Sri Deva Sthanam

Sacred Designs: the Yantra

Thu, 27 Aug 2015 05:12:56 +0000

The general meaning of the word yantra is “a machine,” or an “apparatus” and so in this sense a washing machine, a television or even a computer is a yantra. In a religious context a yantra is a symbolic diagram that represents a Deity and is used primarily for puja and meditation. Yantras are generally inscribed onto thin copper or silver plate that shows a geometric shape…

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The Shathari: God’s Feet

Thu, 27 Aug 2015 00:49:03 +0000

The shathari is an altar implement used primarily in many South Indian style temples. There is a famous temple in South India, just north of Chennai (Madras), that is dedicated to a particular form of Vishnu known as Shri Venkateshwara or Balaji for short. Modeled after this original Balaji temple, many cities in the West now have a Balaji Temple. Ordinarily most Hindus never see the shathari…

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Religious Marks: Tilaka/Tika

Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:46:05 +0000

Going hand in hand with religious denomination (sampradaya) are the religious marks worn by the devotees of the the various schools of Hindu theology. These marks are called tilaka, or in Hindi and many other regional languages, tika. The tilaka is a religious mark worn mainly on the forehead and is made primarily of sandal paste, clay, or ash. The word tilaka is literally a “freckle” or “spot”…

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A Sacred Plant: Tulasi

Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:45:05 +0000

The tulasi plant is a small perennial shrub in the mint family that is native to India and which is venerated by Hindus in general and Vaishnavas in particular. The botanical name is ocimum tenuiflorum or sometimes, ocimum sanctum, the sacred Basil. In Hindi and other north Indian languages the name is written just a tulsi. There are three varieties of tulasi plants used by Hindus.

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Divine Blessings: Prasada

Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:44:39 +0000

The word prasada means “mercy” or “blessings.” Therefore something coming back to the worshipper after being offered to a Deity is the mercy or blessings of that Deity. The counterpart of prasada is bhoga, which are the items being offered to the Deity. You might think, bhoga in prasada out. The word bhoga literally means “enjoyment.” Therefore anything enjoyable is a bhoga. So in effect…

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Why do Hindus wear marks on the forehead?

Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:44:11 +0000

In Sanskrit the name for the marks worn on the forehead is tilaka, which literally means, “ornament.” In Hindi the word is shortened to tika. There are three basic uses for the tilaka marks: The mark worn by ladies as part of their makeup; the red “dot” that is applied during puja; and the mark worn by priests and other religious people. In a form of yoga called kundalini-yoga certain places on…

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Namaste and Bowing as Signs of Respect

Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:43:43 +0000

“Namaste” is made of two words, namas and te. Namas comes from the verbal root nam which means to bow and so namas is a bow or salutation. Te means, to you. And so namaste literally means, bowing to you. There is a variation of this in the form namaskara. The Sanskrit word “kara” means, doing. So namaskara literally means, doing salutations. Many Hindus say that when they do namaste they are…

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Feet in Hinduism

Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:43:22 +0000

Why no shoes in a Temple Feet hold powerful symbolism within Hindu culture. You take off your shoes when you enter a temple. Sitting in a temple you never point your feet towards the altar or other worshippers, especially seniors. The feet of people are considered low. In fact, one of the greatest insults you can make is to throw shoes at someone. And yet the feet of God are special.

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Rituals, Lamps, Holy Ash

Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:42:35 +0000

Pradakshina, Kalasha, Coconuts and Prayer Rooms Why do we light lamps during puja? During puja lamps are lighted and usually placed on each side of the main worship area. The purpose is both practical and symbolic. In a time before electrical lights were available, the lamps provided illumination, but today the purpose is mainly symbolic. In some cases five separate flames are lighted on…

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The Offerings of Food and Lamps (aarti)

Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:41:29 +0000

Why do we do aarti? A better question is, what is aarti? The word aarti is not Sanskrit, so we know nothing about the derivation of the word. Aarti, however, is simply the offering of articles of worship to a Deity, the primary object being a lamp. An aarti can be performed formally in a temple at a scheduled time with a priest, or informally in a person’s home after a puja such as a Satya…

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