he Hindu American Religious institute welcomed 35 Etown students to their monthly Havan on April 14. The trip was led by professor of religious studies Dr. Jeffery Long as an experiential learning component of his Dharma Traditions and Indian Philosophy classes. Also known as a Vedic Fire Ceremony, the Havan included offerings to a Sacred Fire in the honor of Hindu deities. Overall, the goal of the ritual was to cultivate connections with the gods, gain spiritual merit and promote peace.
“It gave off a sense of peace and welcome from the moment we stepped into the doorway,” sophomore Etownian assistant copy editor Kaitlin Gibboney said. “You could immediately tell that this was a spiritual place.”
Students and community members gathered around the central hearth in the left wing of the temple for the ceremony. As the flames kindled, light illuminated the faces of the visitors and three priests chanted in Sanskrit—the language of the Vedas. Their chanting was extremely rhythmic, and displayed the poetic nature of Sanskrit. Periodically throughout the ceremony, the priests added clarified butter and an assortment of herbs to the fire. These implements served as sacrifices for the deities.
At the climax of the Havan, parishioners had the opportunity to make offerings to the Sacred Fire. They formed a line to the central hearth and held a blend of herbs in their hands. When it was their turn, each parishioner approached the fire and waited for the sacred words. Once the priests recited these words, the offering was made to the fire with their right hand. Etown students also made offerings to the Sacred Fire along with temple parishioners.
“As I approached, I was a bit nervous to be taking part in the ceremony, believing that I may accidentally do something wrong, like put in the offering at the wrong time,” Gibboney said. “The woman next to me reassured me with a smile, and we threw in our offerings and bowed our heads, hands clasped, perfectly.”
A traditional Arti ceremony followed the completion of the Havan. The congregations gathered around the central altar as a community member rang a bell to welcome the gods and chase away negative spirits. Another member of the temple brought a spoon filled with ashes from the Sacred Fire to each person. He smeared a small circle of ash onto the foreheads of those who wished to receive the mark. The gesture resembled the Roman Catholic tradition of Ash Wednesday. As he completed his task, the group sang a song called “Om Jaya Jagadeesha Hare.”
The English translation of the second verse reads: “He who suffers to Thee obtains the Fruit/ The afflictions of his mind disappear/ Peace and prosperity dawns on him/ All the body’s troubles disappear/ Salutations to Thee, The Lord of the Universe.”
After the Arti, members of the temple hosted a dinner consisting of traditional Indian food. The environment was warm and welcoming for all in attendance.
“It is my favorite experience so far as a religious studies major,” junior Stacey Catigano said. “This is the second visit for me and my family, and it continues to be a loving and educational experience.”
Overall, the trip provided an opportunity for students to experience different world views, and interact with diverse individuals. Course requirements such as this one open a door into the rich and vibrant nature of world communities.
“It seems both expected and unexpected that the Hari Temple is no different than any other place of worship,” senior Etownian assistant features editor Vanessa Andrew said. “It functions as a community center for those with similar interests, backgrounds, and has something for all ages. It’s simply a safe place, or a sacred space, for everyone to gather and be themselves without fear of exclusion.”
