Hindu University of America A Unique Dimension of Hindu Thought and Traditions

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Hindu University of AmericaA Unique Dimension of
Hindu Thought and Traditions
Session 7A Worship Practice and Priest Welfare

• Roles and Training of Priests
• Master of Divinity Program at
• Hindu University
• Abhinav Dwivedi
• Vice President, HUA
• HMEC-2009, Sept. 11-13, 2009

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Priests in North AmericaCurrent status

• Priests are principal custodians of Dharmic
  traditions, who are vital for keeping the
  traditions alive and easily accessible to all.
• So far in N.A. the needs are mostly met by
  bringing qualified priests from India.
• Smaller communities meet their needs by some one
  learning on his/her own the required minimal set
  of priestly activities.

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Priests in North America-2 Current status

• NEED As more non-Hindus get exposed to Sanatan
  Dharma, many would like to know more about
  Hindu way of life ,and how the lofty philosophies
  ( Tatva Darshana) are integrated in the daily
  life through various rituals. A qualified priest
  should be able to help non-Hindus in this quest.
• NEED As the interfaith dialogues increase, a
  qualified Hindu priest must be able to provide
  correct perspective of Hindu Darshana and rituals
  to the people of other faiths both to the
  sympathetic and hostile.
• NEED Community and temples must create a culture
  where the best priests are employed at the
  temples, are well respected, well treated, and
  are provided for their worldly needs.

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Priests in North America-3 Current status

• NEED Qualified priests must be able to converse
  with the Hindu children growing up in N.A. at the
  level, and in the language ( lingo) they can
  understand, and fill the gap which parents may
  not be able to do.
• NEED If required priests should be able to go
  to churches ( and like institutions) and to
  schools and talk on Hindu Dharma in a manner the
  audience can understand and appreciate.
• NEED Go to Hospital-hospice Centers and provide
  comforting prayers to patients and the family.

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Priests - Expectations

• Well versed in Hindu scriptures Key Upanishads,
  Mahabharat, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, some
  popular puranas,..
• Working knowledge of Sanskrit, and religious
  texts in original
• Well versed in the philosophic concepts, and
  their application in daily life through rituals
  at home, in the temples, during festivals,
  through sanskaras, etc.

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Priests Expectations-2

• Well versed in the rituals of
• -- Temples various schools, deities,
  traditions
• -- Sanskaras Stages of pre- birth to
  post-death
• -- Yagna, Havan, Vrata, Festivals..
• -- Katha and Vyakhyaan Ram Charita Manas,
  Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavatam, Satya Narayan Katha
  and Bhajans.
• Ability to articulate Meaning and explanation in
  English and in one of the Indian Languages
  (Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telgu, Punjabi etc.) to
  Hindus, non Hindus and to children.

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Roles of Priests

• Major areas
• Rituals ( Karma-kand)
• Education (moral/religious/spiritual)
• Spiritual counseling

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Roles of Priests-2

• Rituals
• Related to pujas, festivals and Samskaras
• (within and outside of the temples)
• Maintaining Sanctity and holiness of the
  activities
• This role is performed satisfactorily by most,
  but not all, priests coming from India

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Roles of Priests-3

• Education
• For children, lay-Hindus, and non-Hindus
• Spokesperson for interfaith dialogs
• Community representation in religious and
  spiritual matters
• Interpretation and explanations of rituals,
  history, stories and concepts
• Temple Management needs to facilitate training
  of priests to improve Performance of this role.

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Roles of Priests-4

• Spiritual Counseling
• Dharmic guidance in decision making for a house
  holder
• Support during depression, bereavement periods
  etc.
• Illnesses, Chaplins role in hospitals
• Temple Management needs to facilitate training
  of priests to improve Performance of this role.

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Roles of Priests-5

• Education Spiritual Counseling Roles are
  largely absent (some times filled in by learned
  and concerned community members, or other
  organizations)
• Traditionally not performed by priests in India
• Not yet actively supported by temple management
  in N.A.

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Training of Priests

• PRIEST TRAINING PROGRAM AT HUA

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Training of Priests

• Hindu University has evolved an academic program
  for Priests training
• Advanced Diploma and Master of Hindu Divinity
  programs. (M.H.D degree)
• Overall focus is on enhancing the priests
  abilities to function more efficiently in the
  N.A. society.
• Make their stature/status in the society and
  their profession improve by providing proper
  training and certification (compare with how a
  Christian priest, Jewish rabbi or Muslim Imam is
  respected in their community)
• Attract younger generation into this profession.

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Priests Training Programsummary

• Four groups of courses
• Hindu Tradition Four courses (12 credits)
• Principles of Hinduism, Basic Hindu Scriptures,
• Basic Jyotish, Principles and Practices of Yoga
  Meditation
• Sanskrit Two courses (6 credits)
• General Three courses (9 credits)
• Public Speaking and Communication Skills
• Spiritual Counseling (including social and
  psychological counseling)
• World Major Religions (and community
  diversities)

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Priest Training Programsummary-2

• Rituals Four courses (12 credits)
• Sanskaras, Festivals and Pujas, Rituals in
  different Sampradayas, Field Practice.

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Priest Training programsummary-3

• Course on World Major Religions
• Sanatan Traditions Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism,
• Abrahamic Traditions Islam, Judaism,
  Christianity
• Course coordinated and run by HU
• Rituals in different Sampradayas
• An overview of unique features of different
  Sampradayas (other than the one the priest has
  training in).
• Credits/waivers for previous training and
  experience given.

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Role of Temple Management

• Encourage, support and fund priests to enhance
  their capabilities through training provided by
  HUA
• Encourage, support and fund so that education and
  spiritual counseling activities can be undertaken
  by priests.
• Create an environment wherein the priests are
  treated with respect and reverence in community.

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HUA- in nutshell

• WHAT IS HUA?

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HUA- in nutshell-2

• Many Programs and courses available to Temples
  for systematic and authentic, understanding and
  education of Sanatan Dharma for their
  communities
• -- Degree and non-degree courses
• -- Master and doctoral degree programs
• -- Conference, Symposia, seminars, Lecture
  series,

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HUA- in nutshell-3

• Only university outside of Bharat known to be
  exclusively devoted to teaching and research in
  all areas of Sanatana Dharma, Culture, languages,
  philosophies, practices, including Buddhist,
  Jain, and Sikh traditions.
• Authorized by the State of FL. 501 (C) 3,
  non-profit org.
• Large of affiliations with other institutions,
  both in USA and India.
• Guided and shaped by BOD made up of eminent
  persons.
• Large of adjunct faculty of diverse expertise
• See hand out folder for details!
• Contact HUA
• 407-275-0013 staff_at_hua.edu
• visit www.hua.edu

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Dhanyavaad!

• Hindu University Of America
• 113 S. Econlockhatchee Trail
• Orlando, FL 32825 USA
• 407-275-0013 ( Voice)
• 407- 275-0104 ( fax)
• staff_at_hua.edu
• www.hua.edu