Worship

Question 0

What might be found in the shrine room?

Answer 0

Pictures/images, water from the River Ganges, kum-kum powder, tumeric powder, sandlewood paste, flowers, small bell, arti lamp, small ghee lamp, incense, food offerings

Question 1

What is puja?

Answer 1

The closest word to ‘worship’. Paying respects/homage to God in hope for God’s blessing. It is an individual act of devotion, and it takes place in the shrine room every morning and evening

Question 2

Explain the actions of the puja

Answer 2

1. Clean + dress - respect
2. Prayers + bell - invite
3. Water + seat - welcome
4. Panchamrit bath + sacred thread
5. Spices + rice - calm + relaxed
6. Flowers at God’s feet - rid of desires,devotion
7. Incense - fragrant, rid of desires
8. ghee lamp lit + waved
9. Food offered - thank for bounty
10. Arti - 5 elements, blessing, light, knowledge

Question 3

Explain the actions of arti

Answer 3

A form of worship using lights. The arti lamp is lit and rotated, the bell is rung, and hands are passed over the flame + head. This represents the 5 elements of earth (earth, air, wind, water, fire), accepting light + blessing, destroying the darkness of ignorance and receiving light of knowledge

Question 4

What is the Gayatri Mantra?

Answer 4

A chanted prayer praising God, repeated over and over again, and used between other prayers

Question 5

What are bhajans?

Answer 5

Hymns sung as part of worship at home or in a temple

Question 6

What is a Havan?

Answer 6

A sacred fire - blessed by a priest, which forms a centre-piece of worship. Offerings of rice and ghee are made to the fire (Agni). This is sometimes used at home

Question 7

Explain the actions of worship in the temple

Answer 7

1. Take off shoes - respect
2. Bell - gain attention
3. Offerings - blessed food = Prashaad
4. Darshan - ongoing, seeing image, most important
5. Arti - music, lamp, prayers, money
6. Singing - devotion
7. Prashaad + water

Question 8

What is the Garbha-Griha?

Answer 8

Centre focus, inner sanctum where image (murti) of deity is, ‘womb house’

Question 9

What is the Shikhara?

Answer 9

Tower-like structure/spire directly above Garbha-Griha, symbolises sacredness of vimana, represents liberation

Question 10

What is the Vimana?

Answer 10

Whole of the inner shrine

Question 11

What is the Mandapa?

Answer 11

Hallway with a roof and pillars, where people sit

Question 12

What is the Porch?

Answer 12

Entrance hall

Question 13

What is the basic shape of a mandir?

Answer 13

Like a mountain, providing the most beautiful palace for the Gods (divine royalty)

Question 14

What is the Antarala?

Answer 14

The bit between the main shrine and the mandapa - the steps