Worship

Hindus typically worship every day; this can either be done at the Mandir (temple) or at home. It has become a tradition to have a shrine of a deity at home so that every day can be started with an act of worship. Many Hindus chant the Gayatri Mantra, which is found in the Rig Veda. This is typically chanted 108 times as a prayer, meditation, and adoration to the divine.

You can listen to it here:

Worship in the Mandir and at Home

Hindu worship, or puja, at the mandir involves images of deities (murti), mantras, and sometimes diagrams of the universe known as yantras or mandalas. Yantras are a visual aid in worship; a yantra is used to relate to a particular deity and visualises patterns of force. Tantric Hinduism is an unorthodox form of Hinduism and an incredibly diverse form of Hinduism that uses yantras in their worship. Tantric Hinduism places emphasis on shakti, the divine female energy of the Mother Goddess. The Sri Yantra is a yantra used in worship in Tantric Hinduism; this yantra expresses the power of the Mother Goddess.

At the centre of worship is a murti, an image of the deity that is being worshipped. This is the same for worship at home and at the mandir. At home, Hindus typically have a shrine dedicated to a particular deity where they will perform puja. Worship can happen individually or as part of a group.

During puja, offerings such as flowers and fruit will be made to the deity, and the worshipper will pray or chant mantras. One form of worship you may see in the mandir is an aarti ceremony, where a flame of light is offered to the deity. During aarti, a worshipper focuses on that particular aspect of the deity and the connectedness of all creation to the deity. Lighted wicks, or an aarti lamp, will be waved in front of the murti, or image of the deity, which in turn receives a blessing from the deity. During this, prayers and mantras are chanted. The lighted wick is then passed around to all worshippers who draw their hand over the flame and then over their foreheads, allowing all to receive the blessings within the flame.

You can read about the arti ceremony at the London Mandir at the link here: http://londonmandir.baps.org/worship/arti-the-hindu-ceremony-of-light/

You can also watch a video about the arti ceremony filmed by the London Radha Krishna temple here:

If you can visit a mandir in your local area, then we encourage you to do so! However, here is a tour of the Gita Bhavan Hindu Temple in Manchester if you would like to see the inside of a mandir and the shrines set up for deities.

Reflection 

Explore images of sacred geometry, yantras and mandalas.

Does connection with the earth’s elements in worship resonate with you in any way?

The Cycle of Birth, Death and Rebirth

The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (reincarnation) is known as Samsara. The word Samsara means to flow. Hindus believe humans have an atman or eternal self, that is born again and again into many different lifetimes following its own spiritual journey. The cycle of Samsara only comes to an end when an individual has achieved moksha; they have discovered their true identity as part of Brahman. Moksha is a liberation from the cycle of Samsara and being reunited with Brahman.

The atman refers to the eternal self that exists beyond the physical body. It is the real and authentic self behind the ego. Atman is sometimes referred to as the soul or spirit and is considered the essence of what makes us who we are. When the physical body dies, the atman can inhabit many temporary bodies until that individual has achieved moksha.

Karma, Reincarnation and Moksha

Karma is the belief that all actions in life have consequences. Everyone in life has choices, and these choices result in either good or bad Karma. When the physical body dies, Hindus believe the atman (eternal self) moves on, bringing their karma with it. The karma of an atman will shape the future lives it goes on to have and what temporary bodies it will inhabit. However, karma is also influenced by many other forces that are beyond human control, such as the actions of other people. This can have an impact on an individual’s karma, and some Hindus would argue that to understand karma as ‘do good deeds, be rewarded with a good life’ would be an oversimplification of the law of karma.

There are, therefore, a number of things that Hindus believe impact their karma. Moksha is the liberation from the cycle of samsara, of death and rebirth when the atman is reunited with Brahman. Through the cycle of samsara, and the way in which Hindus live their lives, the atman slowly begins to realise its true nature; it is part of, or one with, Brahman.

After the physical death of the body, some Hindus wish to be cremated in Varanasi, a holy city in India. Some believe that to die and be cremated in Varanasi and have your ashes placed into the Ganges River is to release you from the cycle of samsara.

Watch the video below, a clip from The Story of God, of the importance of Varanasi for many Hindus.

*Click on the video to play; then click ‘cc’ for captions.

Virtues of Life

Many Hindus believe there are key morals or virtues an individual should live by. These are typically accepted as:

• Ahimsa (non-violence)
• Compassion (loving-kindness)
• Service to others
• Tolerance
• Self-discipline
• Honesty with others and oneself
• Respect for all life
• Wisdom
• Cleanliness
• Providing shelter and/or support to others

These qualities apply to all living things, including ourselves, as Hindus believe that Brahman is part of every aspect of life. Since Hindus believe the atman is on a journey to be reunited with Brahman, the attitudes and virtues followed will help guide them towards this union with Brahman.

Reflection 

How do these virtues sit with you? Are you drawn to any in particular?

What does the concept of ‘loving-kindness’ mean to you?

Why might this be important in your own life?

Hindu Scriptures

Historically, Hinduism is an oral tradition; however, there are key texts in Hinduism that emerged from this oral tradition. Hindu scriptures are written in story form, known as epics, and they teach Hindus about the qualities of Brahman as well as how to live their lives. As an oral tradition, writing in story form meant that these scriptures could be passed on, and many of these stories are depicted as paintings in the Mandir.

Research

Research the story of Holika and Prahlad, and how it is celebrated during the festival of Holi.

Sruti (or Shruti)

Sruti means ‘that which is heard’, and many Hindus believe that the sages, wise and holy men, received the sruti from Brahman. These words were shared orally before being written down at a later date. It is believed that as these words came directly from Brahman, they are the books of authority and spiritual knowledge. The Sruti contain the Vedas, which include the Upanishads detailing key beliefs and ideas in Hinduism.

Smriti

Smriti texts are not directly from Brahman but are scriptures that have been ‘remembered’. These detail what people were told about God, which were then remembered and written down by other people. These great stories offer key teachings to Hindus and also help them to understand their Sruti better.

Bhagavad Gita 

Translating from Sanskrit as ‘Song of God’, the Bhagavad Gita is part of the wider epic of the Mahabharata. The Bhagavad Gita recounts a dialogue between the deity Krishna and Arjuna, a Pandava prince, about whether to engage in battle or not. The Bhagavad Gita is important for many Hindus as it offers guidance on day-to-day life and how to live a life of loving-kindness.

The video below is a meditation by Ram Dass reading an extract from the Bhagavad Gita.

*Click on the video to play; then click ‘cc’ for captions.

The video below talks about the scriptures of the Hindu faith and the diversity of Hinduism:

*Click on the video to play; then click ‘cc’ for captions.

Reflection

What stories are there from your own life that teach you certain lessons?

How are stories important to you now, in your adult life?

Hindus believe that Brahman is beyond full human understanding, and many therefore choose to focus on different aspects or qualities of Brahman. These different qualities are personified as deities, represented through images or statues known as murtis. These murtis are used during worship, allowing Hindus to concentrate on one aspect of God. Hindus do not believe in many gods; rather, by using a murti in worship, they are focusing on one particular aspect of what God is like.

A Mandir, or Hindu temple, is often dedicated to one particular deity. There will be a main shrine, or garba griha, in the Mandir, which is where the priests of the Mandir focus their work. Here, Hindus will leave offerings such as flowers, incense, or fruit. Around a Mandir, there are typically side shrines, which are smaller shrines of other deities that are related to the deity in the main shrine. Hindus will also leave offerings at these shrines.

Research 

Research the following Deities to see which aspects of Brahman they are associated with:

• Ganesha
• Durga
• Lakshmi

Reflection

How does understanding the different natures of elements of the divine resonate with you?

Do you think of the divine in different ways? If you do, how does this help you in understanding the nature of the divine?

Hinduism

Dharma

In Hinduism, dharma encompasses an array of meanings such as duty, virtue, and morality. Dharma is the power that upholds the universe, and all entities within the universe must fulfil their own dharma. Individuals have their unique dharma, and what is right for one might not necessarily be right for another.

Watch the video below, where the concept of dharma is explained in detail.