apollymi

I would not advise getting a murti (a 3D representation of Lord Krishna or any of the Gods). If you have a 3D murti you have to be very strict, perform the rituals right and not miss any prayers or pujas. Pictures are definitely the way to go.

 

A shrine can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. Start with a picture of Sri Sri Radha Krishna. Put it on a table, cabinet or shelf that you are going to use as your altar. Here in Malaysia, custom-built altars are available.......for a handsome sum of money, though. Include a picture of Lord Ganesha - Hindus pray to Him first to remove all obstacles in our lives.

 

If you can't find one like that, then don't despair. Buy a new drinking glass (don't use it for drinking) made of glass. Fill the glass half way up with water and fill the rest up with oil. Take some metal wires and twist them aroumd until there is just a small hole in the middle. Bend the two ends over so it can sit on top of the glass. Then put a wick there (you can make them from cotton wool if you can't buy the proper ones).

I actually have a Ganesha murti, but only accidentally. I bought it a few years ago at some "exotic crafts" store. Can I use the statue instead of a picture? I'll admit, I am very low on money and can't really afford expensive altar things, though I would love to. I'm hoping to set up an altar this weekend since it's my last week of school.

Don't a lot of Hindu altars/shrines offer incense? I have tons and tons of incense cones(regular incense is way too strong for me) that I need to get rid of, if you know what I mean. The problem is, I have 2 Doves that live in my room with me, as well as a hamster. Due to this, incense is a no-no. What can I include with my altar that will give off fresh scent that is not dangerous to animals? I was thinking fresh flowers or something like scent pouches.

Don't be afraid. Just go! Why should it matter how people there might perceive you? You are going there to worship God, so why should it matter how the other people see you?

 

I've had friendly people approach me in temples before and explain things to me. This was especially helpful as in the temple near where I am staying, the pujaris (priests) don't speak English and other devotees who speak both Tamil and English have translated for me.

 

This may be a problem with going to a temple - the services may not be in English! I'm certain that the bhajans (hymns) will be in Sanskrit, Hindi, Tamil or another Indian language (the language of the Hindu community who founded the temple). If the temple is a North Indian style temple and has a satsangh (Hindu service with a sermon), then the the sermon may very well be in Hindi or another Indian language. These temples often cater for expatriate Indians and they may be the only place where these people can speak their mother tongue in a community.

 

If you go to a South Indian temple, the worship will be very individual. The Deities will generally be made of black granite and housed in separate shrines, and the pujaris will go round each shrine performing puja (which involves offering incense, flowers, lamps etc to the Deity). At the end of the session, he will distribute a lamp, and everyone touches the flame to receive the blessings from the gods.

 

If it is a North Indian temple, the worship may be much more congregational. The Deities will often be made of white marble. Bhajans are generally sung, usually accompanied by a harmonium and possibly tabla drums. These are generally sung in Hindi. The worship will probably consist of an Arati, where the congregation takes turns offering a plate with lamps on it to the Deities, while an Arati bhajan (often Om Jai Jagdish Hare) is sung.

 

If you go to a Hare Krishna (Gaudiya Vaishnava) temple, it will be closer to a North Indian temple. However, Arati consists of various articles as well as the lamp (incense, cloth, water in a conch, flowers, yak-tail whisk and possibly peacock fan), and it is only offered by pujaris. The main feature of their worship is the chanting of Hare Krishna (often accompanied by devotees leaping in the air and shouting "Haribol!") Hare Krishna temples will always provide prasadam (free vegetarian food which has been offered to the Lord).

Once again, very informative! Thanks again Mike. There is a Gaudiya temple(the Hare Krsna one) here in Chicago, but still, that's too far of a drive for me to go to. Such a shame, because I would love to partake in the kirtans. It just seems too difficult for me to have any sort of religious life anymore due to school(and on top of that, I have to share a dorm with other people, so no privacy) and having to work. I just feel too entrapped in materialism right now. At this point, home worship is the best way to go. Which reminds me, I have no clue what to include with a shrine. I'd like to get a murti of Sri Krsna, but I suppose that's not necessary? I guess a picture will do, because that's the only image I have.

Now is prasadam found in all Hindu denominations? I would think so, just because it seems to be a general food offering given to said deity. Too bad, I don't know how to cook lol.

Hi, apollymi. Welcome!

As far as the comparing Vishnu and Krishna goes (your 2nd question) They are identical in terms of tattva (knowledge) but somewhat different from the point of view of rasa (spiritual emotions or moods). Vishnu is perceived and worshiped with owe and reverence, whereas Krishna is perceived as dear most friend, son, beloved, etc. depending on once particular inherent relationship with Him.

From philosophical point of view (tattva) They are the same thing - the Supreme Godhead, or the highest aspect of the Absolute Truth, etc.

Thanks for your reply. I figured they were the "same" in some way, but in end, different personalities perhaps.

I have another question, perhaps you can help answer this one as well? I have never been to a Hindu temple. There are very few around where I live, but there is one about a 45 minutes drive away from me. I am not Indian by birth(think typical American...combinations of European, Asian, and Native American), so how would I be perceived in these temples? I think I would feel odd and out-of-place, like I don't belong there. I figured I will be worshipping at home for a very long time.

This will vary according to which denominations or philosophical schools you ask. Gaudiya Vaishnavas believe that Krishna alone is the Supreme Lord, and that the devas ("demigods" is an incorrect term) are His servants, like ministers under the Prime Minister. I'm not sure about other Vaishnava schools, but I think that Madhva's folowers would have the same teachings (Chaitanya was initiated into the Madhva sampradaya, after all). I'm not sure about Ramanuja, Vallabha or Nimbarka's schools.

 

Other Hindu schools (Saivism and Saktam for example) teach that the devas are just different forms of the Supreme Lord, like facets of a diamond. I think that Saiva Siddhanta is somewhere between the two (they refer to Lord Ganesha and Lord Murugan as mahadevas who seem to be separate beings distinct from Lord Shiva.

 

Don't listen to anyone who tells you not to worship the devas or not to worship anyone except Krishna/Shiva etc. Hinduism has no god who proclaims "thou shalt have no other gods before me". Lord Krishna states in the Gita: "Whatever form any devotee with faith wishes to worship, I make that faith of his steady. Endowed with that faith, he engages in the worship of that form, and from it he obtains his desires, which are actually being ordained by Me" (Bhagavad-Gita 7:21-22)

 

Thank you MikeMalaysia. Your post was by far the best. I figured "demigods" was not a correct term that was something that might have been invented by Srila Prabhupada when translating "Devas" to English.

This will depend which school of Vaishnavism you follow. Gaudiya Vaishnavism (Chaitanya sampradaya) regards Krishna as the source of all the avatars and expansions (including Vishnu). This view is shared by the Vallabha and Nimbarka sampradayas. According to Gaudiya Vaishnavism, the eighth incarnation of the Lord is Balarama. The Ramanuja and Madhva sampradayas regard Lord Vishnu as the Supreme, and they regard Lord Krishna as the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

 

Informative indeed. Thanks.

You need to get a decent English translation. Prabhupada's translation (Bhagavad-Gita As It Is) is ok, but he puts the Gaudiya interpretation on it and condemns Advaita-vedanta in his purports (commentary). A good one to get is Paramahamsa Yogananda's translation, which is in two volumes. I've only read a small part of it, but it seems to be good. I use Swami Chidbhavananda's translation, but I'm not sure if it's available where you live (I bought it from a Hindu bookstore).

 

If the commentary seems to be distracting, try reading just the verses first. When you have read the entire Gita, go back and read the commentary.

I have no idea what to put in a Vaishnava journal, but I would just write down any thoughts or musings that you might have. Sorry I can't be of more help here.

 

I have several Gita translations, including three from Prabhupada's. His actual translation itself might be fine, but his purports are too confusing to read and understand. I have Juan Mascaro's(spelling) translation which is easy to follow, but it's just too similar to the christian bible in KJV terms. I have a few others as well which are in poetic Victorian English(or Shakespearan English), also too confusing to read. I recently recieved the free silverback edition of Prasad's Bhagavad Gita(gita4free) and it seems simplified enough to read.

Thank you for the links as well. I am definitely familiar with those. Have a nice a day. Also Kali, thank you for your answers as well.

Thats not real Hinduism,pure Hindu should always respect all braches of Hinduism/Sampradaya.Don't commit a sin by listening or accepting this foolish Demi God theory which may drag you toward commiting a huge sin in the end.All Vaishnavas must worship God Shiva and all Shivites must worship God Vishnu,there is no second thought involved here.all the best to you.

But you didn't really answer my questions. I think you're confusing me with ISKCON(?). I don't belong to ISKCON and I don't follow most of their beliefs, although I guess it has come to the fact that Gaudiya=ISKCON now. I never said that I respected OR disrespected any of the Devas; it just so happens I have chosen to only honor Sri Krsna.

Hello all. I'm relatively new to Hinduism(last 6 months maybe) and I follow the Vaisnava sect(not sure if I would consider myself Gaudiya, but I prefer Sri Krsna over Sri Visnu most definitely). I apologize if this is in the wrong section, I'm not really sure where to ask these questions. Rather than post them in separate threads, I just decided to condense them into one single one.

I guess these questions relate to Gaudiya Vaisnavism rather than just general Vaisnavism.

1. What is the role of the Devas(demigods) if they are not to be worshipped? From others, I hear, in this case, they are on par with the angels in Christianity: they are semi-divine(not sure if that's the right word) beings but they are not to be worshipped?

2. Despite the fact that if Krsna is the supreme godhead, is Visnu+Krsna one-in-the-same? Or is Krsna different from Visnu? Or is Visnu different than Krsna?

3. What is the best way to study the Bhagavad Gita? I'll admit I have read the Bhagavad Gita, but some of the stuff just doesn't click(meaning I can't remember anything I read). I also have a journal and was wondering what kinds of things I would put in this "Vaisnava" journal...thoughts, meditations, important verses?

Sorry if these are odd questions. I ask that those reply try to give me answers that I can understand(if you give Sanskrit terms for example, tell me what they mean, because I have little knowledge of any Sanskrit) and not just some giant wall of text(in which case, I won't read it ).