Sunday, 19 February 2012

Praying at the Hindu Temple Story


Ms. Muni- the Kindergarten teacher at Maigania Muslim Primary School is my age and very open to helping me understand the cultures and religions that I am around while I am here. I have already experienced the Muslim prayer so I thought it wouldn't be right to not experience the Hindu prayer or pooja as well.
At lunch, on Tuesday we were invited to join her at her host families house for the pooja.  We walked to her house where we were greeted by the friendliest lady of the compound.  In the middle of the compound a small threshold was built by banana leaves for the roof and small branches from a nearby tree for the four corners.  Under the roof, on the ground was a few Hindu symbols designed with white sugar.  The om symbol was sitting in the middle of the small hut threshold.  We were offered some juice and sat and waited for the priest and head temple owner to proceed down the road.  These two individuals were followed by 4 young men dressed in yellow- the color of purity- holding large cone shaped things on their heads.  These cones were decorated with flowers and lays.  The men in yellow are giving thanks to the main God of the Temple.  They asked or wished for something from this God and told him that if the wish was granted they would stay in the Temple for a week and be apart of the pooja daily to give thanks.
Food and flowers were offered, incense was burned and three circles around the threshold were performed.  The main guy of the Temple started chanting and singing and each member of the compound got down on their knees before the the threshold- touched the ground three times, circled the offerings three times and stood up.  The members travelled around the threshold three more times before touching the chanter's feet.  When the members stood up they either had a red dot on their foreheads- married or a white ash (holy ash)  on their throat.   After all of the praying and offering food to the God of Purity and Peace of Mind we got to also share the food with the God.  We had fruits of all kinds, rice pudding of all kinds and very delicious, fried puri and other things I can't pronounce.  
Of course, I had to go back to school but was very happy to have experienced that again.  On our way back to school I asked if Ms. Muni could come with us to the Temple to help us pray there and to be our guide.  She did such a wonderful job of explaining so many of the details at the pooja I knew I would learn more by experiencing the Temple this time with her.
So, on Thursday Ms. Muni, Janet and I (the only ones who wanted to participate) went to the Hindu Temple - the largest in the Pacific.  The most beautiful, colorful, and peaceful place you would ever experience.  While we were placing our shoes to the side to enter the compound I notice a large rain tree that was wrapped with yellow (again purity) around the trunk.  At the base of the tree was a bench-  Each piece of thread was a wish or prayer that someone has asked for and the bench is for meditation. 

(Ganesh)




We went and got a hold of our offering plates for the main two Gods we wanted to pray to and offer food to.  The plates consisted of coconut, bananas, incense, and flowers.  We went straight to the smaller temple of Ganesh- the elephant headed god.  This temple had very brilliant colors, designs and paintings on the ceilings.  Ms. Muni went through the entire pooja steps with us- almost three different times because there were so many things to remember and I did not want my wish to be messed up or tainted because I forgot just one step.  So, we first bowed our heads, made a small wish at the foot of the stairs leading to the statue of the God Ganesh.  Three different times we had to walk around the temple- everything is done in odd numbers (odd numbers of foods, circles around the temples).  Our third time around an older looking Gandhi type of priest greeted us- where did this guy come from? I didn't see him coming at all- must be from out of the dust.  We walked up the steps, he took our plates in his hands and started chanting with a song.  He took both plates and told us he was going to pray for our good health, wealth and life.  The song continued, incense was burned, the plates were offered, the coconuts were opened.  We then were given another plate with fire and holy ash.  We had to take the plate in our hands and circle clockwise with it 3 times, push it forward and back 3 times then the priest took ahold of the plate as we took our hands and washed the smoke from the fire over our faces 3 times.  Then we took the holy ash and placed it on our foreheads.  The priest thanked us as we walked away. 
By this point, I am already overwhelmed with everything to remember and we still had the large temple for the main god and other important gods. (4)
So, we started over, bowing as a sign of respect then we walked around 3 times and went through the entire pooja 4 more times- one time for each different God inside the Temple.  One time we prayed for wealth- I can't remember that Goddesses name, but I now think I should have offered more.  Then the main God- this time again we were greeted by a Gandhi looking priest and were given the opportunity to make our wish.  With my hands together and eyes closed I repeated my wish over and over about 30 different times.  Now if my wish comes true this year I must return to show my thanks to the God.  maybe I will even stay in the Temple and dress in yellow. :)  We had to pray in the smaller temples of Ganesh's parents- Shiva the father and his mother- forgot her name too- sorry.
It took us a good 90 minutes to get through the entire experience. By the end of it, my feet were tired, black from the ground, I had a red dot  (because of my marriage) on my forehead, in our hands we carried the leftover coconuts and bananas that the Gods offered back to us, and a very overwhelmed psyche. 
The Hindu religion is very similar to the Buddhist philosophy and the entire experience was very meditative.  I do enjoy learning all of this because I know that no matter what I have read, experiencing it and having someone explaining it all as we go through it is better than any book.  I may not be a Hindu Buddhist or a Muslim, but I feel much better now that I have experienced it and can talk to others as if I know about it.

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