Hinduism Temple Visit Personal Experience Reflection

Hinduism is a religion of religions; it is one of the first as we know it. It isn't just a religion however, it is a way of life. A culture that India has been known for having. I have discovered that Hinduism is so much more than a religion or a culture. As a matter of fact it is a way of being; a way of life. Hinduism has been a journey for me and it all came alive through the need to write this paper. When I first met up with my host, Devi, I noticed her garments right away. She had her hair down with silver earrings a shirt that looked like Indian garb. It was White with golden inlay. It was beautiful! She wore beige leggings and dark flats. Devi had bracelets on both of her wrists too. On her left wrist, there was a thick bracelet, and the right wrist had multiple thin bangles. All together, Devi was very shiny. This was quite a sight because I usually see her in casual clothes. We then started our journey to Livermore. On the ride there, Devi explained to me that she was taking me to this particular temple because the structure was extremely similar to the structures in India. As we arrived at the temple, Devi mentioned that she had forgotten to tell me that shoes were not allowed in the temple. I then mentioned that I had read that this was because of shoes being thought of as unclean. Devi confirmed that I was correct and proceeded to explain how one is supposed to prepare for temple. Devi explained that to be considered clean to enter the temple, her family would have to remove their shoes and wash their legs at least up to their knees. Their hair would need to be wet, be worn down, and freshly cleaned. Devi then said to finish the process, they would have to put on clothes that had not been touched by human hands, at least since it had been washed and purified of what was unclean. As we entered the temple, it was very loud. This was surprising to me because the places of worship I have experienced, often focus on