Bal Gokulam
Lesson 5
May 18, 2012
Review from Lesson 4
Who is the
Goddess of all
beings, or Shakti?
Durga
What demon did
she defeat?
Mahishasura
Review
 Who is the daughter of
the Himalayas? Also
known as the consort of
Lord Shiva.
 This Goddess is known
for her blessings of
material, spiritual, and
physical wealth.
 Parvati Ma
 Maha Lakshmi
Review Cont’d
 She creates
knowledge and is
the consort of Lord
Brahma
 Saraswati
 Why does she hold
a book and Veena
in her hands?
 To symbolize
eternal knowledge
in religion and arts.
Today’s Lesson
What does a Hindu
Home look like today?
Cleanliness
A clean, organized house provides a healthy setting from
which to grow and mature – physically, emotionally, and
spiritually.
A dirty and cluttered house is not conducive for a healthy and
happy life.
There is a saying that God lives in a clean house only. No
matter how luxurious or simple your house is, keep it clean.
 Cleanliness is next to Godliness!
Prayer/Puja Room
 Most Hindu will homes have a prayer room or altar. A lamp is
lit and God worshipped each day. Other spiritual practices
like japa or meditation, reading of the scriptures, prayers, and
devotional singing are also done in the prayer room. Special
worship is conducted on auspicious occasions like festivals,
birthdays, and anniversaries. Each member of the family
communes with and worships the Divine here. We invoke His
grace by communing with Him in the prayer room each day
and on special occasions.
 Since the Lord is considered the creator, He is therefore the
true owner of the house we live in too. We are mere earthly
occupants of His property, thus this notion rids us of false
pride and possessiveness.
 Since the Lord is all-pervading, and to remind us that He
resides in our homes with us, we have prayer rooms.
Prayer Room Cont’d
 Each room in a house is dedicated to a specific function
like the bedroom for resting, the living room to receive
guests, the kitchen for cooking etc. The furniture, decor
and the atmosphere of each room are made conducive to
the purpose it serves. So too a conducive atmosphere is
required for the purpose of meditation, worship and
prayer, thus the need for a prayer room.
 Sacred thoughts and sound vibrations pervade the place
and influence the minds of those who spend time there.
Spiritual thoughts and vibrations accumulated through
regular meditation, worship and chanting done there
pervade the prayer room. Even when we are tired or
agitated, by just sitting in the prayer room for a while, we
feel calm, rejuvenated and spiritually uplifted.
Displaying Hindu Symbols
 Where appropriate throughout the house, display Hindu
symbols such as Om, Swastika, Bhagwa Dhwaj, pictures of
holy places, spiritual personalities, etc. These will
constantly remind you of your hoary heritage, and serve as
an inspiration to live as an ideal Hindu.
 Many symbols are considered auspicious, embodying the
notion of inner purity. Sacred emblems are displayed in
the home or temple to invoke good fortune
Celebrating Hindu Festivals
 We celebrate a variety of Hindu festivals in our homes
 To create a special atmosphere, diverting the mind from
worldly concerns and joyfully focusing on spiritual
matters.
 To forge a healthy sense of belonging by peacefully
bringing together individuals, families and communities.
Some of the ways we do this in our homes is
 Fasting and feasting
 Distribution of food (especially prasad)
 Giving in charity (to temples, saints, the poor, etc)
 Visiting relatives
 Glorification of God (kirtan, bhajan, story recitals, puja,
dance, drama)
 Wearing new clothes
 Decorating houses, streets and home temples with fruits,
flowers, leaves and banana leaves
Language & Arts
 Someone once said “If you want to destroy a culture,
destroy the language”.
 Language and arts are key things that form the basis of a
civilization and culture. These too have been passed on
through generations, so at home make every effort to
preserve and practice them.
 Learn to speak, read and write in your mother tongue.
 Learn one or more Hindu arts (such as dancing, singing,
rangoli, mehendi, etc), and when proficient, teach to
others.
 The personal satisfaction in being good in language and
arts, as well as the gratification in preserving and
promoting them is invaluable.