Transcript Sacred Spaces & Holy Places

Sacred Spaces
& Holy Places
1. Hindu Worship
2. Holy Places
3. Sacred Spaces
Hindu Worship:
Home Worship
Worship @ Home
 A decorated shrine can be found in a
Hindu home, which serves as an altar
for worship
 The shrine is decorated with framed
images of deities, which serve as
points of focus to help the mind
concentrate on the abstract ideals
that the deities represent
Home Worship:
Puja
 The most common form of home
worship is called puja, a form of
thanksgiving in which offerings are
made to the deities
 Devotes place all of the offerings on a
tray near the shrine, which include
flowers, fruit, incense sticks, water,
milk and a lamp
Home Worship:
Puja
 All puja concludes wit the waving of
a lamp around the altar while
worshippers sing hymns and praise
 After the final prayers, the food that
has been offered to the deities is now
considered blessed and is redistributed to those who are present
at the ceremony as a gift from the
deity
Hindu Worship:
Temple (Mandir) Worship
 Worship in a Hindu temple is not a
requirement nor is it necessary
 Hindus usually visit temples during
festivals or for special functions
Temple (Mandir) Worship:
Hindu Priests
 Worship in a temple is conducted and
lead by a priest and his helpers.
 In the morning the priest rings the
temple bells, prepares the deities,
and offers fresh flowers, incense and
food on behalf of the devotees.
Holy Places:
Pilgrimages
 Pilgrimages or Journeys to holy
places are acts of devotion and are an
important part of Hindu life
Pilgrimages:
The Holy City of Varanasi (Benares)
 One holy place that Hindus strive to
visit at least once in their lifetime is
the Holy City of Varanasi, which is
located along the west bank of the
Holy Ganges River.
Pilgrimages:
The Ganges River
 The Ganges River is believed to
have fallen from heaven to earth,
giving life to people and watering the
plains to produce food
 Bathing in the river is the first thing
pilgrims do – it is believed that
bathing in the Ganges cleanses them
of maya
Holy Places Exercise