Central to Hindu worship is the image, or icon, which can be worshipped either at home or in the temple.

Topics I shall cover include the following:

• Worshipping at Home
  • Components of Hindu Worship
  • The prayers
  • The arrangement of an altar
  • The rituals
  • Pray, Eat, and Pray! Mealtime Worship
  • Following mealtime procedures
  • A night to fast: Ekadashi
  • Praying Morning, Noon, and Night
  • A simple morning prayer
  • Sandhya vandanam: Worship for orthodox Hindus
  • Ready to call it a day? Bedtime prayers
  • Formally Worshipping a Deity
  • Prayers to Ganapati, guru, and the family godhead
  • Shuddhi (cleansing)
  • Prayer of invocation to Goddess Lakshmi
  • The 16 upacharas
• Worshipping at Temples
  • Temple Architecture
  • The overall structure
  • Key areas and structures
  • Principal differences in northern and southern traditions
  • The rituals from groundbreaking to sanctification
  • Temple Ceremonies
  • Hindu temple protocol
  • Daily worship
  • Chanting the names of God
  • Special days for individual deities