Visiting your local Hindu temple is an opportunity to begin to build understanding and friendships with the Hindu community. It is also an opportunity to mobilize others to love their Hindu neighbors. Below are some things to consider as you plan a visit to your local Hindu temple.
Research Hindu Temples in your area to set up a visit
Google “Hindu Temples” in your area.
Contact them through their website or Facebook page to set up a visit.
Hindu temples are very open to having visitors.
Each Hindu family has their own family or favorite Hindu deity. Therefore, Hindu temples in the US usually will have several Hindu deities in the temple, providing a place for everyone in the community to come and worship.
Each deity in the temple may have, at different times during the year, ceremonies that take place for that deity. You may visit during one of these special ceremonies.
You may drop by and visit or set up a visit ahead of time.
Weekends are when a majority of people go to the temple because of work schedules during the week.
Wear modest clothing
Both men and women should wear modest clothing.
Men should wear long pants and no tank tops.
Women should wear loose fitting pants or a long skirt. No tank tops.
When you set up the temple visit ask them what men and women should wear.
Show respect by following some temple etiquette
The temple is seen as the home of the gods.
Remove shoes and hats when entering the temple. There will be a designated place to put your shoes while in the temple. Both socks and bare feet are fine.
Behave calmly and be respectable at all times.
Inside each temple will be a community space as well as the temple proper, where each Hindu deity temple is found.
Only priests are allowed inside each deity’s individual temple.
It is not required to bring or give a gift when visiting the temple.
Though Hindus believe divinity is in everything and can be meditated on at any time and in any place, having a physical form to worship is believed to help involve the five senses in their worship.
Meditation and Congregational Chanting
Much of Hindu worship, including pujas and various other rituals, are not usually congregational in nature. (a puja is an offering of flowers or fruit to one or more of the Hindu deities for a variety of reasons)
There are no sermons or talks by the temple priests. Although a temple may offer teachings by various gurus at different times during the year.
Although Hindus often have a designated place to worship in their homes, many travel to the temple to worship.
Though community is important, spirituality in Hinduism is an individual experience.
Learn about Hinduism
Feel free to ask questions of the priest or temple board member who is giving you the tour.
This is a time to learn about Hinduism and get to know Hindus in your city.
It is a time for initiating friendships, not a time to argue.
Allow yourself to be affected by what you see from God’s perspective. (Acts 17:16, Matt 9:36, Eph. 6:12)
Visiting your local Hindu temple is an opportunity to begin to build understanding and friendships with the Hindu community.
Debrief and Prayer
Meet together as a group after your visit to debrief your experience and pray for those you met and for other Hindu unreached people groups. You can debrief your time with the following discussion points.
Discuss how you were affected by what you saw and heard today. Explain.
Fill out the Biblical worldview and Hindu worldview chart below based on what you learned today. Discuss the Hindu worldview as a group.
Discuss strategies for presenting the gospel to a Hindus.
Pray with new insight for Hindu unreached people groups. You can pray for Hindu unreached people group cards at the Joshua Project website and by watching a Prayercast video.
Follow up your visit
After your chat with the priest or temple board member, you may want to ask if you could visit again and bring others to observe prayers.
This meeting is an opportunity to begin to build understanding and friendships with the Hindu community.
It is also an opportunity to visit again to mobilize others to love their Hindu neighbors.
