Worship Flashcards
to be a feminist <3
What was the earliest form of Hindu worship like?
worship took form in sacrificial offerings
Where can one perform puja?
Anywhere!
At home, in a temple, outside
What is bhakti
devotion
What is prasad
food which is offered to god
What three powders are used in home puja and what do they represent (3)
kumkum - symbolises prosperity, well being and good health
haldi - considered to be purifying and cleaning
panchamrit
Sandalwood - something
what is padya
offering the murtis water to wash their feet
what is aghya
giving food offerings
What is a mantra
A short verse from the Vedas, or God’s name repeated
What does garhbargiha mean?
womb house, because it has no windows, so its dark, like a womb!?
What does the garhbargriha stand for?
our soul, it has god inside it
What is around the garhbargiha?
The circumbulatory
What do you do in the circumbulatory?
Walk clockwise around the garhbagriha as a sign of worship, and a mini pilgrimage, on the way you may pray to other little shrines.
Describe a northern temple
It has a mandapa where you come in, theres a circumbulatory around the garbhagriha. it also has a shikara, which is the dome at the top of the temple, this is usually how northern temples are identified.
Describe a southern temple
its basically a series of courtyard circling the garbagriha
What is the purpose of all the courtyards in a southern temple
so that people can on a mini pilgrimage to the main shrine, on the way they may worship other shrines.
whats a gopurum
gates in a southern temple
since you can go on a pilgrimage to a temple, what does this make temples?
a tirtha - a sacred place to which you journey on a pilgrimage
Which way should you approach the courtyards in a southern temple
EAST
which way should you go in a circulamatory
clockwise
What are the domes called in a southern temple
Vamanams
Why are murtis different in temples
They are consecrated by Brahmins, which brings God’s spirit into it.
What is darsan
a glimpse of god
seeing god through the eyes of the murti.
Why would someone go to a temple?(3)
To take darsan from the murtis
To watch a priest do puja
To cleanse and strengthen your atman
What are the uses of an english temple
Bring the local Hindus together
Can offer language and religion classes to children
Why would temples not be important in Hinduism? (3)
Can do home puja
Brahman is meant to be everywhere so no need for a specific building
Brahmins can visit your home for special pujas
Why would brahmin visit your home? (2)
To bless a new house or baby
To perform special ceremonies, like samskaras
Why are temple important in Hinduism? (4)
Can take darsan from the murtis
Can watch priests do puja
Its the dwelling place of God
Shows even more Bhakti
What do Priests do in temples? (5)
Concerned with the upkeep of the temple Doing puja, feeding, clothing, bathing the murtis Conducting special ceremonies Consecrate new murtis Blessing decotees
Where can a shrine be?
Anywhere, but its usually in the kitchen because its meant to be the purest place
Why do people do puja? (5)
Good karma To thank God Ask for help Ask for forgiveness receive blessings
What prayer is puja finished with?
Shanti-path
What is the purpose of Divali?
To honor the return of Rama and Sita
To invite Lakshmi into their clean homes
What is a shikara?
The dome on a nothern temple
What are Havans and Homas?
Special fire ceremonies from Vedic timez for special occasions like a wedding or a blessing
What is the vernacular?
Your spoken language
Why go to an Asram?
Its a place to find inner peace and to concentrate on worship and mediation.
How big is Brahman’s willy?
Surprisingly small actually
What is the quote from the bhagavad gita about offerings?
‘If anyone offers me with devotion,
a leaf, flower, fruit, or water,
I accept that gift offered to me with devotion
From the giver who gives himself.’
A lamp used in home puja
Arti lamp
A form of worship including the waving of lamp infront of a murti
Arti
What is a symbol of good fortune often found in a hindu’s shrine?
swastika
What is used in home puja to sweeten the air
Incense / josticks
What happens to prasad after it has been offered to god?
Distributed to the rest if the family as it is now blessed as god’s left overs
Milk, yoghurt, sugar, honey and butter are known as what? What is this mixture used for?
Panchamrit
Offered to god
What are mala?
What are they used for?
Prayer beads
May be used to recite the many names of god
Bhajan
Devotional songs or prayers sung to god during puja
Mantra
Short verses from the vedas or the name of god repeated
Nam japa
Repetition of gods name during puja
Shanti path
Special prayer at the end of puja to wish for worldwide peace
Give two examples of fire rituals
Havan
Homa
Describe home blessing as a form of public puja(8)
A katha is performed (reading the scriptures in sanskrit)
Wife smears kitchen in cow poop
She then makes prasad
Priest makes madala on the floor of the kitchen
The scriptures are then read
Prasad is offered to all of the visitors
Left overs are thrown in to a nearby stream
Importance of puja in the home
3 points
- Daily reminder and awareness presence of God in daily life
- Bringing God into the household’s daily routine
- Brings spiritual focus to daily life
Puja in the home is the basis of the hindu way of life(4)
-Provides spiritual focus
-Puja shows respect for God which is the ultimate reality and the source of all aspects of the Hindu way of life
-Religious and spiritual practices have a high priority in the Hindu way of life.
-Puja is a means of reminding and reinforcing commitment to the values and
traditions of being a Hindu.
Puja in the home is not the basis of the hindu way of life
4 points
-The basis of the Hindu way of life is dharma which is expressed in the duties
of caste and stage of life.
-Not all Hindus practice puja in the home
-Home puja is often only performed by the woman of the house
-Puja is a part of this rather than the centre of the Hindu way of life
The name of a temple priest
Pujari
Role of a temple priest
6 points
- General upkeep of temple
- Caring for murtis
- Receiving gifts from devotees to God
- Consecrating nw murtis
- Blessing devotees with prasad, tilaks and holy water
- Special rituals (Havan/Homa)
Why are temples so special (3)
- Mandir considered to be holy
- link between human world and divine
- Helps worshipper to cross bridge from daily life to divine life.
Scared places for sakta practice
Sati - saktapithas, places where the cut up pieces of sari were dropped around India
Kali - Calcutta , kalis city
