RITUALS A Hindu lives his or her religion through worship
rituals passed down from one generation to the next Daily worship
takes place at home and going to temple is not absolutely necessary
Many Hindus begin their day with rituals- others in evenings or on
weekends Most Hindus purify themselves before participating in
ritual
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Om This syllable is made up of three sounds a-u-m. Used to
evoke essence of Brahman. Believed to contain the secrets of the
universe and is chanted at the beginning of prayers, blessings, and
meditation. The symbol is not worshipped but meditated on as a
means to gain enlightenment.
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Mantras Mantras are sacred phrases that worshippers repeat.
Example- Hindus chant this mantra to greet the sun: I meditate on
the brilliance of the sun; may it illuminate my intellect.
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Worship at Home Images used at home during worship act as
points of focus to help the mind concentrate on the abstract ideals
that the deities represent. The most common form of home worship is
called puja. There are 16 steps in a traditional puja. Watch the
video and fill in the blanks!
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How to Have a Puja at Home Howcast How to Have a Puja at
Home
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Worship in Temples Worshipping in temples is not a requirement
nor a necessity Hindus usually visit temples on festivals or for
special functions Worship in a temple is conducted by a priest and
his helpers Images of deities in temple are treated like royalty
Hindus in the West also go to temple to learn more about their
religion
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Hindu Mandir, Toronto
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Significance of the Cow The cow is considered to be sacred to
their culture and beliefs Hindus adore the cow as a manifestation
of all that is good and precious. The aspire to a vegetarian
lifestyle, like the cow.
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Yoga and Meditation To Hindus, yoga and meditation are
spiritual disciplines Meditation requires a sitting posture which
is comfortable for long periods of time. Meditators try to control
their breathing and focus on a single object, sound, or idea until
they are experiencing divine presence. Swamis, holy men, are
experts at meditation.
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Pilgrimages Varanasi, a city located along the bank of the
Ganges river, is a holy city for Hindus They try to visit at least
once in their lives Bathing in the river is the first thing
pilgrims do when they arrive. They believe it cleanses them of
sin.
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Symbols Symbols are an important part of Hinduism They serve as
reminder of the divine spirit. The Swastika is a good luck symbol
representing well- being. Used to protect against evil and bring
luck. Commonly seen on Hindu drawings or wedding invitations.
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Forehead Marks Some Hindus mark a tilak on their forehead to
indicate which deity they worship. Signs are worn between eyes, to
represent third eye of wisdom Many married women mark their
foreheads with a red dot called a bindi. This signifies a woman is
married.
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Festivals "Fireworks Diwali Chennai India November 2013 b" by
Sriram Jagannathan - Flickr: Chennai diwali. Licensed under CC BY
2.0 via Wikimedia Commons -
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fireworks_Diwali_Chennai_India_November_2013_b.jp
g#mediaviewer/File:Fireworks_Diwali_Chennai_India_November_2013_b.jpg
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Festivals: Diwali and Holi Story of Rama and Sita (from Videos)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht9V-bdp-r4 News Report:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaysqwFoVOE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaysqwFoVOE Holi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii91WiDIayc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEw2YFCJmdg
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Paths to Liberation Handout To be handed in and marked