Example Of Hinduism And Their Way Of Worship Essay

Hinduism is one religion that I have always read about in books and the internet. It never occurred to me that one day I could attend one of their services just to have a glimpse of their way of worship and their traditions of worship. They normally worship at home and temples. They do not have a designated day of worship but then I chose one Friday morning, to go and be part of their worship program. I was in time, very early in the morning so that I could be part of the entire service from start to finish. I was informed that the kind of service that was held at that time was following a given procedure, typical to it because they hold services depending on the deity of worship at the time of the service. I realized that men and women sit separately.
As I walked in, I realized that the worshippers did not have shoes on so I inquired where to leave mine, and I was shown. The service started with mantras being recited by the priest. Lamps of incense were burning and the temple was filled with a certain kind of smell and smoke. Then there were people ringing bells repeatedly while others were chanting in a language I could not understand. While doing that, there were other people, and I noticed they were men, who had flowers, walked up to the deity who was worshiped and then, laid the flowers and other precious substances on the floor just in front of it. I also noticed that there were trays of rice that was taken to the deity. Amidst the chance, there is a lamp that they keep moving from one place to the other.
People meditate, while sitting in a typical yoga position while having their hands raised right in front of their chests. There are rituals that were practiced as they bowed before the deity. In fact, all that happened seemed like some sort of close tie between the deity and the people present. The people were very friendly and just like other spiritual settings, looked deep in thought and prayer. It is at the end of the service that there were a bit of laughter as they greeted each other and stood in pairs of groups of not more than three people. At the end of the service, there is a certain liquid that is sprinkled on the people present.
The deity was dressed in some beautiful clothes and flowers. Devotional songs were also sung while the priest offered incense, oil lamps and food to the deity. At the end of the service, people share some homemade sweets and fruits, sacraments. The food that was brought by the worshipers is shared and flowers too. it is at this point when they are expected to start their meditation, in the presence of the blessings they received during the service. I also noticed that the faithful greet the deities at their designated places and positions. The typical practices that set Hindu worship aside is the ringing of bells, passing of the oil lamps and presentation of flowers and food while chanting in order to invoke blessings from God
There is so much that I learned from attending the service. First of all, without being told, I realized that there was a specific code of dressing that everyone present obeyed, apart from me and maybe a few others who I presumed were visitors. Everyone present was modestly dressed in their traditional clothes; saris for ladies, girls were in long dresses and skirts, dhoti and kurta pants for men and boys. Almost everyone had an offering for the deity, fruits and flowers were prominent.
There were several forms of worship, there is devotion, others were in a prayerful communion with the deities, and singing, chanting and several other activities that sought to invoke blessings. They also believe that God comes down and resides in the deities and so, when addressing them, they do so as if they are directly talking to a God they see or even one who can talk back to them. What surprised me most was the fact that there are several deities and each one of them is worshiped separately. Also, the fact that they walk up to each deity to great them was surprising, but the overall feeling that I got was that they have rituals that their worship aside and make it very special.
Before visiting the temple, I used to imagine whatever that went on in there was a biblical equivalent of the worship of idol. Or rather, I believed that they worshiped idols and that Hindus made carvings and worshiped them in place of God. What I came to understand is the fact that they worship God too, but the only difference with their worship is that they believe that God manifests himself in anything and everything. When they worship him, they invite him to come and reside in their deities. But now I know better than just speculations on their way of worship. Hindus believe in the Supreme Being just like alt the other world religions.