Public worship
Many Hindus worship a personal God in the form of one of the main 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 they believe to be forms of 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.. Some try to communicate directly with Brahman through 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., but many use prarthanaThe word many Hindus use for prayer. or pujaThe word most Hindus use for an act of daily worship..
Features of a community puja include:
- water, fruit, flowers and incensePerfumed cones or sticks that release a nice scent when lit. may be offered
- a bell is rung to 'waken' the deities
- arti (arati)An act of worship and of adoration, using diva lamps made from cotton wool and ghee (purified butter). is performed by the priest
- personal prarthana may be offered and communal prarthana may be chantRepeating religious phrases or quotations from sacred texts. together
Some Hindus use images to assist puja. 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.. Many Hindus have consecrated murti around the home and some encourage their children to play with murti as part of learning about God.
At a community puja, the arti tray is passed around. Worshippers often put money on the tray, which is used for the upkeep of the mandirThe word many Hindus use for a place of worship - a shrine or special place in the home or a building used by the community for worship and other events..
Many puja services end with the sharing of prashadFood that is offered to deities (often as part of worship) and believed by some Hindus to therefore carry divine blessings.. This is distributed among the worshippers.
