of Holi & loving relationship between husband & wife
- throwing of paint
What is the spiritual significance of:
1) the blessing of babies by Agni?
2) the God of Fire (Agni)?
1) + bonfire known as Holika honours Agni
+ mothers will then carry their babies clockwise around the fire to mark their respect to Agni
+ this is often done five times so the child can receive his protection and blessings
2) - fire sacrifices happen via him
- deity of one of the 5 elements
- messenger between humans & deities
- first golden wheat offered to him during Holi to show gratitude for good harvest
How is the virtue of love spiritually significant during Holi?
+ throwing of coloured powder & water symbolises love & friendship
+ promotes equality and the abandonment of the traditional caste system
+ honours Krishna’s loving nature
+ reminds Hindus to apply God-given virtues to others (peace & love)
+ lots of singing & dancing as a community
How does Holi confirm & strengthen the Hindu faith in good over evil?
- fire celebrates downfall of Holika and goodness of Prahlad
- confirms God has the ultimate power to defeat evil
- strengthens belief that truth & honesty can fight against evil
- revitalises bonds & promotes social cohesion
How does Holi confirm & strengthen the Hindu faith in the benevolence of the gods?
+ celebrates Krishna’s love for Radha
+ Vishnu showed benevolence to Prahlad so he would be saved from the fire
+ reminds Hindus that by showing Bhakti to their deities they will be saved & those who harm God’s devotees will suffer
How does Holi remind Hindus of their duties & aims in life?
+ quote
- means sacrifice & allows people to get rid of impurities & focus on virtues
- encourages love towards others
- reminder to help needy as part of SD
- reminder to keep God in heart & mind
+ “be friendly and compassionate…hate not any being”
What are the 3 pillars of Hinduism?
+ what do believers adhering to these lead to?
Worship
Scripture
Guru-disciple tradition
+ the traditions associated with various festivals are maintained
How do Hindus ensure traditions of festivals are maintained?
- what is upholding traditions of festivals seen as?
+ visit temple regularly & celebrate each festival here in accordance w tradition
+ teach children stories behind festivals & include them in the practices (part of VSD)
+ gurus looks after spiritual practices & progression of devotees in community
+ teach respect of scripture’s traditions
- seva (selfless action) & a way for Hindus to get closer to God
Holi Key Quotes
” God became Krishna and Radha - Love flows in thousands of coils” (Vivekananda)
“Holi … reminds of the divine and the eternal love of Krishna and Radha” (Anonymous)
“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of life” (Gustav Mahler)
“Festivals, pilgrimage and temple worship are the faith armour of Hindus” (Prof Shiva Bajpai)
Features of Durga
Discus: world is under her command & weapon to destroy evil
Sword: knowledge
Lotus: not fully bloomed to symbolise certainty but not finality of success & continual evolution of the spiritual quality of devotees among world of lust and greed
3 eyes: left= desire (moon), right= action (sun) & centre=knowledge (fire)
Many arms: protects devotees in all directions
Bow & arrow: control over energy
Tiger/lion: master over power, will & determination
Conch shell: om sound
Name: ‘Durga’= fort & ‘Durgatashini’= the one who eliminates suffering
What is Durga Puja (Navaratri)?
+ how many times a year is it celebrated and why?
Hindu festivals of nights
Celebrates deity Durga’s brief 9 day annual visit to see her mother as this was all her husband Shiva would permit & Durga’s 9 night defeat of the demon buffalo
+ (twice a year)
- these are the times of the most seasonal change
- They believe the divine power must be thanked for maintaining the correct balance of the universe & giving us power to maintain our physical and mental balance.
Examples of practices performed during Durga Puja
+ build a shrine to Durga
+ fasting
+ prayers
+ Thanksgiving ceremonies
+ procession
+ barley seed down into mud and on the tenth day are pulled out and given to the devotee as a blessing from God
+ married women return home to their mothers
What are the 2 background stories to Durga Puja?
+ what happened in the Mahishasura Story?
1) Ramayana Story
2) Mahishasura Story
+ Mahishura (demon king) went on a reign of terror after being granted the power of only being able to be killed by a woman.
+ The Tri-murti created Durga. She was given powers & weapons from them and other deities and defeated M on the 10th day.
What does each character in the Mahishasura story show & what is the meaning of the story?
- tri-murti show that if you come together as a community, you can achieve and overcome obstacles
- Durga shows femininity can mean strength
- that you should not use your power for evil
What is the spiritual significance of____ during Durga Puja?
1) Thanksgiving?
2) Helping others?
1) Hindus show gratitude to Durga for her blessing of protection. She in honoured through shrines, prayers & offerings. Hindus also pray to 9 young girls.
2) Encouraged via the backstory. Durga was helped by being given powers & weapons by other deities. Durga also helped all of the deities and Hindus by slaying the demon.
- Durga also helped Rama in the Ramyana
What is the importance of Durga as divine mother?
- represents the divine mother & Shakti
- has supernatural power and will use this to show love and care for her children and protect them
- embodiment of virtues including love, wealth and beauty
- worshipping her provides Hindus with spiritual freedom and material prosperity
What is the importance of Durga’s avatars & how is this celebrated?
+ Days 1-3 celebrate Durga’s power to destroy vices, impurities and defects
+ Days 4-6 celebrate her as Lakshmi (goddess of wealth)
+ Days 7-9 celebrate her as Saraswati (goddess of wisdom)
The blessings of all of these combined allows for a successful life for Hindus
+ at festival end 9 young girls are worshipped as they symbolise 9 forms of Durga
How does Durga Puja confirm & strengthen Hindu faith in good overcoming evil?
+ quote
-Both origin stories highlight the power of good over evil.
-Some Hindus refer to Durga as Durgotinashini (destroyer of evil and protector of devotees)
- Reminds of importance of controlling Shakti
+ “I am the Mother of this universe (…) I am the highest to be known”
How does Durga Puja remind Hindus of the importance of worship & prayer?
+ quote
- seen as extremely significant as Durga is worshipped as the mother goddess because she represents Shakti
- Hindus pray for protection & honour her through shrines and prashad
- puja orientated towards crops & nature
+ “To bestow upon man all wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge(…) and all other potent powers” (Swami Sivananda)
How does Durga Puja remind Hindus of their duties & aims in life?
+ which image shows this?
- image of Durga reminds that in order to become divine, desires for material possessions must be kept under control
- worship can help to rid of desires
- reminds Hindus that they must lead a life free from impurity, sin and weakness
- reminds of power of Brahman & women
- reminds of controlling Shakti and maintaining community
+ popular image of Durga standing on the demon
Durga Puja Key Quotes
“Embodying their collective energy (Shakti), she is both derivative from the male divinities and the true source of their inner power” (Encyclopedia Britannica)
“Durga Puja is the greatest Hindu festival in which God is adored as Mother” (Madhuri Guin)
“Everyone is blessed with her loving mercy and is protected by her” (Swami Sivananda)
“Om… you give life, Om the sun with his rays”
