Would you classify the temple I attend as Smarta? Because if so, I vastly prefer a non-sectarian temple which serves the spirtual needs of a diverse community, rather than a strictly sectarian one.
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My temple.
- Thread starter StarryNightshade
- Start date
Would you classify the temple I attend as Smarta? Because if so, I vastly prefer a non-sectarian temple which serves the spirtual needs of a diverse community, rather than a strictly sectarian one.
No, not strictly speaking. More Sanatani style. Not really sure of how that style originated. I really wish I did.
Have you ever been to one of the other style? Have you been able to compare and contrast.
The only other temple in my area is a Swaminarayan Mandir. I have no interest in this school. I would assume that the nearest cities with temples are in Atlanta, Savannah and Columbia.
Probably very true. But the only way you can actually see is to go and then compare. At the temple I attend there is a listing of all the other temples in the area. Some people sort of hop around a lot, while others stay pretty loyal to one or the other. Trust me, there really is quite the difference in styles. So much that people who are really familiar with either style feel quite 'out of place' at the other style, and it goes both ways. But that's the richness of it. Only a few people would feel very comfortable at either.
Just like languages. few people can think in several languages.
I think in the case of "my" temple, it's not that it's a Smarta tradition. The representations of the deities are overwhelmingly Vaishnava... Sri Guruvayurappan, Sri Balaji, Sri Satyanarayana Swami, all with huge sanctums for each, Sri Radha Krishna, Sri Rama Parivar, Sri Andal, Mahalakshmi, Sri Garuda, Adi-shesha (hyooge brass murthi!). Of course there is a huge sanctum of Sri Shiva and a large one of Lord Ayyappa, with the 18 steps, smaller shrines of Sri Ganesha, Sri Subhramanya, Kannika Parameshwari and Ambika.
Rather than being a Smarta tradition, being one of the very few Hindu temples in the area, now considered one of the largest in North America, and the area being Little India, it serves a large tradition. The members are from all over India, thought it's primarily southern style, as the names of the deities show.
As I've said over and over, I would much prefer a small "intimate" temple rather than a huge shopping mall atmosphere with so much fluorescent lighting. I don't mean that with any sort of derision, but this is a case where you have to try to please all the people all the time.
Rather than being a Smarta tradition, being one of the very few Hindu temples in the area, now considered one of the largest in North America, and the area being Little India, it serves a large tradition. The members are from all over India, thought it's primarily southern style, as the names of the deities show.
As I've said over and over, I would much prefer a small "intimate" temple rather than a huge shopping mall atmosphere with so much fluorescent lighting. I don't mean that with any sort of derision, but this is a case where you have to try to please all the people all the time.
Namaste
One thing we should all keep in mind about the right and priviledge of having a home shrine.
And that is to remember, that there are some places on this planet, even nations, where it is a crime to have such a home shrine, that not everywhere do you have such a cherished right as you do now.
I am reminded of this by way of a message from an entirely different site I visit where it isn't even "religious" in nature, from someone in fear to have a beautiful shrine in home for fear of the penalty of beatings, prison and death. This person uses a scarf as the deity.
You are very blessed, all of you. As the clock of time turns, you never know what despot or fanatics may surround you, who will tell you what you cannot worship in your home due to your birth, where you were born, what race you are, what national boundary you find yourself in, who you parents were or what religion they were, on and on it goes.
So I think of that, and so I like to make a shrine beautiful for the Lord. Not all have that life.
Om Namah Sivaya
One thing we should all keep in mind about the right and priviledge of having a home shrine.
And that is to remember, that there are some places on this planet, even nations, where it is a crime to have such a home shrine, that not everywhere do you have such a cherished right as you do now.
I am reminded of this by way of a message from an entirely different site I visit where it isn't even "religious" in nature, from someone in fear to have a beautiful shrine in home for fear of the penalty of beatings, prison and death. This person uses a scarf as the deity.
You are very blessed, all of you. As the clock of time turns, you never know what despot or fanatics may surround you, who will tell you what you cannot worship in your home due to your birth, where you were born, what race you are, what national boundary you find yourself in, who you parents were or what religion they were, on and on it goes.
So I think of that, and so I like to make a shrine beautiful for the Lord. Not all have that life.
Om Namah Sivaya
Very well said. :clap
Kalidas
Well-Known Member
A scarf? How sad and yet how brave. I really hope said person stays safe and never gets in trouble. but I am sure the Gods are watching over them.
Or from the inside.
I don't see the Gods as 'from above'. But yes, they are watching from somewhere.
Kalidas
Well-Known Member
Or from the inside.
sorry old habits coming through
. How about The Gods are just watching them protecting them? Odd off the wall question do Hindus pray for each other, or is that way to much of an Abrahamic concept?
Poeticus
| abhyAvartin |
The Gods watching "from above" is not an Abrahamic concept. It is old as Ancient Sumer, and probably older. Which, if I recall correctly, is older than the concept of Abraham's god watching from above.
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"Maghavan" = rider of stormy clouds/the heavenly rider = dyām arohantaM = scaler of the Heavens = a very old epithet applied to Lord Shri Indra = older than: Abrahamic god watches over Christians and Jews and Muslims "from above"
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"Maghavan" = rider of stormy clouds/the heavenly rider = dyām arohantaM = scaler of the Heavens = a very old epithet applied to Lord Shri Indra = older than: Abrahamic god watches over Christians and Jews and Muslims "from above"
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sorry old habits coming through
Odd off the wall question do Hindus pray for each other, or is that way to much of an Abrahamic concept?
Re old habit ... Yeah, I noticed
I don't know about other Hindus but I'm always praying for others. It works too.
Kalidas
Well-Known Member
Re old habit ... Yeah, I noticed
I don't know about other Hindus but I'm always praying for others. It works too.
re old habit? sorry unsure of what a re old habit is lol
Oh and MV (or is it MW) I wasn't asking if Gods watching above is an Abraham concept but if praying for someone is. It's a really popular thing to do in christian churches.
Poeticus
| abhyAvartin |
Namaste,
It's MV. Short for Mitra-Varuna.
I see, um, the quickest thing that comes to mind as soon as I think about if Hinduism has something remotely close to praying for someone else is the "Shanti Mantra"/"Shanti Prayer":
ॐ सर्वेशां स्वस्तिर्भवतु ।
सर्वेशां शान्तिर्भवतु ।
सर्वेशां पुर्णंभवतु ।
सर्वेशां मङ्गलंभवतु ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om Sarveshaam Svastir-Bhavatu |
Sarveshaam Shaantir-Bhavatu |
Sarveshaam Purnnam-Bhavatu |
Sarveshaam Manggalam-Bhavatu |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
Meaning***:
1: May there be Well-Being in All,
2: May there be Peace in All,
3: May there be Fulfilment in All,
4: May there be Auspiciousness in All,
5: Om Peace, Peace, Peace.
***The translation varies.
But, I don't believe that "praying for someone else" is an Abrahamic thing. It depends on whether if that "praying" for other people goes along the lines of: "Dear God, Father Almighty, save all of these people from hell-fire and let them accept Lord Jesus!"
Yeah, that is pretty Abrahamic...
Kalidas
Well-Known Member
मैत्रावरुणिः;3449741 said:
No I mean literally when I went to church if someone was going through a particularly difficult problem (like cancer) they would be mentioned and everyone would pray for them in church or even at home.
Poeticus
| abhyAvartin |
Do you mean as if all the people at a temple get together and pray (in a similar approach as that of Christians in a Church do)?
Hindus generally don't do the group prayer thing, at least I've never seen it. But yes indeed you can pray to Ganesha or whomever for good health towards others. You can also project light of colours towards them . Green is a healing colour so you can imagine green (stare at grass) and then try to 'send' it to the one whom you are praying for. This is a mystical art, and amateurs like me (and you?) may not be that successful.
Kalidas
Well-Known Member
Hindus generally don't do the group prayer thing, at least I've never seen it. But yes indeed you can pray to Ganesha or whomever for good health towards others. You can also project light of colours towards them . Green is a healing colour so you can imagine green (stare at grass) and then try to 'send' it to the one whom you are praying for. This is a mystical art, and amateurs like me (and you?) may not be that successful.
This right here. this kind of prayer. No not like group prayer but any. Just hearing about those Hindus that have to be secret made em sad. Since there is little I can do in a material sense (no amount of charity will make their country change their mind) I would like to "pray for them" to be safe and to stay strong. Not as a large group but by myself.
I would have to ask my wife she is a pagan (I know not exactly the same but I think they do similar stuff) she would probably have a far better understanding of such an idea then I would
Poeticus
| abhyAvartin |
Lemaster, which Hindus have to be secret? The new Hindus that left an Abrahamic faith and if their parents found out that they would be in trouble? Or about Hindus in Muslim countries that are oppressed?.....explain....I am worried that you know something about the persecution of Hindus that I don't know....and, I know everything about Hindus being persecuted. Give me the 4-1-1, brother!