श्री गणेश मंदिर - शिक्षा वाणी – 21st July 2019
Serene Sunday Reflections
ENERGY CREATED
IN TEMPLES
KEYWORDS :: Temple,
Bimba, Energy, Creation, Preservation, Distribution, Circumambulation
Last week we reflected on the
Agama Shastra - the science of temple design, and now let us discuss the Energy
Created in Temples. Devotees visit Temples in order to revitalize themselves
with the positive Energy in Temple. Along with the Creation of such energy,
Preservation and Distribution are equally important. Thus, the structure and
Maintenance of the Temple and Procedures followed in the Temple are of great
relevance. Energy doesn’t depend on the facility and size of the Temple but is
based on the ambience and vibrations created by the devotees. Some of the
factors of energy creation are:
1. Place
(Location), Direction and Structure (Agama) of the Temple.
2. Maintenance
of Cleanliness like - Pujari’s Sapta Sudhi (7 cleanliness procedures for the
Priest), Devotees’ Sareera Sudhi (Cleanliness of the Body), etc.
3. It
is always said outer pradakshina (circumambulation) is three times better than
the inner pradakshina. Many texts prescribe certain number of pradakshina based
on God. Example: ekam vinayake kuriyal (one circumambulation for Ganapathi).
For pradakshina the rule is :: padal padanugatham gache (walk slow with one
foot after the other) / karau chalana vivarjithau (without moving hands –
better to be in NAMASTE mode/fold hands keeping close to chest) / vachasthuthi
hrudi dhyanam (slow lip movement with prayers in full devotion) / evam kuriyal
pradakshinam (this is the rule for the circumambulation).
4. The
entry into Sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha) where Bimba (Deity/idol) is
placed is generally only for the Pujari. One could stand on the pathway on both
sides and look ahead to see the Bimba to be in Dhyana (silence).
5. Energy
is created inside the Sanctum Sanctorum through all the rituals of chanting of
mantras (hymns) with mudras (specific hand posters), offering of flowers,
sanctified water, flames of light (deepam), incense (dhoopam) etc. This energy
is created and conserved around the special material used for the Bimba and
through the rituals.
6. All
the decorations and eye catching views in the temples including colorful
flowers, pleasing music like the chanting and vadya (instrumental music)
including the conch, tasty prasada, sandalwood paste / vibhoothi / Kumkum that
are applied especially at the ajna chakra (between the eyebrow and nose joint)
etc., are for the wholistic panchendriya (all sensory organs) satisfaction to
energize the devotee.
Apart from serving as the place
for devotion, temples should also serve as the place for socialization and as a
center for art, culture & heritage.
Temples belong to the devotees and as more number of devotees participate in
learning and teaching activities in the temple, the upliftment of the customs
and rituals (achara and anushtana) will get enriched and spread to the next
generation.
This reflection that we had on
Energy Created in Temples will lead us to wonder how these systems are
transferred through generations over thousands of years; so we will reflect
upon the Energy in Mantras next week.
----- Next Week 28th July 2019 - Energy in Hymns/ Mantras ------
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