Re: Some questions about Hindu prayer and temple customs
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
namasté
Some very good answers have been offered above...If I may I'd like to contribute the following.
- purification - this can happen internally and externally. The notion of ablution with water is considered traditional.
Yet its counterpart is within the individual with the ~ablution~ of pure consciousness. - cleanliness - this too is external in one's surroundings, clothing, etc. and is also internal. This cleanliness is called out in patañjali’s yogadarśana ( yoga sūtra's)¹
- prayer 3 times a day ; this can occur during saṃdhya ( the junction points); yet for some it is dhyāna or meditation. For those practicing gāyatrī , some paractice catur- saṃdhya ( 4 junction points² or 4 times per day.
So the continuing question... do all hindu's do this? No, not all. And for my list above not every hindu follows patañjali’s yogadarśana because they may not be the aspirant of yoga. Once again , one size does not fit all.
Yet ( IMHO) the question is ( for all hindu's) practicing sanātana dharma
how does one practice, appreciate and apply puruṣārtha in whole or in part?
Puruṣārtha is known as the 4 aims in life (puruṣa + ārtha = human + aim , purpose )
- kāma desire and its fulfillment
- artha acquirement of wealth
- dharma discharge of duty to one's self, family, society
- mokṣa final emancipation
praṇām
1. niyama-s
- Śauca - cleanliness. Yet in essence, purity. We can consider the purity of the heart and mind ( thinking and emotions)
- Santoṣa - contentment. The absence of greed and possessing in excess ( hoarding)
- Tapas - is from tapa , to consume by heat or fire; this tapas blooms as tapasya. Most think austerity; some think religious austerity, penance, even severe restrictions. From a practical perspective , tapasya is self-control. This tapas compliments the yama of aparigraha.
- Svadhayāya - is considered study. It is also self-knowing. The study that can assist the individual to become SELF-knowing.
- Īśvara-praṇidhāna - this is the notion of recognizing and advancing ( some say adoring) Īśvara. Creating that personal relationship with Sarvesvara (Lord of All).
2. Four junction points - dawn, mid-day, dusk, and mid-night
Last edited by yajvan; 28 May 2012 at 12:54 PM.
यतस्त्वं शिवसमोऽसि
yatastvaṁ śivasamo'si
because you are identical with śiva
_
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