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Religious Buildings
Temple (Mandir)
A temple (mandirǰmandira) is a sacred space believed to be the earthly homes of deities. Although Hindu temples vary in style on the basis of region, there are a number of commonalities. All temples are planned and constructed according to ancient guidelines, and most temples consist of a towering shrine and elaborate carvings. Many Hindus will visit temples to perform various rituals to their chosen deity (such as ū) and to have a direct experience with their god or goddess (such as 岹śԲ). Temples are found throughout predominantly Hindu areas. For instance, even the smallest villages in India usually contain one or more temples, ideally situated next to a body of water.
Monastery (Āśrama)
An ś (also known as an ashram, not to be confused with ś referring to life stations) is a monastery or spiritual hermitage where a community of men and/or women reside and devote their life to religious practice. Ashrams are usually established to support the endeavours of monastics and dedicated laypersons by providing them with a relatively secluded place, often in natural settings like forests. Some ashrams may be located near or in villages, towns and cities. Ashrams also perform a social function and may contain various buildings that serve () the local community. Such additional structures include schools, residential places for children, medical services and orphanages.
Etiquette
There are a number of important etiquette practices to consider when entering a Hindu temple (mandir)or monastery (ashram):
- Shoes must be removed and left outside a temple.
- People are usually required to dress modestly by covering one’s shoulders and knees before entering.
- Smoking is not permitted as well as bringing or consuming drugs, alcohol or meat products.
- Devotees usually bring symbolic offerings for ū, such as fruits, flowers and sweets.
- Heads of images or statues of deities should not be touched.
- One should not point their feet towards or step on the image of a deity.
Offerings
Clarified Butter (Ghee)
Ghee is clarified butter (usually made from cow’s butter). It is used in nearly all religious ceremonies and rituals. Images or deities may also be washed in ghee, and it is often used to light lamps (arti) or thrown into a fire sacrifice.
Flowers
Various kinds of fresh flowers are offered to gods and goddesses during various rituals. Flowers are used due to their pleasant fragrance and visual beauty. Popular flowers include marigolds, jasmine and orchids. Sometimes flowers are made into garlands () which are used to honour deities and noble guests.
Incense
The use of incense is common throughout most forms of worship and prayers. Incense is usually offered to a deity by placing the incense on an altar.
Icon (Mūrti)
A ūپ is an image, icon or concrete form of a deity. Mūrtis can be a human image of a deity, an aniconic image (e.g. the depiction of the god Shiva as a ṅg), a natural object (e.g. a tree or rock) or a revered person (e.g. a guru). A ūپ becomes sacred through a series of special rituals that transforms the image to the embodiment of the god or goddess. Mūrtis are thought to mediate between the human world and divine. Most Hindu families have images or statues of specific deities in the home. Mūrtis also feature in temples, with priests serving () the image regularly. Mūrtis usually rest on an altar or shrine in a special space reserved for the image.
Liṅga and Yonī
One of the most common symbols in Hinduism is the aniconic representation of the god Shiva. This representation, known as the ṅg, is a conical shaft that represents a cosmic pillar and male creative energy. The ṅg is usually combined with its female counterpart, the yonī, which is a dish that holds the ṅg. The yonī represents the goddess Parvatī and the female creative energy.
Dress
Generally, ordinary Hindus do not have a prescribed dress code. Many Hindus tend to dress modestly by covering their shoulders and knees. Special amulets or jewellery with sacred meaning may be worn for various reasons. Hindus with a more formal position (such as priests and monastics) have special attire. For example, temple priests typically wear a sacred thread across their chest as part of the caste and vocation. Monastics may be identified by their tunic and tulsi beads (prayer beads).
Mark (Tilak)
Many Hindus wear a symbolic mark (tilak or tilaka) across their forehead. Typically, someone receives a simple dot of sandalwood paste or red turmeric powder on the forehead. The tilak is usually given after one performs worship (ū) as an auspicious sign of well-being. In particular, married women may adorn a red tilak along their hairline. People with specific religious vocations such as priests or sādhus may wear a special kind of tilak every day. Some markings indicate one's denominational affiliation.
Dietary Practices
There are no general prescribed dietary rules for Hindus. However, many choose to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet on the basis of belief in non-violence. Vegetarian Hindus generally avoid all meat, poultry, seafood and eggs (particularly the yolk), as well as food that contains traces of these animals (e.g. gelatine). Some vegetarian Hindus will also avoid eating from plates or utensils that have touched meat. Those Hindus who do eat meat may choose to follow a vegetarian diet on certain days of the week. Non-vegetarian Hindus will often still avoid beef entirely due to the sacredness of cows, and some Hindus may avoid eating pork due to the perception of pigs being unclean or impure. In terms of alcohol, some Hindus will avoid or limit their consumption for a wide range of reasons, such as the belief that alcohol may affect one’s state of purity, and the psychotropic effects which cloud mental clarity.
Fasting is a common practice in Hinduism that can vary from complete abstinence to only avoiding certain types of foods. The practice is seen as a means of purifying the body and mind as well as encouraging self-discipline. Fasting may be practised in accordance to specific days of the week, phases of the moon (such as the 11th day of the moon cycle or on the full moon), during festivals or holy days, or connected to special prayers. Specific fasting practices vary among Hindus depending on a wide range of factors.
Ayurveda and Diet
Many Hindus also follow Ayurvedic dietary practices. According to Ayurveda, an individual’s diet directly impacts a person’s mental and physical health. In Ayurveda, emphasis is placed on the role of food processing and consumption in addition to the material and nutritional aspects of the food. There are different food classifications in the Ayurvedic system that categorises food products based on their potency, property, taste, impact on the individual’s mind, post-digestion effect and therapeutic action within the body.
A common classification in Ayurveda categorises foods based on ten pairs of opposing qualities. One pair of categories that is frequently mentioned is the distinction between ‘hot’ (ṣṇ) and ‘cold’ (śīٲ). Importantly, the qualities of ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ are not necessarily correlated to a food’s temperature or level of spice. Examples of ‘hot’ foods include onion, garlic, meat, some root vegetables and fresh fruits (e.g., papaya, orange). On the other hand, ‘cold’ foods include milk, wheat, rice, sugar, mint, and some fresh produce such as cucumber, watermelon, and eggplant.
In addition to the classifications of food based on taste, texture and physical properties, Ayurveda also classifies foods on the basis of three abstract qualitative attributes. These three attributes are known as sattva (‘gǴǻԱ’), rajas (‘passion’) and tamas (‘gloom’). Each attribute can alter the individual’s mind and body. For instance, sattva brings about mental clarity, while rajas causes overstimulation. Each person is also said to have one of these attributes as a predominant disposition, and it is thought that individuals usually prefer foods with the attribute that matches their natural disposition.
In addition to the classifications of food based on taste, texture and physical properties, Ayurveda also classifies foods on the basis of three abstract qualitative attributes. These three attributes are known as sattva (‘gǴǻԱ’), rajas (‘passion’) and tamas (‘gloom’). Each attribute can alter the individual’s mind and body. ‘Sattvic’ foods are considered to be light and refreshing, promoting calmness and mental clarity. ‘Rajasic’ foods are considered to stimulating, promoting increased energy in the mind and body. ‘Tamasic’ foods are considered to lower the individual’s physical and mental energy and functions, promoting heaviness, inertia and lethargy.
One common diet that some Hindus follow is known as a ‘sattvic diet’. This type of diet incorporates sattvic foods while also deliberately excluding many rajasic and tamasic foods. Thus, a sattvic diet is typically strictly vegetarian (including avoidance of eggs), and includes whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, and honey. Importantly, not all fresh foods are considered sattvic. For example, a sattvic diet typically excludes garlic and onion as well as root vegetables because these foods are usually classified as rajasic or tamasic.