Daily worship in the home
Hinduism is the third most popular religion in the world. A lot of Hindus worship in their homes swell as Temples. Hindus usually have a small room in the house in which they keep all their deities of gods and picture's of gods and which they pray in daily. Hindu Worship is known as puja. It can be carried out in the home of Hindus before a shrine, or in the Hindu temple, which is known as a mandir.
Hindu worship involves all five senses of touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing, and also what Hindus consider to be the five basic elements: light, fire, earth, air and water.
Hindus wash thoroughly before prayers at home. When they enter the temple whether it is at home, they remove their shoes. They show respect to the gods by making offerings of money or food (rice, nuts or fruit) to the shrines of the gods.
Puja begins with the washing of the images of the gods. They are washed with water, and sometimes with milk based mixture called panchamrit.
Then the images of the gods are anointed with a perfumed, coloured marks made of haldi (turmeric) and kumkum (is a red powder). These marks are called tilaka. The tilika is a sign to resemble god.
Offerings of food and flowers are now made to the images. The offering of food is made because the gods provide people with all their needs. The offerings of flowers are a sign of respect and worship.
Incense is burnt before the image and a bell is rung, a bhajan (a religious song) can be sang aswell. These show the respect of the worshipper and announce the presence of the god. The blessings of the Arti lamp are shared by the all the members in the household. They make an offering on the tray. They pass their hands over the light, then over their eyes and hands, symbolically receiving the blessings of God.
Hinduism is the third most popular religion in the world. A lot of Hindus worship in their homes swell as Temples. Hindus usually have a small room in the house in which they keep all their deities of gods and picture's of gods and which they pray in daily. Hindu Worship is known as puja. It can be carried out in the home of Hindus before a shrine, or in the Hindu temple, which is known as a mandir.
Hindu worship involves all five senses of touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing, and also what Hindus consider to be the five basic elements: light, fire, earth, air and water.
Hindus wash thoroughly before prayers at home. When they enter the temple whether it is at home, they remove their shoes. They show respect to the gods by making offerings of money or food (rice, nuts or fruit) to the shrines of the gods.
Puja begins with the washing of the images of the gods. They are washed with water, and sometimes with milk based mixture called panchamrit.
Then the images of the gods are anointed with a perfumed, coloured marks made of haldi (turmeric) and kumkum (is a red powder). These marks are called tilaka. The tilika is a sign to resemble god.
Offerings of food and flowers are now made to the images. The offering of food is made because the gods provide people with all their needs. The offerings of flowers are a sign of respect and worship.
Incense is burnt before the image and a bell is rung, a bhajan (a religious song) can be sang aswell. These show the respect of the worshipper and announce the presence of the god. The blessings of the Arti lamp are shared by the all the members in the household. They make an offering on the tray. They pass their hands over the light, then over their eyes and hands, symbolically receiving the blessings of God.
