A Place of Hindu Worship - Describe the main features of a specific place of Hindu worship.

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                 Naomi Darling 10H                

A Place of Hindu Worship

     A)(i) Describe the main features of a specific place of Hindu worship.

From the outside, many people can notice the Hindu temple with its prominent dome. As you go up the long flight of stairs you come to a shine of Hanuman decorated with flowers, giving of food and red curtains on the side. Before you get to the temple you face a door with the sun on it representing life as well as Brahman. There is also a notice board with schedules, events and a quote saying “Open the door of your calmness and let the footsteps of silence gently enter the temple of all our activities. Perform all duties serenely, saturated with peace, behind the throb of your heart you shall feel the throb of Gods peace”. As in Hong Kong there is little space the entrance couldn’t face the east, the direction of the rising sun although if there were it would be.  Before entering the main hall all worshipers must remove their shoes. Facilities have also been provided for the devotees for washing their feet. The shrines are at the end of the large hall where the congregation gathers for worship. The worshippers sit on the carpet on the floor, below the level of the shrines.  The symmetrical and rectangular prayer hall is well lighted, painted in pink and ventilated by several large and small windows as well as fans. All these windows have been ornamented with circular arches. The temple opens for everyone at 8 until 12 at noon for lunch, its re opened at 4 then closed at 8. On Sunday a minimum of 200 people attend and maximum of around 600 – 700.  Overall there are about 25, 000 Hindus in Hong Kong. Leading to the three arched shrines are stairs. One shrine had the “sea god” who is popular among Hong Kong Hindu worshippers, above the shrines is the dome, which is lit with a blue light and decorated with circular symmetry.  The other has Shiva Parvati and the third one has Lukshmi and Vishnu. The shrines have gaps between them enabling devotees to walk around the middle shrine with the right shoulder to the shrine cleansing them of their sins. The shrines are decorated at the bottom with elephants and patterns; just above there is a small fence around them only usually allowing the priest in showing their status. Infront of the statues are puja trays for devotees use. However the temple is not only used for worship, it can also be used for celebrations such as marriage. They are many prayer rooms as well as a kitchen which many worshippers bring food to cook to celebrate occasions.

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(ii)  Analyse and explain the role and function of the Mandir in the local Hindu community.

Every temple has a priest. The priest’s main task is to help those who come to worship, and to act as an intermediary between the worshipper and the god represented by the image. Brahmins, which are usually leaders in temples as they are the highest and priestly caste, are expected to always worship Brahman, give reverence to the saints and the holy men by reciting the Veda, show proper respect for parents and elders, give shelter and alms to the ...

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