Visiting Hindu Temple Hinduism Today 2012 10

7/28/2019 Visiting Hindu Temple Hinduism Today 2012 10

1/9

e d u c a t i o n a l i n s i g h t

B y x p, w,p , hp p p w, b f .Y f i fw p k s

lk, np B, w pp

p yy y

f h w

newcomers. Its all a bit intimidating at rst.

t i w

q : Wy p

p? W

p, ? W

? d

? W p? a

p w

b h -hjy

and benet from their temple visits.

Brihadeeswarar: A massive

stone temple in Thanjavur,

Tamil Nadu, built by Raja

Raja Chola ten centuries ago

and still vibrant today. The

capstone, weighing 80 tons,

is the largest in India.

This special Educational

Insight was inspired by

and produced expressly

for the Hindu Mandir

Executives Conference

d i n o d i a c o m


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Why Are Temple s Needed?Y satguru Bodhinatha veYlansWami

fw y p a, w i w

w f ky -

b, y : swj, g

p, w b p w-

p h? t f , p y

f y

. c y b p b wy?

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yw, p y, .

k y , w b b xp-

g, ? B k y w. hw y f

g? ty y

. i : Py pk, g p-

y b , b f f

p w f xp .

t w i xp f h p:

p p w w -

w xp dy. if w w

xy, w by k

pwf p. t f , w

by p. sy, kw g,

p xp dy

nctied murti. Temples are especially sacred for three rea-: , y wp.

hy p , kw sthapatis,

p -

f a

p. c pwf

y fkumbhabhishekam, w y p p-

b f y. t b

pp f by pj by

y p. t y pj b

pw kbbk.

Hindu Temples AreNot All Alike

deally, temples (often called mandirs) are built in w p, p byk i b y

f i. t p f: 1) - dy; 2) d p p by y ; 3) b; 4) p f p f, f wp; 5) , p p-f y f pj ( );6) p py p p fHinduism and a specic lineage of teaching and liturgy.

W pp w kw - f f h w, y p p w wy, y, w b fx w x f y, f x p bk f . h, w w y f p,py i, f -y f wp, , y p fwp.

ey p q. a p p bpj p y. t d ,p . i y wp py fy. o p y b

p w f, d p y p f . t yf wp f , w p -b f by p . i y ppj . s y f f -, by w y , f p, Ramayana

Mahabharata. h f fw h p m,

tx, b by d. Pj P: ey wk s-y w p f 10:30 12:30. af - , w . t w py. t f shlokas stutis y , fw by bj, w y --p f. a f , p w pf pj p d-y. t w f-ff , fw by o JJ h , w y fw. tare usually four or ve arati trays wi th which people can offer i d, dy. t w j p jy b f ff p.

c b f y wb pp yf p p.

What Is Puja All About

h wp pj, y

, y p. c

by p, pj, pj

f k. t f

a pj fw b p. F, pj p

es himself, the sacred implements and the place of w

p. h sk , p

p pj. t ()

, b dy w

. r b y

Vedas Agamas, pj ff

b dy, w, k

y , w p kk. s

b, bk, w w,

w, ff, k, y, , y,

vibhuti, sandalwood paste, panchamritam (mixture o

f), w w p

d f pj,

oor. After abhishekam, the Deity is dressed in new c

and beautifully decorated with owers. At this point,

y . af dy

pujari offers incense, oil lamps and food. He offers o

w 108 f g. a p

pj, p w bf dy b

y g h pw yhf. W p w, y p

d. t p b w

w f y (

ff bx). Fy, p ,

, b w, w p, k

fruit, sweets and owers are passed out to bless all pr

ent. These include a portion of the offeringsowers

f b by . d y

, bk b k by

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bapsswaminarayan

san

stha

Quick Start y, k. r

f . B pf f g g. B

pb, py w b f

pp . d

w y f p w

p. rf f p wy

k. m y p. t p w p

by . m w

f ff, y

py. ejy p y y.

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Sanctuaries for God: (above) The BAPSSwaminarayana Mandir of Houston, Texas; (left)a prist olds t arati am bfor Lord Gansaat the Sri Manika Vinayakar Alayam in Paris


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a y , by bf p y b y pyf .

d 3, 5, 7 9 . Y y p w.

r y (k y oK, py ). if p p, y , f pfy yf bf p.

of w b b y y g; p y b w.

Many temples have a agpole where one may prostrate andpy, balipitha,ff p, w f. t wp dy , vahana .

1. Worship at the Temple Gateway

2. Remove Shoes, Rinse Feet & Hands

3. Worship at the Flagpole

Wp l g, l f ob.By honoring Him rst, the dynamic blessings

f p w b p y.

Walk clockwise one, three, ve, seven or nine times , ww y w

f wy w d

v dy . t p wf b fw xp unique powers of each Divinity. Offer a ower to each.

d pj, y w. t innermost time for reection and communion. Devotee p f pj, p

4. Pray First to Lord Ganesha 7. Wal k A rou nd the San ctum

5. Ring the Shrine Bell

6. Greet the Deities 9. Sit for Puja

8. Present Your Offering

P bf ff y bk ypp p (y y b b ). P y ff.

You Are There Worshiping & ATTending pujA

18Steps for Visiti nga Hindu Temple

w w k f y b w y

p, g . Pp yf by

b p . t

b pjb f , f

, k p f by. B

y nice, modest clothing suitable for sitting on the oor is

pb. i p f y , pp y

k b g. Kp f y p p-

, b fw

. if w fy f, -

p wy f w.

Bring an offering: such as fruits and owers or ower

. o , b p w pb. i, d

, p k, w

g. Y y p p y ff.

wy f g pf p, sannidhya.

t py f f h p wp

pj ( p. 39). Pj y w

bells, passing of ames, presenting of offerings and chant-

k b f g g. d pj,

f wp, y

. o , -

f w p y fw .

a wp k y f p. Y

jy f , pyf -

, k f , y,

b f p. m p-

p, py f pj, f

. g w y , w y ff .

Dancing with Siva z: W ff ,

, w gopura,

p w, w , f , k b-

l g . nx w fw

akara, wy, kw mahamandapa,

b. i w wy

balipitha, ff p, p bf dh-

jastambha, temple agpole, and worship Nandi the sacred [ g, mk, .]. nx w b

,garbhagriha, y , -

f wp. d pj, w

f anjali mudra,

p , y b pp qy -

y. af arati, w f p

f dy, w p (ashtanga pranama f ,

panchanga pranama f w)

, p . W wk

e garbhagriha one nal time before taking our leave.

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About Sacraments

f pj, p p

b

ff dy. By pk f

p, bb b

ob wy xp p-

ppy .

F, p w j b

p f pj p

devas can see and bless you through this ame as it

y f. s y, , p

W p y w p,

pass both hands devoutly over the ame. Then b rin

bk, y p w y f

eyes with your ngertips to receive the Deitys bles

some temples, the devotees take turns passing the a

f f w J J h

a l v, p y b

dy w y

. t p g f b p

. a ff s y

made by burning dried cow dung with ghee, owe

. i ybz py w

b b f , k y

. i pp f,

b p f , k f

a pf f b w w ff

k w w dy w b p

b ff f y k.

sw p, f f, f

a b p y by p, w

f y f p w wp . d

right ring nger into the paste and apply it with a s

bw ybw, y

k. a pw kk

t p w p p y

y k f b

appy kk p f w,

b, w p y f p

v h y ppy v-p

f p f f l.Fw y b b by p,

k f. my wp p f

w p .

Did You Kno w?a h

y w

w b .

receiving The pujA sAcrAmenTs AfTer The ceremonY

p p f f y f pj, pur open hands through the ame three times, then lightly

y y w b y.

p y ( w ff).f y f , ppy y f. a ybz b wy f py.

p w p pf f b k y pp . B p y p .

0. The Arati Flame

1. Holy Ash

2. Blessed Water

F w p , fw by pw. appy f f y bw w

your right ring nger. (See details in the sidebar to the right).

s pb wy xp . Bj y b pj w

, , by yf w p.

i y y ff p bx. i , y b p y pp p f.

a pz pj w p dy y , b . t , y py f p ff bk.

13. Sandalwood Paste & Kumkum 16. Singing Bha jan

14. Prasada and a Flower

15. Monetary Offerings 18. Archana for Personal Blessings

17. Japa and Meditation

B f (p) y b , pf f, w pf f k f. ly, may receive a ower that was offered to the Deity.

af pj, qy dyw yf. t f jp, yp y w f b.

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Devotees offer prayers in a temple in Bengaluru, Karnat

3. Three Worlds Communing

H w x p f w. t F W py , s W b p

f x w , , p

, t W p p f

m, d, g. h

wk f w.

r b f h wk

x f s t W. t

w y p p f

w. ty wf.

i h p w

k g f . t p

b p w g . i b f

g, p k y p e. t

h f w g y

wy w pp p. t b

f b p k

w py by. t

m, w f , wk

y y f pp f , p

, p w .

t y f m b

xp by wk j

, f py f

p w kw h

w . t b f by

becoming stronger and more dened as devotion is per

t , b

by f m

w f p, s W

w y wk f

. One God, Many Gods

h p b 330

g. e , h b sp B

p . t y g

f B . t g,

m, b, pb f f

y f f b . s,

g, b y g. t y

w f g f w p b pj

. g, s, sb, v sk

p d py h.

, y f w

y y, f .

B, sy, s, lk, a,

, ayypp, h, my .

t h y p i d. t

dy f y h g, f

fy bk f f

f f f. i q

-p f h

y b wp g w f wp sb-

v, y b f

sense of conict. The profound understanding and universal

ceptance that are unique in Hinduism are reected in this

y f ff pp d,

w f ff f f g b wp

by w p w. i y pp

y p ff p dy y

p f .

4. Where Pro blems Can B e Dissol ved

H wy w p y fq y. W w p, w w lled with the shakti of the Deity. We are lled and thrilled with

k f p y f by. W

w , w p, b

pw f p . t p b

s W y , w y

b f fy w pp p.

t bf py

g pb, w pf f w.

dy wk , f f b py,

y z pb pp. h p trace the source of its solution and nds that a simple, favorable

py f b b. h g

w py, w pp ywy?

h b py g,

w pp f f. i pp

g p .

t k . h , y f y,

b g ff, w j -

fy g b p,

w y, jy .

. Temples Are Transformative!

V h p, f j g f , f f orshiper. It alters the ow of the pranas, or life currents, within

by. i w w p k. i j

bf q f

bf. B w. h w xp

f p. h

kw dy. t dy kw

, p y p.

d f p f g

p f k bk y p

, fy w

f y b w, w

f f. t f g,

b f f

f w f .

t h k g f y p

h y b g f w

t W pb f y wk

w f f y

y fw p pb. h

y b g f

p e,

p.

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A couple walk barefoot in the precincts of the SriEkambaranathar Siva temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

Denizens of the three worlds are often depicted,as here, on a temples ornate towers

ix Secrets Aboutemple Worshiprom Me G G w h S v , BY

atguru sivaYa suBramuniYasWami


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Other Temple Events

y f b p. t p-

y w bw w g

g w. F p ppy

p, jy f-ff p f b

w. cb w

f b w

p y, f

f y

h

-

. a Pf

d. s Bjp

k, F-

, p

p wp

f f h.

mj pj p f p by homa,

re-offering, among the most ancient forms of Hindu wor -

p. F bj f wp, b ff

into a sanctied re pit, which is usually made of earthen

bk. o p

near and tend the re,

ff w, ,

b w -

f

Vedas

Agamas.t

k

p

dy w

g,

g,

a v.

nnual Festivals Fire Rites

a p f y h f, samskaras

f p, f ,

rites, including name-giving, rst feeding, ear-piercing and

-. ty p, . Y y

b k p -

y . c w

p p f

f. t

y pj

and a homa, or re

y. if y -

q k,

p w -

p , xp

w pp, w

b, w

y.

Rites of Passage

Seeking blessings, pilgrims reverently touch the sculpted stonft of Lord visnu in irumala mpls Sriari Padalu srin

6. Dealing with Disbelief

I b f wp, h y w w bf g. h y ww y y x, py f w

b by f W, x

bf . Y, x,

b bk p. h k

f pf, p f kw

g f f. h by

f w f f

p w g, w

x p f p .

t g f h , p p

k. t w p f, y

f p p fb f ff

j w. i

, w y . i

pp,

pp f . nw, y y w

wy w p f y

wy, b f f. B

wy p f y w

w ? of . a

y. t w,

, y b ,

f pb w-b f ,

pw y b p

Prists bat t -mtal parad murti of Lord Sanmuka atthe Tirupparankunram Temple near Madurai in Tamil Nadu

. Puja Is Communion

T py p f g, b , y f, py k p g w f b h by.

b y f

g by w g

f F W. m k by

p y f b

b. sy, g b b b,

bf p p f , p .

W w pf pj, , w

f m w.

pp f pj; f f -

. t , w b

p . t b

z f,

ff .

c b

fy p, p w

w w y f. By w

anifest, i y y w

y f p f , p b kp p

b. t k pw. i

p w b by

g. W y y p, y

y. Y f p f

b, f kw .

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Did You Kno w?i h p f py f

p . i , x

y, , w f y k b,

jyy b w. a y

b y f f dy, by f

f . ew w p

bby b b, p f p are lling the chamber with the shrill sounds of the

. af pj z, b

p f , p p

y w f wp

y p f dy. a f

, p y y z. i w

xp, y f

y f wp y b h

p. t p e q k h

Liing it


Have aith in God. Believe in Him with all your heart. Think that in the world He is or you the

sweetest o all sweet things. Think that there is nothing other than God. Sitting or standing, walking

or lying down, think o Him. Let the thought o Him permeate your nerves, fesh and blood.

Natchintanai 7, Satguru Yogaswami o Jafna


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Activ ities in a Full-Fledged Temple


This mural depicts typical activities in the courtyard of alarge temple such as one would find in South India.

A amily worships at thetemple entrance beore

going inside. Vendorssell garlands, incense,rosewater, coconuts

and other traditionaloering items.

A woman approachesthe temple carrying an

oering tray o ruits,incense and camphor.

At the maia pujari olighted oil the Sivalinheight o p

A girl joythe big te

Two boys as their techants the

Led by musicians, theestival Deity is pulledaround the templein a special chariot.

an bathes and worshipsat the temple tank asan act o purication.

A child, held by hisather, is havinghis ears pierced bya trained priest.

A amily singsdevotional hymnsin praise o Godand the Gods.

Hoveringthe tempthe innerLord Sivaorth bles

A youth meditatesin a quiet corner.

evotee breaks a coconutnear the Ganesha shrinee praying or a new job.

son knocks his oreheadmples in an act o prayer.

A ather and son receivesings rom the elephant,

who lightly touches theirorehead with his trunk.

A merchant at a stall watches aterdevotees ootwear or a small ee.

At the Murugan shrine, a womanbeseeches the Deity or helpwith a dicult problem.

A husband and wie prostrateat the fag pole.

A amily nds a small stallwhich provides devoteeswith water and light snacks.

A young man prayerullycircumambulates theMurugan shrine.

A man giva group o

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Questions & Answers

october/november/december, 2012 hinduism

(Bal Vihar Teachers Handbook,Grad Fi).BAPS: s d b pjwp

Bw, h d f f . Fwb p f d ff wp w f () (bk). i , h , d p bk. t s- d y, h h f dy bkw [] .

How should one prepare to go to the temple?Acharya Ananda Swami: d w p py py. i p bj, k wp f g. Bf w p,w pfy by pk f w pfy f by y . e b - w. W w f w , k b . o f w w p.

Why have many temples in the Hindu diaspora combinedthe functions of temple and satsang hall in one facility?Pandit Roopnauth Sharma, Ram Mandir, Toronto: Wpp f y , y y y w p-p . W pp - , y w p , w y . ty p dy , pj f . ty w. B i w pp. i cbb b p f shiksha () b w y p y , w n a yk rm. W y w pp , y f bf p , b h wy f f.

Padmaja Patel, Midland, Texas: i n a p f s i y, y p w p f y. t b z p f pf y w. t f f f- p, yp f - w.

Acharya Ananda Swami: i n i p w p .

What is the purpose of walkingaround the temple or shrine?

Acharya Ananda Swami: t p pk ( pk). F ff g gff b f pk . mb k pk p f wp. t pk f once, thrice, eleven, twenty-one, fty-one times or even m

Sivaya Subramuniyaswami:W w f w, ff , w f by , w y b . o

b p, py w, , w wf f , y f y p p f f. i pp f p, p , w w p y wy. i wy w ppW y p ff w, ff b b w , yp f w p x y. W w w wk w w bp.

What is the cosmology that gives risethe belief in Gods and devas?

atguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami: w x p f w. t F W py, s W b - p f x w , , p , t p p f m-, d, g. h wk f

. r b f h wk x f s

W. t w yp p f

w. ty wf.

What is the signicance of the temple?APS Swaminarayan Sanstha: m h f p f wp y. m sk w p w b f fy k f, p, jy f. F , f f, - y p w pp f ff -y y.Sivaya Subramuniyaswami: o e p g p , y p. i -d temple, where regular and proper puja is being performed in a wy, g y f. Y h

mple with your mind lled up with worries, you can be in a statejy , p w w y w

b b, py f f b f- . s py, g f -, w t W, w f t W w w p pf pj k .

Why are temples needed?APS: ey w b f wp. f f g, -y b wy.

s w , b ww ? hp w bk , b w w bk? c w x , b w w f pf ? t f - b , g. i w

f. i wpp b f k . i w , pff f g.

Are there varied views regarding theGods and temple images, or murtis?Yes, from the aperspective, the murtiis considered a sacred medium of the Di-

vine. Another view is that the various murtis are symbols of the fac-ets of Divinity.Acharya Ananda Swami, Pitampura Temple, West Delhi:t p w g . i h, b f f g w w p . s, f j f ; f f g, g. t b p fw Shastras Vedas. o b w , p b b, -. t py f p, y p dy.

Chinmaya Mission: God, the innite, the formless, is exceed-y p p. m f x-p. syb f pp , .t p pp, g, . if ware not yet able to see the Lord in everything, we are asked to rstp wy xp

Is Temple Worship Only for Beginners?

Temple worship is or all men and women at every level

o spiritual development. Its meaning and experience

deepen as we unold spiritually through the stages o

service, devotion, yoga and enlightened wisdom.

Dancing with Siva

Spiritual culture: (clockwise fromleft) A mother and daughter attendthe temple together; devotees drawblssing from t arati am aftr

puja at a temple in Mumbai; a girlprays at a puja in Ubud, Bali

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How Do Our Prayers Reach the Gods?

Through temple worship, the three worlds become open

to one another, and the beings within them are able to

communicate. By means o the mystical arts o puja, the

worlds act in concert, and prayers are received. Aum.

Dancing with Sivadinodia


How does the temple help individuals?BAPS: a pk w wk b, pf p fy , w f w f q; b b: hw i - p f ? s y ,b b, , b , py

f p. my ff , - , y ff . t ff fqy. t f py wp, f g fw w py. W w-ff g, b py, , ppy. t f ff p f - . ty f by endowing basic virtues of humanity such as delity, courage, for-, y, fp, y, y, , ,p, y b. t, py p y by p f .

What is the signicance of the showing of lights?BAPS: oy f kw w

Bw . t yb f kw . o Bw . a w Bw w .

Acharya Ananda Swami: Fire worship has a signicant role p. i pj . W p

perform the arati in which the role of re is very important. Whp f f , p p k.

What cultural importance does the mandir have?BAPS: t y f h z, b f p f , p p. m w p f pf , p pf f . m p f t f w p p w . W p, p w b b f w pp y.

1Attend a puja at the temple at least once a week. exp- y f g g b

p kp y p y .

2Dress in traditional Hindu clothing. t p p y . Kp p j f p.

3Make your travel to the temple a religious time. t p-p y p f f . d f

pb pj , wk . d k kb p b. l w . t pf .

4Bring an offering. Ideally, bring a ower, ower garland or fruitf w y wp. t f k

y p b.

5Put prana into what you offer. P y x- f y . By , b k

b. W p p y - , k y dy yf.

6Focus on the worship service and the priests chantind w. l, y,

f w p . sy, w bj, kf f .

7Stay for a while after the ceremony. d wy. s . Bk y f p. t

ppy f jp.

8Light an oil lamp in your shrine room when you get homt b w w p y

p. F w, y w b fy en the spiritual force eld of the home.

9Watch for auspicious days. t dy p y . By p

p y, y b dy b. F p, b py f y

10Gain strength by taking vows. i k w, vrata, f. a yp f y

p bk f .

Ten Tips to Make the Most of Your Visi t

A priest passes an arati lamp before a Shanmukha Deity

Visiting Hindu Temple Hinduism Today 2012 10

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