Radhe;
thank you for such a wonderful welcome. After reading through a lot of the posts it looks like there is a great mix here. I am looking forward to learning lots.

We really do have a wonderful group here, I'm so very pleased.

Radhe;
it's a mark that goes in the middle of the forehead in between the eyes. when drawn on God it is an offering and drawn on us it is an outward sign of our connection with God. for Vaishnava devotees it is usually drawn as a vertical line (depending on the sect there are additions to this line) it is Vishnu's foot print on us.

Hey, that's neat. Sounds like the tilak almost corresponds with the Catholic Communion. As to the vertical line, I would imagine most Americans might have trouble understanding that, after all, we don't like to be "walked on"... But that's not what it means at all, I would imagine. Footprint = evidence that the unseen Deity was here. Right?

Then too, the Asatru (Aryans) say that the footprint is a sign for Freyr and Freya, if I'm not mistaken? And, with Njord as well. Surely, there's a an "ancestral" connection of somekind there... That would be interesting to dig up.

as for the candle. i like candles but it's not necessary. the lamp itself is supposed to be a ghee lamp but because of my current living circumstances i can't burn oil right now so there is a tea light in it (not quite vedic and probably not as good but i think God will understand :))

Just a note; on the interfaith and multifaith Boards, it's best to be specific as to which "God" your're referring to. Plain "God" is usually understood to be the Christian YHWH. Even the Jews around here refer to "Hashem", to distinguish themselves a bit. And while it may seem silly, the fact is that because Christians and Jews interpret the Old Testament so very differently, I personally don't see "Hashem" and YHWH as being the same Deity at all!.. And I don't even want to begin to guess which of the one of the myriad Hindu Deities you were referring to! :p

But yes, you're absolutely right, I'm quite sure that God understands you're situation and will happily overlook the lack of ghee.

Radhe;
anyway arati is sometimes translated as waving lights. i do it at the end of puja. the light is waved clockwise around the deity, bells are rung, and hymns sung. it is another form of worship and through the offering the light becomes infused with blessings. we will then touch the just above the flame then the bring our hands to the head. it's a way of internalizing the power.

That is just fascinating and cool. :D
I believe I saw that in the movie; "Baraka". Now I know why.

[COLOR=black]Radhe;
Is it safe to assume from you sig that you are a Zen practitioner?

Yes, yes I am. In the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh.

Gassho!



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Rosie-Toes wrote:

My altar is a simple little wooden trunk. I keep what I need inside it (books, candles, herbs, incense, etc). this way, it can be moved easily (I travel a lot).

Nothing at all wrong with simplicity!... Some people keep portable altars that are so small that they can be fit into a large pocket. In fact, you can look them up on Ebay, under "pocket shrine" or "portable shrine". :)

May I be nosy and ask; why do you travel a lot?

Genocon wrote:

I know Wikipedia gets a bum rap sometimes, but it's article on the theoretical proto-Indo-European religion is pretty interesting, especially all the linguistic connections between the names of the various "father" deities throughout Europe (Zeus, Jupiter, Tyr) to Vedic deities (dyaus pitar, or "sky father,"very similar to the Latin deus pater). There's also someone trying to construct such a religion.

Everything has its place in the universe. Even Wikipedia. :)
I often use it as a starting point, then, it will often point me to more reliable resources.