Mandir & Puja
Religious Studies: KS3, topic 2.2.17
Mandir & Puja
Mandir
- A mandir is a Hindu temple, a special place for worship, prayer, and community gatherings.
- A mandir is also a community centre.
- People meet, learn, and celebrate festivals together in the mandir.
Puja
- Puja means worship or showing devotion to the gods and goddesses.
- Hindus can perform puja at home or in the mandir.
- During puja, Hindus make offerings such as flowers, food, water, light (from lamps), and incense.
- These offerings show love, respect, and thankfulness to the deities.
- Puja helps Hindus feel close to Brahman, the one divine reality.
Home shrines and festivals
- Many Hindu families have a small shrine at home. The home shrine often has murtis and candles.
- Home puja lets families pray together and begin the day with peace and devotion.
- In mandirs, priests lead group pujas and chant mantras (sacred prayers) in Sanskrit.
- Festivals bring the community together for special pujas.
Statues and Icons
Symbols
- The representation of Hindu deities is rich in symbolism.
- Each symbol is reminder of beliefs and duties.
- Hindu temples often have many symbols, both inside and outside.
- Murtis are the statues or other solid representation of the Hindu deities.
Images
- Images inside the temple are often used as part of puja (worship).
- In some traditions, priests install murtis while singing hymns.
- They believe that the sculpture contains divine energy.
- Outside of the temple, there are large stone carvings of deities.
Images and worship
- It is important to understand that murtis are not the object of worship themselves. They are not believed to be gods.
- They are icons that help to visualise the deity and its qualities.
- By meditating before the icon the worshipper hopes to gain some part of the spirit of that deity.
- Hindus also present food and other gifts to the images. This symbolises their gratitude for the help they have received.
Test yourself on Mandir & Puja
What is the purpose of puja?
What is correct about worship in Hindu Dharma?
What language are the sacred prayers or mantras often chanted in?
Why do Hindus usually visit a mandir?
What does community worship in a mandir help to build?