Stacey and I went to the Hindu temple in Yonkers, NY and we got an interview with the Clergy.
I asked what is your name?
-Sudhil Patel
I asked how long was he a clergy?
-he said about 10 years for the temple in Yonkers?
I asked are do all Hindu temple look like the one we seen?
-he said the one we were in was nothing compared to Temples they have all over. They are much bigger and more beautiful in shape and in color.
I asked what the name outside meant?
-He told me not only is Hinduism but different types of beliefs of Hinduism and the temple that we visited the temple was called Shri Swaminharayan Mandir.
I asked what the difference was?
-He said there is not much of a difference in the believe it is just that the people of the temple must follow the rules and worship the gods of Shikshapatri.
I who are your gods?
- they worship two spiritual gods that sit on the stage who they feed and treat like humans. the priest must bath them and feed them and change there clothes, even brush there teeth. they are considered saints, guru’s and they are never associated with money or women. The names of both gods are Lord Sami Nariyan and Bjatjumahraj which were the spirit gods that sat on the stage.
-The other gods that are praised are Bhagatju Manharaj, Shashtriji Manharaj, Xogiji Manaraj, and the most important Pramukhswami Maharaj because he is still alive. He is 87 years old and he was there at the temple in Yonkers some months ago. We were told that he stayed in America for 120 days this year.
I asked why do we have to take off our shoes?
-He said because the temple is considered Holy ground and a place of worship, also respect for the gods.
I asked him about the caste system.
-He got very upset with me and got a little loud and told me that they don't believe in the caste system and they all are equal. No one is better then anyone else or born into this world a certain level and that they don't follow the caste system.
I asked How do you feel about Gandhi?
-He said he has Muslim friends and they get along. He doesn't disrciminate against Muslims and he respects them. He didn't say anything about Gandhi when I asked this question. I was scared already because he just yelled at me for mentioning the caste system.
I asked him when where there worshiping days?
-Every Sunday at 4:30 pm they have a religious ritual which is called the Sunday congregation where they worship the swami and give thanks and ask for protection but in order to do so you must have no karma and do what the god ask to be done as a Hindu worshiper. but every day at 7:30 am and 4:30 am they worship the saints,deities,and gods. They can worship when ever they feel really. A lot of the worshiping is done in the temple but mostly at home.
-they practice Puja which is a religious ceremony where they feed the gods and give flowers and worship. usually some Pujas are big ceremony's that last 2 hrs with worship,chants, food, and dancing.
the last question I asked was why were the women siting in the back during worship while the men sat in the front?
-He told me because the men were not allowed to worship with the men. they had to be separate.
This interview was very interesting and I learned a little more about Hinduism. I Think this was a great experience for me because I knew so little about religion and by doing this project it really made me realize the true meaning of people are different.
I asked what is your name?
-Sudhil Patel
I asked how long was he a clergy?
-he said about 10 years for the temple in Yonkers?
I asked are do all Hindu temple look like the one we seen?
-he said the one we were in was nothing compared to Temples they have all over. They are much bigger and more beautiful in shape and in color.
I asked what the name outside meant?
-He told me not only is Hinduism but different types of beliefs of Hinduism and the temple that we visited the temple was called Shri Swaminharayan Mandir.
I asked what the difference was?
-He said there is not much of a difference in the believe it is just that the people of the temple must follow the rules and worship the gods of Shikshapatri.
I who are your gods?
- they worship two spiritual gods that sit on the stage who they feed and treat like humans. the priest must bath them and feed them and change there clothes, even brush there teeth. they are considered saints, guru’s and they are never associated with money or women. The names of both gods are Lord Sami Nariyan and Bjatjumahraj which were the spirit gods that sat on the stage.
-The other gods that are praised are Bhagatju Manharaj, Shashtriji Manharaj, Xogiji Manaraj, and the most important Pramukhswami Maharaj because he is still alive. He is 87 years old and he was there at the temple in Yonkers some months ago. We were told that he stayed in America for 120 days this year.
I asked why do we have to take off our shoes?
-He said because the temple is considered Holy ground and a place of worship, also respect for the gods.
I asked him about the caste system.
-He got very upset with me and got a little loud and told me that they don't believe in the caste system and they all are equal. No one is better then anyone else or born into this world a certain level and that they don't follow the caste system.
I asked How do you feel about Gandhi?
-He said he has Muslim friends and they get along. He doesn't disrciminate against Muslims and he respects them. He didn't say anything about Gandhi when I asked this question. I was scared already because he just yelled at me for mentioning the caste system.
I asked him when where there worshiping days?
-Every Sunday at 4:30 pm they have a religious ritual which is called the Sunday congregation where they worship the swami and give thanks and ask for protection but in order to do so you must have no karma and do what the god ask to be done as a Hindu worshiper. but every day at 7:30 am and 4:30 am they worship the saints,deities,and gods. They can worship when ever they feel really. A lot of the worshiping is done in the temple but mostly at home.
-they practice Puja which is a religious ceremony where they feed the gods and give flowers and worship. usually some Pujas are big ceremony's that last 2 hrs with worship,chants, food, and dancing.
the last question I asked was why were the women siting in the back during worship while the men sat in the front?
-He told me because the men were not allowed to worship with the men. they had to be separate.
This interview was very interesting and I learned a little more about Hinduism. I Think this was a great experience for me because I knew so little about religion and by doing this project it really made me realize the true meaning of people are different.
1 comment:
Sudhi Patel's response to the caste system is not an unusual one. First, most American Hindus don't believe in it at all. Second, even in India there's been a move away from the smaller number of castes to lots of subcastes in some cases or no caste in others. But it would have been interesting to ask him how he understands such a change.
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