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Thread: Mandir Etiquette

  1. #1

    Mandir Etiquette

    Saw there was no thread on etiquette in mandir. Decided there should be one, as many people who are interested in Hinduism who are visiting mandir for the first time are often hesitant about entering for the first time and doing something considered taboo.

    So, anyone feel like doing this? My experience of mandirs is limited, as there's only one near me, and I'm guessing they can be different between them.

  2. #2

    Re: Mandir Etiquette

    Remove your shoes. I doubt there's any mandir out there where one does not remove his or her shoes.

    Some may be more accepting of you wearing socks. The mandir I go to is. If in doubt, take them off. Doesn't matter if you don't have nice feet.

  3. #3
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    Re: Mandir Etiquette

    Some of the things to observe/expect are at the following link:
    http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/sho...1186#post51186

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    Re: Mandir Etiquette

    Vannakkam: I really didn't know where to post this, but its a tidbit that gives a sense of how intricate ritual can be. It is traditional in Hindu (at least in the out ... not sure about elsewhere) homes and temples to string mango leaves handing straight across doorways.

    But the tidbit is that the shiny side always faces outwards, dull side inward I was at our temple here this morning and the decorator volunteers were there hanging fresh mango strings, interspersed with fresh flower strings. I noticed thais, as I had before, and struck up a conversation with the priests on it. The explanation I got (there may be other ones) was that the shiny side has more life, it's the upward or outwards facing side on the tree, and it invites devas in. On the dull side, it invites the asuras out.

    Interestingly, during funerals, homes switch the direction around, as it is considered inauspicious times then.

    Some links:
    http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=mango+leaf+string&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&biw=1440&bih=729&tbm=isch&tbnid=yfDiaVY-YqYeAM:&imgrefurl=http://www.fancyflorist.ca/index.php%3Fmain_page%3Dproduct_info%26cPath%3D84_95%26products_id%3D390&docid=dxmYNuIkVjtaMM&imgurl =http://www.fancyflorist.ca/images/categories/THO%25252006.jpg&w=1000&h=750&ei=b4n_TuLuB4j00gH2j9HfBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=675&vpy=142&dur=3269&hovh =194&hovw=259&tx=194&ty=163&sig=101583928988083030274&page=1&tbnh=119&tbnw=158&start=0&ndsp=28&ved=1 t:429,r:3,s:0

    http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=mango+...t:429,r:10,s:0


    Aum Namasivaya

  5. #5

    Re: Mandir Etiquette

    Quote Originally Posted by Eastern Mind View Post
    Vannakkam: I really didn't know where to post this, but its a tidbit that gives a sense of how intricate ritual can be. It is traditional in Hindu (at least in the out ... not sure about elsewhere) homes and temples to string mango leaves handing straight across doorways.

    But the tidbit is that the shiny side always faces outwards, dull side inward I was at our temple here this morning and the decorator volunteers were there hanging fresh mango strings, interspersed with fresh flower strings. I noticed thais, as I had before, and struck up a conversation with the priests on it. The explanation I got (there may be other ones) was that the shiny side has more life, it's the upward or outwards facing side on the tree, and it invites devas in. On the dull side, it invites the asuras out.

    Interestingly, during funerals, homes switch the direction around, as it is considered inauspicious times then.

    Some links:
    http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=mango+...1t:429,r:3,s:0

    http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=mango+...t:429,r:10,s:0


    Aum Namasivaya
    Meaningful indeed.

  6. #6
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    Re: Mandir Etiquette

    Vannakkam: I like this one, but then I am a bit on the conservative side. Its good to hear that someone is going for the traditions, especially regarding clothing. I'm sure I'll go there one day.

    And Memphis, of all places, the birthplace of Elvis Presley, in many ways the antithesis of Hindu etiquette.

    http://www.icctmemphis.org/nl/TempleEtiquette.html

    Aum Namasivaya

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