Places of worship

1. Places of Worship
3rd Grade
By
Alicia Crowe
Lora Hammon
Lyndsey Robben
Kerry Johnson

2. World Religion Map

3. Hindu Temples

4. What is a Hindu Temple?
•A Hindu Temple is a place of worship for followers of
Hinduism.
•The temple is meant to dissolve the the boundaries between
man and the divine.
• All aspects of the temple focus on the ultimate goal of
enlightenment and liberation.
•Each temple is dedicated to an individual deity, and
features images of the deity to which it is dedicated.

5. Temple History
•The introduction of the Hindu temple marked the transition
from a religion of ritual sacrifices to a religion of devotion to
a personal deity.
•The earliest temple structures that indicate idol worship date
back to the 4th or 5th century AD.
•The oldest Hindu temples were made of brick and wood, but
they no longer exist.

6. Temple Architecture
•Temples are typically located in key geographical areas,
such as the tops of hills, or near waterfalls, caves, or rivers.
•Temple design, construction, decoration, and rituals are
governed by ancient Sanskrit texts called agamas.
• The temple floor plan is based on a strict grid of squares
and triangles, representing a symbolic, miniaturized version
of the cosmos.
•The inner sanctuary symbolizes the birthplace of the
universe, and the meeting place of the gods and mankind.
•There are substantial differences in architecture, customs,
and rituals in temples in different parts of India.

7. Customs, Etiquette, and Rituals
•When inside the temple, people typically keep both hands
folded together as a sign of respect.
• Visitors are required to remove their shoes before entering.
• Worshippers typically bring symbolic offerings for the
prayer, or "Puja."
• Within the inner sanctuary of the temple, worshippers offer
prayers to the presiding deities.
•The preist, or "Pujari" will offer symbolically blessed food
called "Prasad" to the worshippers, and place holy red
marks on their foreheads to symbolize blessings.
•During religious holidays, facilitators help visitors get
through the crowds and complete the prayer ritual quickly.

8. Books for Classroom Use

9. Ashram











http://www.gandhiashram.org.in/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

10. What is an Ashram?
An Ashram is a usually secluded residence of a religious
community and its guru.

Location: (origins from India)
•located far from human habitation
•natural surroundings
•mountainous or forests
•world wide

Practices:
•Spiritual instruction
•Meditation
•Yoga

11. The Role of the Guru

•A Guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge,
wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to
guide others (teacher).

•In Hinduism, the guru is considered a respected person with
saintly qualities who enlightens the mind of his or her
disciple, an educator from whom one receives the initiatory
mantra, and one who instructs in rituals and religious
ceremonies.

12. Famous Guru

Gandhi
(Mahatma or "The Great Soul")
Established Sabarmati Ashram
»was created with a dual mission.
»First, to serve as an institution that would carry on a
search for truth
»Second, a platform to bring together a group of
workers committed to non-violence who would help
secure freedom for India.
believed God is truth, the way to truth is through
non-violence.

13. Famous Guru

Swami Sivananda
one of the most prolific Yoga teachers who has ever
existed
Swami Sivananda's teachings spread quickly
throughout our entire planet
hand wrote more than 200 books on topics
connected to Yoga and Philosophy
established the International Sivananda Yoga
Vedanta Centres
http://www.sivananda.org/locations/

14. How to use in the classroom
Book:











http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mirabai-ganga-ma-dickinson/1009300814?ean=9781604746181&itm=15&usri=ashrams#Overview

15. How to bring this culture into your
classroom
During this portion of the unit:

•Assign students to be a "Guru of " (math, art, sports,
writing, reading, technology, cooking, sewing, etc.)

•Bring foods that are specific to this culture

•Have the students do yoga

•Have the students do meditation

16. Shinto Shrines












The most sacred Shinto shrine is the Great Ise Shrine, located
just off the coast of eastern Japan. The shrine is dedicated to
Amaterasu, the sun goddess.

17. Shinto Shrines
Overview:

•Shintoism is an ancient Janpanese religion that worships
many gods, polytheism.
•Shinto shrines are built as a place of worship and serves as
a home for a particular god called Kami.
•There are many different types of shrines depending on the
god (kami) it was built for.
•It is believed that the Kami resides inside the innerchamber
of the shrine.
•Festivals are held annually as a way of showing the Kami
the outside world.

18. Shinto Shrines
Basic Beliefs:

•Kami is translated as "the way of the Kami"
•Kami is the energy that evokes a sense of wonder and awe
in the human heart.
•Powerful dieties inhabit both Heaven and Earth
•A Kami is nature, a highly honored peson, or an attribute of
good fortune, like fertility.
•No absolutes, an optimistic faith, people are fundamentally
good.
•Anything bad in the world is due to evil spirits.
•Most rituals are held to keep evil spirits away by purification,
prayers and offerings to Kami.
•Shaman or Diviner to help pray,often live at the shrine

19. Shinto Shrines
History:

•Shintoism is the oldest known religion in Japan; Began at
least 500 BC
•Each clan had it's own Kami to worship.
•2,000 years ago, the first shrine was built for the most highly
regarded Kami; Amaterasu (the sun god)
•The daughter of the Emperor, Yamatohime-no-mikoto,
wandered for 20 years in search of the perfect place.
•The Japanese flag depicts the sun god; Amaterasu.
•The seven Japanese Islands were created by her.

20. Shinto Shrines: Characteristics


Torii Komainu                     Purification trough





                  Main and offering hall  Stage





     
       Ema                                     Omikuji Shimenawa

21. Shinto: A Children's Book












http://www.amazon.com/Amaterasu-Return-Japanese-Graphic-Legends/dp/0822565730#reader_0822565730

In the classroom:  Readers theater, Hakata festival national holiday, for
children; parades and dress up in the color of favorite deity, New Year

22. Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish church, also called a shul or temple.
•Originated in Israel; called First Temple, built in 957 BC by
King Solomon
•Found around the world
•All look different
Functions of a synagogue:
•House of prayer (beit tefilah)
•House of study (beit midrash)
•Social hall for religious and non-religious activities

23. Ritual Items in a Synagogue
•Most important is the Ark (cabinet) that holds the Torah
scrolls
•The Eternal Lamp (ner tamid) near the Ark
•Menorah
•A pedestal called a bimah where the Torah is read
•Magen David (Star of David)- shape on King David's shield;
relatively new
•Men and women have separate seating; sectioned off by a
wall or curtain

24. Role of a Rabbi
•Not the same as a priest
•A teacher who is educated in Jewish law and tradition
•Makes decisions of religious law
•A document called a semikhah gives the authority to make
decisions as a rabbi
•Spiritual leader of the Jewish community
•However, any educated Jew can lead a service, not just a
rabbi

25. Religious Beliefs
•Oldest of the great monotheistic faiths
•Believe there is one God and all people are equal
•Pray 3 times a day- morning, noon and night
•Accept all religions; anyone is welcome
•Can't eat pork or shell-fish and no meat and dairy at the
same meal

26. Children's Book
http://www.judaism.com/display.asp?etn=EHIHI

27. References
Ashrams:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru#Guru_in_Hinduism

http://www.gandhiashram.org.in/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashram

http://www.sivananda.org/
Synagogue:
http://www.jewfaq.org/shul.htm
http://pow.reonline.org.uk/judaism_1.htm
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Facts+About+Israel/Spotlight+on+
Israel/About+the+Jewish+Religion.htm

28. References
Hindu Temples:
http://hinduism.about.com/od/temples/p/hindutemple101.htm

http://hinduism.about.com/od/temples/a/historyoftemple.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_temple

http://www.templenet.com/Articles/hintemp.html

29. References
Shintoism:

http://spirithouses-shrines.ucdavis.edu/content/lessons/readings/shinto.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2056.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2059.html

http://www.nihonsun.com/2008/11/14/temple-or-shrine-whats-the-difference/

http://www.shambhalamountain.org/programs/view/758

http://www.japanesewanderer.com/travel-interests/sights/5-most-sacred-shinto-shrines-in-japan/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ise_Grand_Shrine