DUTIES
OF A HINDU MINISTER IN CHAPLAINCY
A
Hindu Minister and/or Hindu Chaplain affiliated with an
institution in an official capacity where there are either
patients, residents, inmates, employees or students, is an
essential part of the Chaplaincy or the Spiritual and
Religious Care Department in the institution and should be
directly involved in the provision of appropriate, adequate
and timely spiritual and religious care for Hindus, those
who consider themselves Hindus and any other individuals
when deemed necessary.
The
Hindu Chaplain will be involved in a variety of religious,
spiritual, educational, administrative and social activities
within and outside the institution. The following is a list
of some of the duties of a Hindu Chaplain.
RELIGIOUS and SPIRITUAL
DUTIES:
· Griaha Shuddhi - (Home
Purification): Bless and sanctify the building and the room
to be occupied by patient, resident or inmate prior to
occupancy or shortly thereafter
· Rog Niwaaran - (Administering of
Medication): Invocation and supplication to the Presiding
Deity of Medicine (Lord Dhanwantari) to bestow curative
power unto the healing medication used to treat the disease
affecting the patient
· Indriya Aaropanaa - (Organ and
Tissue Transplant): Bless and sanctify any organ or tissue
used for transplant or implant prior to the surgical
operation
· Nidra Discha (Sleeping
Directions): Ensure bed and or sleeping facilities are
arranged in the appropriate configuration and in the proper
coordinates according to Hindu beliefs and practices
· Sandhya
(Meditation): Arrange
for the availability of the required items for individual
worship and meditation and obtaining the explicit approval
from the Administration of the institution for the type of
worship to be performed
· Guru Ashir Vachan - (Guru
Guidance): Offer professional guidance, supervision and
resource materials for meditation and worship to patient,
resident or inmate
· Shastri Shiksha - (Pastoral
Instructions): Provide instruction to the care giving team
on any religious restrictions and injunctions that can
directly impact spiritual development, emotional stability
and physical health of patient, resident or inmate
· Brahma Poojari - (Hindu
Priest):
Perform specific rituals, within the confines of the
institution, as may be necessary from time to time. The
following is a list of some of the rituals to be performed.
· Jaatakarma Sanskara - performed
on the day of the birth of a child and before the child is
fed for the first time
· Namakaran Sanskara
- done on the
eleventh day after birth, or shortly thereafter, for the
purpose of naming the child
· Navagraha Pooja
- performed to
enhance the healing process by evoking the curative
properties of the nine Grahas
· Moorti Pooja -
performed, upon
the request of the patient, to a specific deity invoking
divine intervention and blessing
· Antim Shwaas - performed during
the dying phase when the individual is taking the last
breath
GRIEF COUNSELING:
· Be readily available and
prepared to be present with patient, resident or inmate in
times of sorrow and grief
· Minister and counsel
patient,
resident or inmate and cater to their specific needs and
circumstances
· Provide counseling to
parents, guardian, family members, relatives, staff as well as others
in distress
IN-SERVICE TRAINING AND EDUCATION
· Participate in Continuing
Education classes in Hindu Rituals (Pooja), Rights of
Passage (Sanskaras), Hindu Astrology (Jyotish), Clinical
Pastoral Education (CPE), Pastoral Supervision and
Psychotherapy
· Attend additional training
sessions in Hindu and Multifaith pastoral care. (Institutions should recommend Multifaith continuing
education training be taken in educational institutions
approved and/or endorsed by a government recognized
multifaith organization such as the Ontario Multifaith
Council on Spiritual and Religious Care)
· Conduct meetings,
seminars,
workshops and in service training for staff and other
individuals within the institution, bringing the Hindu
perspective, to those who are involved with pastoral care,
medical treatment, education, rehabilitation and restorative
justice
· Participate in
Committees, Task
Groups and Advisory Boards within the institution, bringing
the Hindu perspective to those involved with pastoral care,
medical treatment, education, rehabilitation and restorative
justice
· Conduct public awareness
campaigns within and outside the institution for the
purposes of highlighting the importance of spiritual care in
healing and health
· Provide resource
materials, for
staff, students, residents and other individuals within the
institution pertaining to spiritual and religious needs of
Hindus in the institution
PASTORAL SUPERVISION AND RESEARCH
· Involved in the supervision of
students involved in Clinical Pastoral Education, including
routine meetings with students, giving instructions, dealing
with concerns which may arise, offering guidance and support.
· Prepare abstracts, manuscripts
and literature pertaining to spiritual and religious care
for Hindu patients for submission to relevant journals and
conferences and attend as well as present research results
at appropriate conferences and symposium at the local,
national and international levels
· Input and tabulate relevant data
on pastoral care, counseling and rights of passage extended
to patient, parents, guardian, family members, relatives and
staff within and outside the institution
|
