Worship in Hinduism

Worship in Hinduism takes many forms, and its expression vary depending on geographical, linguistic, and cultural factors.

Worship in Hinduism serves various purposes, including seeking blessings, guidance, or specific outcomes, as well as fostering a sense of inner peace and spiritual growth.

The aim is to lead a pure life in order to progress spiritually and eventually attain liberation (moksha) from the cycle of rebirth.

In religious context, murtis are found in Hindu temples or homes, where they may be treated as a beloved guest and serve as a participant of Puja rituals in Hinduism.

[2] Devotional (bhakti) practices centered on cultivating a deep and personal bond of love with God often include veneration of murtis.

Pūjā or alternative transliteration Pooja (Sanskrit: reverence, honour, adoration, or worship) is a religious ritual performed by Hindus as an offering to various deities, distinguished persons, or special guests.

It is done on a variety of occasions and settings, from daily puja done in the home, to temple ceremonies and large festivals, or to begin a new venture.

[5] Puja rituals range from simple offerings of water, flowers, and incense in domestic shrines to the elaborate 16 upacharas in temples.

[6]Aarti is when a Hindu religious ritual of worship, a part of puja, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities.

It is most commonly used for theophany - "manifestation / visions of the divine" in Hindu worship, e.g. of a deity (especially in image form), or a very holy person or artifact.

[7] Homa (also known as homam or havan) is a Sanskrit word which refers to any ritual in which making offerings into a consecrated fire is the primary action.

Among the items offered as oblations in the yajna include large quantities of ghee, milk, grains, cakes or soma.

Substances that are commonly used in Hindu worship include flowers, ghee, incense, kumkum, Marigold, milk, sandalwood, tulsi and vibhuti.

Among objects used are the altar, banana leaves, bhog, coconuts, diya (oil lamps), fly-whisks, garlands, prasad, shankha (conch) and tilaka.

In Bhagavad Gita verse 9.26, Krishna explains that even a small offering with pure heart is accepted by God:[11] If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.The tilaka, tilak or tika is a mark worn on the forehead and in some cases to the upper part of the head.

Tilaka may be worn on a daily basis or for special religious occasions only, depending on different customs.

It has no fixed form: it may be as simple as a mantra or kirtan or as sophisticated as the dhrupad or kriti with music based on classical ragas and talas.

Kirtan practice involves chanting hymns or mantras to the accompaniment of instruments such as the harmonium, tablas, the two-headed mrdanga or pakhawaj drum, and karatal hand cymbals.

In the context of Hinduism, the term vrata (pronunciation: vrat, vratham or brat) denotes a religious practice to carry out certain obligations with a view to achieve divine blessing for fulfillment of one or several desires.

One can go on a yatra for a variety of reasons, including festivals, to perform rituals for one's ancestors, or to obtain good karma.