Right way to Pray

[Moody Giraffe]

I'll try to think of a few more things then.

- Avoid candles.
- Always use fresh water, change it daily,
- Fresh flowers.
- Cut fruit, so devas can smell odors.
- Step into your shrine area right foot first.
- If possible, back out.
- Flame, incense, offer it in in 3 circles, clockwise.
- Never smell flowers before offering.
- Dress modestly, loose clothing


This stuff is just guidelines of protocol, not rules hard and fast.

May I ask why one should avoid candles? I only use candles since I have the easiest access to them.

 

[Vinayaka]

May I ask why one should avoid candles? I only use candles since I have the easiest access to them.

It's a habit from when can

dles were made from beef tallow, and has been carried forward, even as the ingredients in candles have changed. Traditionally, in all dharmic traditions, as far as I know oil or ghee was burned. Of course oil was also around longer than candles have been. So 5000 years ago oil was there. Candles OTOH, are used in Abrahamic traditions. So perhaps it's also an indicator of which tradition your subconscious is actually in.

Certainly not the end of the world to use candles. The one pictured will burn all night and more.

 

[Aupmanyav]

When earthen lamps are not available, then candles are an option (LED bulb with flickering light are available now). However, The common practice in India is cotton wicks dipped in clarified butter for the deity, oil to light the lamps at other places.

Lamps on the banks of River Ganges in Varanasi (must be difficult to clear up the mess the next morning).

 

[Moody Giraffe]

It's a habit from when can

dles were made from beef tallow, and has been carried forward, even as the ingredients in candles have changed. Traditionally, in all dharmic traditions, as far as I know oil or ghee was burned. Of course oil was also around longer than candles have been. So 5000 years ago oil was there. Candles OTOH, are used in Abrahamic traditions. So perhaps it's also an indicator of which tradition your subconscious is actually in.

Certainly not the end of the world to use candles. The one pictured will burn all night and more.

Thank you, that makes sense now. I'm still interested in using ghee lamps eventually, though they kinda make me nervous. Do they burn just like candles? I live in an apartment so I'm always nervous about setting off the smoke alarms.

 

[Jainarayan]

Thank you, that makes sense now. I'm still interested in using ghee lamps eventually, though they kinda make me nervous. Do they burn just like candles? I live in an apartment so I'm always nervous about setting off the smoke alarms.

If the wick is just long enough to have a flame that won't die out with the slightest air movement, they don't make much smoke. In fact, it's almost undetectable. If the wick is too long and the flame burns too fast you will get some smoke. Even then it's probably not enough to set off a smoke detector. A cigarette would do that faster than a small oil lamp. And the oil itself won't catch fire, the flame is not hot enough. The wick would drown first. If you can't find an oil lamp, you can make one very easily.

 

[Aupmanyav]

@Moody Giraffe , if a candle does not set off the alarm, then the ghee lamp also will perhaps not (not sure, don't know the likes and dislikes of the smoke sensor in your apartment ).

 

[sayak83]

Sayak, I'm just trying to assist the OP, not looking for debate on our customs.

However, as to your question, I've seen it both ways, and believe it depends on context. I know people who eat with their left hands over here in Canada, but I also know some lefties who switch when they're in a crowd who stares at them, just to avoid the hassle.

I am also not looking to debate. I consider you to be very well versed in Hindu traditions and am often curious about how you think about things that come to my mind. Sorry to use you as a sounding board.

 

[Vinayaka]

Thank you, that makes sense now. I'm still interested in using ghee lamps eventually, though they kinda make me nervous. Do they burn just like candles? I live in an apartment so I'm always nervous about setting off the smoke alarms.

Ghee burns pretty clean. Camphor and incense, not so much. Yes basically they burn just like candles. You can easily see for yourself, by rolling up a cotton ball to make a wick, put in vegetable oil in any small dish that you can hang the wick over the edge, then light it.

 

[TravisJC]

Is there a right or wrong way to pray to or perform devotions to Hindu gods? I ask because I may be interested in doing this after research, but I have not come by much in the way of instructions for how to do devotions.

I joined the Hindu DIR a couple of months ago and the first thing I wanted to address was the same thing you're looking for. I was curious about how to show my devotion in prayer and puja. Let me tell you right now that you will never find a clear cut answer to your question, I've learned quick that Hinduism allows the devotee to do as he or she pleases. I'd say the biggest thing is to always respect any action you perform.

I can't think of a standard or normal way to perform puja. Who is your Ishta-Deva, or chosen deity you follow?

 

[EverChanging]

I joined the Hindu DIR a couple of months ago and the first thing I wanted to address was the same thing you're looking for. I was curious about how to show my devotion in prayer and puja. Let me tell you right now that you will never find a clear cut answer to your question, I've learned quick that Hinduism allows the devotee to do as he or she pleases. I'd say the biggest thing is to always respect any action you perform.

I can't think of a standard or normal way to perform puja. Who is your Ishta-Deva, or chosen deity you follow?

I have not decided. I was planning on researching gods before doing prayers. I would probably start with Krishna.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Haha, I love your signature, EverChanging. Very appropriate for Hindu forum.

 

[Vinayaka]

I joined the Hindu DIR a couple of months ago and the first thing I wanted to address was the same thing you're looking for. I was curious about how to show my devotion in prayer and puja. Let me tell you right now that you will never find a clear cut answer to your question, I've learned quick that Hinduism allows the devotee to do as he or she pleases. I'd say the biggest thing is to always respect any action you perform.

I can't think of a standard or normal way to perform puja. Who is your Ishta-Deva, or chosen deity you follow?

We're vast. I went to Vancouver, BC, Canada a few years back, and over 3 days went to 13 different temples. All of them were substantially different, some more than others of course. It's at once beautiful in diversity, and frustrating in complexity, if you're looking for commonality.

 

[Aupmanyav]

The commonality is 'dharma', the LCF of Hinduism (fulfill your responsibilities and engage in righteous action).

 

[Jainarayan]

We're vast. I went to Vancouver, BC, Canada a few years back, and over 3 days went to 13 different temples. All of them were substantially different, some more than others of course. It's at once beautiful in diversity, and frustrating in complexity, if you're looking for commonality.

Funny you mention that... I see people at temple, obviously Indian born-Hindus who look totally clueless and have no idea who the deities in the sanctums and shrines are. Oh sure, everyone knows Ganesha, Hanuman, the Lingam, Durga, Radha-Krishna and other "pan-Hindu" deities, but we have a few that seem to be unfamiliar to people. I have to guess that they are from parts of India that do not know much about those deities. Even the presiding deity: Sri Guruvāyūrappan is a decidedly southern form of Krishna (mainly Kerala), for example. I actually heard two people talking, one asking the other who the god is. I guess I'd be just as clueless in a northern style temple.

 

[Shantanu]

I have not decided. I was planning on researching gods before doing prayers. I would probably start with Krishna.

You do realise that you have chosen to start with the Supreme God and will need to learn a lot about him to put you on the right path?

 

[Shantanu]

The commonality is 'dharma', the LCF of Hinduism (fulfill your responsibilities and engage in righteous action).

Certainly is, each to his own dharma.

 

[Vinayaka]

Funny you mention that... I see people at temple, obviously Indian born-Hindus who look totally clueless and have no idea who the deities in the sanctums and shrines are. Oh sure, everyone knows Ganesha, Hanuman, the Lingam, Durga, Radha-Krishna and other "pan-Hindu" deities, but we have a few that seem to be unfamiliar to people. I have to guess that they are from parts of India that do not know much about those deities. Even the presiding deity: Sri Guruvāyūrappan is a decidedly southern form of Krishna (mainly Kerala), for example. I actually heard two people talking, one asking the other who the god is. I guess I'd be just as clueless in a northern style temple.

Here it's mostly Murugan that is unknown. But i get really confuse with the Vaishnava couples. Radha/Krishna etc. I don't know much of the symbolism outside of Krishna's flute.

 

[Jainarayan]

Here it's mostly Murugan that is unknown. But i get really confuse with the Vaishnava couples. Radha/Krishna etc. I don't know much of the symbolism outside of Krishna's flute.

I'll give you a walk around when you get down 'round these parts. .

But yeah, there's my point. You'd come in and find 5 sanctums and shrines with different forms of Vishnu, with different names, and then we have his avatars Rama and Krishna. Not to mention how many forms of Devi. The regional variety is overwhelming.

 

[Vinayaka]

I'll give you a walk around when you get down 'round these parts. .

It wouldn't help. Use it or lose it. Still, we'd have fun.

 

[EverChanging]

You do realise that you have chosen to start with the Supreme God and will need to learn a lot about him to put you on the right path?

Why would you think otherwise?