Hindu templeA Hindu temple, also known as a Mandir, Devasthanam, Pura, Kshetram, Ambalam or Kovil, is a sacred place where Hindus worship and show their devotion to deities through worship, sacrifice, and prayers. It is considered the house of the god to whom it is dedicated. Hindu temple architecture, which makes extensive use of squares and circles, has its roots in later Vedic traditions, which also influence the temples' construction and symbolism.
Hindu priestA Hindu priest may refer to either of the following A Pujari or an Archaka is a Hindu temple priest.A Purohita or Pandit officiates and performs rituals and ceremonies, and is usually linked to a specific family or, historically, a dynasty.Traditionally, priests have predominantly come from the Brahminvarna, whose male members are designated for the function in the Hindu texts. Hindu priests are known to perform prayer services, often referred to as puja.
BrahminBrahmin (; Sanskrit: ब्राह्मण, romanized: brāhmaṇa) is a varna (social class) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the Kshatriya (rulers and warriors), Vaishya (traders, merchants, and farmers), and Shudra (labourers).
Puja (Hinduism)Puja (Sanskrit: पूजा, romanized: pūjā) is a worship ritual performed by Hindus to offer devotional homage and prayer to one or more deities, to host and honour a guest, or to spiritually celebrate an event. It may honour or celebrate the presence of special guests, or their memories after they die. The word puja is roughly translated into English as 'reverence, honour, homage, adoration, or worship'.
SanskritAncient Indo-Aryan language of South AsiaSanskrit (; stem form संस्कृत; nominal singular संस्कृतम्, saṃskṛtam,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late Bronze Age.Varna (Hinduism)Varna (Sanskrit: वर्ण, romanized: varṇa, Hindi pronunciation: ['ʋəɾɳə]) refers to a fourfold social classification described in Brahmanical texts. The four varnas described are Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. Classical texts such as Manusmriti, describe these varnas as part of a theoretical hierarchical classification, and prescribe their occupations, requirements and duties, or dharma.
Worship in HinduismWorship in Hinduism is an act of religious devotion, usually directed to one or more Hindu deities, that invokes a sense of bhakti (devotional love). The concept of bhakti is central in Hinduism. Worship in Hinduism takes many forms, and its expressions vary depending on geographical, linguistic, and cultural factors. Hindu worship is not limited to a particular place, and may be performed in temples and within the home.
MoolavarMulavar (Tamil: மூலவர், romanized: mūlavar) or Mula-murti is a Sanskrit-Tamil term referring to the main deity, or a murti (cult image) in a Hindu temple. LocationThe central deity, mulavar, is located near the centre of temples, than the images that surround them, and are precisely located at the points corresponding to the energies they represent on the temple plan's power diagram.
Mangala Devi Kannagi TempleMangaladevi Kannagi Temple is a Hindu temple located at Mangaladevi, near the present-day border of Theni District (of Tamil Nadu) and Idukki District (Kerala), about 7 km from Pazhiyankudi in Theni District and 15 km from Thekkady in Idukki District. The temple is situated at an altitude of about 1,337 m or about 5,000 feet above sea level (within the Periyar Tiger Reserve on the Western Ghat mountains).
Arti (Hinduism)Arti or Arartikya is a Hindu ritual employed in worship, part of a puja, in which light from a flame (fuelled by camphor, ghee, or oil) is ritually waved in a clock-wise motion to venerate deities. Arti also refers to the hymns sung in praise of the deity, when the light is being offered. Sikhs have Artikirtan which involves only devotional singing; the Nihang order of Sikhs also use light for arti.
GangotriGangotri is a town and a Nagar Panchayat (municipality) in Uttarkashi district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is 99 km from Uttarkashi, the main district headquarter. It is a Hindu pilgrim town on the banks of the river Bhagirathi – the origin of the river Ganges. The town is located on the Greater Himalayan Range, at a height of 3,100 metres (10,200 ft).
VidyāraṃbhaṃVidyarambham (Sanskrit: विद्यारम्भ, romanised: Vidyārambham, lit.'commencement of studies'), also rendered Akshara Abhyasam (Sanskrit: अक्षर अभ्यासम, romanised: Akṣara Abhyāsam, lit.'repetition of words'), and Mutal Eluttu (Tamil: முதல் எழுத்து, romanised: Muṭal Eḻuttu, lit.'First word') is a Hinduinitiation ceremony that is performed before a child begins their formal education.
MahishasuraMahishasura (Sanskrit: महिषासुर, IAST: Mahiṣāsura), (Kannada: ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರ) is a bovine asura in Hinduism. He is depicted in Hindu literature as a deceitful demon who pursued his evil ways by shape-shifting. Mahishasura was the son of the asura Rambha and the brother of buffalo-demoness named Mahishi.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.