The name of the selected site is “Arsha Vidya Gurukulam,” and the type of service that one observed was a meditation session. The process of meditation can be defined as being in clear awareness of the present moment (Flood, 2020). By achieving such a state, practitioners can pursue various goals. In Hinduism, initially, the purpose of meditation was to achieve the unity of the soul of the practitioner with the Paramatma or Brahman (Flood, 2020). This state is called Moksha in Hinduism, for being in meditation, Hindu treatises prescribe certain postures.
Inside the building, there were two rooms connected to each other, the second room was smaller, and the meditation took place there. The territory was lit with lanterns; in a small room, there was a statue, and in a large one, there were various statuettes, lanterns, and candles (Arsha Vidya Pitham, 2023). The service was attended by one person, a middle-aged Indian male who was the only one present on the video. He was dressed in a white clerical robe and was in the lotus position in a small room in front of the statue.
The service lasted approximately 30 minutes, and in the first 10 minutes, the man sat on the lotus and said a prayer. In addition, one made certain movements with one’s hands, preliminary pouring a certain substance near the statue. As already indicated, there were no other people. Further, the “order of events” as the service progressed was formulated by the fact that the man stood up and said a prayer by ringing the bell and walking around the room. After that, one set fire to a scented stick and smoked around the most significant places in the room, saying a prayer. Furthermore, the man again took the lotus position and continued to say the prayer. The “feel” of the service can be described as scripted, as everything seemed to be planned and worked out in advance. Moreover, the sequence of actions was made taking into account time periods.
Despite the fact that the language was not English, one can trace certain messages that were conveyed due to the timbre and manner of delivery. It felt like praising the one to whom the prayer was directed and asking for mercy and help. Such messages were also conveyed non-verbally, with the help of objects in the room, namely various statues, and decorations. Thus, the service reflected the teachings and doctrine of the religion, namely praise, humility, and asking for mercy. With the help of rituals, namely the burning of candles and scented sticks, the above messages were transmitted. The action of the service corresponded to my expectations from what was read in the class, as similar rituals were indicated. The service’s influence on the one who participated in it is formulated by strengthening the sense of faith and ideas that this religion conveys, and the evidence is the rituals and prayers performed.
There was no sociological communication at the service since no one was seen present. However, this service was broadcast on the YouTube platform, and in the chat, those present at the broadcast had the opportunity to exchange short messages and wishes. I have no previous experience with similar services, so I cannot compare this. Some details from the textbook and service were present, such as the use of incense sticks to spread fragrance. However, the process of lighting a candle was absent in the textbook, but it was present at the service.
References
Arsha Vidya Pitham. (2023). Live from Arsha Vidya Gurukulam. [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Flood, G. (2020). The Oxford History of Hinduism: Hindu practice. Oxford University Press.