Types of worship

• What are the 4 main types of Worship?

  Puja, aarti, darshan and havan
• What is the main aim of worship?

  To show bhakti (loving devotion)
• Puja worship involves giving respect to Brahman through the Puja ceremony
• What does the Puja ceremony require?


  1. A bell to awaken the deity and symbolise the beginning of worship
  2. Food to be placed in the shrine as an offering to the deity
  3. A Murti of the god/goddess being worshipped
  4. Incense and flowers to fill the room with scent and honour the deity
  5. Kum-Kum powder to make a coloured mark on worshippers forehead
• What is the process of a Puja ceremony?


  1. Ring the bell, light some incense and wash the Murti
  2. Flowers or fruit are placed in the shrine and a candle is lit
  3. The candle is circled in front of the Murti
  4. Hymns or mantras are sung or said
  5. The worshipper marks their forehead and the Murti with Kum-Kum powder
• What happens during an Aarti ceremony?

  1. An Aarti lamp is passed around worshippers
  2. They waft their hands over the flame and then over their heads to gain blessings
• The Aarti represents daily activities which revolve around God and is performed twice a day
• What happens in a Darshan ceremony?

  1. Hindus touch the feet of their deity to show honour and respect
  2. Mantras are chanted using prayer beads
  3. Hymns are sung
• Darshan teaches humility while also showing that everyone is divine
• Havan is a traditional fire sacrifice
• Havan symbolises offerings made to the deities and letting go of material attachments
• The sacred fire in Havan is viewed as a messenger carrying prayers and offerings to a higher realm
• Shaivism

  
  

  • Focuses on the worship of Shiva
  • Practice raja yoga and astanga yoga
  • Often worship in the form of meditation
  • Often ascetics
  • Believe atman and brahman are one
• Vaishnavism 


  • Focuses on worship of Vishnu
  • Worship is based on scriptures and focuses on bhakti through mantras and japa
  • Believe that the atman is separate from the supreme being
• Why is worship important to Hindus?


  For blessings and guidance, to express devotion and love to the divine, to connect with the ultimate reality