Hindu Worship

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Hindu Worship
SUCCESS CRITERIA By the end of the lesson you
should be able to list the items used in worship
and explain their meaning.

• LEARNING
• OBJECTIVES
• In this lesson we will learn about the way that
  Hindus worship and the symbolism of the Puja.

? Hepworth 2005
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Worship

• WORSHIP is a word we use to describe what people
• do when they are in a relationship with their
  god.
• People can worship through prayer, singing,
  dancing,
• meditating and reading holy books.
• This is what happens in a building called a place
• of worship.

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Hindu Gods

• We have already learned that Hindus worship many
  deities (gods) who are all part of the ONE god
  just different aspects.
• Hanuman

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Some of the gods
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1. Shiva Parvati 2. Lakshmi
3. Durga
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Explaining the many gods

• Did you know that Eskimos have forty-eight
  different names for snow in their language.
• This is because they know snow intimately in its
  different variations, not because they are
  ignorant of the fact that all snow is the same
  thing.
• On the same level, the many thousands of Hindu
  deities are just different words and pictures to
  describe God. It also shows how important God is
  to Hindus.

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Temples places of worship

• A Hindu temple is believed to be
• the earthly seat of a god and the
• place where the god waits for its
• worshippers.
• As such, temples are sacred spaces
• where people can be with the gods.
• Many temples look like palace
• architecture this is not surprising,
• as deities are often considered
• kings.

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Looking after the gods

• Hindus believe that if proper care is not taken
  of the temple's gods they will abandon the
  temple.
• Priests live at the temple and take care of the
  gods' needs.
• Each day the god is washed, their clothes changed
  and offerings are brought to them.

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But Hindus dont have to worship at a temple!

• The heart of every Hindu home is its shrine the
• sacred space set apart for honouring and
  worshiping
• the gods.
• While a particularly devout Hindu may visit a
  temple every day, others go there only to request
  a favour from the god or on festival days.
• Temple worship needs a priest to speak to the god
  for you, so most Hindus prefer to worship at home.

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Puja worshipping God at home

• The pujas that take place in the household shrine
  are the foundation of all family actions and
  decisions.
• In the home the contact between devotee and deity
  is direct.
• The size and decoration of a household shrine do
  not matter. The shrine may be large and
  impressive, an entire room or a or it may be
  simply a tiny niche, or even just a row of
  religious prints pasted on a wall.

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Praying every day

• Everyday, one or more people in the family will
  honour the familys god or goddess at their home
  shrine.
• To worship the god properly at home you have to
  connect to god with all your senses worship
  becomes a multi sensory experience.
• Prayers will be chanted to the god or goddess,
  people bow before the god .

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The five senses
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The five main things used in Puja
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Using your worksheet and the items in the
classroom, try to match the items with the senses

• You will see that there
• are some other items
• used in Puja as well.

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Hindu Worship

• LEARNING
• OBJECTIVES
• In this lesson we will learn about the way that
  Hindus worship and the symbolism of the Puja.

1. So how do you think Hindus worship?
2. What do you think the items used in worship
   represent?

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Lets check your answers
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• You look at the lighted lamps.
• You touch the ritual objects and feet of the god.
• You hear the ringing of the bells and the sacred
  chants being recited.
• You smell the incense.
• You taste the blessed food offered at the end of
  the ritual.
• Offerings are an essential part of worship.
  During puja worshippers present gifts that, the
  particular god or goddess likes often flowers,
  special foods, grains, coconuts, or oils.
• Offerings made in the household shrine are later
  divided among family members. Hindus are taught
  that by giving, they receive, and that when they
  receive, they should respond with gifts.

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Hindu Worship

• SUCCESS
• CRITERIA
• By the end of the lesson you should be able to
  list the items used in worship and explain their
  meaning.

1. Can you have a go at listing the items used in
   Puja?
2. What do you think these items represent?

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