(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 poor or to holy men as well as instruct to feed animals because Hindus believe all living things form one community.
In small temples there may be a part- time and non Brahmin priest. Small temples usually have a small room for the priest’s use and a veranda with steps leading up to it. The priest is the only one that enters the shrine; he takes the gifts people have brought and offers them to the images of the god as he carries the important responsibility of looking after the image of god. Most large temples have a full time Brahmin staff. The priest conducts worship in the temple as they are the only ones that can enter the holiest part of the temple and at festival times the priest is invited to some families’ homes to conduct the worship.
In Britain the resident priest leads the devotions each day, usually early in the morning, midday, late in the afternoon and in the evening which is when people who would like to join can join the priest at prayer. In the morning he rings the temples bells, also known as 'Ghant', washes and clothes the deities, offers them fresh flowers, incense and food and then opens the doors to the inner shrine. People arrive to then witness puja.
There are three main stages of worship, first havan, an offering of fire to god which is when the priest lights a small fire using wood and liquid Ghee. Prayers are offered for purity and the good of all mankind. The priest then performs arati, when the five symbols are used to represent the five elements from which everything else is made. The first is fire. A Ghee lamp with five lights is waved in front of the shrine. When people enter the shrine they walk around it clockwise, offering prayers to the murtis. Incense and flowers are offered representing the earth, a fan is waved symbolising the air, a conch shell is blown which symbolises the atmosphere, and it holds the fifth symbol, water. Whilst performing arati, mantras are sung accompanied by tambourines, triangles and other instruments. Often people start to dance as the worship gets livelier. After arati, the helper sweeps the temple and people come to sing bhajan to the deity. In some temples in the evening kirtan is carried out by a visiting priest. Men sit on one side of the priest, ladies and children on the other intently listening to him talk about the importance of doing ones religious duties which is followed by a story to illustrate the moral lesson. It is then ended with Prasad.
(iii) Analyse and Explain the role and function of the Mandir in the local Hindu community.
The main function of the Hindu temple is for puja, worship, which plays a very strong role in the daily lives of Hindus. In India the Hindu temple is a house for a god or goddess. Worshippers go to the temple to leave an offering or to pray and express their devotion. In the villages of India many shrines are in the open air for local people to care for them. The Hindu scriptures say that ‘any offering no matter how humble is acceptable to god as long as it is given with sincerity and love’. In India Hindus may visit the temple once a day, once a week, once a month or only during festivals however in Britain, the temple has a lot more purpose for the Hindu community. It helps to keep the religious tradition as well as teach it to their children. Older members are able to meet friends from similar backgrounds who may share same customs and languages. It’s also a social gathering for people of the same belief to express their love and faith. Some temples run youth groups for teenagers and because in Britain most Hindus with Gujaurati, Punjabi or another Indian background have English as they’re first language a lot of temples provide classes for them to learn their home language. The temple also provides elderly day centres with recital of scriptures, music and dance classes, a play group for mothers and toddlers, an after school club with games and puzzles as well as yoga and story telling. Even Hindu weddings take place in some temples. Hindus carry out charity work, hospitality and services to others as it is very important to Hindus. Hindus may volunteer to provide transport, take classes, clean, prepare food as well as raise money for charity to build new temples, run schools, colleges and hospitals, orphanages and homes for the poor. The Hindu temple serves the whole community and is a way for people to gain a greater understanding of the Hindu faith. During festivals they become a place for plays and dances bringing to life the ancient legends of the gods to strengthen their faith and throughally enjoy learning more about their religion
b) ‘You do not have to go to Mandir to be a good Hindu’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing that you have that considered another point of view. Your answer should refer to Hindu teaching.
People that believe ‘You do not have to go to Mandir to be a good Hindu’ may say that most of the important rituals of the Hindu faith are carried out in their own home. They also believe that a visit to a temple is not essential as the main role of the temple is a place of worship for god and worship can be taken place anywhere infact, many Hindus would show their devotion by performing puja daily simply at home. However, this is not to say that going to the temple is pointless as a lot of temples are not only a way of expressing their devotion but they also provide schools, libraries, dance classes, gardens and are one of the best places to celebrate festivals. In Britain, the temple plays a rather big role to Hindus of all ages as it is a valued social point for Hindus and helps Hindus keep faith, as believers are able to meet other believers to worship together, bringing people with similar backgrounds together to help serve their community. Some may say that the temple is very important for Hindu faith as it has always been the centre of community life in India. Nearly everyone is involved in preparing for festivals and ceremonies. It is a tradition that should be kept alive as not only does it strengthen Hindus faith but provides opportunities for people to help run schools and hospitals, orphanages, places for the poor and well as supporting Hindu art and culture. Hindus are encouraged to go to the temple almost as somewhere nice to spend the day with your family especially during festivals, as they are able to get involved with many rituals and ceremonies. By watching the rituals take place, Hindus especially children are able to learn about purity, worship and the god and goddesses as well as the stories behind them that are celebrated with different festivals. Some people may also say that in order for your child to be a good Hindu, you would have to go to the temple as at home they may not show as much interest and experience as much as they could at the temples. On the other hand, strong believers disagree, as they would teach their children with colorful pictures of gods and goddesses as well as the interesting stories that go with them to entertain their children. Though the main point made is that whether you visit the temple once a day or not all, it does not show whether or not they are a good Hindu. Overall, I don’t think that in order to be a good Hindu a believer must go to the Mandir, all one needs is to show to be a considered a good Hindu is love, faith and devotion to God with sincerity. Hindus are not judged by how many times they may visit a temple but by how much they follow their faith and gain good karma. I believe that going to the temple is a strong act of devotion but it’s not a stronger act of devotion compared to worship at home. In the Hindu scriptures it states that any offering no matter how humble is acceptable to God as long as it given with sincerity and love I think this can be applied to worship at home because what matters is the actual worship, not where the worship is taken place. Although for Hindus that live aboard I do believe going to a temple would strengthen their beliefs as there are many clubs for them to celebrate their faith and they are provided with classes to learn more about their religion, learn their native language as well as yoga.
Bibliography
Believers all by David Simmonds. Publisher: Blackie 1988
Seekers Aftertruth – Hinduism, Buddhism & Sikhism by Michael Keene. Publisher: Cambridge University Press 1993
Hinduism by V.P.Kanitkar. Publisher: Stanley Thornes & Hulton 1989
http://re-xs.ucsm.ac.uk/re/places/shrine.html
Skills in religious studies BK2 by S.C Mercier & J. Fageant. Publisher: Heinemann 1989
