Hindu Worship

Worship or Puja

Hindu worship, or puja, involves the use of images (murtis), prayers (mantras) and universal paintings (yantras).
An important feature of Hindu worship is the image, or idol, that can be worshiped at home or in the temple.
Hindu worship is basically a personal act and not a public ceremony, as it involves making personal offerings to a deity.
Worshipers repeat the names of the gods and goddesses they love, and they repeat the words meaning words. Water, fruit, flowers and incense are offered to the god.
Worship is an expression of devotion, reverence and love to the Lord, a longing to be united with Him and a spiritual thirst to hold a conscious communion with Him.
The devotee prays to the Lord to give him a deep devotion and to remove the veil of ignorance. He longs for His righteous grace. He always remembers His Name. He repeats His Mantra. He sings His glory. He did Kirtana. He hears and says his Lilas. He lives in His pool with His devotees. He meditates on His character, His character, His attributes and His Weeping. You visualize the Lord’s presence with closed eyes and you enjoy great peace and happiness.

Worship at home
Most Hindu homes have a sacred place where prayers are offered. The temple can be anything: a room, a small altar or mere idols or images of the gods. Family members usually worship together. Traditions should be firmly established three times a day. Some Hindus, but not all, worship at the shrine (above the left shoulder and at the waist). This is Brahmin cotton (priest), Kshatriya hemp (ruler) and vaishya wool (merchants).

Worship at the temple

• In the Hindu temple, various parts of the structure have a distinct spiritual or symbolic meaning.
• The central temple is the heart of the worshiper
• The tower represents the flying air in the sky
• The priest may recite, or recite, the Vedas to the united worshipers, but any “born-again” Hindu can read the prayers and mantras.

How worshipping is beneficial?

Serving Jehovah purifies the heart, produces a harmonious vibration, strengthens the mind, purifies and amplifies emotions, conforms to the five barriers, and ultimately leads to a meal, fellowship, or the knowledge of God.
The pastor helps the devotee to sit next to the Lord or talk to Him. It fills the mind with Suddha Bhava and Prema or the pure love of the Lord. It gradually transforms a person into a godly person.
Upasana changes the mind, destroys the Rajas and Tamas and fills the mind with Sattva or purity. Upasana destroys Vasanas, Trishnas, egoism, lust, hatred, anger, etc. Upasana turns the mind inside and inserts Antarmukha Vritti. Ultimately it brings the devoteer face to face with the Lord, frees the devotee from the wheel of birth and death, and gives him immortality and freedom.
The mind becomes one that thinks in terms of the metaphor of the wasp and the caterpillar (Bhramara-Kitaka Nyaya). Just as you think, so you become. This is the law of unchangeable mind. There is an incomprehensible or irreversible force (Achintya Sakti) in Upasana that makes the thinker and meditation the same.

In Bhagvad Gita there is a line “But by devotion to Me alone, I may thus be perceived, O Arjuna; and known and seen in essence and entered, O Parantapa” which means My dear Arjuna, it is only through the indivisible devotional service that I can be understood as I am, standing before you, and thus able to be seen directly. Only in this way can you enter into the mysteries of My understanding.

Upasana

In Hinduism, Upasana is a word that indicates the approach or approach to the deity. It usually refers to worship or meditation for the purpose of communicating with the entire world or from higher power. It is a Sanskrit word which means “abiding by God.”
Upasana is of two types, namely, Saguna-Upasana (meditation form, calling God or Mighty Power) and Nirguna-Upasana (meditation on the pure and unadulterated Brahman).

In very simple words to understand – Meditation on idols, images of Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Lord Siva. Gayatri Devi, etc., by Saguna Upasana. Saguna-Upasana physical meditation. Nirguna-Upasana is an invisible meditation.
Om singing by Atma-Bhava, traditional service by Atma-Bhava, Japa of Om’s mind with Atma or Brahma Bhava, meditation on Soham or Sivoham or Mahavakya like Aham Brahma Asmi or Tat Tvam Asi after assembling deceptive vehicles using the Doctrine of ‘Neti, Neti’, includes Ahamgraha Upasana or Nirguna-Upasana.
Nirguna-Upasana is basically Jnana Yoga.

In Saguna meditation, the devotee considers himself completely different from the object of worship. The worshiper is completely devoted, unselfish, indifferent, devoted to the Lord. You respect, honor, and glorify Jehovah and depend on him for everything, for food, for protection, and for his presence. He is always looking for help of any kind in Ishta Devata.
There is nothing independent of that. He is an instrument in the hands of the Lord. His hands, legs, senses, mind, Buddha, physical body belong to the Lord. A dedicated person does not like Jnana’s idea or mix. He loves to have his own organization as a servant and to worship, worship and love the Lord always. He doesn’t like to be sugar like Jnani, but he likes to taste sugar and eat sugar. This form of worship is relatively brief. You can suppose there is a circle. You have a position in the middle. You squeeze yourself to the point and meet in a circle. This is a Saguna meditation. This is ideal for people with a breath of fresh air. Most people are just right for this method of worship.

The Feeling in Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti Yoga or Devotion Yoga is much simpler than Jnana Yoga or philosophical meditation. In Bhakti Yoga, the devotee establishes a close and loving relationship with the Lord. Gradually he cultivates at least one of the six baths according to his personality, taste, and strength.
Santa Bhava, Dasya Bhava, Sakhya Bhava, Vatsalya Bhava, Kanta Bhava and Madhurya Bhava six types of attributes of devotees or Bhava to God. Bava varies in type and intensity of feeling. The different baths are arranged in the order of their firmness. Drhruva and Prahlada had the feeling of a child in their parents. This is the place of Santa Bhava. In Dasya Bhava, the devotee behaves like a slave. His Lord owns it. Hanuman is a good servant of God. In Sakhya Bhava, there is a sense of equality. Arjuna and Kuchela had this Bhava. At Vatsalya Bhava, the devotee considers the Lord as his child. Yasoda owned this Bhava of Sri Krishna. Kausalya had this Bhava of Sri Rama. Kanta Bhava a woman’s love for her husband. Sita and Rukmini had this Bhava. The conclusion is reached at Madhurya Bhava. Love and Thandeka become one with the intensity of love. Radha and Mira had this kind of love.
The last Bhava is the highest end of Bhakti. It is union or absorption from the Lord. A dedicated person serves Jehovah. She always remembers him. She sings His Name (Kirtana). He speaks of His glory. He repeats His Name. He sings His Mantra. He kneels and prays. He hears His Cry. He gives completely, tirelessly, unconditionally, receives His grace, holds fellowship with Him and finally enters into Him.

Idol- Worship

Idol supports neophyte. It is an example of his spiritual childhood. The form or image is required for worship in the beginning. It is an outward sign of God’s worship. It is a reminder of God. The visual image calls for a mental concept. Mental health is achieved through idolatry. The worshiper will need to associate the ideas of infinity, omnipotence, omniscience, purity, perfection, liberty, holiness, truth, omnipresence. It is not possible for everyone to adjust their minds to Absolute or Infinite. The concrete form is much needed for you to practice concentration. Seeing God everywhere and doing the existence of God is impossible for the average person. Idolatry is a simple form of worship practiced by the modern-day man.

The mark is very important in correcting the mind. The mind needs support that we can rely on. You cannot have an Absolute concept in the first stages. Without the help of other external help, in the early stages, the mind cannot be put in one place. Initially, concentration or meditation is not possible without a sign.

Communicating with God on a mental and spiritual level

Idols are not the idle desires of the sculptors, but the shining paths in which the devoted heart is drawn and flowed to God. Although the image is worshiped, the devotee feels the presence of the Lord in it and pours out his devotion to it. The shocking ignorance of the modern carnal man obscures his view and prevents him from seeing the deity through the lovable and attractive idols of His nature. The very scientific advancement of this century should convince you of the glory of idolatry. How are songwriters and speakers trapped in a small box-like object called a radio? It is just a fragment of an inanimate mechanical structure that breaks into a thousand pieces if you violently dump it; and yet, if you know how to handle it, you can hear it, music played thousands of miles away, talk given in the remotest parts of the earth. Even if you can catch the sound of people all over the world through the receiving radio, it is possible to speak to the Lord who is everywhere everywhere through an idol. God’s omnipotent ‘deity’ is omnipotent in the atomic universe. Not a speck of space where He is not. Why do you say that he is not in the pictures?
There are some who can carelessly say, “Oh, God is an immortal being everywhere. How can he be trapped in this picture? ” Do these people recognize His omnipresence? Do they always see Him and alone in everything? No. It is their selfishness that prevents them from worshiping the idols of God and for that reason they put the devious and cruel way ahead!

Symbol of God

Pratima (idol) is a substitute or symbol. The image in the temple, though made of stone, wood or metal, is as precious to the devotee as it is to the mark of his Lord, as it represents something that he holds sacred and eternal. A flag is a small piece of fabric, but it represents the soldier’s favorite object. He is willing to give his life in defense of his flag. Similarly a picture is very appealing to a dedicated person. She speaks to him in her dedicated language. Just as a flag awakens a soldier’s military power, so an image arouses a devotion to one’s devotion. The Lord is placed on top of the image and the image conveys the thoughts of the Godhead to the worshiper.

A piece of plain white paper or colored paper has no value. He throws it away. However, if you have a stamp or a picture of a King or Emperor on a piece of paper (money notes), keep it safe in your wallet or trunk. However, ordinary stone is of no use to you. He throws it away. But, if you see the Murti stone of Lord Krishna in Pandharpur or any other Murti in the holy places, you bow your head with folded hands, for there is the seal of the Lord on the stone. The devotee puts on the stone his Beloved Murti and all the attributes of the Lord.

Idolatry Promotes Devotion

Idolatry makes concentration easier and easier. You can bring to the forefront of your imagination the great Lilas the Lord has played in some of His Avatars where you look at Him. This is one of the easiest ways to introduce yourself.
Just as the image of a famous hero awakens in your heart the heroism, looking at the image of God will elevate your mind. Just as a baby develops the mother’s Bhava (mother’s feeling) of the future that strokes, breastfeeds, protects the mother by playing with her imaginative toy made of nipples and breastfeeding in an imaginative way, so the dedication develops the feeling. of devotion to the service of the Prima and focusing on it.

From Ritualistic Bhakti To Para Bhakti

Bhakti is of two types, namely, Bhakti high or Para Bhakti and low Bhakti or cultural Bhakti. The traditional worship is Vaidhi or Gauni Bhakti. Official Bhakti. Vaidhi Bhakti is a low-level form of devotion depending on external resources. Bhakti below. The mind becomes pure and pure. He who desires to grow in love for God gradually through ritual worship. The one who performs the ritual worships the bells, worships Pratika (symbol) or Prima (image), makes Puja, Arati, etc., with flowers, attaches sandals, burns incense and waves in front of an image, gives Naivedya or divine food, etc.
Mukhya Bhakti or Para Bhakti is an advanced form of devotion. It is above Bhakti. It surpasses the whole conference. A devout person of this nature does not know the law. He does not perform any external worship. He sees his Master everywhere, in everything. His heart is full of love for God. The whole world is Brindavan to him. His condition is unexplained. You get an acme of happiness. He radiates love, purity and happiness wherever he goes and encourages all who meet him.
A person who wishes to worship an idol initially sees the Lord everywhere and develops Para Bhakti. From Vaidhi Bhakti, you proceed to Ragatmika Bhakti or Prema Bhakti. He looks at the whole world as King. The ideas of good and evil, good and bad, cunning, etc., disappear. You see the giant King, dacoit, cobra, scorpion, ant, dog, tree, tree, rock, sun, moon, stars, fire, water, earth, etc. His opinion or knowledge confuses the meaning. Glory to the highest Bhaktas who are the true God on earth, who live to bring others out of Samson’s dungeon and save them from the clutches of death!

From all this we can conclude that, There is nothing wrong with worshiping an idol in the first place. You must exalt God and His attributes above the idol. You have to think about Antar-Atma hidden in the picture. The dreamer gradually begins to feel that the Lord whom he worships is in the image, in the hearts of all creatures and in all the names and forms of this universe. You begin to feel His presence everywhere.

Idolatry is simply the beginning of religion. Certainly not your destiny. The same Hindu texts describing the worship of idols for beginners speak of meditation on the Infinite or Absolute, meditating on the significance of the “Tat Tvam Asi” Mahavakya, for those who want to progress.
There are different levels of worship. The first is idolatry. Next is the recitation of Mantras and prayer. Mind worship is higher than flower worship. Meditation on Absolute or the perfect Nirguna Brahman is the best.
Although you may be able to serve Jehovah from time to time, let your heart do your best to serve Jehovah with all your heart. Here worship reaches perfection. Life is worship of God. May you see the importance of the universal worship of the Virat in daily life and do it, earning a great life bonus. The

May the Lord bless you all!