Worship & Practice
Puja, temples, mantras, yoga, pilgrimage and the rites of passage.
- Puja: Hindu WorshipWhat puja is, how it is performed at home and in the temple, the offerings made, aarti, darshan and prasad, and what it means to Hindus.
- The Hindu Temple (Mandir)What a Hindu temple is, its main parts from the inner sanctum to the tower, the great architectural styles, and what to expect when visiting a mandir.
- The Four Paths of YogaThe four classical paths of yoga in Hinduism, jnana, bhakti, karma and raja yoga, including Patanjali's eight limbs, and how they differ from yoga as exercise.
- Murti: Sacred Images of the DeitiesWhat a murti is, how Hindu sacred images are made and consecrated, how to read their symbols and gestures, and why Hindus worship God through images.
- Mantras and the Gayatri MantraWhat mantras are in Hinduism, how they are used in worship and meditation, the practice of japa with a mala, and the meaning of famous mantras including the Gayatri Mantra.
- Meditation in HinduismThe place of meditation (dhyana) in Hindu practice: its roots in the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita, the main methods, daily practice and modern movements.
- Pilgrimage (Tirtha Yatra)Why Hindus go on pilgrimage, the meaning of tirtha, the great pilgrimage circuits such as the Char Dham, the seven holy cities and famous journeys from Sabarimala to Pandharpur.
- Samskaras: Hindu Rites of PassageThe sixteen samskaras, the Hindu rites of passage that sanctify each stage of life from conception to death, including naming, first haircut, the sacred thread, marriage and funeral.
- The Hindu WeddingA guide to the Hindu wedding: its meaning, the pre-wedding celebrations, the main rituals from kanyadaan to the seven steps around the sacred fire, regional variations and weddings in the UK.
- Hindu Funeral Rites (Antyeshti)What happens at a Hindu funeral: care of the dying, cremation, scattering the ashes, the period of mourning, shraddha rites for ancestors, and Hindu funerals in the UK.
- Hindu Diet and VegetarianismAre all Hindus vegetarian? How ahimsa, purity and the gunas shape Hindu food, what Hindus avoid, the practice of offering food to God, fasting, and regional differences.
- The Sacred CowWhy the cow is revered in Hinduism: its symbolism as mother and giver, its place in scripture and in the stories of Krishna, cow protection, and debates past and present.
- The Hindu Calendar (Panchang)How the Hindu lunisolar calendar works: lunar months and fortnights, tithis, the extra month, the eras of Vikram and Shaka Samvat, the five elements of the panchang and auspicious times.