1. Religion - what's the point of it?

Religion is the relationship between the three fundamental principles - God, the world and the individual. Religion gives solace to the weary pilgrim on this Earth plane. The same type of jacket cannot suit all people. Individual temperaments and traditional backgrounds differ. Hence the need for different religions arise. All religions are equal in importance and worthy of respect. Cows have different colours but the colour of milk is one. Diversity is the order of creation.

2. Where does Hinduism come from?

Hinduism is the most ancient and extensive religion. There is no founder for Hinduism. All other religions have founders. Hinduism came about at least ten thousands years ago, and the peak of the ancient Hindu civilisation came about around 3800BC. This was in the Indus Valley which now lies in Pakistan. The people of this time were essentially worshippers of Shiva and of many mother goddesses. Religion underwent changes after the arrival of the Aryan people who brought with them fair skinned gods & goddess. Shiva and other Dravidian gods are usually dark skinned. Aryan gods are fair skinned.

3. What are avatars & incarnations?

Hindus believe that each human being has a soul. Therefore every person and every living thing contains God within them. If a person was perfect then he/she would become God. This is how avatars or incarnations came about. It is said that when there is a lot of evil in the world then God takes birth on Earth to banish all evil and save us all. There are reputed to be 10 avatars of Vishnu. These are :

4. Can you tell us more about the temples ?

Devalayam is a shrine designed according to the needs of the community settled in that part of the country. The temple is constructed according to the Agama Sastras (temple manuals) and Silpa Sastras and are built in the image of the human body. The two sides of the temple represent the hands, and the top of the temple represents the head. For Ganesha temples, the deity Lord Ganesha rests in the inner most recess called the Garbhagraha (sanctum sanctorum). Hindu devotees believe that, once the murthi(icon) is in installed, the divine power has manifested itself in the Murthi.

5. Are all Hindus idol worshippers ?

Major religious events like Kumbhabhisekam are performed to energise the Murthi(icon) with divine power, which can either be diluted or lost due to transgressions committed unknowingly by the priests or worshippers. Worshipping the icon gives the devotees access to God and His power. In the temple there are several types of Murthis(images). However as a Hindu matures, he/she realises that God is within them, and they depend less and less on pictures or idols of God.

6. What & Where is the Shree Ghanapathy Temple & Sai Mandir ?

The Shree Ghanapathy Temple is on Effra Road, Wimbledon, London, UK. This is a Ganesha temple. So the main Vigraha (icon), which is made of gramite (black stone), is called mula (immovable) Ghanapathy.

A smaller, movable murthi of Ganesha is made of panchaloga (five metals which include gold, silver, copper, brass and lead) and is called Utsava-murthi. This statue is used for festivals when the Lord is carried in a procession.

7. Can anyone be a priest ?

The Agamic rules require the temple priest to serve and act as an intermediary between the worshipper and God. The temple priests come from families where priesthood is their traditional occupation. They are trained in the skills of priesthood from a young age(usually about 13 years of age). They also have to live a very spiritual and disciplined life. All daily and weekly rituals are performed by these priests. Special occasions demand the presence of more priests, who are brought from other temples or from India.

8. What is a puja ?

Puja is the Sanskrit word for worship. Puja is the act of showing reverence to a god through invocations, prayers, songs and rituals. An essential part of puja for a Hindu devotee is making a spiritual connection with a deity. The Lord being not accessible to our eyes, ears, nose, touch and beyond the realm of the intellect, the ancients devised a method of bringing the Lord within the realm of the senses. By puja you will be in a position to inject the noblest thoughts in the subconcious.

9. Why are there all these temple rules & what's worship like there ?

Worship:

There are several types of worships performed at the temple

A Hindu devotee follows certain minimal rules regarding the maintainance of purity on sacred ground. Hindus will enter a temple only after a bath. Physical purity is symbolic of the mental state of the Hindu devotee while entering the house of God.

Also all devotees and visitors are required to remove their footwear before entering the temple.

10. Why have temples ?

The Temple provides a spectrum of approaches to God. Since the human body itself is veritably a temple, Deities within can be invoked and worshipped. One has only to delve deep within to reach God who dwells in each one of us. The path of Bhakti or Devotion is an easier method. Worship of a Deity or Deities of one's choice "Ishta Devata," helps the devotees to focus their attention and relate to God. The consecrated Vighrahas or idols, when worshipped continuously, acquire a capacity to respond. They also glorify specific attributes of the Absolute.