Hinduism is a comprehensive name, to embrace the innumerable subdivisions of the religious sects, which though centered on an infinite diversity of Gods and Goddesses and have nevertheless a common characteristic at the base, namely, recognition of the Vedas as the absolute authority. In consonance with this, the Hindu temple expresses the peculiar character of the ethos of the Vedas. The temple is conceived to be the personal dwelling place of the God who lives there as the Lord of the universe. The temples are the places, where every Hindu has to do his “Puja” (worship) to the divine (his beloved God). One famous dictum is that “one should not live in a place (town), where there is no temple”. The function of the devotees is to respect and honor the Lord as the absolute Master, to wake Him with devotional music and songs early in the morning, to perform ablutions and offer puja (worship) and naivedyam (sacred food) to Him; and then to receive back the offerings from Him, as His infinite grace. In Hindu India, life and religion are so mixed up that it is difficult to separate them.  The Vedas, the Puranas, which are the records of the ancient history in India, interspersed with religious matters, are the important sacred books of the Hindus. It was the practice in ancient days for learned scholars, to read out these works to ordinary people and explain their meaning. 9 aspects of piety are enjoined upon all Hindus as part of their Dharma (devotional duty) which every Hindu has to perform, are given below: 1. Satsanga (association with the virtuous) 2. Dhayana (meditation) 3. Iswarabhakti (devotion of God) 4. Bhaktaseva (serving the devotees of God) 5. Japa (constant repetition of the God’s name) 6. Guru Puja (worship of the preceptors) 7. Harikatha (recitation of sacred hymns and songs) 8. Loka Kalyana (wishing welfare of all the creation of God) 9. Tirtha Yatra (pilgrimage to holy places). Keep it in mind always that “worship of Gods in temples purifies the heart, controls the passions and enable the … [Read more...]