The shrine holds immense significance as the sacred center of the mandir, housing the temple deities and typically positioned at one end of the main hall. Adjacent to the shrine, there is often a room where priests prepare for worship following a fixed daily schedule. These sacred areas are usually accessible only to the priests, who enter after bathing and wearing clean attire.
In many Hindu villages, worship practices differ from the elaborate rituals observed in sophisticated temples found in urban areas of India or abroad. Worship often takes place outdoors, without intricate murtis or aesthetically adorned shrines. It may revolve around a specific tree, such as the Pippal tree, a cluster of stones, or a symbol like a trident. While some procedures align with major denominations, others may have less apparent connections. This form of worship is commonly associated with Shaktism and the reverence of various goddesses. Each village possesses a shrine dedicated to its own gramyadevata, the guardian deity, whom the villagers approach for material blessings such as good harvests and the protection of children.
In most Hindu households, a shrine is present, typically a simplified version of those found in temples. Usually, the large temple deities are replaced with smaller murtis or framed pictures.
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At the Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple in Hertfordshire, there are two shrines. One of these shrines is devoted to Sita and Rama, accompanied by Rama's beloved brother, Lakshman, and the valiant monkey warrior, Hanuman.
Many temples not only feature a main altar but also have several smaller adjoining shrines dedicated to other deities and saints. It is customary to have a shrine for Ganesh, who is worshipped first to eliminate any obstacles before approaching the main deity or deities.
The act of puja itself is a sophisticated and intricate art form. The backdrop in the accompanying picture was meticulously sewn by craftsmen from the ancient town of Vrindavana. Some temples cultivate their own flowers for daily offerings, including vases and garlands that are created and presented with a change of attire each day. In certain temples, the color of the daily attire corresponds to the ruling planet of that particular day (e.g., gold on Sunday, silver or white on Monday, red on Tuesday, etc.).
In this temple, the deities (murtis) adorn two outfits daily—one for the day and another for the night.
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Glossary Terms:
Garba-griha - the inner sanctum of the temple (Garba literally means "womb," and griha means "house")