Hindu LifestyleHindu Lifestyle

A Family ShrineA Family Shrine

Daily DutiesDaily Duties

Milestones Milestones

The Family ShrineThe Family Shrine Hindus keep a shrine in their Hindus keep a shrine in their

home, regardless of their caste home, regardless of their caste or economic status. or economic status.

These shrines, dedicated to a These shrines, dedicated to a particular god, vary in size. particular god, vary in size.

Some families can afford to Some families can afford to leave aside an entire room while leave aside an entire room while others can devote only a corner others can devote only a corner of the bedroom. of the bedroom.

In either case, the sacred space, In either case, the sacred space, like the shrine of a temple, is like the shrine of a temple, is tended to religiously. tended to religiously.

Here, family members worship Here, family members worship collectively or individually.collectively or individually.

The Family ShrineThe Family Shrine

On a table or shelf rests a On a table or shelf rests a photograph of the chosen godphotograph of the chosen god..

The fragrance of The fragrance of fresh flowers fresh flowers and fruitand fruit mixes with incense and mixes with incense and perfumes in the air.perfumes in the air.

A bellA bell, which is rung for prayer, , which is rung for prayer, stands nearby. stands nearby.

An oil lampAn oil lamp, lit during worship, , lit during worship, sits beside the scripture from sits beside the scripture from which prayers are read. which prayers are read.

Other symbols, gods, and gurus Other symbols, gods, and gurus may also appear in the shrine.may also appear in the shrine.

Daily DutiesDaily Duties

Worshipping GodWorshipping God:: Hindus must devote part of Hindus must devote part of their day to worship. This their day to worship. This ensures spiritual contactensures spiritual contact..

Reciting scriptureReciting scripture:: By reciting from a sacred By reciting from a sacred text, the faithful text, the faithful learn the lessons of worldly and learn the lessons of worldly and religious life.religious life.

Honoring to parents and eldersHonoring to parents and elders:: Hindus are Hindus are very loyal family members. Parents and elders are very loyal family members. Parents and elders are honoredhonored for their wisdom and self-sacrifice. for their wisdom and self-sacrifice.

Daily Duties ContinuedDaily Duties Continued

Helping the poorHelping the poor:: Even the less fortunate Even the less fortunate try to obey this commandmenttry to obey this commandment. Guests, in . Guests, in particular, are given special attention in a particular, are given special attention in a Hindu home.Hindu home.

Feeding animals:Feeding animals: Because Hindus Because Hindus consider all life a sacred part of one Godconsider all life a sacred part of one God, , animals are respected and cared for.animals are respected and cared for.

BirthBirth

Even before a baby is born, Hindus perform rituals and Even before a baby is born, Hindus perform rituals and recite prayers to protect the fetus from illness or harmful recite prayers to protect the fetus from illness or harmful spirits.spirits.

The The mother eats only healthy foodsmother eats only healthy foods to ensure the to ensure the newborn's well-being.In some families, the father performs newborn's well-being.In some families, the father performs a ceremony immediately after the birth. a ceremony immediately after the birth.

Father dips a gold pen into a jar of honey and writes the Father dips a gold pen into a jar of honey and writes the sacred Sanskrit symbol, Om, onto the infant's tongue.sacred Sanskrit symbol, Om, onto the infant's tongue.

The symbol, which stands for truth, is The symbol, which stands for truth, is written in hope that written in hope that the child will be honest and speak only the truththe child will be honest and speak only the truth, which is , which is sweet as honey. sweet as honey.

The Sacred ThreadThe Sacred Thread

It consists of It consists of seven strandsseven strands, each of which , each of which represents a different virtue or qualityrepresents a different virtue or quality. . They are as follows:They are as follows:– 1. Power of speech 1. Power of speech – 2. Memory2. Memory– 3. Intelligence3. Intelligence– 4. Forgiveness4. Forgiveness– 5. Steadfastness5. Steadfastness– 6. Prosperity6. Prosperity– 7. Good reputation7. Good reputation

The Ceremony of the Sacred ThreadThe Ceremony of the Sacred Thread

It is an It is an ancient rite of passage into ancient rite of passage into adolescence reserved for male members of adolescence reserved for male members of the three upper castes, the three upper castes, the Brahmins, the Brahmins, Shatriyas, and VaishyasShatriyas, and Vaishyas

The boy promises to embody these The boy promises to embody these

qualities, and for the rest of his life he wears qualities, and for the rest of his life he wears the sacred thread as a symbol of his the sacred thread as a symbol of his coming-of-age. coming-of-age.

MarriageMarriage

Most Most Hindu Hindu marriages are arranged by the parentsmarriages are arranged by the parents, , although although the children must also be happy with their chosen the children must also be happy with their chosen partner. partner.

Hindus Hindus almost always marry within the same caste,almost always marry within the same caste, although in modern times there are increasing exceptions.although in modern times there are increasing exceptions.

A A wedding is one of the most colorful and important wedding is one of the most colorful and important ceremoniesceremonies in all of Hinduism. in all of Hinduism.

Although customs vary greatly in different regions, Although customs vary greatly in different regions, marriages are always joyous, momentous occasions, rich marriages are always joyous, momentous occasions, rich with decorations and food. In fact, with decorations and food. In fact, some Hindu weddings some Hindu weddings last as long as three days!last as long as three days!

The bride wears a The bride wears a red, red, white and gold sari, as well white and gold sari, as well as gold jewelry and flower as gold jewelry and flower accentsaccents. .

The groom usually wears a The groom usually wears a long white shirt with gold long white shirt with gold accentsaccents and may wear a and may wear a turban called a safa.turban called a safa.

the henna ceremonythe henna ceremony, where the bride’s , where the bride’s hands and feet are decorated with ground hands and feet are decorated with ground henna leaves. Often, henna leaves. Often, the names of the the names of the bride and groom are incorporated into the bride and groom are incorporated into the intricate designintricate design. .

The bride and groom The bride and groom exchange flowered exchange flowered garlands to symbolize unitygarlands to symbolize unity and then and then recite a pledge of acceptance, where they recite a pledge of acceptance, where they promise to respect each other. promise to respect each other.

The ceremony centers around a sacred fireThe ceremony centers around a sacred fire, a , a manifestation of the god, Agni. manifestation of the god, Agni.

Family and friends surround the couple as a priest chants Family and friends surround the couple as a priest chants Sanskrit verses. Sanskrit verses.

Next, he leads the bride and groom around the flames Next, he leads the bride and groom around the flames which burn in a brick firepit. which burn in a brick firepit.

Bells are sounded, and Bells are sounded, and many offerings are made to the many offerings are made to the fire,fire, including clarified butter, grains, and flowers. including clarified butter, grains, and flowers.

Each time the couple completes their circuit, the bride Each time the couple completes their circuit, the bride stands on one of the bricks. This act affirms her strength stands on one of the bricks. This act affirms her strength and loyalty. and loyalty.

Finally, the bride and groom take seven steps around the Finally, the bride and groom take seven steps around the flames.flames. These steps are the most significant action in a These steps are the most significant action in a Hindu wedding. Hindu wedding. Now the couple is bonded for life, their Now the couple is bonded for life, their union sanctified.union sanctified.

DeathDeath

Since ancient times, Since ancient times, cremation,cremation, or the or the burning of corpses, has been a Hindu burning of corpses, has been a Hindu custom. custom.

Like the marriage ceremony, the rite of Like the marriage ceremony, the rite of passage into death centers around the passage into death centers around the sacred fire. sacred fire.

Many Hindus want their Many Hindus want their remains to be left in remains to be left in the River Ganges, believing that its waters the River Ganges, believing that its waters will help purify their souls. will help purify their souls.

The funeral begins when the The funeral begins when the body is body is wrapped in cloth and carried away on wrapped in cloth and carried away on a stretcher. a stretcher.

As family and friends leave their As family and friends leave their village for the cremation grounds, village for the cremation grounds, they they recite prayers to the chosen recite prayers to the chosen deity of the deceased. deity of the deceased.

Traditionally, Traditionally, the eldest son lights the the eldest son lights the woodwood of the funeral pyre with a flame of the funeral pyre with a flame lit in a nearby temple. lit in a nearby temple.

Prayers and offerings are made in the Prayers and offerings are made in the belief that the deceased is going belief that the deceased is going through a process of rebirth, through a process of rebirth, cleansed by the fire into new life. cleansed by the fire into new life.

The ritual also The ritual also protects the relatives protects the relatives from evil spirits. from evil spirits.

Bindi Hindu women symbolize the opening

of their spiritual third eye by wearing what is known as a bindis on their forehead. 

A red dot on the forehead is an auspicious sign of marriage and guarantees the social status and sanctity of the institution of marriage.

It symbolizes female energy and is believed to protect women and their husbands

Tika

Usually only during religious occasions men will wear a similar mark on their heads called a tika. 

Depending on what deity, preternatural or supernatural being he represents,

the tika will either be “U” shaped for Vishnu

or a group of three horizontal lines for Shiva.