Hindu temple visits

[Unveiled Artist]

Do Temples usually close in the afternoon; is that common? Or it depends on the Temple?

I noticed ones here have a good four our break. Makes it hard to travel.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Yes, that is common (but not always the case), especially in Krishna/vaishnava temples. Should the deity be not eligible for a siesta after lunch? Check the timings before you go. Remember that after consecration, Hindus consider the deity to exist physically in the idol. It has to be treated just like the owner of the temple, will have food five times a day, will be bathed, dressed, worshiped, requested for favors, will rest and in the night will retire with his/her consort (if he/she has one) and not be disturbed till early in the next morning. Deities are generally woken up in the morning with the sound of Shehnai (Oboe) in North-India at 6 o'clock in the morning.

 

[Kirran]

Well "Sermons" as in the Priest basically read some of the Holy Book (whichever they had that service) as a reflection of whatever lesson it's supposed to impart. Usually sprinkled throughout the Pooja itself. You know? A little excerpt after this song, another one a little later and then the longest one at the end. With updates on whatever the Hindu community is planning for the upcoming weeks. My Hindi is pretty shaky, but yeah they usually had a specific theme to them. Often with a few jokes thrown in.
I honestly don't know if that is an actual sermon, as in the Christian/Catholic sermons, I've never actually been to Church before (though I did attend Christian Youth Club as a kid. Surprisingly they were not very preachy.) It was just the word I thought most apt.

Not quite like a sermon I do quite like a sermon actually, I've listened to them being given at my nearest Anglican Church and in the city's Unitarian Church. Depends on the person giving it, of course.

In my temple, there will be some announcements etc during the aarti in between songs sometimes. More often, but not always, at the end. I prefer it at the end, myself, I suppose, although up to their tradition.

Aup has raised a great point, that in Hindu tradition it is the satsang which fulfills this role.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Im headed to the temple now. Yall said I can just walk in?

 

[SomeRandom]

Im headed to the temple now. Yall said I can just walk in?

Well yeah pretty much. It's not like you have to show your official Hindu card at the front gate.
Actually to turn away anyone from a Temple would be sinful. At least that's what my tradition says. Even if it's a random homeless person just wanting food. One must never close your gates, for they could be God testing you. So says the reasoning behind this custom, at least.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Give us your reactions when you return.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Well yeah pretty much. It's not like you have to show your official Hindu card at the front gate.
Actually to turn away anyone from a Temple would be sinful. At least that's what my tradition says. Even if it's a random homeless person just wanting food. One must never close your gates, for they could be God testing you. So says the reasoning behind this custom, at least.

Dont worry. They welcomed me with blessings, english translations, and lots of fruits. Everyone was nice. Id go back but I didnt know it was 40 dollars cab fair. They have a Buddha statue surprisingly. They had a festival for the local Buddhist during the statue enshrinement. They were very hospitable and respectful to other faiths.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

The temple you went to is about 2.5 hours from me. I may visit it some time if I get the chance. It looks beautiful from the website. =)

 

[Unveiled Artist]

The temple you went to is about 2.5 hours from me. I may visit it some time if I get the chance. It looks beautiful from the website. =)

Ha. That would be creepy if we walked in the same day. creepy

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Similar, but not the same. In a Hindu temple, the priest will give you 'prasada' and/or flowers. You are supposed to touch your eyes and forehead with the flower. The priest may also give you a teaspoonful of consecrated water. You should accept it with both hands, right palm first. The hands should touch the forehead first in a mark of respect and then you can drink that water. The wet hand is to be brushed against the hair (nothing is to be wasted - that is the deities blessing). Indian clothing is not necessary and a salvar is not considered a Muslim clothing, Hindu women also wear it. Actually it is a North-Indian dress. Yes, the feet may show, no problem with that. Here in India (particularly in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, in South-India also), people do not wear shoes in the house. They are left at the door.

HMm. Forgot that part. I didnt get to touch the flowers. But I was given concecrated water.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Hmm the link is gone. Was it deleted?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Haha. When they gave me the fruit, I thought I was supposed to give it to the Goddess. They laughed and said it was for me. They they gave me more apples, a bunch of bannas all in a big bag. Then before I left, one lady gave me a strange fruit.

 

[SomeRandom]

Dont worry. They welcomed me with blessings, english translations, and lots of fruits. Everyone was nice. Id go back but I didnt know it was 40 dollars cab fair. They have a Buddha statue surprisingly. They had a festival for the local Buddhist during the statue enshrinement. They were very hospitable and respectful to other faiths.

Many Hindus are rather Universalist in their approach to religion. For to denigrate one path is to insult God. Or at least something along those lines. How was the meal afterwards? I usually have aloo (potato) curry and puri. Maybe some rice and dhal.
Personally I quite prefer the sweets people often bring and usually swap the fruits for them lol but I'm a sweet tooth. Barfi, pera, that orange sticky swirl thingy, those sugar coated pasta looking things (yeah I don't know the names but I know they're good.)

 

[SomeRandom]

Haha. When they gave me the fruit, I thought I was supposed to give it to the Goddess. They laughed and said it was for me. They they gave me more apples, a bunch of bannas all in a big bag. Then before I left, one lady gave me a strange fruit.

Hahaha giving fruit is common. The idea is when one gives someone something sweet the relationship will always be sweet. Which is why it's often customary to bring someone chocolate, flowers or fruit when visiting.
Funnily enough there is a superstition which says that you must never hand someone scissors, a chilli or a knife because it would severe or burn your relationship with that person. Indians are a very symbolic people lol!

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Many Hindus are rather Universalist in their approach to religion. For to denigrate one path is to insult God. Or at least something along those lines. How was the meal afterwards? I usually have aloo (potato) curry and puri. Maybe some rice and dhal.
Personally I quite prefer the sweets people often bring and usually swap the fruits for them lol but I'm a sweet tooth. Barfi, pera, that orange sticky swirl thingy, those sugar coated pasta looking things (yeah I don't know the names but I know they're good.)

I was debating if I could eat everything. I had some bananas; and, I didn't know if it was disrespectful from a hindu perspective, but I gave the rest to the Buddha instead of throwing it away.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Don't worry. Buddha is the ninth and the latest avatara of Lord Vishnu for most Hindus.

"Nindasi yajna-vidher ahaha sruti-jatam
sadaya-hridaya-darsita-pasu-ghatam
kesava dhrita-buddha-sarira
jaya jagadisa hare."

Aupmanyav's translation (different from that in Wikipedia): "Aha, you decry the performance of Veda-mentioned rituals, O Kind-hearted, when you see sacrifice of animals. Keshava took the form of Buddha. Hail the master of the world, Hari."
Jayadeva circa 1200 AD

 

[SomeRandom]

I was debating if I could eat everything. I had some bananas; and, I didn't know if it was disrespectful from a hindu perspective, but I gave the rest to the Buddha instead of throwing it away.

No that's perfectly in line with Hindu teachings. It's also acceptable to throw it in the garden for animals to eat. Waste not want not is the motto to go by. I often sneak the stuff I don't eat to the stray dogs who sometimes roam around our temple lol.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Cows come in handy for that purpose here in India. We used to call cows by name and they would come. I think the first image is from my city, Jodhpur. In the fourth image, a hawker is sitting behind with his greens so that people can buy it from him and feed the cows. And after the feeding, the namaskar and request for blessings in the last image.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

Haha. When they gave me the fruit, I thought I was supposed to give it to the Goddess. They laughed and said it was for me. They they gave me more apples, a bunch of bannas all in a big bag. Then before I left, one lady gave me a strange fruit.

Twice in my life I've was offered an entire garland from one of the deities. However, I had never seen it done before so the first time it happened I asked one of the women I knew at the temple, "Am I supposed to put this on?" She just laughed and said no, it was a blessing from god. =)