my ode to Hinduism

Why I love Hinduism:

I suppose in compiling this list I am trying to speak to myself why I am drawn to the intricate family of gods.

1. Each image of god is not one of perfection. It is the face of a monkey, a smiling elephant, a serene wife, a wrathful woman with skulls around her waist, a man meditating with cobras curled around his biceps, or a chubby little boy surrounded by cows.
Each one of these images speaks to me of how the divine comes through all of us. This makes me feel empowered to listen to my own divine intuition and strive to be a more perfect image of myself.

2. I love the balance within the religion of good and evil, rest and work, sew and reep.
Vishnu is the preserver; the sustainer. Shiva, the destroyer. Kali is also the destroyer, but in the feminine image. There is Yuma, the god of death, and Brahma the creator.
In Hinduism I feel I am experiencing all qualities of life through the personification of a certain deity. Hindu deities lived on earth and their qualities are those that inspire the human experience.

3. The colors of the saris, the flowers, the prasad of an orange, a ripe pear or a handful of nuts.

4. Bhakti, or the act of devotion. My favorite place to be is cross legged in front of Hanuman in the temple room scented by flowers and inscences. I am singing along with the Hanuman Chalisas. There is the sound of the drums, the harmonium and finger symbols being played.
It is a quiet Saturday night and myself, my partner and a family of East Indians gather for aarti. There are four little girls sitting on round pillows singing prayers with their hands pressed together over their faces. After we are blessed with a flame of fire, the Puja offers a bit of sweet prasad (dried cranberries) into our hands.

5. The all night festivals. After my first Akandanama last year of all night chanting around a shrine, (men for 1/2 hour, women for 1/2) rich brownies were placed in our palms at daybreak and we ate them in silence and renewal while we watched the sunrise.

6. There is always something to help with at the Ashram. Chopping carrots, serving lunch or drying dishes are a great way to give back in return for all the temple has given me.

7. I've always loved animals and had a close connection with them. Many deities are in the form of animals, and I like that we honor the divine qualities that animals possess.