Anima Deorum
14 April 2013, 07:09 PM
Namaste,
Please let me share my first experience in a Mandiram with all of you.:)
I went to my first Hindu temple today. I was there for the better part of three hours. It was a wonderful experience, and I received powerful images during my meditation and prayers.
There are many temple deities present for worship: Radha Krishna, Ganesha, Amba, Hanuman, Shiva and Parvati, and Saraswati, to name a few. They are all so beautiful! And it’s true that they are alive and watching over their devotees.
I was a bit unsure of how to proceed during some of the ceremonies. I watched others carefully. When I arrived, there were not many people there. I took my shoes off and entered the prayer room. The priest was pouring milk over an obelisk in front of Shiva and Parvati, close to Nandi. I wonder what he was chanting. The other devotees and I were sitting on the floor. He adorned the deities with flowers. We stood and lined up. The priest passed an Aarti plate to a woman, who held it while the rest of us passed our down-turned hands over the flames and then rubbed our faces. Then the priest poured holy water over our right hands, which I rubbed on my face, like the others. After that, there was music being sung the entire time. I said many prayers and circumambulated the prayer room. Then I saw others taking Prasad before stepping out to eat it, so I did as well (But I returned to the prayer room, as I wasn’t finished worshipping. Next time I will be sure to wait until after Aarti for Prasad). There was sandalwood paste and holy water by the Prasad: some men didn’t bother with the sandalwood paste, so I didn’t, either (I wasn’t sure what to do with it. Does it go on the hairline?) But I did make sure to pour holy water over my right hand, touch it to my lips, and rub it on my hair. I wonder what this means. Soon afterward I made my monetary donation, which was difficult for me to do, for some reason.
There was more prayer and more music—I wasn’t sure if it was okay to sit on the chairs in the back or if I should sit on the floor (My legs were hurting, although I’m young enough and in decent shape). After sitting on a chair for a while, I returned to the floor and clapped along with everyone. Then there were announcements and a brief reading about laughing. By the time we performed Aarti, there were a couple hundred of us. I waved the plate and flames around in a clockwise motion three times. I hope I was doing it right!
I did not speak to any people while I was there. No one talked to me, except the man I held the door for, who said “thank you.” From what I understand, this is normal for someone visiting a Mandiram for the first time.
This was definitely a very cool experience and place of worship. I am certain that I will keep coming back and make doing so a priority. In the meantime, I will continue to pray daily to the deities on my shrine. Oh, that probably needs work, too.
Please share your thoughts and advice if you wish.
Thank you.
Please let me share my first experience in a Mandiram with all of you.:)
I went to my first Hindu temple today. I was there for the better part of three hours. It was a wonderful experience, and I received powerful images during my meditation and prayers.
There are many temple deities present for worship: Radha Krishna, Ganesha, Amba, Hanuman, Shiva and Parvati, and Saraswati, to name a few. They are all so beautiful! And it’s true that they are alive and watching over their devotees.
I was a bit unsure of how to proceed during some of the ceremonies. I watched others carefully. When I arrived, there were not many people there. I took my shoes off and entered the prayer room. The priest was pouring milk over an obelisk in front of Shiva and Parvati, close to Nandi. I wonder what he was chanting. The other devotees and I were sitting on the floor. He adorned the deities with flowers. We stood and lined up. The priest passed an Aarti plate to a woman, who held it while the rest of us passed our down-turned hands over the flames and then rubbed our faces. Then the priest poured holy water over our right hands, which I rubbed on my face, like the others. After that, there was music being sung the entire time. I said many prayers and circumambulated the prayer room. Then I saw others taking Prasad before stepping out to eat it, so I did as well (But I returned to the prayer room, as I wasn’t finished worshipping. Next time I will be sure to wait until after Aarti for Prasad). There was sandalwood paste and holy water by the Prasad: some men didn’t bother with the sandalwood paste, so I didn’t, either (I wasn’t sure what to do with it. Does it go on the hairline?) But I did make sure to pour holy water over my right hand, touch it to my lips, and rub it on my hair. I wonder what this means. Soon afterward I made my monetary donation, which was difficult for me to do, for some reason.
There was more prayer and more music—I wasn’t sure if it was okay to sit on the chairs in the back or if I should sit on the floor (My legs were hurting, although I’m young enough and in decent shape). After sitting on a chair for a while, I returned to the floor and clapped along with everyone. Then there were announcements and a brief reading about laughing. By the time we performed Aarti, there were a couple hundred of us. I waved the plate and flames around in a clockwise motion three times. I hope I was doing it right!
I did not speak to any people while I was there. No one talked to me, except the man I held the door for, who said “thank you.” From what I understand, this is normal for someone visiting a Mandiram for the first time.
This was definitely a very cool experience and place of worship. I am certain that I will keep coming back and make doing so a priority. In the meantime, I will continue to pray daily to the deities on my shrine. Oh, that probably needs work, too.
Please share your thoughts and advice if you wish.
Thank you.