217151 1223 Religion & Spirituality Hinduism Hindu Prayer true Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:05:31 -0800 DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, religion, spirituality, religious, spiritual, hinduism, hindu, shrine, make, making, construct, constructing, build, building, home, house, apartment, pray, prayer, praying How To Make a Hindu Shrine At Home http://www.howcast.com/videos/217151-How-To-Make-a-Hindu-Shrine-At-Home http://www.howcast.com/videos/217151-How-To-Make-a-Hindu-Shrine-At-Home/edit live 1 shirovi http://img.howcast.com/images/icons/howto-xxlarge.png 3162 81558 1 0 Step Pick a space Pick a space in the home for the shrine. To protect the sanctity of this location do not use it for any other function.
——-
The direction you place your shrine is also very important. North and East are considered auspicious (as is northeast), since North is where Shiva & Parvati reside (important if you are a Shaiva or Shakta), and East is where the sun rises. If you are a devotee of Kali Ma, South (the place of death) is what you want.
Your mandir should not be located next to a toilet, nor above nor below one, as that would defile the sacred space.

]]> 81559 2 0 Tip The size of the shrine doesn’t matter; it could be an entire room or just an alcove.

]]> 81560 3 0 Step Keep altar close to floor Keep the altar fairly close to the floor, as puja is mostly performed while seated.

]]> 81561 4 0 Step Decide which deities to enshrine Decide with the rest of the household which deity or deities to enshrine.

]]> 81562 5 0 Step Acquire murti Acquire the murti, or images and icons. Murti include metal and stone statues and framed pictures of deities.

]]> 81563 6 0 Step Place murti in center of altar Place the murti in the center of the altar.

]]> 81564 7 0 Tip As children reach adolescence, they may choose different deities that inspire them, and the family shrine will take on additional murti.

]]> 81565 8 0 Step Set aside colorful clothing Set aside colorful clothing to dress the murti in after they have been bathed during a puja.
——-
You can buy tailored clothing for statues at Indian specialty stores, or cut strips of cloth with a hole in the middle (which is what most people do). This is then placed poncho like on the idol.
If the design of the idol is such that a poncho would be difficult (for example, if it has a big halo behind it, with no space between the halo and the head), simply fold the strip of cloth lengthwise, then drape it around the neck so that each end comes out on either side of the statue.
Otherwise, a red piece of string draped over the left shoulder of the image then tied around the right waist will do. This can also be done with framed pictures.

]]> 81566 9 0 Step Place tray under murti Place a tray under the murti so the sacred water or milk used to bathe it during a puja will drain into the tray.
——-
If you have a framed picture of your chosen deity, or a big and heavy statue, an alternative is to get a smaller statue of the same kept near the main one. This smaller representation then, is the one bathed in lieu of the bigger statue or framed picture.
An alternative to getting a smaller statue is to get a smooth stone and paint a symbol of the chosen deity on it: three horizontal white stripes for Shiva, a double white trident with a red dot in the joint for Vishnu, three red dots for Kali, etc., and bathe that.
In some places, life sized statues are “bathed” by placing a mirror at the foot of them, such that their images are reflected in it. Water is then poured over the mirror.

]]> 81567 10 0 Step Keep worship tools on metal trays Keep the worship tools – like the lamps and bells – on metal trays. Keep them clean and do not use them for anything else.

]]> 81568 11 0 Step Light the standing lamp Light the standing lamp and leave it lit all day.

]]> 81569 12 0 Step Play music inside shrine If you’d like music, place the music player inside the shrine. You can also sing with no accompaniment.

]]> 81570 13 0 Step You’re ready! You’re ready for your first home puja!

]]> 81571 14 0 Fact There are thousands, if not millions, of deities in Hinduism, but all are manifestations of one god.

]]> 81572 15 0 Fact If you perform puja regularly, you’ll eventually come up with a system, whether a traditional one prescribed by scriptures, or one you make up yourself and are more comfortable with. Once you create a puja mandir in your home, you must must maintain it on a regular basis, and preferably at set times.
Should you find yourself unable to do this, perhaps because you have to go away on a business trip, you can still perform your puja and perform a form of meditation at the same time.
Simply close your eyes, remember every article you have on your mandir (altar) and go through the steps of your regular puja in your mind.
As you do, visualize with all your senses till you actually feel the weight and texture of each article you use, the floor or carpet beneath you, the smell of the incense you burn, etc.
This is called manassa puja, and is recommended by scriptures as a more “advanced” and “purer” form of puja, since it is done in the mind.

]]> 1223 117058 How To Have a Puja At Home AssignmentGuide 3925 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:32:10 -0800 6 saugat ]]> 203 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/58/70/11/117058.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, religion, spirituality, religious, rituals, mantra Religion & Spirituality Hinduism Hindu Prayer 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/117058/5_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/117058-How-To-Have-a-Puja-At-Home 1213 109040 How To Attain Liberation in Hinduism AssignmentGuide 1282 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:45:42 -0800 9 Equilibrio ]]> 134 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/40/90/10/109040.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, religion, spirituality, religious Religion & Spirituality Hinduism General Hinduism 5 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/109040/Picture_6_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/109040-How-To-Attain-Liberation-in-Hinduism 1213 158711 How To Generate Good Karma AssignmentGuide 4157 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:47:18 -0700 13 AlexRad ]]> 129 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/11/87/15/158711.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, religion, spirituality, religious Religion & Spirituality Hinduism General Hinduism 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/158711/Picture_2_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/158711-How-To-Generate-Good-Karma 1216 217185 How To Celebrate Diwali AssignmentGuide 614 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:32:48 -0700 2 sarit ]]> 173 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/72/69/26/266972.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, religion, spirituality, religious, spiritual, hinduism, hindu, holiday, holidays, celebrate, celebrating, diwali, festival, lights Religion & Spirituality Hinduism Hindu Holidays Diwali 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/217185/diwali_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/217185-How-To-Celebrate-Diwali 1182 1093 How To Practice Buddhist Breathing Meditation HowcastGuide 5051 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:10:05 -0800 39 Chris_Davis ]]> 224 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/93/10/1093.flv breath, breathe, breathing, buddhism, buddhist, DIY, Do It Yourself, Essential Skills, Instructional, Learn to, meditate, meditation, prayer, religion, religious, spiritual, spirituality, Tips, tutorial Religion & Spirituality Buddhism Meditation and Prayer 5 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/1093/ppn_davis_breathing_meditation_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/1093-How-To-Practice-Buddhist-Breathing-Meditation 1182 2091 How To Practice Buddhist Loving-Kindness Meditation HowcastGuide 3017 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:34:45 -0800 14 Chris_Davis ]]> 269 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/91/20/2091.flv bhavana, brahma, brahma-viharas, buddhism, buddhist, DIY, Do It Yourself, Essential Skills, Instructional, kindness, Learn to, loving, loving-kindness, meditate, meditation, Metta, prayer, religion, religious, spiritual, spirituality, Tips, tutorial, viha Religion & Spirituality Buddhism Meditation and Prayer 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2091/ppn_davis_loving_meditation_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/2091-How-To-Practice-Buddhist-LovingKindness-Meditation 1182 2433 How To Practice Buddhist Walking Meditation HowcastGuide 4779 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:23:08 -0700 18 Chris_Davis ]]> 168 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/33/24/2433.flv buddhism, buddhist, DIY, Do It Yourself, Essential Skills, Instructional, Learn to, meditate, meditation, prayer, religion, religious, spiritual, spirituality, Tips, tutorial, walk, walking Religion & Spirituality Buddhism Meditation and Prayer 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2433/ppn_davis_walking_meditation_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/2433-How-To-Practice-Buddhist-Walking-Meditation 1182 21655 The Buddhist Breath 297 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:45:15 -0700 1 peacefulprosperity ]]> 332 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/55/16/02/21655.flv buddhist breath relaxation clarity insight stress relief meditation Religion & Spirituality Buddhism Meditation and Prayer 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/21655/165_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/21655-The-Buddhist-Breath 1182 210746 How To Make a Mala (Tibetan Prayer Beads) Part 1 Of 5 329 Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:13:42 -0700 0 Darren_Littlejohn ]]> 590 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/46/07/21/210746.flv Mala, meditation, prayer, Tibetan Buddhism, 12 Steps, 12 Step Buddhist Religion & Spirituality Buddhism Meditation and Prayer 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/210746/mala2_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/210746-How-To-Make-a-Mala-Tibetan-Prayer-Beads 1182 210749 How To Make a Mala (Tibetan Prayer Beads) Part 2 - Spacers 281 Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:52:06 -0700 0 Darren_Littlejohn ]]> 502 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/49/07/21/210749.flv Mala, buddhism, meditation, mantra, Tibetan Prayer Beads Religion & Spirituality Buddhism Meditation and Prayer 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/210749/250_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/210749-How-To-Make-a-Mala-Tibetan-Prayer-Beads-Part-2 1182 210866 How To Make a Mala (Tibetan Prayer Beads) Part 3 - Tying the Knots 244 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:23:46 -0700 1 Darren_Littlejohn ]]> 476 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/66/08/21/210866.flv Mala, medtiation, mantra, recitation, prayer, deity yoga, Tibetan Buddhism Religion & Spirituality Buddhism Meditation and Prayer 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/210866/235_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/210866-How-To-Make-a-Mala-Tibetan-Prayer-Beads-Part-3-Tying-the-Knots 1184 169865 How To Have a Blessed Life 68 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:20:33 -0700 0 greatiam ]]> 230 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/65/98/16/169865.flv blessed life, blessed, blessing, happy life, ask God Religion & Spirituality Christianity General Christianity 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169865/5_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/169865-How-To-Have-a-Blessed-Life 1185 768 How To Pray the Rosary HowcastGuide 6674 Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:17:19 -0800 23 Lessa_Millet ]]> 135 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/68/07/768.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, christianity, christian, christ, jesus, religion, pray, hail, mary, rosary, praying, catholic, Catholicism, beads Religion & Spirituality Christianity Catholicism 9 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/768/ppn_polartooth_pray_rosary_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/768-How-To-Pray-the-Rosary 1185 2368 How To Say the "Act Of Contrition" HowcastGuide 3335 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:00:05 -0800 13 Chris_Davis ]]> 123 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/68/23/2368.flv act, act of contrition, catholic, catholocism, christian, christianity, contrition, DIY, Do It Yourself, Essential Skills, Instructional, Learn to, of, religion, say, saying, Tips, tutorial Religion & Spirituality Christianity Catholicism 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2368/ppn_davis_act_of_contrition_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/2368-How-To-Say-the-Act-Of-Contrition