Gokulam Lesson 5 May 18 2012 Review from Lesson 4 Who is the Goddess of all beings or Shakti Durga What demon did she defeat Mahishasura Review Who is the daughter of the Himalayas Also known as the consort of Lord Shiva ID: 364517
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Slide1
Bal Gokulam
Lesson 5
May 18, 2012Slide2
Review from Lesson 4
Who is the Goddess of all beings, or Shakti
?
Durga
What demon did she defeat?MahishasuraSlide3
Review
Who is the daughter of the Himalayas? Also known as the consort of Lord Shiva.
Parvati
MaThis Goddess is known for her blessings of material, spiritual, and physical wealth.Maha LakshmiSlide4
Review Cont’d
She creates knowledge and is the consort of Lord Brahma
Saraswati
Why does she hold a book and Veena in her hands?To symbolize eternal knowledge in religion and arts.Slide5
Today’s Lesson
What does a Hindu Home look like today?Slide6
Cleanliness
A
clean, organized house provides a healthy setting from
which to grow and mature – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. A dirty and cluttered house is not conducive for a healthy and happy life. There is a saying
that God lives in a clean house only. No matter how luxurious or simple your house is, keep it clean.Cleanliness is next to Godliness!Slide7
Prayer/Puja Room
Most Hindu will homes have a prayer room or altar. A lamp is lit and God worshipped each day. Other spiritual practices like
japa
or meditation, reading of the scriptures, prayers, and devotional singing are also done in the prayer room. Special worship is conducted on auspicious occasions like festivals, birthdays, and anniversaries. Each member of the family communes with and worships the Divine here. We invoke His grace by communing with Him in the prayer room each day and on special occasions.Since the Lord is considered the creator, He is therefore the true owner of the house we live in too. We are mere earthly occupants of His property, thus this notion rids us of false pride and possessiveness.Since the Lord is all-pervading, and to remind us that He resides in our homes with us, we have prayer rooms. Slide8
Prayer Room Cont’d
Each room in a house is dedicated to a specific function like the bedroom for resting, the living room to receive guests, the kitchen for cooking etc. The furniture, decor and the atmosphere of each room are made conducive to the purpose it serves. So too a conducive atmosphere is required for the purpose of meditation, worship and prayer, thus the need for a prayer room.
Sacred thoughts and sound vibrations pervade the place and influence the minds of those who spend time there. Spiritual thoughts and vibrations accumulated through regular meditation, worship and chanting done there pervade the prayer room. Even when we are tired or agitated, by just sitting in the prayer room for a while, we feel calm, rejuvenated and spiritually uplifted.Slide9Slide10
Displaying Hindu Symbols
Where appropriate throughout the house,
display
Hindu symbols such as Om, Swastika, Bhagwa Dhwaj, pictures of holy places, spiritual personalities, etc. These will constantly remind you of your hoary heritage, and serve as an inspiration to live as an ideal Hindu.
Many symbols are considered auspicious, embodying the notion of inner purity. Sacred emblems are displayed in the home or temple to invoke good fortuneSlide11Slide12
Celebrating Hindu Festivals
We celebrate a variety of Hindu festivals in our homes
To create a special atmosphere, diverting the mind from worldly concerns and joyfully focusing on spiritual matters
.To forge a healthy sense of belonging by peacefully bringing together individuals, families and communities.Slide13Slide14
Some of the ways we do this in our homes is
Fasting and feasting
Distribution of food (especially
prasad)Giving in charity (to temples, saints, the poor, etc)Visiting relativesGlorification of God (kirtan, bhajan, story recitals
, puja, dance, drama)Wearing new clothesDecorating houses, streets and home temples with fruits, flowers, leaves and banana leavesSlide15
Language & Arts
Someone once said “If you want to destroy a culture,
destroy
the language”. Language and arts are key things that form the basis of a civilization and culture. These too have been passed on through generations, so at home make every effort to preserve and practice them. Learn
to speak, read and write in your mother tongue. Learn one or more Hindu arts (such as dancing, singing
, rangoli, mehendi, etc), and when proficient, teach to others.
The personal satisfaction
in being good in language and arts, as well as the gratification in
preserving
and promoting them is invaluable.Slide16