First published on August 25, 2017. Here it is 4 years later. For I have been contemplating my own rituals and routines. Altered on august 24, 2021
One thing that I love about Hinduism is that there are no restrictions. Well, there are, but they go on individual basis. Many restrictions are taken on willingly. For example, people will quit eating grains for a year, or no salt one day a week, or fast one day a week for their entire lives.
There are suggestions and recommendations. Some people can be rigid. But the Gods say, 'We care about you and it is important that you care about yourself, the world and others'.
There are no sunday sermons. There are sermons and celebrations just about any day. And a special fact is that the grihast folks (those are householders, married with children, taking care of their parents etc.) are exempt from following any special activities, for what they do is prayer itself. So, most of the people in this stage are not regular visitors to the temple and if they do come, they stop for a short while.
Following is a picture of a man standing in front of a temple, bowing, before he heads to work. From the way he is dressed, you can tell he is not at a very high position, probably works very hard, may not own a car, but thinks it is important to 'bow' once a day to voice gratitude and ask for blessings from the divine. And he just stopped here for a few minutes to say a prayer and express his gratitude.
There are no sunday sermons. There are sermons and celebrations just about any day. And a special fact is that the grihast folks (those are householders, married with children, taking care of their parents etc.) are exempt from following any special activities, for what they do is prayer itself. So, most of the people in this stage are not regular visitors to the temple and if they do come, they stop for a short while.
Following is a picture of a man standing in front of a temple, bowing, before he heads to work. From the way he is dressed, you can tell he is not at a very high position, probably works very hard, may not own a car, but thinks it is important to 'bow' once a day to voice gratitude and ask for blessings from the divine. And he just stopped here for a few minutes to say a prayer and express his gratitude.
Here is what he saw. You can hardly see the Murtis, but who needs to see anything,when one feels the divine in their heart!
PS: An Update (August 27, 2017), I have seen the man repeatedly, whenever our times for visit have coincided, implying this bow is a daily ritual for him. If I see him again, I might ask what he does for a living. But I love this simplicity of incorporating a short time for gratitude in his life.
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