Worship
Worship in the temple or home shrine is an integral part of the Hindu culture. It helps us connect with our inner divine, pure, and blissful soul nature, uplifting and bringing happiness to the worshiper.
Worshiping God and Guru serves as a profound and transformative tool for personal growth and self-refinement. It develops faith and devotion, which in turn nurture humility and grace. Grace softens the heart, cultivates compassion and understanding, and helps develop a pious character. Temple worship provides guidance and self-confidence through a deep sense of friendship with God. Prayers and meditation bring clarity and mindfulness, helping to calm emotions and maintain positive thoughts. These practices help us to face our challenges more effectively.
“Offer oblations in love, light golden lamps. Spread incense of fragrant wood and lighted camphor in all directions. Forget your worldly worries and meditate. You shall attain true and rapturous moksha. Worshiping thus, there is nothing that you cannot attain. Worshiping thus, you shall inherit the wealth of Indra, heaven’s king. Worshiping thus, you shall gain miraculous powers. Worshiping thus, you shall attain moksha. ”
For Hindus, a temple is a sacred space where devotees come to connect with the divine. It serves as a connection between the physical and spiritual worlds. Devotees can experience transformation, seek blessings, and deepen their spiritual connection. While priests are available to perform elaborate prayers and rituals to the deity (stone or metal image enshrined in the temple’s center sanctum), devotees also have the freedom to visit and worship the deity in their own simple ways. They may meditate, do chants, sit and sing devotional songs or offer any services that Temple may need help with. Some come to express gratitude for blessings received, while others visit to find comfort in times of grief and hardships.
Satguru Bodhinatha of the Kauai’s Hindu Monastery explains that through true devotion, intensity of worship through pilgrimage and penance, and adherence to dharma can transform the patterns of your karma. Satguru emphasizes that children should learn to visit the temple, place their problems at the feet of the Deity, offer a flower or food or incense, ring the bell and talk to the Deity about their problems as if speaking to a friend. By doing this at the temple, they undergo a deep inner process and receive blessings from the Deity, if they open themselves in the right way. Often, they may find that upon leaving the temple, they can’t even remember what the problem was—a true sign of success.
Temple worship is a powerful tool! Worshiping regularly and wholeheartedly, even for 10 minutes in a temple or home shrine help stabilize emotions, providing calmness and confidence. Though worshiping with sincerity and attentiveness is important.
