temple worship

Temple worship is an activity that prayers gather in the Mandir (Hindu Temple) to pray at the weekend.

Different part of the building have different spiritual or symbolic meaning.

For visitors, here are some rules one should take note to pay respect to the deities:

Not to enter the temple with foot wear. (because common footwear were made of leather - dead animal parts are not allowed inside temple).
While inside the temple should not make the place dirty in any way or make any noise.

Tower of the temple

represents the flight of spirit to heaven

Central shrine

heart of the worshippers

Here are some general steps for worship in temple:

First remove shoes and socks and

Buy some flowers, fruits, coconut, incense sticks.

Enter premises by stepping into the temple using right foot first. There will be a some tap water to wash legs and sprinkle a little on the head (symbol of purification).

First look for Elephant God (Lord Ganesh) and pray to him, he is always located near the entrance itself. All prayers in Hindu religion first starts with a prayer to him. After small prayer, most people use their knuckle to knock their head (crown part) very gently (stimulates blood flow to brain).

Go around the temple (clock wise) direction and there will be different idols of other Gods like Dakshina Moorthy (Great silent teacher), Vishnu (The preserver), Hanuman (Monkey God), Durga (Goddess Shakthi). Karthikeya (God of Youth and a Great Warrior). Navagraha (representing 9 planetary Gods).

Then enter into the main shrine were the idol of chief Deity of that temple is kept for worshipping. Offer prayer and give the basket to the priest, he normally asks for the persons birth star, name and offers the prayer on behalf of the person in Sanskrit or local native language.

He breaks the coconut, lights the incense stick and put the flowers offered on or next to the idol and lights up a camphor (nowadays they are using thin wicks soaked in clarrified butter to reduce smoke pollution). Later gives back the other half of coconut and fruit as God's offering to prayer. Prayers usually donate a small amount of cash (depends on your wallet) as offering to the priest for performing the prayer on behalf of you. Some people put money in temples money collector box (usually called as hundi).

Circumambulating the Lord saluting the Goddess and the deities in the temple. The circumambulation would be done at least for three times.

They also give holy water to drink, so prayers receive it with our right hand palm (folded like small cup) and drink. This water usually has some herbs mixed to it and then the priest gives holy ash (white in color) or sindhoor (red color) to wear it on your forehead (protection for the 3rd eye). Later you walk out and sit in a corner for few minutes in silence (meditation would be even better) and later exit out

Prayers normally go to the temple at least once in a week with the family.

A Hindu temple is believed to be the earthly seat of a deity and the place where the deity waits for its devotees. Temples are normally dedicated to one primary god.