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HAFSITE.ORG
How Do Hindus Worship?
Promoting Human Dignity
Mutual Respect & Pluralism
how do Hindus worship?
Hindus practice
devotion in
many ways
there are no
NO REQUIRED
PRACTICES
O R P R AY E R S
to consider
one’s self
a Hindu
instead
there are
MANY
PRACTICES
outlined in
Hindu texts or
preserved
through
family and
community
traditions
… the practices
are intended
to help in
the quest for
MOKSHA
(liberation)
THREE MAIN RITUALS
Nitya
Naimittika
Kamya
(daily offerings)
(festivals & holidays)
(optional)
Nitya
offerings made
at a home shrine
or worshipping of
family dieties
one example is puja
Many Hindus have a home shrine,
with pictures or statues of their favorite
incarnations of God. They worship
these images much in the same way
as priests conduct worship of deities
in temples.
THE PUJA RITUAL: FOCUS THE MIND
ON GOD BY USING ALL THE SENSES
smell
sight
sound
taste
touch
incense,
camphor, and
fragrant flowers
focus on
a murti while
bathed in light
bells, cymbals,
chanting of
Vedic mantras,
and singing of
devotional songs
prasad, food
ritually blessed
by the deity
engaged in
all activities
of the ritual
Naimittka
occur at special
t i m e s o f t h e y e a r,
such as festivals
there are special
pujas and other
rituals associated
with Diwali and
Navarati, for example
Kamya
Optional, but important
one example is pilgrimage
to places like rivers,
temples, and other sacred
sites where God is said
to have appeared.
what do Hindus do in temples?
MOST TEMPLES, OR MANDIRS, ARE OPEN
TO ALL WHO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES
shoes
modesty
Everyone is asked
to remove their
shoes before entering.
This is both out
of respect and
to help keep
the temple clean.
Men and women
will dress modestly
before entering
a temple (i.e. revealing
clothing is generally
avoided).
leather
products
Many temples
ask their guests
to avoid wearing
leather products
to temples out of
respect for cows.
offerings
Many Hindus like to
bring an expression
of gratitude. Offerings
can be as simple fruit
or flowers, though money
is offered as well.
Often once the fruit
or flowers have
been offered to the
deity, they are returned
with blessings to
the individual who
offered them.
Darshan, or
viewing of murti
at specific
times, the
screen will
be pulled back
to reveal the
MURTI DECKED
IN FLOWER
GARLANDS
after DARSHAN
the priest will
sing a hymn while
performing a ritual
waving of
lights – AARTI –
done by circling
a brass plate
filled with
candles around
the deity’s face
the worshippers
may be offered
the flame’s
blessings and
h o l y wa t e r, a
TILAK (mark on
the forehead),
and PRASAD
(blessed item)
which may be a
sweet or flowers
famous Hindu sites & temples
Mount Kailas
This peak in present
d a y Tib e t w a s o n c e
considered the center
of Hindu civilization
by ancient Hindus.
It is thought of as the
home of the God Shiva
and his wife Parvati.
Because it is considered
Shiva’s sacred home,
many Hindus do not think it
is appropriate to climb. The
peak is also considered holy
by Buddhists, Jains, and
the nati v e Ti betan Bonpos .
Benares/Varanasi
Also known as Kashi.
There is some
archeological evidence
suggesting that
Kashi is the oldest
continuously inhabited
city in the world.
This “City of Light” is an intellectual
capital (hosting four universities), and
is considered Shiva’s favorite city.
Many Hindus believe that those who
die in Kashi go directly to heaven.
The Ganga river flows through Kashi,
and there are often cremations taking
place on its banks in this city.
Prayag
The Kumbha Mela is a
festival that takes place
every three years, and
alternates between four
sites. The fourth is
Prayag, and the Kumbha
Mela there is the largest.
In 2013, 100 million
people visited the
site over the course
of 55 days.
Hindus of every sect
and denomination gather
to worship in their own
w a y, i n a n a t m o s p h e r e
of mutual respect.
Tirupati
This is the most visited
pilgrimage site in the
world. About 30,000
devotees show up every
d a y o f t h e y e a r, a n d
t h e S r i Ve n k a t e s h v a r a
temple collects about
$ 6 m i l l i o n a d a y.
Devotees walk up 10,000
steps for darshan of
Ve n k a t e s h v a r a , a f o r m o f
Vishnu. Hindus believe that
any wish made before this
deity will come true, and
tell stories of miracles and
healings that have taken
place at this shrine.
K E Y TA K E A W AY S
there are a few
while there
are no required
practices,
Rituals
are believed to help
individuals progress
towards liberation
simple
guidelines
at a
mandir
like removing
shoes and
dressing modestly
there are
famous mandirs
across the
world, but most
Hindus
keep a
home shrine
for daily worship
THANK YOU