ॐ Hindu Of Universe ॐ
“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.”
Why do we have Altar at home?
Hindu Puja Altar/Hindu Prayer Altar
Hindu Puja Altar/Hindu Prayer Altar (पूजा चोकी): Pooja can be considered as a sacred act of high esteem to God through acknowledgement, prayers and by performing rituals. The planetary movements decide the human life and hence when Pujas(Hindu Puja Altar) are performed it mitigates the negative influences. (Hindu Prayer Altar)
Pooja (Hindu Puja Altar) is a way through which we seek the blessings of God and it also helps in warding off the evil influences of the malefic planets in our natal charts. Our ancient Vedic scriptures on astrology and great sages and saints have suggested many Pujas (Hindu Puja Altar) as astrological remedies for various problems.
Pujas (Hindu Puja Altar)are considered to be more auspicious than any other astrological remedies because they are said to produce more positive effects and influence a person’s life for betterment. Pujas (Hindu Puja Altar) when performed the right way or with the aid of a qualified pundit is said to be very effective.
There are lot of specific Pujas and havens for various Gods and Goddesses which is very clearly prescribed in the Vedic science and scriptures. Pujas (Hindu Puja Altar) a part from giving positive effect is said to build inner strength and credence. (Hindu Prayer Altar)
Hindu Puja Altar Remedy:
Pujas are considered to be the most powerful way to reduce the negative effects of the planets when compared to any other means like Gems, Rudraksha or any other materialistic way. More than a person hiring a Vedic Pundit or a purohit for performing the poojas when he himself learns the rituals and performs it by himself the results is highly favourable. But however it has to be performed the right way and the concerned person’s horoscope has to be thoroughly analyzed before performing the specific Pooja (Hindu Puja Altar/Hindu Prayer Altar).
Today performance of Pujas by the Pundits has itself become a separate field where it is much commercialized. In ancient days a pundit was taken care by the King of that place where the Majesty will provide the pundit with a piece of land and a house to live and the people of the town give them clothes and food as an offering (Dakshina) for teaching them the Shastra and for performing the various Pujas (Hindu Puja Altar).
So it was by this way in those days the pundits used to lead their life by teaching the knowledge of the Vedic Shastra freely and performed the Pujas and remedies also freely and accepted whatever the people offered them without any demands in cash or kind. This is not the same scenario today, the lure of money through astrology remedies and Pujas (Hindu Puja Altar) is so strong and so the people and pundits have become more materialistic. (Hindu Prayer Altar)
Puja (Hindu Puja Altar) is both the act of worship and the altar or space for the images to be worshipped. A puja is always given a special place in a room and many different sacred items can be kept on the puja (Hindu Puja Altar) and used during worship like Idols (Statues), Incense, Meditation Oils, Chanting Books or Chalisa, Sacred Items. Every object associated with the ritual of Puja or worship is symbolically significant.
Requirements of Hindu Puja Altar:
A small bench or a wooden table or a cardboard box covering an area no larger than 36″ x 24″ is adequate. The size can vary if you wish to arrange more or fewer pictures and/or statues on the surface. Remember that you should be able to see the items on the altar and have easy access to make offerings during the worship.
Place the table (or box) against a wall, cover it with a clean cloth, preferably white, and secure the same by tucking it under so that it won’t slip off easily.
The statue or image/picture of the deity, which is called ‘Vigraha‘ means something that is devoid of the ill effects of the planets or ‘Grahas‘, must also be arranged on the altar in a way that it leans against the wall.
Prepare lamps with cotton wicks soaking in oil. Place the lamps in front of the picture. The lamp we light represents the light in us that is the soul, which we offer to the Absolute. Do not light these until you are ready to begin the Puja(Hindu Puja Altar).
Prepare a worship platter by placing on it small vessels (cup-like, preferably metallic) of vermilion, turmeric, one packet of camphor, sandal paste, a dozen aggarbatti sticks (incense sticks), and a match box. The incense we burn collectively stands for the desires we have for various things in life. The vermilion or red powder stands for our emotions.
Prepare another plate, and put a variety of fruits (bananas, apples, oranges, etc.) and a couple of varieties of leaves and flowers. The flower that we offer to the deity stands for the good that has blossomed in us. The fruits offered symbolize our detachment, self-sacrifice and surrender.
You will need an Aarati plate. This (Hindu Puja Altar) can be a small plate with a few vertical wicks soaking in oil or ghee or an Aarati receptacle with a few wicks soaking in oil or ghee.
You will also need a small cup of Akshata (raw unbroken rice).
Covered dishes of favourite sweets may be placed in front of the altar on the cloth covered ground. A metallic vessel large enough to contain a couple of mugs of water should be filled with water and placed in front of the altar (Hindu Puja Altar). You will need a smaller vessel, preferably a metallic straight-walled tumbler into which water will be poured during the service (Hindu Puja Altar). A dispenser (called uddharana or a simple metallic spoon) to dispense water from the tumbler will be needed. You will need a piece of cloth, white for a male deity and colourful cloth for a Goddess.
Light the lamps and a couple of aggarbatti (Hindu Puja Altar). Keep them safely in the vicinity such that they present no hazard. Direct the aggarbatti (Hindu Puja Altar) smoke towards the altar such that the smoke does not cause discomfort with chanting by the assembled.
The principal mood should be one of joy and bhakti, but the mind should be relaxed (Hindu Puja Altar). Make sure nothing starts until you are certain that a pleasant, sincere, reverential, relaxed environment is created to fill yourselves with joy as you begin to surrender to the Godhead through (Hindu Puja Altar) worship.
PERSONAL ALTARS
Personal altars are demonstrations of a belief and trust between the physical earth and the spiritual world. Creating an altar where you reside is an empowering way to create a sacred space within your home as a place of prayer, meditation, worship, and reflection. In essence, your altar should be a portal to the otherworldly. Altars can be made out of anything, in or outdoors, as long as they are consecrated as sacred spaces and kept that way with preservation and care.
Many create altars on special tables, shelves, cabinets or create an entire shrine space in a corner of their home. Altars can be intricate and elaborate, but they can also be simple and humble, as the intention is what is most important. Altars can be permanent, temporary or even travel-sized. Altars are typically dressed and decorated according to their specific purposes. Altars can be adorned with but are not limited to statues, figurines, photos, candles, flowers, gemstones, crystals, heirlooms and other special sacred artifacts. The aesthetic, placement and contents of the altar are completely up to each individual. What matters is that one connects with their own altar and will cultivate a relationship with this space but also with its intention.
ALTAR OFFERINGS
Offerings are left on the altar to propitiate and please certain deities or spirits. Altar offerings vary from incense, burning herbs, food, drinks, money, flowers, fruits, plants, trinkets and various other treasures. Offerings are left according to what deity or spirit one is working with, as Divine entities prefer different things. For example, if someone you love has passed on, leave an offering of their favorite treat during special times or when you may desire their presence or guidance.
CREATE YOUR OWN PERSONAL ALTAR
Choose a space in your home – the space can be inside or outdoors, small or large, private or communal.
Clean the space physically and energetically – spray an Aura Mist, burn herbs, incense, resin, diffuse a Diffuser Oil or use other purifying techniques.
Gather altar tools such as candles, feathers, fireproof dishes or bowls, bells, etc.
Choose a theme or intention for your altar and adorn it accordingly – place statues, figures, flowers, plants, crystals, gemstones and other items that embody its intention
Frequently cleanse your altar with incense and herbs like sage, cedar, sweet grass, tobacco, yerba santa and palo santo.
Create a daily ritual where you spend time at your altar meditating, chanting, praying, reflecting and setting your intentions for the day. Anoint yourself with an Anointing Oil that fits your needs of the day or moment. During this time, light candles, burn incense, make offerings, play music or remain in silence. Each day, come to your altar in humble gratitude, an open mind and heart and a spirit of discovery.
HINDU TEMPLE WORSHIP
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A HINDU DEVOTEE
Each day at dawn and dusk, devotees gather at the Krishna Temple in the vibrant coastal city of Vishakhapatnam, India to worship Vishnu’s beloved avatar. The Hindu priest (pujari begins the ceremony (puja) by invoking the deities through a sacred flame (aarti), ringing a bell (ghanti) and waving a conch shell (sankha). The priest offers jasmine garlands and fresh mangoes as gifts to the deity and then fans the devotional icon (murti)—where the deity is now present—with a flywhisk (chamara/chauri), emblematic of the royal status of divinity. By caring for the gods in physical form, worshippers demonstrate their total love and devotion (bhakti).
As the pujari performs puja, worshipers sing devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna and prostrate themselves in prayer. The most auspicious moment ensues as devotees approach the altar to share a mutual gaze with deity (darshan)—a blessing that deepens and strengthens the relationship between God and his followers. The pujari distributes food (prasad) and water (theertham) among the devotees, which God has blessed through his powerful sight. A sacred vessel (shatagopam) is then placed by the pujari upon the heads of devotees, symbolic of their complete submission to the will of the divine. The ritual concludes with worshippers, both young and old, circumambulating the altar (parikrama) in recognition of God as the center of their thoughts and actions.
AARTI
A worship ceremony using a lighted oil lamp to invoke the power of the deity; the flame is then offered to the devotee as a blessing from God
AARTI TRAY
A tray for holding objects used in Hindu home worship: bell, incense, conch shell, water, kumkum, flowers, and oil lamp to invoke the power of deity
ABHISHEKA
The ritual washing and anointing of the deity (the murti) as a sign of loving devotion using such libations as milk, honey, oil, and rosewater
BHAKTA
Hindu worshippers, often referred to as devotees
CHAMARA/CHAURI
A flywhisk used to keep flies away, often associated with Shiva and emblematic of the high status of the gods; held by servants as a sign of devotion and humility; symbolizes not only the swatting away of pesky insects but also the removal of unwanted thoughts
DAMRU
A drum with the power to generate divine energy, associated with Shiva and the primordial sounds of the universe; the triangular upward and downward shapes symbolize male and female procreativity, respectively
DEEPAM
Oil lamps; the ubiquitous fire of Hindu ceremony crucial to all aspects of worship (puja); symbolic of the light or spirit (atman) within each worshiper as darkness is dispelled
EARRINGS AND CLOTHING
Dressing the gods each day in their finery as a form of bhakti, or loving devotion; Vishnu’s earlobes are always shown to be elongated because of their constant, bejeweled ornamentation
GANDHAM
Incense to focus the mind, clear the air, and create an atmosphere conducive to worship; often nag champa, the distinctive Indian scent containing sandalwood and frangipani
GHANTI
A bell that is rung to awaken and attract deity; also thwarts evil forces and helps devotees focus their attention on worship
GO (PAŚU)
The common word for cows in India, where they are considered sacred by Hindus; a symbol of wealth and deemed the “mothers of all civilization” through their life-giving milk; associated with Lord Krishna, the great cow herder
KALASH
A pot of water symbolizing Mother Earth (Bhudevi); the water used to quench the God’s thirst, bathe the deity, and then be drunk by—or sprinkled upon—devotees as a divine blessing
MALA
A flower garland symbolic of victory and offered as a sign of complete devotion and surrender; various types of flowers are associated with specific gods
MANDIR
The Sanskrit term for house; the designation for a Hindu temple
MURTI
Devotional icons that, once properly installed through ritual and worship, are considered the essence of that god and enable the devotee to experience darshan—the blessing of both seeing and being seen by the divine presence; most important are the eyes of the murti, which consecrate the icon once painted or incised
OM
The sound representing the first vibrations of creation, which enables the devotee to unite with deity and the forces of the cosmos
PARIKRAMA
The circumambulation of the god—walking around the altar on which the devotional icon (murti) resides, as a sign that God is the preeminent center of the devotee’s thoughts and actions
PEACOCK FAN
Used to cool the deity; symbolic of Krishna’s all-attractive visage and status as prince among Vishnu’s avatars; also associated with love and desire in connection with the song of the peacock sounded during its mating season
PRASAD
Gifts to deity to be used in temple worship such as incense or oil wicks; also offerings of food blessed by God and subsequently eaten by worshippers to enrich them spiritually
PUJARI
Hindu priest who performs the temple service
RUDRAKSH MALA AND LOTUS SEED MALA
Prayer beads employing japa, the Hindu practice of reciting and chanting a mantra or the various names of deity, often employs a string (mala) of 108 beads to keep track of repetitions; prayer beads are often made from the red rudraksha seed, a broad-leaf evergreen tree that grows in the foothills of the Himalayas—the seed representing Shiva’s tears and the grooves symbolic of his five faces; the lotus seed symbolizes the flowering of spirituality within an individual
SANKHA
A conch shell symbolizing the primeval sound of creation and the horn used in the victorious battle over evil; also signifies the endless cosmos as the shell unfolds from a single point to an ever-expanding infinity—a solid form that encompasses empty space
SHATAGOPAM
A holy vessel that is placed by the priest (pujari) over the heads of devotees; represents the feet of God upon the heads of the worshippers—an act of complete submission to deity
SHIVA LINGAM
A Hindu sacred stone used in temple worship—the non-representational form of Shiva, member of the Hindu Trimurti known as the Destroyer
TILAKA
A mark of sandalwood paste or kumkum on the forehead of a devotee to honor a specific deity and represent meditation and enlightenmen
TULSI PLANT
An auspicious plant that especially pleases Vishnu and his avatar, Krishna; a holy basil that is believed to be endowed with a divine feminine force
YOGA
Meaning “union;” the spiritual, mental, and physical discipline of calming the states of the mind to achieve unity with deity; three paths in achieving liberation of the soul—the Path of Action (karma yoga), the Path of Devotion (bhakti), and the Path of Knowledge (jnana)
Seven days and Seven fasts in Hinduism
As per Hinduism, Fasting (Vrat) is usually observed by devout Hindus for the achievement of an oath. It is not only meant for materialistic gains, but also for harmony and peace within. As per Hindu mythology, each day of the week is dedicated to one or more Hindu Gods. Upvas (Vrat) begins with the sunrise and ends at sunset. On the day of fasting, the native can be observed eating only after the evening prayers. Every fasting has its own procedures and importance.
MONDAY FASTING:
Monday (Somavaar) is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Known to be the father of Lord Ganesha, no puja can ever start without Ganpati Pujan (worship of Lord Ganesha). After seeking blessings from Ganpati, Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati are worshipped on this day. Devotees, who observe fast on this day, are blessed with the fulfillment of all their dreams and desires. This fast is commonly kept by young girls (unmarried ladies) who wish to be blessed with a husband like Lord Shiva. There are three ways of observing this fast:
Simple Monday fast,
Som Pradosh vrat,
Solah somavaar.
It is believed that even Goddess Parvati observed the fast of Solah Somavaar with deep devotion for Lord Shiva.
How To Begin The Monday Fast?
For a fruitful result, one should start Monday fast from Shukla Paksha of Savan month (June-July) with a clean heart. One can keep either the simple Monday fast or the Solah Somvars as per one’s determination.
After taking bath, one should sit facing Northeast. Clean the idol with Ganga jal, and light a diya after applying tilak on the idol. Remember that kumkum is never offered to Lord Shiva. It is advised that only chandan (sandalwood) should be used for Lord Shiva and kumkum for Goddess Parvati. Offer incense sticks, diya, five type of seasonal fruits while chanting the mantra “OM NAMAH SHIVAY” for 108 times. The devotees hear Somvar Vrat katha on the day of fasting in a hope that their wish would be fulfilled.
Preferred Color: Blue
TUESDAY FASTING:
Tuesday (Mangalvaar) is dedicated to Mahavir Hanuman, who was a great devotee of Lord Rama. It is considered to be a very strict fast. This is generally kept by males for immense flow of success, strength and fast-recovery from illness. Besides this, this fasting is considered for Mangal (Mars), as Lord Hanuman helps nullify the ill-effects of the troublesome planet, Mars.
How To Begin Tuesday Fast/Vrat?
The observer should take bath and seek blessings from Lord Hanuman. The person should worship Lord Hanuman by lighting a diya while offering red flowers. A tilak of sandalwood paste must be applied on the idol of Lord Hanuman. Chant Hanuman Chalisa for 108 times. The observer should eat only after sunset. Salt should be avoided.
Preferred Color: Red
WEDNESDAY FASTING:
This day is dedicated to the planet, Mercury, and Lord Vithal, who was an avatar of Lord Krishna. In Budhvaar Vrat, Lord Krishna and Lord Vishnu are worshipped. Wednesday is considered a good day for starting a new venture and educational activity. It helps maintain harmony in family life. Couples are advised to observe fast together on this day for a blissful married life.
How to keep Wednesday Fast?
On this day, everything offer by the devotee to the planet Mercury must be green-colored. Food must be eaten only after reading the Budh katha in the evening. After the katha is over, Lord Shiva must be offered the leaves of Bael tree. Keeping this fast with devotion can end all family disputes as well as troubles.
Prefered Color: Green
THURSDAY FASTING:
Lord Brihaspati represents money; hence, the observer should worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu for monetary gains and mental peace. Some people keep this fast for removing obstacles of their married life. The people who experience weak Jupiter in their horoscope must keep this fast with full dedication to seek blessings and prosperity.
How to observe Thursday fast?
One should start the fast on the first Thursday of Shukla Paksha. The observer should keep fasts for 16 consecutive Thursdays (Brihaspativaar). On the fasting day, one should take bath before the sunrise. One must avoid using soap or washing the head on this day. Later, the observer should sit with the face towards Northeast, and worship Lord Vishnu and Brihaspati Grah by offering yellow flowers, sandalwood paste and a yellow dish as prasadh.
The devotee should hear brihaspati katha in evening, and should give away yellow colored things such as clothes as ‘daan’ (donation). The observer should eat only yellow dishes without any salt on this day.
Preferred Color: Yellow
FRIDAY FASTING:
Shukravaar (Friday) is devoted to Goddess Durga. It is also dedicated to Mata Santoshi, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. The observer must keep 16 vrat (fast), known as Solah Shukravaar Vrat, to get what they desire. Women keep this fast for strength and physical & mental fitness. If the Shukra (Venus) is weak in one’s horoscope, he/she is advised to keep this fast, in order to nullify the harmful effects of the same.
How To Observe The Friday Fast?
On Friday, women fast for Santoshi Ma. They should, therefore, avoid eating any sour food. Fast should be for at least sixteen Fridays. On completion of these sixteen fasts, they must invite girls in odd number such as 7 or 11 (the girls should be of 16 years) for Kanya Pujan and should offer gifts and food to them.
Preferred Color: Blue or White
SATURDAY FASTING:
Saturday (Shanivaar) fast is observed to nullify the harmful effects of the planet Saturn (Shani). Shani represents cruelty. If the native is suffering from any evil effects of Shani, he/she should donate black colored items such as black cloth, metal, black gram, black til, etc. Generally, one should donate mustard oil and a coin in iron bowl, after having a glimpse of their shadow in it.
How to observe the Saturday Fast?
Many people worship Peepal tree in the evening by lighting diya beneath it and tying threads around the bark. People also worship Lord Hanuman on Saturdays because Hanuman rescued Lord Shani from Ravana during Ramayana. Since then, the black-skinned Lord Shani respects Lord Hanuman, and never harms His devotees. The devotees should eat only once in a day, that too after offering prayers in the evening. The evening food must contain any black colored food item, such as sesame oil, black gram, mustard etc. If possible, avoid salt on your fasting day.
Prefered Color: Black
SUNDAY FASTING:
Lord Sun (Surya Narayana) is worshipped on this day. He is known to fulfill the desires of a person. This fast helps clean one’s aura and improves his status in society. Besides this, devotees can observe this fast for overcoming any problems related to skin.
How To Observe The Sunday Fast?
One should take bath early in the morning. Take a copper kalash (pot), with kumkum or sandalwood paste inside it, and a red flower. Pour Holy water inside the kalash and offer the water to Surya devta by pouring it outside, facing towards the Sun. Remember to chant the Gayatri mantra three times while offering the water. Devotees are advised to eat one meal in a day, before sunset. Avoid eating salt, oily or fried items.
Preferred Color: Red
Make space for gratitude and inspiration with a beautiful home altar.
8 Things You Need to Create a Home Altar
Deities
Deities from the Indian tradition hold great significance. Choose a deity for your altar that helps inspire you to be your best self. Hanuman may remind you to be a good friend and servant of love, Shiva to dance with the mysteries of life, or Ganesha to be a remover of obstacles.
Family Photos
While meditating, you may find it comforting to see the faces of loved ones smiling back at you. It will also help you appreciate the long, but beautiful, journey through life.
Words of Wisdom
Hang or place words of wisdom that resonate with you on your alter. Seeing these words so often will allow them to sink in and become an integrated part of your psyche.
Lights
Lights symbolize an offering of energy and love. Decorate your altar with candles or other forms of light, calling energy and love into your home and heart.
Childhood Photos
Remind yourself to stay playful and to cherish those who helped raised on you by adding fun childhood pictures from the past. We’re never to old to feel young again.
Fresh Flowers
Mmm the smell of fresh, fragrant flowers. Incorporate more of your senses by adding fresh flowers to your altar—you’ll be able to smell the sweet nectar throughout meditation and prayer.
Prayer Beads (Malas)
Traditionally, malas, or garlands of prayer beads, come as a string of 108 beads (plus one for the “guru bead,” around which the other 108 beads turn like the planets around the sun). A mala is used for counting as you repeat a mantra. Malas are used based on preference but, in general, touching or counting the beads lightly can help bring you back to yourself.
Find Space
Choose a place for your altar that is quiet and private. It could simply be the corner of your dresser —what imbues an altar with its energy is the spirit you bring to it. Lastly, place a mat or pillow in front of it to set the space apart from everything else.
Set an Intention
Close your eyes and think about your intention for creating an altar. Maybe it’s to inspire you creatively, express gratitude, or wish someone healing. Most important is to create a sacred space that reflects back the energy of your yoga and meditation practice.
And don’t be afraid to change it up—swapping out old pictures and flowers for fresh inspiration. Continue to add pieces as they come into your life and speak to you.
Make It Your Own
No matter what you choose to put on your home altar, make sure it feels your own. Altars are a place for healing, love, and the divine—so make sure the things you cherish are an integral part of your sacred space.
Sacred Space: How to Make an Altar in Your Home
The Dos and Don’ts of a Hindu Prayer Altar (puja ghar)
In every Hindu home, you will find a small home altar or mandir for the proper worship of the home’s murtis. A murti is an embodiment of a Hindu god in any form which is usually a statue of the god or goddesses. Although, we do believe that God resides in anything you are surrounded with, we do say too, that when inviting certain deities in your home, there are a few guidelines to be followed. I have learnt from what has been passed by my mother and my family who belonged to a long line of Brahmin pandits. I do see some people’s puja ghar with some mistakes in their displays, but it’s a very sensitive issue, and when I can I try to discreetly suggest the corrections. I shall share with you, the knowledge I have inherited and learnt from India.
Where does a Mandir go in your home?
Generally, a separate room should be devoted for a puja ghar; however, this is most often not possible, so you can simply choose a quiet corner of a room somewhere in the house. Bearing in mind that it cannot be just any room.
According to the Vastu Shastra (traditional Hindu architecture), the home altar room should always be in the north east.
Next, it should NEVER be in these rooms: bedroom, dining room, store room, garage, on the landing of stairs or near a toilet.
Never keep deities on different shelves. They should all occupy the same level.
Which Gods Should be in the Home Altar?
The main devas or Gods found in any home are, and by no means limited to Ganesha, Parvati, Shiva, Vishnu, & Krishna. Sometimes households only care for one deity while others prefer to have an entire pantheon. It is extremely important to note that Ganesha-ji should always have a place in every mandir. Since he is the lord of beginnings, as a rule of thumb he is always placed in the mandir before any other deity. Some people have Sai Baba too in their altar, but you may keep a photo or Statuette, however, it will not be subject to abhishek etc. It will be subject to Dhyan only (reflection, meditation) and not rituals.
What should the Mandir be made from?
A ready-made mandir is ideal to house murtis; however, not everyone has a temple lying around. A small table with a saffron-colored cloth draped over it will do perfectly in its absence. You will also need an incense burner, a diya, (oil lamp), a bell, a plate or thali in any metal, a small lotta of water with a spoon to be used only for puja, a bell, cotton wicks, a vase for daily fresh flowers, and oil. No artificial flowers at the altar. If you don’t have flowers, a branch of leaves would do, but no artificial flower.
What sort of Murti to keep?
It is very important to NEVER do any rituals with pictures. Try to buy even the smallest of a stone or metal idol. You cannot do abhishek regularly with any framed picture, that’s the reason. If you don’t have the possibility to buy a murti, keep a betel nut (supari), it works well as an alternative.
According to Vastu guidelines, one should not keep any pics of a deceased person on a puja ghar with the murtis. If you want to revere you loved ones who have passed, keep their photos in the South West direction, which belongs to Lord Yama. As they now are part of Yam Lok.
Placement of Murtis
The murtis should be placed on a table or any furniture you have chosen facing towards you. Ideally, the murtis should be placed in a thali or a small flat bench. They should all be aligned so they rest on the same level, none as above or below.
It’s recommended to carry out your daily prayer in a seated position. Thus, your furniture should be low. I use a large coffee table with drawers, where I store my basic materials needed for regular puja. If you cannot sit on the floor, a low stool is alright, as long as you can sit comfortably.
Clothing
Once you have done the blessings of your Murtis, they should be regularly given baths (abhishek), some form of clothing or just some janev, flowers, incense, and a fruit or more. It’s imperative to remember to always take care of the mandir, make regular offerings of food, incense, and flowers, and to meditate in front of the mandir in order to ensure the mandir’s general upkeep.
Try to follow a calendar of auspicious times, to carry out the regular upkeep of bathing, clothing, adorning, and offerings to your deities. This keeps the good energy in your home, and everyone can benefit from it.
Besides it all, keep your puja ghar clean, and very simple. Nothing ostentatious, you can devote most of your effort in your Bhakti and reverence.
Home Altar
There are many variations of Hindu rituals at home, but the home altar remains an important part of American Hindu households. The home altar can be a place for studying scripture, performing puja, gathering a small Hindu community, and celebrating holidays or special events, such as marriages.The Hindu tradition is a tradition of the home, and the home altar is an important part of a Hindu household. In a suburban home in Wellesley, Massachusetts, a Hindu woman has transformed a large kitchen cabinet into an altar space, where Balaji and the other Deities are present, in the heart of the house, where she works. In Pittsburgh, a devout couple has built a separate room, opening off the kitchen. From south India, they brought wooden doors carved with images of the Gods to install at the doorway to this special home shrine. They spend a few moments in prayer here every day. In Louisville, a biochemist and his wife have created a home altar in what was formerly a closet space off the family room in the basement. In many homes, a small altar table will be set in the living room.
Studying the scriptures and singing bhajans in the living room of a private home is still one of the most common expressions of Hindu life. In some instances, the home altar of a particularly devout person, very often a woman, will become a gathering place for a small, informal community of devotees. At the home altar, women exercise both spiritual leadership and priestly roles.
Hindu rites at the home altar are as varied as the tradition itself. Hindus may light a simple oil lamp in the morning and in the evening, manifesting the auspicious presence of the Goddess Lakshmi. They may light incense and perform a puja, offering fresh flowers to the Deity, or garlanding a photograph of the family’s particular guru with flowers. They may pause briefly for a moment’s prayer or spend half an hour in meditation. A devout Hindu from the Shiva-Vishnu temple in Miami described his own routine this way: “In the morning after I get up and have a shower, I light the oil lamp and have a prayer. Sometimes the whole family gathers before school. Remembering God at home, every day—this is the importance of a home altar.”
Some home altars are constructed especially for the holidays. During Navaratri, for example, many South Indian Hindu women make elaborate altars in their homes, decorating them with tiny colored lights and with a multitude of tiny images—Gods and gurus, people and animals, houses, cars, and trains. Women visit in one another’s homes, admire their altars, sing together and perform pujas. One of the most celebrated days during the festival is Sarasvati Puja, when the Goddess of Learning is invited to pay a visit to the home. School books are stacked at the altar to receive the blessings of Sarasvati.
many rites that have traditionally been performed at home are commonly performed in the temple. The upanayana rites and the rites of marriage are two examples. Because the Hindu community is scattered and the priests relatively few, the temple has assumed a growing role in the life of Hindus. The fact that new temples are built with large kitchens and social halls signals this new prominence of temple community life. Even so, the home altar is still an important part of the private devotional life of many American Hindu families.
Hinduism and the Home Altar
In Hinduism, a murti (Devanagari: मूर्ति), or murthi, typically refers to an image which expresses a Divine Spirit (murta). Meaning literally “embodiment”, a murti is a representation of a divinity, made usually of stone, wood, or metal, which serves as a means through which a divinity may be worshiped. Hindus consider a murti worthy of serving as a focus of divine worship only after the divine is invoked in it for the purpose of offering worship. The depiction of the divinity must reflect the gestures and proportions outlined in religious tradition, the Murti is like a way to communicate with the abstract one god, it is a means of communication with the one god orBrahman in Hinduism. Murti is synonymous with statue or idol.
There’s a small sandalwood sculpture of Sri Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu deity, along with other small sculptures of Hanuman and Devi, two other deities.
A small oil lamp burns near the altar. Fresh flowers and fruit are set out as offerings.
Every day Gowda, a retired ear, nose and throat doctor, starts his day with prayer and meditation in front of the altar. It’s a practice he learned from his parents while growing up in rural India. Every day his prayer is the same.
“I pray that God gives me the strength to do the best I can do,” Gowda said.
The Vishnu exhibit at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville is bringing attention to home shrines or altars. Gowda’s altar is one of five Hindu home shrines featured, and it’s on display till the end of May. But Hindus aren’t alone in their practice: Buddhists, Catholics and even a Nashville Lutheran use them for worship.
The Home Shrine
HOW AND WHY TO ESTABLISH A HOLY ROOM FOR WORSHIP AND MEDITATION
What is the center of your home? The kitchen, the workshop, the living room or den? The ancients designated a crucial part of the home as a sacred sanctuary, a fortress of purity to which dwellers could retreat before dawn each day, to commune with their higher nature and with God and the Gods. This center of spiritual force is called devatarchanam, the “place for honoring Divinity.” Sacred architecture places it in the northeast corner, the realm of Isana, where its potency naturally flourishes. Scriptures speak but little of this tradition, perhaps because its necessity is taken for granted. Nevertheless, the custom has lived on, and every prominent devout Hindu home has a holy shrine room, often opulent, sometimes austere, the domiciles’ most auspicious quadrant, reserved for religious pursuits, and like a miniature temple, radiating blessings constantly through the abode and out to the community.
Love and joy come to Hindu families who worship God in their home through the traditional ceremony known as puja, meaning adoration or worship. Through such rites and the divine energies invoked, each family makes the house a sanctuary, a refuge from the concerns and worries of the world. The center of that sanctuary, the site of puja, is the shrine, mystically tied to the temple to which they pilgrimage weekly. Puja is performed daily–usually in the early morning, but also in the afternoon or evening–generally by the head of the house. All members of the family attend. Rites can be as simple as lighting a lamp and offering a flower at the Lord’s holy feet, or they can be most elaborate and detailed, with myriad Sanskrit chants and offerings. The essential and indispensable part of any puja is devotion. Without love and reverence in the heart, outer performance is of little value. But with true devotion even simple gestures become sacred ritual.
As in a temple, the images or icons of God and Gods are the focus of the shrine room. These are called murti in Sanskrit, worshiped and cared for as the physical body of the the Divine. Hindus do not worship these “idols” per se. They worship God and the Gods who by their infinite powers spiritual hover over and indwell the image. Murtis of the Gods are sanctified forms through which their love, power and blessings flood forth to bless the family. The God’s vibration and presence can be felt in the image, and the Divinity can use the images as a temporary physical place body or channel. Hindus believe and expect that the God is actually present and conscious in the murti during puja, aware of thoughts and feelings and even sensing the worshiper’s gentle touch on the metal or stone. The great Adi Shankaracharya, while espousing a strict monism, wrote, “Although Parabrahman is all pervading, to attain Him one should accept that He is ‘more’ present in one particular place, just as we see Vishnu in the Shaligrama, a small round stone.” The Vaishnava saint Ramanuja similarly stated, “Although the Lord is all pervading, using His omnipotent powers He appears before devotees to accept their devotion through an image.”
The Science of Ritual: Puja is a ceremony in which the ringing of bells, passing of flames, presenting of offerings and chanting of mantras invoke the devas and Gods, who then come to bless and help the devotees. Puja is holy communion, full of wonder and tender affections. Thus the home shrine is a place of tremendous importance, made more and more sacred by the culmulative power of prayer. Daily puja is the axis of religious life, and the puja room is the heart of the home. Chanting the Vedas is the magic enlivener. In the words of Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati, “The Veda mantras being the root cause of creation, the mere chanting of Veda mantras would, by their vibrations, make the Devas appear in person.”
The home shrine is also the locus for private and group meditation, prayer, mantra recitation and devotional singing. Its sanctity is protected by never using it for other purposes. This space is meticulously cared for, kept immaculate and elaborately decorated to look like a small temple. It should be well-lit and free from drafts and household disturbances. The altar is generally close to the floor, since most of the puja is performed while seated. But when there are small children in the home it is often higher, as to be out of their reach. Pictured in this Insight (please see hard copy) are “typical” altars (slightly larger than life) of the four major Hindu denominations: Saivism, Vaishnavism, Saktism and Smartism. In truth, Hinduism consists of ten thousand lineages and more, each with its unique traditions, and as many variations in home altars as well. Yet, there are many similarities.
At a Ganesha shrine, for example, an icon, or murti, of the elephant-headed God is placed at the center of the altar. A metal or stone image is considered best, but if not available there are two traditional alternatives: 1) a framed picture, preferably with a sheet of copper on the back, or 2) A kumbha, which is a symbol of Ganesha made by placing a coconut on a brass pot of water with five mango leaves inserted between the coconut and the pot. The coconut is husked but the tuft of fibers at the top is not removed. Most shrines also honor a picture of the guru of the family lineage, either on the altar or adorning the walls.
Bathing the God’s image is often a central part of puja. For this, special arrangements are established at the altar to catch the sacred water or milk as it pours off the icon. Most simply, the murti may be placed in a deep tray to catch the water. After the bath, the tray is removed and the murti dried off, then dressed and decorated. More elaborately, a drain is set up so the water flows into a pot at the side of the altar. If devotees are in attendance, this blessed water is later served by the pujari (the person performing the ritual) who places a small spoonful in each devotee’s right palm.
Holy Accoutrements: Puja implements for the shrine are kept on large metal trays. On these are arranged ghee lamps, bells, cups, spoons and pots to hold the various sacraments. Available from Indian shops, these are dedicated articles, never used for purposes other than puja. Their care, cleaning and polishing is considered a sacred duty. Usual items include: 1) water cups and a small spoon for offering water; 2) a brass vessel of unbroken, uncooked rice (usually mixed with turmeric powder), also for offering; 3) tray or basket of freshly picked flowers (without stems) or loose flower petals; 4) a standing oil lamp, dipastambha, that remains lit throughout the puja; ideally kept lit all day; 5) a dipa (or lamp with cotton string wick) for waving light before the Deity; 6) a small metal bell, ghanta; 7) an incense burner and a few sticks of incense, agarbhatti; 8) sacraments of one’s tradition, such as holy ash, vibhuti; sandalwood paste, chandana; and red powder, kumkuma (these are kept it polished brass or silver containers); 9) naivedya, an offering for the Deity of fresh fruit and-or a covered dish of freshly cooked food, such as rice (never tasted during preparation); 10) a camphor (karpura) burner for passing flame before the God at the height of puja; 11) brass or silver pots for bathing the murti; 12) colorful clothing for dressing the murti; 13) flower garlands; 14) additional oil lamps to illumine and decorate the room; 15) a CD or tape player.
Purity: Before entering the shrine room, all attending the ceremony bathe and dress in fresh, clean clothes. It is a common practice to not partake of food at least an hour or more before puja. The best time for puja is before dawn. Each worshiper brings an offering of flowers or fruit (prepared before the bath). Traditionally, women during their monthly period refrain from attending puja, entering the home shrine or temple or approaching swamis or other holy men. Also during this time women do not help in puja preparation, such as picking flowers or making prasada for the Deity. Use of the home shrine is also restricted during periods of retreat that follow the birth or death of a family member.
Worshipful Icons: As seen in the main illustrations, the images enshrined on home altars vary according to lineage and denomination. All icons, however, are either anthropomorphic, meaning human in appearance; theriomorphic, having animal characteristics (for example, Lord Hanuman, the monkey God); or aniconic, meaning without representational likeness, such as the element fire, or the smooth Shaligrama stone, worshiped as Lord Vishnu. Other objects of enshrinement include divine emblems or artifacts, including weapons, such as Durga’s sword; animal mounts, like Siva’s bull; a full pot of water, indicating the presence of the Devi; the sun disk, representing Surya; the holy footprints or sandals of a God or saint; the standing oil lamp; the fire pit, mystic diagrams called yantra; water from holy rivers; and sacred plants, such as the tulsi tree. All these are honored as embodiments of the God or Goddess. The Vedas enjoin: “The Gods, led by the spirit, honor faith in their worship. Faith is composed of the heart’s intention. Light comes through faith. Through faith men come to prayer, faith in the morning, faith at noon and at the setting of the sun. O Faith, give us faith!”
DO HINDUS WORSHIP IDOLS?
By Sadhu Shantipriyadas,, Swaminarayana Fellowship
From the moment the Vedic rites are completed and a statue or painting of the Deity is consecrated, the Lord through the image manifests all His glory and grace. He accepts various devotions. He listens to prayers and woes. He is at once a confidante and giver of blessings. Thus, an image cannot be said to be merely a beautiful statue or doll, nor an excellent painting. The image is God.
Said Swami Vivekananda, “It has become a trite saying that idolatry is bad, and everyone swallows it at the present time without questioning. I once thought so, and to pay the penalty of that, I had to learn my lessons sitting at the feet of a man who realized everything from idols. I allude to Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Yet, idolatry is condemned. Why? Some hundreds of years ago, some man of Jewish blood happened to condemn it. He happened to condemn everybody else’s idols except his own. If God is represented in any beautiful form or any symbolic form, said the Jew, it is awfully bad; it is sin. But if He is represented in the form of a chest with two angels sitting on either side, it is the holiest of holies. If God comes in the form of a dove, it is holy. But if He comes in the form of a cow, it is heathen superstition, condemn it…”
Over the centuries, in their condescending haste and missionary fervor to convert the rest of the world to the “One and only correct faith, and to commit the souls of the otherwise damned to God,” various religions have condemned image worship with fanatic zeal. This has led to a shallow refutal of image worship and a misinterpretation of the Hindu image worshiped. To complicate the issue, image worship is also frowned on by some professing Hindus.
The question of image worship will be debated for years to come. Here it suffices to say that with the ancient Hindus image worship was not left to be treated as an ignorant and useless practice fit only for the ignorant and spiritually immature; even the greatest visited mandirs and worshiped images, and these thinkers did not do so blindly or unconsciously. A human necessity was recognized, the nature of the necessity was understood, its psychology systematically analyzed, the various phases of image worship, mental and material, were defined. The modern Hindu follows in footsteps of his forebearers. Through the image, the eye is taught to see God, and not to seek God. The first lesson received at the sanctum is to be applied everywhere: see God in everything!
A HINDU HOME IS MORE THAN A HOUSE
By V. Ganapati Sthapati,, Master Architect, Chennai
In Indian architecture, the dwelling is itself a shrine. A home is called manushyalaya, literally, “human temple.” It is not merely a shelter for human beings in which to rest and eat. The concept behind house design is the same as for temple design, so sacred and spiritual are the two spaces. The “open courtyard” system of house design was the national pattern in India before Western models were introduced. The order introduced into the “built space” accounts for the creation of spiritual ambience required for the indweller to enjoy spiritual well-being and material welfare and prosperity.
At right (please see hard copy) is a typical layout of a square building, with a grid of 9×9=81 squares, meant for family persons (for yogis, scientists and artists, a grid of 8×8=64 is prescribed). The space occupied by the central 3×3=9 squares is called Brahmasthanam, meaning the “nuclear energy field.” It should be kept unbuilt and open to the sky so as to have contact with the outer space (akasha). This central courtyard is likened to the lungs of the human body. It is not for living purposes. Religious and cultural events can be held here–such as yajna (fire ritual), music and dance performances and marriage.
The row of squares surrounding the Brahmasthanam is the walkway. The corner spaces, occupying 2×2=4 squares, are rooms with specific purposes. The northeast quarter is called Isana, the southeast Agni, the southwest Niruthi and northwest Vayu. These are said to possess the qualities of four respective devatas or Gods–Isa, Agni, Niruthi and Vayu. Accordingly–with due respect to ecological friendliness with the subtle forces of the spirit–those spaces (quarters) are assigned as follows: northeast for the home shrine, southeast for the kitchen, southwest for master bedroom and northwest for the storage of grains. The spaces lying between the corner zones, measuring 2×5=10 squares, are those of the north, east, south and west. They are meant for multi purposes.
For home worship, griha puja, the Deity icon should be smaller in size than in a temple. The agreeable and generally recommended height of the standing image without pedestal is one’s own fist (mushti) size, measured with the thumb raised.
The Hindu Family Altar & Deities
The Hindu temple is typically an ornate structure with a central altar featuring a representational sculpture of a principal deity and niches where additional statues of deities may be worshiped. Hindus attend temples during special festivals to honor their many gods and goddesses and to petition for specific blessings. But most daily worship takes place at home, before an altar maintained as the focus of devotion for the whole family.
Locating the Altar
A home altar in a Hindu household is given the most auspicious location in the house. Ancient scripture called this the devatarchanam, the place for honoring divinity, according to “Hinduism Today Magazine.” The ancient Vedic science of architectural design, Vaastu Shastra, specifies the northeast corner of the house for the altar. Northeast is the mystical direction of Isana, a manifestation of the all-powerful deity Shiva. The altar space is used solely for worship, even if the home is very small and only a portion of a room can be set aside. In this space, members of the family gather for daily rituals, individual and group meditation and private worship and prayer.
Visible Gods
Most home altars are built around an image or figure of the family’s favorite god or goddess. But each family member, even the children, eventually chooses their own deity to worship so there may be several gods represented or there can be several small altars in the home. The deity is visibly present in a statue or painting — a Shiva Nataraj, or dancing Shiva, embodies the playful creative nature of the god. A ferocious Kali or Durga statue is a fierce form of the creative-mother energy of the universe. An elephant-headed Ganesh offers help in overcoming difficulties and grants favors. The god or goddess image always has eyes, often very large ones, because presenting oneself before the altar is an opportunity for darshan, that is a visual encounter with the deity in which a devotee receives great blessings.
Altar Accessories
Puja, or ritual worship, is performed at least once a day but ideally three times. It may include mantra chanting, pranaming or touching the forehead to the ground in front of the altar numerous times, devotional ceremonies, or making offerings to the god or gods displayed on the altar. In addition to the image of the deity, a home altar will have votive candles, dishes and baskets for receiving offerings of spices, flowers or other gifts. Altars also hold incense holders, lamps for burning ghee — clarified butter, containers of vibhuti — sacred ash, kumkum — red powder for making bindi dots on the forehead and chandana — sandalwood paste for anointing the statue. Any item used for the altar is kept meticulously clean and used for no other purpose.
Performing Ritual
Home altars are treated like temples — one bathes before entering, or at least washes feet and hands, and puts on fresh clothing. Shoes, if worn in the home, are removed. Every participant in a formal puja brings an offering — a flower, a coconut, a candy or confection called prasad, a stick of incense, some food or pure water. For morning puja, a statue is ritually bathed with water, milk and honey, dried, anointed with sandalwood paste and dressed in a beautiful robe. A bell or conch shell focuses the mind with its pure vibration. The end of the puja is marked by arati, an offering of light to the deity in which a devotee moves a candle or burning lamp in a circular pattern while chanting before the altar.
Traditional Hindu Altar Arrangements
In Hinduism, the altar is the primary center of worship. Altars are not only found in temples, but in Hindu homes as well. In contrast to temple altars, a priest is not required to arrange a home altar. Although Hindus have various traditional methods of arranging an altar, there are regulations that must be followed. This includes the location of the altar, what to include in it and how to worship at it.
Location
The altar should be placed in a separate room or space facing the east or west. However, the east is ideal because the deity’s vibrations are said to be much stronger in this direction. It is also acceptable if the altar is placed outside, as long as it is covered. The altar should be placed in a clean area as a sign of respect. Although the altar can be constructed out of any material, sandalwood is preferred.
Materials of Worship
There are several objects of worship that are used for the Hindu altar. These include, but are not limited to, a bell, lamp, incense holder and incense sticks, water container and spoon, kum kum powder and container and prashad, or offerings. Sometimes a conch shell is used as well. Each object is symbolic and has its own meaning. They are used to integrate the worshiper’s five senses when giving praise.
The Murti
According to Hindus, a murti is an image of God. The murti is the central and most sacred part of the altar. The murti can come in many different sizes. It may be a stone statue, small figurine or even a photograph. It is common for Hindu households to worship the image of a family deity along with various other gods, goddesses or saints. Moreover, some wealthier families may even have larger murtis consecrated by a priest.
Daily Rituals
Every morning, Hindus replace all dried flowers, incense sticks, fruit and other offerings with fresh ones. The statues of the deities are bathed and dressed if desired. At night, the altar doors are closed shut if the altar has this option. The altar and space around it must be kept as clean as possible. The murtis are regarded as images of God and must be treated with the highest level of respect.
How to Do Ganesh Puja
Ganesh, or Ganapati, is the beloved elephant-headed deity in the Hindu faith. He is known as the bestower of boons and the remover of obstacles, and it is customary to perform Ganesh puja, or worship, at the start of all religious festivals. The Ganesh Chaturthi is an annual 10-day festival to honor the god, during which elaborate pujas are performed, ending with the submersion of Ganesh idols in a river or other body of water. A simpler Ganesha puja opens the daily prayer rituals in devout Hindu households, where a home altar is constantly tended.
Home Puja PreparationsA puja may be extremely detailed, involving a yatra or pilgrimage to a Ganesh shrine and the Sanskrit invocation of the 108 names or attributes of the god. But daily home puja is a simple tradition of worship, characterized by bhakti — devotion or love for Ganesh — and rituals of cleansing and offering. Prepare for a home puja by setting a tray with bowls of clean water, fresh fruits and sweets, live flowers, incense and a candle in the shrine room or altar space at the foot of the Ganesh statue. Prepare yourself by bathing and putting on clean clothes. Leave your shoes outside the puja room. Approach the statue of Ganesh and bow, kneel and touch your head to the floor to honor the deity.
Rituals and Gifts
Sit on a meditation cushion and take a moment to still your mind and contemplate the ritual to come. The officiant, perhaps the head of household, then performs abhisekha, a ritual washing of the statue. This may be as simple as dipping a flower in a bowl of clean water and flicking it over the statue, or as involved as washing and drying the Ganesh with a soft cloth. The statue is then adorned with specially made robes or a necklace of live flowers and a dot of red kumkum is placed in the center of his forehead. After the abhisekha, bowls of cut fruit, sweets and cooked food are offered to the god. A bowl or stick of burning incense is waved in a clockwise circle in front of the Ganesh or carried in circumambulation around him three times.
Mantra and Meditation
Those in attendance — immediate or extended family, or family and friends — chant the attributes of the god in call-and-response fashion in Sanskrit or invoke the Ganesh mantra, Om Ganapati Namah, 108 times. During the chant, arati may be performed. Arati is the waving of a candle or lamp in a clockwise circle in front of the statue. A statue of a Hindu deity is considered to embody the spirit of the god and therefore is “alive” and responsive to worship. Worshipers may approach the altar and the “murti,” the live Ganesh, to pranam or bow and ask for blessings during the chant. After the chant, everyone sits quietly in meditation.
Bhakti and Blessings
A Ganesh puja may close with a chant, sung in Sanskrit in honor of Ganesh. Once the ritual is concluded, some of the sweets and food from the altar are distributed as “prasad,” a gift or blessing from the god. Prasad is a very auspicious blessing, an expression of devotion and protection from Ganesh to those who took part in the puja. There are many interpretations of the way to perform a Ganesh puja. It may be adapted to a family’s schedule, the ages of the participants or the physical capabilities of the worshipers. The most important part of the ritual is to approach the god with reverence and bhakti, or devotion, and to offer the best gifts and most heartfelt invocations in his honor.
Indian Pooja Rituals & Their Significance
Pooja is an act of invocation, prayer, offering or song showing reverence to a deity, or to an aspect of the divine. For the majority of Hindus, devotion to a deity is the predominant religious path. Hindus perform pooja to connect with the deity, and they nurture this intimate and personal connection through daily rituals and sacraments.
God As An Idol
During a pooja, devotees use a statue or image of the god to connect with the divine, as idols in Hinduism contain the spirit of the gods that they depict. The deity may come in the form of a person or symbol, and it may take the shape of a framed image or a stone figure. Because each deity has a distinct personality, the nature of the pooja can vary depending on the deity being worshipped. Hindus perform pooja either in temples, where the gods are sanctified and cared for by a priest, or in the home of the devotee in front of a small altar.
Offerings
The standard custom during a Hindu pooja ritual is for the devotee to offer the deity gifts that he believes will please that particular god. For example, devotees bring milk as an offering for Lord Shiva, whereas sweets are generally given to Ganesha. Highly established deities in popular urban temples often receive pure vegetarian food, jewelry and even plots of land. Flowers, fruits, sweets and money are standard offerings in almost all Hindu temples across India.
The Divine Exchange
The fundamental act of the pooja, both in domestic and public rituals, is an exchange between humans and gods. The devotees, by presenting offerings to the gods, put their faith into a material object, as the offerings are physical manifestations of human belief and devotion. In exchange, the devotee receives from the deity its blessing, wishes granted or assistance in overcoming an obstacle. Once the deity grants the desired boon, the devotee returns with more offerings or fulfills certain vows made during the exchange. Some of these vows may include volunteering to clean the temple or promising to abstain from certain indulgences.
The Divine Relationship
As a result of the human-God exchange, the devotee forms an unending relationship of reciprocity with the deity. Because the devotee is not as ritually pure or beneficent as the deity, a sense of self-worth emerges from being virtuous enough to even enter into a relationship with God. This position gives the devotee an overall sense of stability and purpose in a world that is largely chaotic and characterized by change.
Rituals in a Hindu Temple
Many Hindus perform puja, or worship, in their homes every day, but go to a temple for special occasions and holy days. Each physical location of the temple has a different symbolic meaning. The main shrine, located in the center of the temple, represents the core of the worshiper. The temple’s tower symbolizes the spirit’s journey into heaven, a journey that begins in this life, but continues after death.
Puja
Hindus perform puja in a temple using images of a deity called murtis, prayers to the deity called mantras and a depiction of the universe called yantras. The image of the yantras appears in various ritual aspects, such as folding hands during prayer or the sacrifice altar’s structure. Worshipers make offerings of fruit, water, incense or clothing to a deity. Three forms of worship exist: Nitya is a daily puja, which Hindus do not necessarily have to perform in the temple. Naimittika includes special rituals that take place on holy days. Finally, Kamya describes other acts of faith that are optional, but that Hindus try to complete. Not all of Kamya rituals include temple worship; some involve making pilgrimages.
Deity Temple Worship
Many Hindu denominations begin temple ceremonies by worshiping the god Ganesh before performing any other ritual. They believe that if they please Ganesh, he will protect the ritual and make sure everything goes as planned. The process they use to worship Ganesh, called Shodasha-upachara puja, can also serve to worship other Hindu deities. The worship includes 16 steps, most of which involve making offerings of foods such as water, sweet drinks and fruits, and gifts such as perfumes, clothes, jewels, incense and flowers. They also bathe the representation of the deity, wash the feet and chant mantras in praise of him.
Mantras and Readings
During temple service, priests will read from the Vedas, which are sacred texts for some Hindus. A priest does not have to read the text; any Hindu who is “twice-born,” or born into a higher caste and undergoes initiation rites, may perform the readings. Worshipers recite mantras, beginning with the Sankalp, which puts them in the correct state of mind for the practice. The Sankalp reminds worshipers that everything they do in the temple serves a specific purpose in their worship.
Kalash
The kalash is a pot, typically made of copper or some other type of metal, that plays a role during both important events, such as weddings, as well as standard worship. The pot holds water, and worshipers decorate it with either five or seven mango leaves. They then surround it with ornate cloths or a flower garland, and place a coconut over the top. During the rituals, a member places the kalash in the northeastern portion of the temple. Hindus believe that it soaks up all of the good energies that descend from heaven, and that the water transforms into amrit, or the elixir of life. At the end of the ceremony a priest sprinkles the water on practitioners to share the positive energy.
What Is Darshan in Hindu Worship?
Darshan comes from the Sanskrit word, darsana, meaning a sight or vision. In the Hindu faith, darshan is an experience of grace and connection arising from the sight of a holy being or natural spectacle — a sudden ray of light striking a mountain peak, for example. The darshan of a living guru is so prized that people will wait in ashram lines for hours for a glance or gaze lasting a few seconds or a moment.
Meeting God
Puja is ceremonial worship of a deity through prayer, song, chanting mantras and sacred rituals. For a member of the Hindu faith, a miraculous and very personal form of puja is the experience of darshan. The connection opens the heart and bestows peace, blessings, boons and divine energy or shakti. At the moment of darshan, the entire focus of the devotee is absorbed in the image of the deity, be it in the form of a statue, a sunrise or a living guru. The object or person viewed becomes the Hindu god or goddess — and this can happen in front of a home altar with a picture of the deity, in a temple or sacred place, or in a vision in meditation. The experience is deepened by the belief that the person who receives darshan is also seen by the deity.
Murtis
There are hundreds of gods in the Hindu religion, although a much smaller number are popular figures of worship. A statue of a god or goddess that has been transformed in a special ceremony by an enlightened guru into a living presence of that deity is an important focal point for darshan in a temple ceremony. The transformed statue is considered a murti — a real, breathing embodiment of the god or goddess — and treated with the respect due to a living saint. The murti is tended, ritually bathed in flower-water and anointed with precious oils, dressed in silks and adorned with jewelry and live flowers by the priests or temple sevites. Once prepared, the Shiva, Ganesh, Laxmi or other deity is available for darshan. Presenting offerings, bowing or pranaming before the murti, chanting or otherwise participating in ritual, confers powerful blessings on the participants. Murtis are made with open eyes to allow darshans.
Preparing for Darshan
The transformation of an ordinary human to a figure worthy of a sacred darshan is no less exacting than that of preparing a murti. It is important to bathe and be as clean as possible. At the very least, hands and feet must be washed. Cleanliness includes a fresh set of clothes, which must be carefully pressed and arranged, selected to show respect for the deity or living guru. Traditionally, women wear saris or punjabis — a loose tunic and pants — but modest western dress is acceptable. Women and men place a dot of kumkum, red powder, at the point of the third eye between the eyebrows and women may choose to further beautify themselves with henna tattoos. Darshan offerings in Hindu temples range from coconuts to fruits and flowers to money — garlands and coconuts for darshan are sold outside temples in India.
Living Saints
Darshan with a living guru or saint is very auspicious and may involve participation in a meditation, chant, Hindu ceremony or teaching, followed by an encounter with the divinity. A darshan can be the appearance of a saint to a large crowd or a one-on-one meeting of the eyes. Contemporary gurus hold darshans in the courtyards of their ashrams or in meditation halls. Devotees line up to kneel or bow at the feet of the seated guru, make an offering, receive a few words, a swish of peacock feathers or a look. One modern saint, Mata Amritanandamayi, affectionately known as Amma or Ammachi, is famous for being the “hugging guru.” Despite crowds of thousands at every appearance, she hugs each devotee who waits in line, often for hours, to see her and receive her Devi bhava darshan.
What Objects Do Hindus Worship?
Worship, or “puja,” is different for Hindus than for followers of other world religions. Rather than engaging in communal worship, Hindus worship privately in their homes or in temples. Central to their worship is the image or statue of the deity being worshiped. In addition, the Ganges River is an important site of pilgrimage for many Hindus and is worshiped as a god.
Worship
Worship can take two forms: the first are practices shaped by ancient rituals, including prayers that are offered during certain times of the day such as at sunrise or in the evenings. Second, Hindus participate in daily puja at shrines set up at homes or in temples. In most Hindu homes, a small shrine honoring specific deities (such as Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, the protector of the universe) is set up for worship. At local temples, Hindus may chant mantras and offer gifts, such as flowers, money or meals. The temple’s central shrine is the heart of worship for Hindus, while its tower is a symbol of the departure of the soul to heaven. Small side-street and roadside shrines also exist throughout India, as Hindus may offer a prayer or small gift when they pass the statue or picture during their travels.
Shrines
In the household, a shrine — essentially a simple altar — can comprise a number of things. Frequently, it may include small statues of the deity being worshiped. In addition to Krishna, other common statues include Lakshimi, the goddess of prosperity, and Ganesha, the god of good fortune. In addition to statues, pictures of the deity are common objects of worship. If the household includes a guru — a venerated holy teacher — the shrine might also include the guru’s photograph, which reminds family members of his teachings.
The Sacred Ganges
Frequently referred to as Ganga Ma, the Ganges river is one of the religion’s most sacred sites. The Kumbh Mela is the world’s largest religious festival. In 2013, festival organizers predicted about 30 million visitors. It takes place every three years near a major river, and every 12 years where the Ganges and Jumna meet.
Sacred Thread
Although the sacred thread is not an object that is worshiped, it is an important garment that some Hindus wear during times of daily puja. It is a thread worn by twice-born Hindus that is placed on the left shoulder and goes across the body to the right hip. Traditionally, for the high Brahmin class, this thread is cotton, while merchants’ sacred thread was wool.
Hindu Beliefs About Houses
Many people in the West are familiar with the basic principles of Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese system which teaches people how to arrange their homes in order to promote the positive flow of energy. Hindus have a similar philosophy called Vaastu Shastra, or Hindu Architecture. According to Vaastu Shastra, buildings should be built and designed in a way that encourages positive forces to enter the structure and discourages negative forces from entering. This is especially important in the home.
Structure
The house should be rectangular or square for optimal energy flow. Also, it shouldn’t be built too close to the next house. The lot should not have any cracks or crevices. The main doorway will ideally face the east, but it can face north or west. There should be an even number of doors and windows, and the windows should be symmetrical, as symmetry is a cornerstone of Hindu architecture. The first brick for the foundation should be laid in the east or north.
Room arrangement
As a sign of enlightenment, special consideration is given to the northeast corner of the building, because on the longest day of the year, June 21st, the sun rises in the northeast. Therefore, the northeast part of the home should be reserved for the shrine, where the family engages in daily worship. The opposite corner, the southwest, is considered the lowliest. Bathrooms can be built in the southwestern part of the home, but not the kitchen, as it is believed that placement could lead to poor health.
The shrine
The shrine is a major part of the Hindu home. Whether it’s a tabletop or an entire room, the shrine is where the family worships the various Hindu gods and goddesses. Worship, or puja, involves the burning of incense and offerings of flowers, food and fruit. The family chants, often in Sanskrit, the ancient Hindu language. Puja in the home helps people find inner peace, many believe. The shrine room is kept especially clean as a sign of honor for the Divine.
The garden
The garden should also encourage positive energy flow. Nothing should obstruct the doorways or the center of the house. Plants believed to be especially favorable include basil, jasmine, pomegranate and saffron. Lemon trees, as well as sandalwood, almond and coconut, are considered good for planting in the home garden, but fig trees should only be planted at the temple. Water elements are positive, but they should not be placed at the northeast corner or in the center of the garden.
The Use of Coconuts in the Hindu Religion
Coconuts are native to the Asia-Pacific region of the world and have long occupied a place in Hindu religious practice, first appearing in Sanskrit literature in the fourth century B.C. For example, two major Sanskrit epic tales, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata both feature coconuts. Today, coconuts have significance within the Hindu religion and play a role in a variety of rituals.
Symbolism
Coconuts have symbolic importance within Hinduism. The coconut’s rough exterior fibers look like hairs, and its round shape and three eyes resemble a face. For this reason the coconut has been used to represent the three eyes of the Hindu god Shiva. The coconut can also symbolize a proud heart as it is has a rough exterior but the fruit within is sweet and tender.
Puja
In the Hindu religion, puja involves honoring and connecting with a deity or divine spirit. During puja, Hindus make an offering to the deity and receive a blessing in return. Both the fruit and leaves of a coconut may be used during puja. The coconut fruit is used to represent a divine consciousness and is often displayed with its leaves in a copper pot called a kalasha.
Aadi Festival
During the annual Aadi festival, celebrated mid-July to mid-August, Hindus worship the goddess Amman. One ritual practiced during the festival is that of breaking open coconuts over the heads of the faithful. The ritual is representative of fulfilling a personal commitment or gratitude to the goddess for her blessings. This practice can sometimes result in minor injuries to the participants, resulting in authorities preventing those below a certain age from engaging in the coconut-breaking ritual.
Other Rituals
Components of the coconut palm are incorporated into a variety of Hindu rituals. Some Indian coastal villages that make a living primarily through the fishing industry present offerings of coconuts to ensure calm, bountiful seas. In the state of Kerala, the largest producer of coconuts in India, coconut flowers are planted in rice bowls and displayed during wedding ceremonies. Instead of smashing a bottle of champagne, Hindus may break coconuts when blessing a new home or business venture.
How to Do Satyanarayana Pooja at Home
Satyanarayana Pooja
Spread a new
Spread a new, clean cloth in a freshly cleaned room on a square, elevated platform, churang, that will serve as the altar. Sprinkle rice grains across the center of the cloth. Position the kalash on the rice. Drape a second piece of cloth over the kalash, and place a small image of Lord Vishnu on the cloth.
Perform pooja
Perform pooja in the evening whenever possible. Gather around the altar, seated on the floor in lotus positions. Light the lamps while praying to the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati, to the gods Vishnu, Ganesha, Shiva, to the gods of the directions, and to the sun and the nine planets. Arrange a flower garland over the image of Vishnu and of Ganesha.
Place turmeric pods
Place turmeric pods, representing the gods Ganesha and Shiva, the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati and the god Indra, on the altar to the north of the kalash. Worship the sun and nine planets by placing areca nuts on betel leaves. Then lay areca nuts on betel leaves on the altar to represent Indra and the other seven deities (Dikpalakas) of the universe’s eight quarters.
Chant mantras
Chant mantras. Offer the rice, flowers and lit lamps to Lord Satyanarayana. Finish the ceremony with all attendees taking turns reading from narratives related to Lord Satyanarayana from the Skanda Purana. Gather for a feast of the foods offered during Satyanarayana Pooja.
Satyanarayana Pooja Prasadam Recipe
Prepare sufficiently in advance to allow mixture
Prepare sufficiently in advance to allow mixture to cool in refrigerator, if serving cold. Use a clean bowl. Combine milk, curd, honey, sugar, and ghee. Add saffron and cardamom, if using, and blend thoroughly.
Add remaining ingredients
Add remaining ingredients, fruits and basil leaves, mixing well. Refrigerate until cooled.
Cools
Place on Satyanarayana Pooja altar during ceremony after food cools. Alternately, place on altar at room temperature immediately after mixing all ingredients.
Where Do Hindus Worship Their Favorite Gods?
Hindu devotees commonly worship at shrines in three different types of places: in their home, in a temple and outdoors in public. Hindu worship generally refers to puja, a religious ritual where devotees make a deep connection to God through prayer, inner reflection and an offering.
In their life, Hindus choose a personal deity, known as an ishta devata, which they pray to when worshiping. Since there are as many as 330 million deities in Hinduism, any of them may be prayed to at any of the three places of worship. Unlike some religions where worship is done in a congregation, Hindu worship is generally done individually.
Hindu Worship in a Temple
In Hindu belief, the temple is the physical home where Hinduism’s deities await their devotees. While any of the deities may be prayed to, each temple is commonly dedicated to a specific deity, such as Ganesha.
Each temple, often called a mandir, generally has several common features, including a central shrine to the temple’s primary deity; secondary shrines for other deities; and Hindu priests who live within the temple and perform puja.
Priests generally perform puja four times per day. Devout Hindus, however, are not required to visit a temple each day. Many Hindus worship their personal deity at home.
Hindu Worship at Home
Most Hindu homes include a shrine where devotees may present offerings and pray to the deities three times per day. The shrines can be any size: an entire room, a small altar, or just religious pictures attached to a wall.
Since it is common for members of a single family to choose different personal deities for themselves, most shrines include pictures of a variety of gods. By worshiping at the shrines, it is believed that the deities will protect the home dwellers.
Hindu Worship in Public
Countries that are predominantly Hindu, such as India, have many outdoor shrines to the gods as well. While these shrines can be similar to altars seen in homes and temples, they can also be natural landmarks, such as mountains or a rock wrapped up in a tree’s roots. In many Hindu communities, the public shrine is considered the overseer of the surrounding area. Rather than priests, however, these public shrines are generally taken care of by members of the community.
In one example in northern India, worshipers who have cholera honor a public shrine built for the goddess Kali-Ma in order to rid themselves of the disease.
Puja
Puja in the home is generally conducted by the head of the household, who chants prayers to the deities. Each worshiper in the home honors their deity by symbolically offering it a seat, bathing it, and giving it a new set of clothes. They also offer the deities food and water, which the devotees believe becomes blessed for their consumption.
One difference between temple and home worship is that the devotee prays directly with their chosen deity rather than through the intervention of a trained priest.
How Do Hindus Worship in a Mandir?
One of the primary places where Hindus go to worship is a temple, which is known in Hinduism as a mandir. The central activity in a mandir is puja, an elaborate religious service that participants believe spiritually connects them to Hindu’s deities.
Hindus often make numerous preparations before entering a temple, such as bathing themselves and dressing in modest clothing. Most temples discourage shorts and short skirts.
Once arriving at the temple, Hindus often stop at its entrance to pray in either a prostrate position or with their hands above their heads. Many temples also have an outdoor flagpole where worshipers can pray and clear their heads of negative thoughts. Before entering the temple, worshipers are usually required to remove their shoes as a sign of respect to Hinduism’s deities.
Entering the Temple
Each Hindu temple is generally dedicated to a specific god, such as Shiva or Ganesha, but they regularly have shrines set up for a variety of gods.
Upon entering a temple, worshipers often see a small bell by the door that they traditionally ring in order to announce themselves to the gods. It’s then customary for worshipers to visit each of the shrines within the temple and to offer a flower in honor of each represented god. Worshipers then customarily walk clockwise around the temple’s primary shrine and clear their heads of non-religious thoughts. Afterward, devotees place an offering (often fruit or flowers) at the shrine to honor the deity. Hindus then sit for the worship service known as puja.
Puja
During puja, devotees sit before the temple’s main shrine while a priest chants in Sanskrit and makes hand gestures that are intended to conjure the deity, which is often represented by an image. The priest then rings a bell and makes the deity offerings, such as food and holy ash. Religious rites, such as bathing an image of the deity in water, are also performed by the priest.
After the image of the deity is dressed in new clothes, the priest offers worshipers flowers while chanting the names of Hindu gods. The priest then waves a lamp before the image of the deity while bells ring. This symbolizes the deity sending his power through the image. The worshipers then pray in a prostrate position toward the shrine.
Puja Sacraments
The priest then holds the lamp in front of each worshiper, who then traditionally wave their hands across its flame three times. The devotee then softly touches their eyes in a gesture meant to draw blessings into themselves.
The priest then places a handful of ash in the right hand of each worshiper, who then transfers it to his left hand and uses the right hand to spread it across his forehead. A priest then pours each worshiper a small amount of blessed water that is meant to be sipped. Each devotee is then offered sandalwood paste and red powder, which are then applied in a small dot on the forehead with the ring finger. Sometimes, food may be offered to worshipers at the end of the puja ceremony.
After Puja
When the puja service is finished, Hindus often partake in a variety of related activities while at the temple. Worshipers may sing hymns to themselves or with a group, either at select times during the puja service or afterwards. Some Hindus may choose to meditate or mentally repeat a mantra while counting prayer beads, an act known as japa. It’s also common practice for Hindus to receive an individualized puja service, known as archana, which can be obtained through a modest fee and offering. Although not required, devotees may also make a general monetary donation before leaving the temple.
Who Leads the Hindus in Worship?
Although Hindus primarily worship individually, some Hindu services are led by a pujari (trained priest) or a head of household The worship service, known as puja, is a ceremony where Hindus express devotion to a god or other divine being through prayer, rituals and music. Out of Hinduism’s seemingly infinite number of gods, each Hindu chooses one god to be their Ishta Devata, a spiritual guide that a Hindu makes deep connections with during worship. The god is symbolically represented through an object, such as a painting, during puja. Devotees generally present the deity an offering and then remain seated during the worship service.
Pujari
Trained priests, or pujaris, reside in Hindu temples and typically perform puja at sunrise, noon, sunset and midnight. Each temple typically includes at least one shrine to one of Hinduism’s many deities. During puja, the priest uses the shrine to symbolically connect with the temple’s deity. The priest generally begins with a purification process. Then they chant in Sanskrit, make hand gestures to symbolically attract the deity through an image, make an offering to the deity, dress the deity’s icon in new clothes, wave a lamp over the icon and then carry the lamp over the devotees in order to bless them. Afterwards, the priest distributes offerings, such as ash and sandalwood paste, to the worshipers.
Head of Household
Most Hindu homes have a shrine to the deities that each family member worships. The shrine can be any size, such as an entire room or just a picture taped to a wall. While worship at the home can be done individually at any time of day, some families pray together and are sometimes led by the head of the household. This person chants prayers to the deities and conducts rituals similar to those performed by pujaris in temples. Daily worship at home is traditionally done three times per day and is believed to make a connection to the deities that protects the home dwellers from suffering.
Guru
Some Hindu denominations consider gurus to be spiritual leaders that can help devotees break out of the reincarnation cycle and achieve the liberated state known as moksha. Other Hindus even revere gurus as the embodiment of God. While the guru doesn’t necessarily lead puja, some Hindus show their devotion to God by worshiping a guru’s feet. Some Hindus do this in order to absorb the spiritual essence that gurus are said to draw from God. This worship is generally conducted by prostrating with the body facing down and the hands stretched out to the guru’s feet.
Pandit
Hindu worship services can also be performed by priests who are known as pandits. This specific label is generally for a teacher who has mastered Sanskrit and has a deep, scholarly knowledge of Hinduism’s sacred texts, rituals and culture. “Pandit” is often bestowed as an honorary title.
Hindu Rituals & Ganesh
How Ganesh Got His Head
Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, was disconsolate at his long absence so she gave birth to a son, Ganesh, who became her constant companion. When at last Shiva returned home, Ganesh refused to allow him in and as neither recognized the other, Shiva lost his temper and cut off Ganesh’s head. To placate Parvati, who was understandably upset, Shiva rushed out and lopped off the first living head he encountered, and placed it on Ganesh’s body. One headless elephant and one elephant-headed god later, Ganesh quickly became a favorite of devout Hindus and is today the first god invoked in any religious ceremony. “Om Ganesha Namaha” means “I bow to thee, Lord Ganesh” and is chanted at the beginning of private and public Hindu rituals.
Ganesha Chaturthi
If every Hindu home in India doesn’t have its Ganesh altar, it’s likely that most do, and they are well-tended. Daily worship is important; no day should go by without offerings, bowing and praying to the benevolent god. But the affection for the odd, pudgy deity can be publicly gauged at the annual Ganesha — or Ganapati — Chaturthi festivals that take place in India over ten or 11 days between August and September. Chaturthi celebrates the god’s birthday and thousands of followers turn out in cities across India for ritual washing and dressing of large Ganesh statues, offerings of sweet prasad, marathon mantra chanting, traditional music and a procession to the sea or river. The giant Ganeshes that have been publicly worshiped are immersed in the water on the final day of the festival — devotees wade right in to see them off. The immersion honors Hindu belief that a statue can be enlivened to become the living god and must be disposed of respectfully.
One Tusk, Pot Belly
His round belly, chubby legs, multiple arms, missing parts and that memorable head don’t keep Ganesh from his role as divine heartthrob. He is loved and importuned at every puja for his ability to bestow good fortune and remove obstacles. The elephant head is very useful. The trunk symbolizes the tremendous strength and wisdom of a righteous person. Large elephant ears admit all knowledge. The unusual juxtaposition of elephant and human body directs the attention to the intrinsic divine nature of everything, despite outward appearances and illusions. A missing tusk signifies that Ganesh broke off his own tusk to wrote down the Mahabharata, India’s great spiritual epic. His many arms and hands hold symbolic items: a lotus for enlightenment; a hatchet to remove bad karma; confections to reward a wise life; a mudra, the sacred shape of the hand into a blessing. Ganesh’s less-than-svelte mid-section reminds followers that life is abundant. A rat underfoot stands for mastery of the undisciplined senses.
Green Ganesh
Ganesh is endlessly adaptable. Under restrictive British rule, Ganapati Chaturthi festivals were one way for Indians to gather in public and express solidarity. The festival celebrations retain some political flavor today — in India, the site of communal worship may also contain booths representing different political factions — but the powerful and approachable god remains the focus of attention. Worldwide, Hindu temples stage parties for Ganesh’s birthday and a new generation is factoring eco-conscious concerns into preparations for traditional rituals. Instead of commissioning mammoth fiberglass or plaster Ganesh statues brightly painted in acrylics for the festival, organizers in New Delhi switched to clay statues with natural dyes that will biodegrade in the water. The scores of old statues are an environmental hazard; the new ones represent the spiritual ideas of creation and dissolution. After immersion, they will gradually disappear without a trace.
Traditional Hindu Altar Arrangements
In Hinduism, the altar is the primary center of worship. Altars are not only found in temples, but in Hindu homes as well. In contrast to temple altars, a priest is not required to arrange a home altar. Although Hindus have various traditional methods of arranging an altar, there are regulations that must be followed. This includes the location of the altar, what to include in it and how to worship at it.
Location
The altar should be placed in a separate room or space facing the east or west. However, the east is ideal because the deity’s vibrations are said to be much stronger in this direction. It is also acceptable if the altar is placed outside, as long as it is covered. The altar should be placed in a clean area as a sign of respect. Although the altar can be constructed out of any material, sandalwood is preferred.
Materials of Worship
There are several objects of worship that are used for the Hindu altar. These include, but are not limited to, a bell, lamp, incense holder and incense sticks, water container and spoon, kum kum powder and container and prashad, or offerings. Sometimes a conch shell is used as well. Each object is symbolic and has its own meaning. They are used to integrate the worshiper’s five senses when giving praise.
The Murti
According to Hindus, a murti is an image of God. The murti is the central and most sacred part of the altar. The murti can come in many different sizes. It may be a stone statue, small figurine or even a photograph. It is common for Hindu households to worship the image of a family deity along with various other gods, goddesses or saints. Moreover, some wealthier families may even have larger murtis consecrated by a priest.
Daily Rituals
Every morning, Hindus replace all dried flowers, incense sticks, fruit and other offerings with fresh ones. The statues of the deities are bathed and dressed if desired. At night, the altar doors are closed shut if the altar has this option. The altar and space around it must be kept as clean as possible. The murtis are regarded as images of God and must be treated with the highest level of respect.
The Hindu Family Altar & Deities
The Hindu temple is typically an ornate structure with a central altar featuring a representational sculpture of a principal deity and niches where additional statues of deities may be worshiped. Hindus attend temples during special festivals to honor their many gods and goddesses and to petition for specific blessings. But most daily worship takes place at home, before an altar maintained as the focus of devotion for the whole family.
Locating the Altar
A home altar in a Hindu household is given the most auspicious location in the house. Ancient scripture called this the devatarchanam, the place for honoring divinity, according to “Hinduism Today Magazine.” The ancient Vedic science of architectural design, Vaastu Shastra, specifies the northeast corner of the house for the altar. Northeast is the mystical direction of Isana, a manifestation of the all-powerful deity Shiva. The altar space is used solely for worship, even if the home is very small and only a portion of a room can be set aside. In this space, members of the family gather for daily rituals, individual and group meditation and private worship and prayer.
Visible Gods
Most home altars are built around an image or figure of the family’s favorite god or goddess. But each family member, even the children, eventually chooses their own deity to worship so there may be several gods represented or there can be several small altars in the home. The deity is visibly present in a statue or painting — a Shiva Nataraj, or dancing Shiva, embodies the playful creative nature of the god. A ferocious Kali or Durga statue is a fierce form of the creative-mother energy of the universe. An elephant-headed Ganesh offers help in overcoming difficulties and grants favors. The god or goddess image always has eyes, often very large ones, because presenting oneself before the altar is an opportunity for darshan, that is a visual encounter with the deity in which a devotee receives great blessings.
Altar Accessories
Puja, or ritual worship, is performed at least once a day but ideally three times. It may include mantra chanting, pranaming or touching the forehead to the ground in front of the altar numerous times, devotional ceremonies, or making offerings to the god or gods displayed on the altar. In addition to the image of the deity, a home altar will have votive candles, dishes and baskets for receiving offerings of spices, flowers or other gifts. Altars also hold incense holders, lamps for burning ghee — clarified butter, containers of vibhuti — sacred ash, kumkum — red powder for making bindi dots on the forehead and chandana — sandalwood paste for anointing the statue. Any item used for the altar is kept meticulously clean and used for no other purpose.
Performing Ritual
Home altars are treated like temples — one bathes before entering, or at least washes feet and hands, and puts on fresh clothing. Shoes, if worn in the home, are removed. Every participant in a formal puja brings an offering — a flower, a coconut, a candy or confection called prasad, a stick of incense, some food or pure water. For morning puja, a statue is ritually bathed with water, milk and honey, dried, anointed with sandalwood paste and dressed in a beautiful robe. A bell or conch shell focuses the mind with its pure vibration. The end of the puja is marked by arati, an offering of light to the deity in which a devotee moves a candle or burning lamp in a circular pattern while chanting before the altar.
Locating the Altar
A home altar in a Hindu household is given the most auspicious location in the house. Ancient scripture called this the devatarchanam, the place for honoring divinity, according to “Hinduism Today Magazine.” The ancient Vedic science of architectural design, Vaastu Shastra, specifies the northeast corner of the house for the altar. Northeast is the mystical direction of Isana, a manifestation of the all-powerful deity Shiva. The altar space is used solely for worship, even if the home is very small and only a portion of a room can be set aside. In this space, members of the family gather for daily rituals, individual and group meditation and private worship and prayer.
Visible Gods
Most home altars are built around an image or figure of the family’s favorite god or goddess. But each family member, even the children, eventually chooses their own deity to worship so there may be several gods represented or there can be several small altars in the home. The deity is visibly present in a statue or painting — a Shiva Nataraj, or dancing Shiva, embodies the playful creative nature of the god. A ferocious Kali or Durga statue is a fierce form of the creative-mother energy of the universe. An elephant-headed Ganesh offers help in overcoming difficulties and grants favors. The god or goddess image always has eyes, often very large ones, because presenting oneself before the altar is an opportunity for darshan, that is a visual encounter with the deity in which a devotee receives great blessings.
Altar Accessories
Puja, or ritual worship, is performed at least once a day but ideally three times. It may include mantra chanting, pranaming or touching the forehead to the ground in front of the altar numerous times, devotional ceremonies, or making offerings to the god or gods displayed on the altar. In addition to the image of the deity, a home altar will have votive candles, dishes and baskets for receiving offerings of spices, flowers or other gifts. Altars also hold incense holders, lamps for burning ghee — clarified butter, containers of vibhuti — sacred ash, kumkum — red powder for making bindi dots on the forehead and chandana — sandalwood paste for anointing the statue. Any item used for the altar is kept meticulously clean and used for no other purpose.
Performing Ritual
Home altars are treated like temples — one bathes before entering, or at least washes feet and hands, and puts on fresh clothing. Shoes, if worn in the home, are removed. Every participant in a formal puja brings an offering — a flower, a coconut, a candy or confection called prasad, a stick of incense, some food or pure water. For morning puja, a statue is ritually bathed with water, milk and honey, dried, anointed with sandalwood paste and dressed in a beautiful robe. A bell or conch shell focuses the mind with its pure vibration. The end of the puja is marked by arati, an offering of light to the deity in which a devotee moves a candle or burning lamp in a circular pattern while chanting before the altar.
8 Guidelines for Setting up a Home Mandir for your Murtis
In every Hindu home, you will find a small home altar or mandir for the proper worship of the homes murtis. A murti is an embodiment of a Hindu god in any form which is usually a statue of the god or goddesses. The number one rule to remember when constructing dir in the home is that there are no rules, only guidelines. That being said, let’s get to the guidelines!
Where does a Mandir go in your home?
One should devote an entire room to construct the mandir; however, if this is not available you can simply choose a quiet corner of a room somewhere in the house. According to the Vastu Shastra (traditional Hindu architecture), the home altar room should always be the northeastern most room in the home & the shrine itself should be in the northeastern most corner of that room chosen as this aids with the flow of proper energy or chakra.
Which Gods Should be in the Home Altar?
The main devas or Gods found in any home are, and by no means limited to Ganesha, Parvati, Shiva, Vishnu, & Krishna. Sometimes households only care for one deity while others prefer to have an entire pantheon. Regardless of how many deities reside in the shrine, there is always one Ishta Deva (a personal favorite). This deity’s area on the shrine is the centermost seat & is always the most elaborate & the best kept.
Three words. Ganesha, Ganesha, & Ganesha!
It is extremely important to note that Ganesha-ji should always have a place in every mandir. It just wouldn’t be a temple without him! Since he is the lord of beginnings, as a rule of thumb he is always placed in the mandir before any other deity.
What should the Mandir be made from?
A ready-made mandir is ideal to house murtis; however, not everyone has a temple lying about. A small table with a saffron-colored cloth draped over it will do perfectly in its absence. You will also need an incense burner, a diya(oil lamp), a bell, & a small box or jar to hold dakshina (offering of money).
Cabinet for Supplies
It might not be too bad of an idea to keep a small cabinet or something nearby the mandir to hold all the supplies & things needed to perform pūjā (worship), aarti (lighting of ghee candles), & general upkeep of the mandir.
Placement of Murtis
The murtis should be placed on this table or in the ready-made mandir facing towards you. Ideally, the murtis should be placed on a smaller platform on top of the table or within the mandir; though, this is not absolutely necessary.
Clothing
Murtis should also be given some form of clothing, flowers, incense, & other offerings regularly as the murtis are quite literally seen as physical manifestations of god(s).
Care and Love
It’s imperative to remember to always take care of the mandir, make regular offerings of food, incense, and flowers, and to meditate in front of the mandir in order to ensure the mandir’s general upkeep.