Various Ways To Attain God:
Worship –an act of devoting one’s self in search of the Ultimate One. Though different religions follow different styles of worship leading to one common goal, Hinduism doesn’t have a static one. In Hinduism, there are various forms of worship – various steps – various opinions – various beliefs.
PUJA:
This is a common worship form in all Hindu temples. Puja indicates worship of murti (idol) or a sacred image by decorating them with garlands and sprinkling flowers. Hindu people worship the God by enchanting mantras and offering foods. They bathe the murti before puja.After puja, they take the food as prasad. It is the holy food taken after the puja or darshana. It is believed that taking of prasad makes the soul and body pure.Often in several temples and ashrams, prasad is distributed as meal too. It is believed to have healing power and giving rise to spiritual aspirations when taken with devotion.
DARSHANA:
Darshana means visiting the holy temples and bowing down before the idol. Hindu people bow their head down in front of the murti and pray to God with their hands close in Namaste gesture. It is considered to be an act of devoting the soul scarificing all ego.It is very common in the morning.
AARATI:
It is generally a common practice in the temples mostly two times a day. A wick-lamp or pradip is offered to the idol along with prayers and mantras by moving the wick-lamp in various patterns.At times, other than lamp, incense sticks,flowers and camphors are also offer in similar fashion. Light is the symbol of knowledge. It is believed to impart life into the idol and bring forth power waves in the temple. The wick-lamp is passed from person to person who make the gesture of taking the flame in their heart and forehead to inspire devotion in the heart and fortune.
PRAVACHAN:
It is delivering speech to followers and devotees. Generally verse are sung from holy books and explained to people the principles on which people should conduct their life and deeds. Most often who of higher authority and knowledge or Gurus deliver the speech and people ask questions and receive answers from them. It helps understanding life and clarifying wrong perception and sharing problems with others.
HAVAN:
It is generally performed during special occasions. A big fire is lit up using woods and ghee and is surrounded by bricks and sands to stop outspread of fire. Offerings are made to the burning fire as a symbol of destroying the evil. Grains are thrown and mantras are chanted for well-being.
JAPA:
It is a self-dedicated act where people count beads mostly 108 times reciting a guru mantra in their minds with the believe that the power of the mantra is spreading throughout their bodies as they recite silently without letting the energy stored in beej-mantra to radiate outside.It also calms the mind and increase concentration in daily life and give rise to devotion and further spiritual enhancement.
PRADAKSHINA:
This is generally performed by pilgrims who circle the temple or deity in bare foot chanting a mantra to order to gain virtue or to achieve a purpose in their lives where they are stuck. It also implies visiting sacred places from time to time around the country.
SEVA:
This is an supremely elevated form of worship where people perceive God in poor and needy people and help them with their best remainings. With the believe that God resides in everyone’s heart,they distribute part of their income to the welfare of human beings.Besides, people also take active participation in cleaning and decorating temples and other useful activities as a means of Seva to God.They find pleasure doing it and do it effortlessly as a part of their life’s activities.
MEDITATION:
It is considered as the highest form of worship in order to reach the ultimate one. It follows certain posture for sitting and arranging the energy flowing inside the spine.Mind is generally fixed in between the eyebrows without letting it distract during meditation. An eternal ecstasy is felt while performing it in the right way. It has great healing and character building qualities as the nerve endings and energy points in our spine get activated due to regular practice.
Worship –an act of devoting one’s self in search of the Ultimate One. Though different religions follow different styles of worship leading to one common goal, Hinduism doesn’t have a static one. In Hinduism, there are various forms of worship – various steps – various opinions – various beliefs.
PUJA:
This is a common worship form in all Hindu temples. Puja indicates worship of murti (idol) or a sacred image by decorating them with garlands and sprinkling flowers. Hindu people worship the God by enchanting mantras and offering foods. They bathe the murti before puja.After puja, they take the food as prasad. It is the holy food taken after the puja or darshana. It is believed that taking of prasad makes the soul and body pure.Often in several temples and ashrams, prasad is distributed as meal too. It is believed to have healing power and giving rise to spiritual aspirations when taken with devotion.
DARSHANA:
Darshana means visiting the holy temples and bowing down before the idol. Hindu people bow their head down in front of the murti and pray to God with their hands close in Namaste gesture. It is considered to be an act of devoting the soul scarificing all ego.It is very common in the morning.
AARATI:
It is generally a common practice in the temples mostly two times a day. A wick-lamp or pradip is offered to the idol along with prayers and mantras by moving the wick-lamp in various patterns.At times, other than lamp, incense sticks,flowers and camphors are also offer in similar fashion. Light is the symbol of knowledge. It is believed to impart life into the idol and bring forth power waves in the temple. The wick-lamp is passed from person to person who make the gesture of taking the flame in their heart and forehead to inspire devotion in the heart and fortune.
PRAVACHAN:
It is delivering speech to followers and devotees. Generally verse are sung from holy books and explained to people the principles on which people should conduct their life and deeds. Most often who of higher authority and knowledge or Gurus deliver the speech and people ask questions and receive answers from them. It helps understanding life and clarifying wrong perception and sharing problems with others.
HAVAN:
It is generally performed during special occasions. A big fire is lit up using woods and ghee and is surrounded by bricks and sands to stop outspread of fire. Offerings are made to the burning fire as a symbol of destroying the evil. Grains are thrown and mantras are chanted for well-being.
JAPA:
It is a self-dedicated act where people count beads mostly 108 times reciting a guru mantra in their minds with the believe that the power of the mantra is spreading throughout their bodies as they recite silently without letting the energy stored in beej-mantra to radiate outside.It also calms the mind and increase concentration in daily life and give rise to devotion and further spiritual enhancement.
PRADAKSHINA:
This is generally performed by pilgrims who circle the temple or deity in bare foot chanting a mantra to order to gain virtue or to achieve a purpose in their lives where they are stuck. It also implies visiting sacred places from time to time around the country.
SEVA:
This is an supremely elevated form of worship where people perceive God in poor and needy people and help them with their best remainings. With the believe that God resides in everyone’s heart,they distribute part of their income to the welfare of human beings.Besides, people also take active participation in cleaning and decorating temples and other useful activities as a means of Seva to God.They find pleasure doing it and do it effortlessly as a part of their life’s activities.
MEDITATION:
It is considered as the highest form of worship in order to reach the ultimate one. It follows certain posture for sitting and arranging the energy flowing inside the spine.Mind is generally fixed in between the eyebrows without letting it distract during meditation. An eternal ecstasy is felt while performing it in the right way. It has great healing and character building qualities as the nerve endings and energy points in our spine get activated due to regular practice.
