Features and importance of daily puja: Home
Some Hindus use images to assist pujaThe word most Hindus use for an act of daily worship.. Murti are statues of deity / deitiesIn Hinduism, deity is one god or goddess. Deities is the word for gods and goddesses many Hindus believe are different aspects of the one Supreme Spirit, (Brahman)., which have been consecratedBlessed or made holy. and must be treated with respect.
Features of puja
- Water, fruit, flowers and incensePerfumed cones or sticks that release a nice scent when lit. may be offered to the murti.
- A bell is rung to 'waken' the deities and arti (arati)An act of worship and of adoration, using diva lamps made from cotton wool and ghee (purified butter). performed.
- Personal or communal prarthanaThe word many Hindus use for prayer. may be chanted.
In addition to undertaking puja or prarthana at home, some Hindus undertake forms of yogaAny form of religious practice. Often used to mean meditation or adopting various forms of posture for the purpose of spiritual development. or meditationThinking quietly as a spiritual or religious exercise. Connection of the mind and soul with the Divine using breathing and other techniques. In Buddhism, using one of a set of techniques or exercises for calming the mind, developing positive emotions and understanding the way things are. to help them to connect with Supreme Spirit BrahmanHindu belief in one true god, the Supreme Spirit, called Brahman, symbolised by the sacred syllable aum (or om). All beings are a part of Brahman..
The main types of yoga include the following.
- jnana yogaA type of Hindu meditation; the path of knowledge, that aims at liberation. - studies of scripture, to gain deeper knowledge.
- bhakti yogaThe path of loving devotion, aimed at developing pure love of God. - worship and rituals, seen as the path of spiritual devotion.
- raja yogaA form of Yoga that involves intense meditation on the soul within. - meditating to gain a greater sense of reality and eventually enlightenment.
- karma yogaA type of Hindu religious practice that involves selfless service to others. - an attempt to serve the divine in everything you do – worship through actions.
Use and significance of symbolism in private worship
Many Hindus may have images of the sacred syllable aum (om)Known as the 'sacred syllable', this sound and symbol is used by many Hindus to convey how deep and complex the divine is. around their home. Many Hindus start or end prarthana by saying 'aum' and others use it to aid meditation.
The UpanishadsAncient Hindu scripture containing ideas about the nature of Brahman (the Supreme Spirit) and ways to live well and achieve moksha (freedom from rebirth). describe how each part of the sound connects to a different human state.
- A - when awake.
- U - when dreaming.
- M - when sleeping.
The belief is that the sound of 'aum' connects all these parts of an atmanThe essence of a being. Can refer to body, mind or soul, depending on context, but usually indicates the soul that is reborn. together and in doing so, connects to the 'Supreme Atman' Brahman.
