Hinduism (RS)

Hinduism

What is worship?

  • Worship (puja) involves showing devotion to their many deities (using mantras).

  • This is done at home or in temples.

  • This religion can be argued as polytheistic as Hindus believe in many deities but Ghanmany (the unseen) is just one — known as Brahman.

SHRINE:

  • Hindus have shrines both at home + temples.

  • It has a separate room and includes pictures of gods. This helps Hindus stay focused. Mantras are used to help meditation.

  • Sitting in a calm state while meditating.

  • Meditation is practised for concentration.

  • Meditation sometimes is yoga (a form of healing).

Also:

  • They offer food to the gods because it’s like a welcoming. The food is known as Prashad.

  • Food is often blessed to taste better (mentally, not physically).

Rice is sometimes sprinkled too!

(Summarised other key words)

  • Puja: Sanskrit word for worship

  • Darshana: “seeing God”

  • Mandir: Hindu term for a temple

  • Shrine: A place of special devotion

  • Murti: An image of god(s)

  • Vedas: Ancient Hindu scriptures

  • Upanishads: e.g., of more recent scriptures that were written later

  • Two e.g.:

    1. Bhagavad Gita

    2. Ramayana