190802 - Making of Sri Ganesh Mandir - I do HOPE

Message from DrTPS for Sri Ganesh Mandir – Groundbreaking

Planning and Making a temple with all the rituals in it is part of the process of self-learning and realizing the importance of Hinduism to ourselves, friends and relatives at large to our community apart from sharing the experience with the coming generations who are to take it forward. Temple and the activities around it – like puja, festivals, religious and spiritual classes, and discussions, art, culture, etc are important for all around us in a culturally shifted community like American Indians as that is the way to receive, experience, learn and transfer the age-old tradition of sanathana dharma. Not compromising on the spiritual values and the significance we are here to follow ritual experiences from the ground-breaking to the long-anticipated follow-up and maintenance of the temple for the next many generations to come. When one has to take pride, let this American community think of this Sri Ganesh Mandir as not just a temple but tradition that is brought from native to this new world of each of the Hindu-Indians and followers to follow the heritage and use it in this modern life to be in bliss. I hope to see the Traditional Steps are followed in the making of the Temple, as this will be lessons for the community and all the generations to come.

Ground Breaking of a HINDU Temple

-AMERICANISED

– Bhumi Puja Vidhi (Prescription)

www.drtps-shiksha.in

[First part of this article is made on 28^th July 2019 on Srikanth’s request and posted to Vijaygopal for the 3^rd August 2019 Groundbreaking as tri-leaf distribution for the proposed Sri Ganesh Mandir. Guessing - that the Gharbhakudi Puja as Sasthra Prescription is not being done as the NE corner for the House / Shed Bhumi Puja is done and not at the Brahmasthana. Thought of writing this edited/added version on this day 2^nd August 2019, as an answer to those who were asking me the details of Groundbreaking. It could be modified for the American way.]

   Hinduism has approximately 1.1 billion adherents worldwide (15–16% of world's population). Nepal (81.3%) and India(79.8%) are countries with Hindus being the majority of their respective populations.  There are an estimated over  60 to 70 million Hindus who lived outside India. In USA there are around 2,300,000 (2017) Hindus, that is  
0.7% of the U.S. population.

Hinduism is by BIRTH and not adapted. Many Hindus are callow and are yet to be schooled in the noble religion they had been born into. Hinduism is existing in this world for past millions of years and is still relevant because of its Values and Virtues, called SANATHANA DHARMA (meaning Chirapurathana – Oldest of the oldest; and Most Modern – Nithya Noothana). Hindus live with the concept of Vasudhaiva kutumbakam, "The whole world is one family" with The Virtue of Nonviolence, The Wisdom of Tolerance, and Effective Forms of Worship.

HINDU Gods are omnipresent as is in our Mind which can reach-out anywhere, it is symbolic to place God in a Room, in a Temple in shape as God is indescribable. But to permeate the concept and religious practices to the Generations from the past, temples installed.

Hindu temples in every corner of the world offer Hindus an achievable way to experience God's sacred presence. Divinity's presence uplifts those attending the temple, inspiring them to bring forth and perpetuate traditional Hindu culture in the form of sacred music, art and dance. As such, the temple becomes the hub of religious life in the surrounding Hindu community and thus is undeniably relevant to modern life.

Hinduism has tools, maps and guidelines for reaching every space of human goals. Through Purusharthas (4-fold stages in life achievements) explained in steps of Kama (desire), attaining Artha (wealth) through Dharma (Values) to attain Moksha (Happiness) is lessons from Temples.

First and MOST Popular event when  - HINDUISM Discussed in the United States was Swami Vivekananda's address to the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. He spent two years in the United States, and lectured in several cities including Detroit, Boston, and New York. 

  Hindu temples come in many styles, are situated in diverse locations, deploy different construction methods and are adapted to different deities and regional beliefs, yet almost all of them share certain core ideas, symbolism and themes.

HINDU Temples in AMERICA was started by the Vedanta Society by building first informal temple in United States (1906). Traditional Temple (Mandir) in the United States is Shiva Murugan Temple, Concord, CA (1957) known as Palanisamy Temple. Today there are around 500 Hindu Temples across the United States.

     Hinduism is one such religion which has a ritual for almost every occasion in a person's life. Be it the birth of a child, marriage or buying a new house, there are certain rituals which have to be followed without fail. One of the basic rituals which is followed in almost all the Hindu occasions is the Havan or Homa.

HAVAN is an age-old Hindu ritual in which offerings of ghee, googol, sugar and other saamaagri are offered into the sacred fire to the accompaniment of Sanskrit mantras. Fire is the central element of this "sacrifice ritual" because the fire destroys the offering (HAVIS). Fire has been regarded as The Prime God - SUN. Hence, the offerings made to the sacred fire is said to purify the surroundings as well as the individuals. The sacred fire is supposed to be the link between human consciousness and the cosmic consciousness. A Havan is performed with the aim to achieve material as well as spiritual success.

     Purpose of Havan According to the scientific theory, matter can neither be created nor destroyed. It can be only transformed from one form to another. Therefore, whatever is offered to the fire in a Havan is transformed from a material form to non-material form and is said to directly reach the divine spirits.

The process of BHOOTHA-SUDDHI (purification) of the TATWAS (material elements) is what is attained through HAVAN, thereby transforming one’s thoughts and behavior (Anger, Rash, irrational thinking etc.) to Calm, Tranquil and place the individual as a Citizen in the society in BLISS, which offers a brighter DAILY LIFE.

  As part of the BHOOMI POOJA (Ground-Breaking) major POOJA is for the brahmasthana /Garbhagraha (the main shrine) where the seat of the presiding Deity will be placed. At the base of the foundation of the brahmasthana, located at the station of Brahma on the vastu-purusha-mandala, a ritual called the garbhadhana. The ritual is to invite the soul of the temple to enter within the building to construct. During this ritual, a golden box is placed in the earth as part of the ground-breaking ceremony. The box is ritualistically filled with the presence of the corresponding God/Goddesses planned to be installed as the main Deity. At times the NAVARATNA (diamond, emerald, ruby, pearl, yellow sapphire, blue sapphire, red coral, cats-eye and jade) too posted within as symbolically it is representing the energy of God in which the universe rests in space. The nine jewels invoke the astrological influence of the nine planets. A gold lid with the seven continents of the earth engraved on it is placed on top of the box following which the agnihotra, or sanctification ceremony. During the agni-hotra, the priest offers clarified butter, the symbol of religious principles, into the fire, which represents the mouth of the Cosmic Being. Along with the offering of clarified butter five types of grains-rice, wheat, barley, rye, and dhal, are also offered with the chanting of mantras. The set of priests includes from Rig-Yajur-Sama Veda Traditions as they have the role of direction-Performance-explanation.

   Special on this 2019 August 3^rd Sri Ganesh Mandir Groundbreaking - arrangements are made for - 

·       Public to Support and Energize the Main Pooja through Maha Ganapathi Homa Yajna.

·       Family Havan that will contribute into the Main Havan by performing for a Ghati (Nazhika) which is 24 minutes.

·       Any material activity requires funding and as part of the remembrance of the contributors we have the BRICK OFFERING that will be part of the temple wall to mark a thanksgiving for their contribution.

·       Today is the day for you to assure yourself as part of this great event as volunteers to spark in making the great dream realizes with your prayers and contribution.

For and behalf of

Sri Ganesh Mandir, HSSI, Columbus, Indiana, USA

-----------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------

These steps explained below are to make a house / shed and then make the temple within the building as per the tradition.

-

STHAPATHI / Yajaman for the PROGRAM is to be the person to guide the whole process -

VASTHU PUJA –

Items required -

1.    coconuts [with husk if possible] bananas

2.    Seasonal Fruits 5 kinds

3.    betel leaves

4.    betel nuts (whole)

5.    Yellow mustard seeds Kumkum

6.    flowers

7.    camphor

8.    rice [white]

9.    matches or lighter

10.                     incense sticks

11.                     Sweet (mitai) or halwa Yoghurt

12.                     Black gram (boiled)

13.                     mango leaves - unblemished (washed) 5 paper towels (or hand towels) 1 roll Banana leaves 1

14.                     3 liters of water (if tap not available)

15.                     large mat to sit on

16.                     a few large trays and large bowls bag for rubbish

A poojari/priest and three associates from vedic tradition, viz., rig, yajur, sama to be part of the rituals.

BHUMI PUJA / Groundbreaking

   Request forgiveness of mother earth as we are troubling the nature and breaking the harmony

   Request forgiveness for disturbing the BHOOTHA (many creatures whose home we are disturbing.

   requesting spirits to leave the site and allow us to build the house and live in peace.

VASTU SHANTI

— once the construction is done, on moving in to use the house, this can be done.

Pratama-Ishtika / Corner Stone Laying

The first stone for the Temple structure.

It could be done for both the building and also the temple brahmasthana / Sikhara/Gopuram/Kumbham/kalasam/dome/mandapam.

If the side wall inside the house as a Brahmasthana is made - The towers (vimanas) that rise over the main place to install God, is to be taken as the temple

AS and when the temple is being made inside / on mainland – for the Garbhakudi / Brahmasthana – do – SHILA KARMA (NYASA)as is the Pratama-Ishtika Karma is done

 — laying of the foundation stones. Once excavated the land to perform this ceremony.

- sanctify 5 bricks and place them in the corners and center of the foundation.

- lay five metals (pancha-loha) and also the nava-ratna.

- Do a slab on this and construct on this

 

Garbhanyasam

A golden box containing avahana manthra written + valuable gems (Navaratna) + sanctified herbs and grains - place underneath the Vigraha before installation; symbolic Garbhadharana (birth of the spiritual energy – embyon – consumed from the nature)

 

Dwaara Staapana / DOOR Installation

Keeping the Door – is the pulling of the Human Leg as the birth is in Process. Rajagopuram (royal gateway) can be the main entry / specific to the mandapam / gharbhakudi.

Nayanonmilanam is for opening the eyes of new idols

Panchagavya-Jala-Dhana-Dhanya-Athi-Vasam  

All the deities to be installed are to be covered in all these from the time it is brought in and till it is installed to be placed in sleeping position

Panchagavyam

Preferably running water

gems, paddy

INSTALATION - place at designated location

Homas (doing different havan as per Agama Sastra) and Poornahuti (final pouring to the agni) and place the vigraha.

 

ASHTABANDHANAM

Ashta-Bandhanam means tying or fixing on all the 8 sides - an icon to its pedestal (peetham) with a clay-like paste made of 8 specific herbs mixed with wood lac, limestone powder, resin, red ochre, beeswax and butter. The paste is formed into long rolls about 2 cm thick and applied directly around the base of the icon, so that the cemented joints become watertight. This process is believed to keep the icon rejuvenated for a period of 12 years. When the Bandhanam is performed with gold (Swarnabandhanam), the rejuvenating power of the deity is believed to last for a period of 100 years.

The '''Ashtabandhanam' paste is pliable like rubber. Through repeated interactions with abhishekha dravyams - materials used to bathe the icon during daily worship like water, milk, buttermilk, sandal paste and oils - and atmospheric oxidants, the paste loses its flexibility, becomes rigid and gets riddled with a lot of fissures. Through these fissures, the abhisheka dravyams percolate and attack the Yantra embedded under the peetham, obliterating the Bijaksharamantras-- mantras of sacred syllables (bija) -- that are inscribed on the Yantra, and this is believed to contribute to the lowering of the pranic spiritual power of the deity with the passage of time.

PRANAPRATHISHTA/ Murti Sthapana 

Prana (life force / breath) and Pratiṣṭhā (resting / position/installed/consecrated) of an idol or image means-  bringing life to the temple.

Traditionally, this was the step when the eye of the sculptured idol is opened inside the garbhagriha (Purusha space of the temple).

Samprokshanam / Kumbhabhishekham / consecration
Nuutana Alaya Ashta Bandhana Maha Samprokshanam is called AVARTHAM.

Pouring the water from top to the stoopa is to enargise, homogenize, synergize, get united to nature with the unique mystic powers of the deity. 

Kumbha/Shikhara/Crown/Stoopa/Gopuram

Giving Bath is Abhisekham/Prokshanam

Message from DrTPS for Sri Ganesh Mandir – Groundbreaking

Planning and Making a temple with all the rituals in it is part of the process of self-learning and realizing the importance of Hinduism to ourselves, friends and relatives at large to our community apart from sharing the experience with the coming generations who are to take it forward. Temple and the activities around it – like puja, festivals, religious and spiritual classes, and discussions, art, culture, etc are important for all around us in a culturally shifted community like American Indians as that is the way to receive, experience, learn and transfer the age-old tradition of sanathana dharma. Not compromising on the spiritual values and the significance we are here to follow ritual experiences from the ground-breaking to the long-anticipated follow-up and maintenance of the temple for the next many generations to come. When one has to take pride, let this American community think of this Sri Ganesh Mandir as not just a temple but tradition that is brought from native to this new world of each of the Hindu-Indians and followers to follow the heritage and use it in this modern life to be in bliss. I hope to see the Traditional Steps are followed in the making of the Temple, as this will be lessons for the community and all the generations to come.

190728 - ENERGY IN HYMNS/ MANTRAS

28th July 2019 

ENERGY IN HYMNS/ MANTRAS

KEYWORDS :: Hymns, Mantras, Energy, Meaning, Chanting Style, Esoteric

Last week we reflected on the Energy Created, Conserved and Distributed in Temples and mentioned its dependence on the chanting of mantras. This week we shall learn on the mantras and its energy.

Sound is sacred and powerful which connects us, heals us and expands our hearts. A mantra is a series of words chanted in a religious tradition to invoke spiritual qualities. Mantra chanting is an ancient key that unlocks and opens us up to mysterious sounds in another level reaching to the entire universe and has the transformative power. Mantra effects and affects all the fivefold levels - Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Social and Spiritual.

Three main types of mantras are - Beeja (seed), Saguna (With Shape), and Nirguna (without Shape).

Beeja mantras correlate the God/Goddess with all the chakras. Saguna mantras invoke the God/Goddess as an individual person in Shape/Form. Nirguna mantras originate from the Vedic texts with no deities or personalized aspects of God in a specific form or meaning to them.

The power of mantras is directly proportional to the number of times they are repeated and this is called mantra Siddhi. The practice of repeated chanting of a mantra silently or aloud - sitting in a comfortable position, with closed eyes - is considered as the easiest form of meditation. Paying careful attention to the speed and rhythm of your chanting, pronouncing correctly, knowing the esoteric meaning of the mantra will make the mind focused on letting the thoughts flow. Some people use a Mala (a string of beads) to count a series of 108 repetitions of the mantra.

There are esoteric moola mantras for every deity in a temple. The chanting of the first mantra – “Agamarthanthu Devaanam, Gamanaartham thu Rakshasam” (meaning let Godly energy get in and let Demonic energy get out) has the power to change the energy and it happens only when the priest is able to invoke it. The priest gains that ability from his daily rituals like Sapta-Sudhi (7 cleanliness process) which is by the mantra - Prana-pana vyano dhana samana me sudhyantham… and Gayatri mantra.

We reflected on the mantras and Hymns and it is for Energy in Temples and Special Pujas etc. But for the daily life, it is more of daily prayers and we shall reflect on it in the coming week.

----- Next Week 4^th August 2019 -  Prayers in Daily Life   ------

More from DrTPS  at (www.drtps-shiksha.in /  https://rare-news-collection.blogspot.com/)

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

100707 - Temple and Its Power

Serene Sunday Reflections 07JUL19. Dear Rajkumar, श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी Serene Sunday Reflections   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 7th July 2019 TEMPLES AND ITS POWER KEYWORDS :: Temple, Construction, Installation, Daily Care, Devotees, Power   Last week we reflected on the Temple Rituals, as a continuation, here the reflection is on the Power of Temples since the Rituals are for maintaining the power in Temples. According to Hinduism, temple is not just a prayer hall, it is the Source of Energy. God’s presence is felt in the temples. Pooja Rituals are for producing energy in the temples. Installation – The chief priest (thanthri - is the custodian of the God/Goddess) will be associated with the temple since the time of installation. All the power of the temple depends on various aspects like aitheehiya (the story behind the installation), power of the rituals, the people involved in installation and materials used etc. To demonstrate the power of temples, we take the examples of famous temples installed by Rama, Parasurama, Kuleepani Maharshi et. al. As said in the below sloka – a person’s Archana (proper offerings) turns a Shila (stone) into Shankara (God) and any wrongdoings will turn Shankara into a Shila. अर्चकस्य प्रभावेन शिला भवति शङ्करः । आभिरूप्याच्च मूर्तीनां देवः सान्निध्यमृच्छति ॥ archakasya prabhAvena shilA bhavati shangkaraH | AbhirUpyAchcha mUrtInAM devaH sAnnidhyamRuchChati ||   Temples may have only thousands of years story, but rituals and Achara – anushtana (explained in earlier Sunday Reflections) have hundreds of thousands of years of heritage but might have undergone changes over time depending on local situations. Yagna / Yaga was the first concept from where Temples came into existence. Most of the temples today are not powerful from the time of its inception but became famous and got the power by and from the people visiting the temple. The power of the temples depend on the activities and number of devotees visiting the temple. The Bimba (deity) in the temple is made of any of these items - Mud, Wood, Stone, Granite, Mix of Metals (Panchaloha) etc. The construction process starts at the Garbha Gruha (Sanctum Sanctorum) as it is believed to be the Naval place of the God during his lying down position, wherein the front and back entry gates will be the head and leg of the God respectively. The architecture of the temple is defined based on the main deity and the area around. The location and the structure of the temple including the entry is decided by the local story and is in-line with the Agama Shastra specifications. Yantra, Mantra, and Thantra are the pillars of powers. Yantras are the geometric figures that are used to conserve energy. Mantras are the hymns with power in it. Thantras are the ritualistic actions of the priest. To understand the power of temples in detail, we shall reflect on Agama Shastra in the coming week.   ----- Next Week 14th July 2019 – AGAMA SHASTRA –----- More from DrTPS (www.drtps-shiksha.in /  https://rare-news-collection.blogspot.com/) at https://www.facebook.com/pg/hssicolumbus/posts/

190714 - AGAMA SHASTRA

श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी
Serene Sunday Reflections

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

14th July 2019
AGAMA SHASTRA

KEYWORDS :: Temple, Construction, Agama Shastra, Energy Preserve, Distribution

Last week we reflected on the Power of Temples and mentioned about Agama Shastra, the science of temple design. Now let us delve a bit deeper into Agama Shastra.

Shastra in Indian tradition means that which is useful for human beings (lokaanam upakaraya). The system of the temple and the social gathering with religious practices are around for many years as people found them useful and thus temples played a significant role in making a better life for people.

Sthapathya Veda has two parts – Vastu and Agama Shastra. Temples are constructed as per Agama Shastra and houses are constructed as per Vastu.

Agama means tradition or "that which has come down" from generations; it also means the energy that came down from God to us. Agama Shastra is a combination of cosmology, epistemology, philosophy, texts on meditation and practices, yoga, mantras, deity worship etc. and Sthapathy is a person who can design the temple to pass on these energies to devotees effectively. Thus, in order to build a temple as a first step, a Sthapathy will be consulted to design the temple understanding the local needs. Brahmarishi Mamuni Mayan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamuni_Mayan) is one of the Guru (Master architect) who developed this science during ancient times and authored MAYAMATHAM.

Basic Principle states that the energy generated through Yanthra, Manthra, Thanthra and all rituals in the temple will be densified, preserved and distributed to the visitors because of the temple design based on Agama. As per Agama Shastra temples are of different styles for - Shaivism (Shiva), Vaishnavism (Vishnu), Shaktism (Devi), Ganapathya (Ganesha) and Soura (Sun God).

Depending on the God, no of sub-deities, size of the idols, direction, sanctum, number of visitors expected, special religious functions etc., the layout and construction will be planned. All the cosmic powers and pancha bhootha (5 basic elements – earth, water, air, fire, space) are unified to energize the temple. The Kshethra meaning temple is also understood as the body of God.

The temple satisfies the Indriyas (Sensory organs) of the devotees. This is where the Agama Shastra plays an important role. Thus it is vital for the temple to be located in a place where it is having a good support of the electromagnetic energy all around. As the energy gets densified inside the sanctum sanctorum with all the rituals, once the doors are open the energy from the sanctum gets injected into the devotees.
The science of temple, installation, energy creation, and reaching up to devotees is described under “Thanthra Samuchayam”.

Having discussed the Agama Shastra, specific architecture that can conserve and distribute energy, now we shall reflect next week on the Energy Created in Temples.

----- Next Week 21^st July 2019 – Energy Created in Temples –-----
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190630-TEMPLE RITUALS

श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी
Serene Sunday Reflections

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

30th June 2019
TEMPLE RITUALS

KEYWORDS :: Temple Rituals, Offering, Agama Shastra, Anushtana, Achara

Last week we reflected on the rituals as Dharana done in full SRADDHA (concentration) and BHAVA (understanding the inner meaning). Temple rituals are only intact in India whereas places like ancient Egypt, where all such rituals once were highly active, has lost and forgotten all its richness in heritage.

Hindu Temples in and outside India still keep and continue rituals which are older than the oldest that exists in this world. Hindu temples are mushrooming all over the world, numbering in hundreds of thousands in structures like luxurious and rich palaces, rustic abandoned warehouses, simple halls with just a picture of God or granite stone in a jungle or roadside.

To participate in the temple rituals, one should dress modestly, respect the priests and other visitors, refrain from gossip and worldly talk to enjoy a spiritual time. The Hindu worship service follows certain procedures- rituals called puja, literally adoration with mantras (verses/hymns) and hand gestures (mudras), ringing bell etc. These procedures are mostly based on Vedas which are modified to fit in the temple as described under Agama Shastra. There are special occasions like yearly mega festivals (like Utsavam etc) where specific procedures are followed apart from the daily temple rituals.

Following are the steps followed in the daily Temple Rituals as prescribed in the Agama Shastra

1. The Priest should purify himself
2. Sanctify the place of worship
3. Spiritualize the precious substances to offer the Deity like - water, uncooked rice, holy ash, sandalwood paste, Kumkum and the lamp to be lighted
4. Light the lamp
5. Invites God/Goddesses to come and dwell in the lamp/deity/image
6. A ritualistic bath, called abhishekam, in which water, sesame oil, turmeric, saffron, milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, lime juice, vibhuti, sandalwood paste, panchamritam (a mixture of five fruits), coconut water and rosewater, is given for the Deity
7. Deity is dressed in new clothes and beautifully decorated with flowers, etc.
8. Incense, oil lamps and food will be offered
9. The Priest offers flowers while chanting 108 names of the God and devotees may also sing bhajans to please the God
10. At the highest point of the puja, a large lamp is waved before the Diety and bells are rung loudly as God sends His power through the holy image of Himself that is absorbed by the water, food, flower, ashes (vibhoothi)
11. When the lamp is lowered, everyone prostrates to the Divine.
12. The lamp is then carried out to bless the worshipers, who often leave a donation on the tray (or later in the temple offering box).
13. Finally, depending on the tradition, sacraments such as sacred ash, blessed water, sandalwood paste, kumkum, fruits, sweets and flowers are passed out to bless everyone who is present. These include a portion of the offerings--flowers, cooked food and more--brought by devotees.
14. Devotees may then sit in meditation, relaxing in the blessings invoked by the puja.
15. Make God to sleep, devotees may sing devotional songs during this time.

What we described here as the ritual is called ANUSHTANA and varied versions of this may be in practice at different places with variations acceptable to the locals which are called ACHARAS. Having reflected on the temple rituals, we shall see the Temples and its Power in the coming week.

----- Next Week 7^th July 2019 – TEMPLES AND ITS POWER –-----
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