| Places of Worship |
| All Hindus, whether they may be rich or poor, visit the Hindu Temple. Hindu temples come in many varietes. A village shrine in India may be a mud or thatch shelter with a simple image inside of the God or Goddess worshipped in that area. In Britain, Hindu communities have often converted houses or recreation halls into temples. However, most large temples in India are built in accordance to an age-old design. Most temples are surrounded by walls, which seperate the sanctified space of the temple from the everyday world outside. To enter the temple, you must first pass through the gateway, which can be a simple or a towering, ornately carved structure. |
| It is in the Hindu Temple that the three worlds meet and devotees invoke the Gods of Hinduism. The temple is built as a palace in which the Gods live. It is the home of the Gods, a sacred place unlike every other place on the earth. The Hindu must associate himself with these Gods in a very sensitive way when he approaches the temple. Though the devotee rarely has the psychic vision of the Deity, he is aware of the God's divine presence. As he approaches the sanctum sanctorum, the Hindu is fully aware that an intelligent being, greater and more evolved than himself, is there. This God is intently aware of him, safeguarding him, fully knowing his inmost thought, fully capable of coping with any situation the devtotee may mentally lay at his Holy Feet. It is important that we approach the Deity in this way - conscious and confident that our needs are known in the inner spiritual worlds. |
| Hindus visit the temple regularly. However, they may go with some problem or worry, and when they pray, they ask for help, for guidance down the right path to spiritual happiness. It is compulsory for Hindus to remove their shoes, sandals or any such footwear, before they enter the temple because it is considered disrespectful and unclean to do so. Also, they must come bathed and fresh, wearing new or clean clothes if possible. Hindus may visit the temple alone or in small family groups. Men, women and children all worship together, but there is no set congregational service like that held at a Christian church on Sunday or a Muslim mosque on Friday. In fact, there is no obligation for believers to visit a temple at all, though most Hindus do. Those who do not visit the temple have usually built a smaller version inside their own homes. Worship in a temple consists mainly of puja, similar to that held in a home. It varies somewhat from place to place, but generally gifts such as sweets and flowers are presented to the god or goddess. A priest, (who sits near the main image), then makes a mark on the worshipper's forehead with red powder. Silent prayers are offered for a few minutes. Then most of the sweets which have been placed before the image are returned to the worshipper, who eats a small amount and distributes the rest among the poor, keeping some to take home to other members of the family. Many people visit the temple on their way to work in the morning and place a flower in front of the image of the god or goddess and pause for a few minutes to pray, before going on their way. |
| Inside the wall, there may be several small shrines as well as the main temple. There may also be a tank, a well or a tap where worshippers can bathe so that they enter the temple in a pure state. There is usually a bell at the entrance of the main temple, which you ring as you enter. Leading to the heart of the temple are several pillared hallways containing statues of various gods and goddesses. The main image is usually at the very back of the temple in a small, dark chamber lit with oil lamps, or diyas. Sometimes a small passage is left so that worshippers can walk around the image as a sign of reverence. Most temples have a tall tower rising above the spot where the main image stands. The tower and the sides of the temple may be carved with statues of gods and goddesses, men and women, and plants and animals. |
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| The picture on the right shows carvings of gods on a wall. |
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