Probably a prayer hall with scriptures, asana-s and incense?
-
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:- Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
- Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
- Access to private conversations with other members.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
If you are a Hindu: How to worship and pray to Isvara without using Image/Idol?
- Thread starter sayak83
- Start date
But I mean, what effect does the presence of murtis have on your being able to worship God in the formless sense? (Nirguna God
)I often am in focus upon God's formlessness during puja, it shifts - ultimately of course form and formless are non-different. Murugan, Shiva, Kali are God's formlessness.
What effect does having so many different forms God have in worship when by common consensus, all represent Iswara? This more about what resonates with various people, is it not?But I mean, what effect does the presence of murtis have on your being able to worship God in the formless sense? (Nirguna God
I often am in focus upon God's formlessness during puja, it shifts - ultimately of course form and formless are non-different. Murugan, Shiva, Kali are God's formlessness.
More or less, yeah!
Common consensus? Not necessarily. The Smarta/Advaita position, yes. In Saiva Siddhanta (just as an example) we view Murugan and Ganesha as distinct from Shiva, emanated for particular purposes.
I think common consensus is a fair term. It is a consensus that is very common.
Perhaps. Experiences do vary though, as you know. So do temple vibrations, from one to another. So it may be common in your experience (I don't even know how many temples outside of SV and Varanasi you've been to) but not in mine. One other example is the new trend to include statues of deceased Gurus right alongside statues of ancient murthies, like the Shirdi Sai trend.
I have been to quite a few temples in different places! And talked to a lot of Hindus and read a lot of stuff
There is indeed variation!Ah, and the Swaminarayans.
Same essence correct?
I think I take exception to phrases like 'common consensus' because of how politicians use such phrases to falsely argue their viewpoint. Things like 'word on the street' , 'all the people I've talked to' , most people agree' and all that, with no real basis for it. My take is just, 'Maybe. Maybe not.' In my own city the 4 main temples include two with that idea, and two that are quite sectarian. So its a 50/50 split.
Maybe. Maybe not. As in Siva is in all and in all, yes. But as in permanent versus temporary, no. But its all intellectual regurgitation, and speculation.
Lots of people tell me the common consensus is that all are aspects of one Divine. I know loads of people. They're beautiful people. They all love me. Trust me.
On a more serious note, there ain't much sectarian temples in the UK. Except Swaminarayans.
I think most people would agree that Ganesa, Murugan, Hanumana or older Vedic Adityas are specific powers of Iswara. But then I have not conducted a poll or anything.
Yet to come across a Purana where Ganesha or Murugan takes the place of Vishnu or Siva or Sakti in this respect.
Seeing Murugan as the Supreme is quite common among South Indians.
At Skanda Vale, the Guru who set it up had mostly encountered God in the form of Murugan, who had told him to take his name (hence being called Guru Sri Subramanium). When he first set the ashram up, it was with just one Murugan temple. Later Mataji also arrived, and a Kali temple was set up. And later a Vishnu temple. But they also do dedicated Shiva pujas, Jesus pujas, Ganesha pujas, Buddha pujas and pujas to various aspects of Mataji. As well as honouring those aspects during the initial and final aartis during Murugan, Kali and Vishnu pujas.
You've never been to an ISKCON temple, or a Sri Lankan Murugan temple in London?
Oh yeah, ISKCON. Didn't think of them. I'll concede them.
I haven't r.e. the latter, no, but would you say they are sectarian? People I know of Sri Lankan Tamil families who lived in London go to temples which primarily honour different aspects, they don't say anything about any sectarianism.
Speaking as a person who's been on the famous Arapadaveedu pilgrimage, I would disagree. Murugan is Murugan, and Siva is Siva. The people go to Murugan temples mostly for Murugan festivals, or to get boons, or to do austerities. You don't see people going on long walks to, or doing penance at Siva temples. Siva temples are more reflective places. The vibration differs.
Course I could be dead wrong.
They don't say it because its just their version of Hinduism, and they don't know it to be sectarian. Similar to Bengali Thurga or Kali temples. Amman, yes.
Indeed, that is my understanding as well.
Oh yeah, it's different energies, totally!
Well they tend to be very certain on 'Kali is God, Murugan is God, Shiva is God' etc. EDIT: And I should add, this includes those who identify as Shaiva.