190721 - ENERGY CREATED IN TEMPLES

Serene Sunday Reflections, 21st July 2019 (By Dr. T.P.Sasikumar) 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: Place (Location), Direction and Structure (Agama) of the Temple. Maintenance of Cleanliness like - Pujari’s Sapta Sudhi (7 cleanliness procedures for the Priest), Devotees’ Sareera Sudhi (Cleanliness of the Body), etc. 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). 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).  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. 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 ------ More from DrTPS at (www.drtps-shiksha.in https://rare-news-collection.blogspot.com/)  PAST EDITIONS 05MAY19 - HINDU’s SANATHANA DHARMA 12MAY19 - Sanathana Dharma in Vedic Views 19MAY19 - Vedic ways of PURUSHARTHA 26MAY19 - PURUSHARTHA The Blue Print of Practical Life 02JUN19 - Moksha 09JUN19 - MOKSHA & SWARGAM : POORTHA & ISHTA 16JUN19 - PARAM DHAANAM – Best Offering 23JUN19 - RITUALS 30JUN19 - TEMPLE RITUALS 07JUL19 - TEMPLES AND ITS POWER 14JUL19 - AGAMA SHASTRA