mandir

Hindu temple. A mandir may vary from a simple village hut to a grand building. The murti (image of the god) to whom the mandir is dedicated is usually in a special alcove. Hindu temples are highly decorated, with many statues and pictures of lesser gods and goddesses (devas and devatas), often festooned with garlands. There may be symbolic images such as the Om, or Aum, sign; swastikas, the ancient Hindu sign of God's blessing; or mandala, patterns signifying the cosmos. The use of a mandir is not as central to Hindu practice as a mosque is to Islam, or church to Christianity, and there is no set service. The mandir is open morning and evening, but closes in the afternoon.

Worship The chief murti of the mandir is looked after by a pujari (priest). The murti is ‘woken up’ in the morning, and carefully washed, dressed, and offered food. This food will become the prashad that is later offered to worshippers. Worshippers visiting the temple will walk respectfully past the mandir in its alcove to gain darshan, a glimpse of God. Some Hindus worship the actual murti, and others worship the unseeable God represented by the murti.

Some ceremonies, such as the arti ceremony, are conducted by the pujari, but individuals can also come into the temple and perform their own worship. They will remove their shoes, wash their hands, and begin by ringing a bell to let the god know they have arrived. The bell also serves the purpose of marking the beginning of ‘divine’ time for the worshipper. Private prayer may be conducted sitting on the floor or standing. The worshipper may offer food, flowers, money, incense, or other gifts to the image. Prayer may be silent, spoken, sung, or accompanied with instruments. Worshippers may mark their foreheads with a sign known as a tilak, a mark or series of marks that shows which god has been worshipped.

In larger temples there may be congregational worship. The pujari will lead the bhajan (hymn singing), perform the havan (a fire-offering to the murti), and then conduct the arti ceremony.