🏔 Northern temples
Temples in northern India usually have a shikhara with a curved, beehive-like shape, narrowing as it climbs. The whole building is often raised on a platform.
Hinduism: Worship and Practice » The Mandir and Other Places of Hindu Worship
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
Edexcel spec: Paper 2 Hinduism (4RS1/2C), 3.1
- How Hindu places of worship have developed and how their designs differ
- The main features of a mandir, inside and out
- Where else Hindus worship: the home, outdoors, roadside shrines and the heart
- Why places of worship matter to Hindus today
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Unlock This CourseThe nature and history of Hindu places of worship
A Hindu place of worship is a place where people meet the divine. The most common word for a temple is mandir. Hindu worship has never needed one single kind of building, so places of worship range from a stone under a tree to a huge temple with hundreds of carvings.
The earliest worship was often in the open air, beside rivers, trees and hills, or around a sacred fire. Over many centuries, Hindus began to build shrines and then great temples of stone and brick, as a home for the deity and a place for the community to gather. Today there are mandirs all over India and in many other countries.
Key terms:
- Mandir (recap from Hindu Family Life and the Community): a Hindu temple.
- Murti (recap from Hindu Nurture, the Vedas and the Four Yogas): a sacred image of a deity, which has been consecrated (made holy in a special ceremony by priests). Hindus believe the deity is present in it for worship.
- Garbagriha: the "womb-house", the small inner room of a mandir that holds the main murti.
- Shikhara: the tower built above the garbagriha. It rises like a mountain towards the heavens.
- Vehicle of the deity: the animal that carries a god, shown as a statue or image facing the shrine.
- Shrine: a special place set aside for the worship of a deity, large or small.
Different designs of mandir
🏯 Southern temples
Temples in southern India often have a shorter tower over the shrine and very tall gateway towers, called gopurams, at the entrance, covered in carved figures. The Meenakshi Temple in Madurai is a famous example.
Not all mandirs are grand. Many are simple: a single room with one murti. Hindus in the UK have also built mandirs in two ways:
- Purpose-built. The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London, opened in 1995. Its stone was carved in India and put together in Britain, and it has towers and carved pillars like a traditional temple.
- Converted. Many UK communities began by turning an existing building, such as a house, hall or former church, into a mandir. Bhaktivedanta Manor near Watford, a manor house given to ISKCON, is an example.
Features of a mandir
🏛 Outside
The shikhara is the most striking external feature. The outside walls are often covered in carvings of deities, people and animals. Worshippers usually take off their shoes before going in.
🛐 The garbagriha
This small, quiet, dim inner room is the heart of the mandir. It holds the main murti. The shikhara stands directly above it, so the most sacred spot is also the highest point.
Murtis. A mandir may have one shrine or several, each with its own murti. Priests consecrate a murti, and Hindus believe the deity is then present in it. They do not worship the stone or metal itself. The murti is a form through which they can approach God, and they treat it with great respect.
The vehicle of the deity. Many deities are linked with an animal. In a Shiva mandir, a statue of Shiva's bull, Nandi, sits facing the shrine as if waiting patiently. Vishnu's vehicle is the eagle Garuda. Facing the shrine shows devotion and readiness to serve.
Most mandirs also have a large hall where worshippers gather, sing and listen to teaching. The exact worship that takes place is explained in the next lesson.
Worship in different places
🏠 In the mandir
The mandir is the community's place of worship. People go to see the deity, to join in festivals and to meet others. Many visit weekly or on special days, but it is not compulsory.
🙏 In the home
Most daily worship happens here. Many families keep a home shrine: a shelf, cupboard or corner with murtis or pictures of the family's deities, often with a lamp and incense. Family members pray there each day.
🌳 Outside
Rivers, trees and hills can be holy. Hindus honour the Ganges as a goddess, and many care for the sacred tulsi plant, which is linked with Vishnu. Hills such as Govardhan are special because of the stories attached to them.
🛣 At shrines
Small roadside and village shrines may hold just a stone or a small murti. Passers-by stop for a moment to offer a flower or a prayer.
The space of the heart. The Upanishads teach that the Atman, the soul, is within each person. So many Hindus say worship can take place in the "space of the heart", through inner prayer and meditation, wherever they are. For them, this is the most important place of all, and it needs no building.
Why places of worship matter today
- Closeness to God. A consecrated mandir is a place where Hindus feel the deity is near.
- Community. Mandirs host festivals such as Diwali and Navaratri, weddings and meals, so people meet and support each other.
- Passing on the faith. Many UK mandirs run classes in scripture, music, dance and languages such as Hindi, Gujarati or Sanskrit, helping children learn about their religion.
- Service. Many mandirs give food and run charity work for the wider community.
Hindus do not all agree about how much they need a mandir. Some visit often. Others, who feel God is found in the heart, worship mainly at home.
Common mistakes
- Saying Hindus worship statues. Hindus believe the deity is present in the consecrated murti, so it is a way to reach God.
- Mixing up the shikhara (the tower over the shrine) and the gopuram (a gateway tower, in southern temples).
- Saying Hindus must go to the mandir. Much worship happens at home.
Exam-style question
(a) Outline two features of a Hindu mandir. [4 marks]
(b) Explain why places of worship are important for Hindus today. [6 marks]
(c) "All Hindu places of worship should be the same." Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include: reference to teachings; other (divergent) points of view, either within the religion or from other religions; your opinion or point of view using reasoned arguments. [10 marks]
Model answer
(a) One feature is the shikhara (1), the tower above the shrine that rises like a mountain towards the heavens (1). Another is the garbagriha (1), the small inner room that holds the main murti of the deity (1).
(b) Places of worship are important because a mandir is where Hindus believe the deity is present in the consecrated murti (1), so they can feel close to God (1). Mandirs bring the community together for festivals such as Diwali, and for weddings and shared meals (1). Many UK mandirs teach children scripture, music and languages (1), which keeps traditions alive for the next generation (1). Mandirs also give food and help to the wider community (1).
(c) Plan. For: the same basic features, such as a shrine with a murti, show a shared faith and give Hindus a familiar space wherever they are. Against: Hindu worship has always been varied. Temples in the north and south differ, a tiny village shrine and a huge mandir both serve their communities, and the home shrine and the heart are also holy places. The Upanishads teach that God is within, so no building is essential. Some Hindus prefer a simple home shrine, while others value a grand mandir. Conclusion: the features that matter, such as the murti, may be shared, but the buildings need not be the same, because Hindus worship in many different places.
Exam tip
In a 10-mark "Discuss" question, include a different point of view. Here that could be a Hindu who worships mainly at home, or someone who prefers a grand mandir.