There are thousands of temples across the world of different size and shape, but the ones built in Vedic method are considered most pious and spiritually amplified. Temples are not built at random places. Only those places which have dense amount of earth’s magnetic wave path are considered suitable for the establishment of God’s spiritual abode. The magnetic and electric waves dispersed by the north/south pole thrust spread a lot of positive energy in the environment and hence only such a place is considered most ideal for temple construction.
It is really unfortunate that an increasing number of Hindus, especially the current generation, has started neglecting the sacred ritual of visiting temples on a regular basis to seek God’s blessings. It is also because the folks today have failed to instil the virtue of temple visit as part of their daily routine.
Importance of Garbhagriha or Moolasthanam:
Garbhagriha or Moolasthanam is the core centre of the temple and is the place where magnetic waves are found maximum. Indeed the idol is first placed and then the temple structure is built. As per Hindu tradition, some copper plates, encrypted with Vedic scripts, are buried/ entombed just beneath the idol and this is not some random belief, but based on scientific explanation. The copper plates have the capacity to radiate the magnetic or electric waves that they absorb from the earth.
As said, the temple represents the physical structure of the human body. The whole temple is the physical body while the Sanctum Sanctorum represents the heart of the body. As per South Indian tradition, even though the temple edifice is large, the main idol is always installed in a small dark place.
Vedic Temple – An Epitome of Positive Energy:
The person who performs Pradakshina (clockwise circumambulation) of the idol in the temple benefits from it as his body absorbs the beamed magnetic waves in the process. Based on Science, this process is slow but extremely effective if performed on a regular basis to absorb more and more positive magnetic energy required for healthy living. The sanctum sanctorum is always closed on three sides which increases the effect of all energies present inside.
The lamp, ringing of the bells, chanting of prayers, offerings or prasadam, lighting (aarti) etc. take a worshiper into spiritual trance; fragrance of flowers and burning camphor spread chemical energies into the surroundings. Aarti – lighting accompanied with a spiritual song – has the power to help a person transcend into a different spiritual world. Ghee (clarified butter) and camphor used in the aarti further accelerate the spiritual process. The temple bells create vibrations to prevent the energy from getting stagnant in one corner of the sanctorum. Incense sticks and dhoop also have the power of activating the static energy in the environment.
During deepaaraadhana when the doors get open, it spurts out a lot of positive energy that is directly absorbed by the devotees present in front of the door. Women are expected to wear gold and silver ornaments while coming to the temple as these ornaments quickly absorb the energy present. Again, newly purchased jewels, books, stationeries, automobiles and other articles are first placed in front of deity for seeking his divine blessings and also for the purification of that article. Touching the shatari (the holy feet of the devatha) with one’s head is also considered extremely holy.
Temple Rituals for Spiritual Realization:
God is seated in our heart, but the darkness of our ignorance prevents us from getting his holy darshan (sight). By offering camphor light, one can see the Lord as camphor has the power to burn all pessimistic tendencies and impressions present in our psyche. With the camphor light, our ego gets burnt and the fire of knowledge gets ignited and this helps us behold the spiritual vision of the Lord. As per the ritual, after the aarti (camphor light) offering to the Lord is over one by one all the devotees put their hands on the aarti and touch their eyes in order to permanently capture the light in their eyes. It is said that this way one gets to behold the sight of the Lord in his eyes.
In the temple, after the aarti is over we put money on the camphor flame plate and this is to teach us that after achieving greater spiritual vision we should adopt a generous and giving attitude towards everyone and try to share our possessions with all. At last, we express our blissful peace that we experience after god realization by partaking the prasada that was offered to the Lord. Prasada represent bliss, cheerfulness, purity, and peace.
The Significance of Theertha or Holy Water:
Theertha or holy water is just not ordinary water but a combination of different ingredients including karpura (benzoin), clove, saffron, cardamom, tulsi (holy basil), etc. Three spoons full of theertham is distributed among the devotees. This water is the source of magneto therapy and also possesses great medicinal value including natural blood purification. The water also contains magnetic radiation as the idol was bathed with the same water. The ingredients have following significance –
- clove – protects from tooth decay
- karpura (benzoin) and cardamom – guard against cough and common cold
- saffron and tulsi (holy basil) – provide natural mouth freshening affect
It is believed that two particular blessings i.e. theertham and shatari have the power to wash away all the sins of devotees.
Invocation of Gods and Goddesses in the Temple:
The Vigrahas (idols) of gods and goddesses are invoked in the temples and this invocation is called Prana Parthista. During this ceremony, gods and goddesses are specially invited and asked to be present in the Vigrahas (idols) made up of black or marble stones. Thus the mere idols are turned into devathas and this is done by following sacred rituals, Veda mantras, fire sacrifices (homas), prayers, etc.
Many Hindus also pray at home in a small prayer room housing idols in brass, silver, gold, panchalohas (made up of five different metals), etc. Most of the times, these Vigrahas (idols) are not invoked and not given Prana Parthista by any priest before their installation. Thus, the fact is most idols present in Hindu homes are noting but decorative pieces.
A temple is a centre where a combination of a huge amount of energy of the devata and relatively smaller energies of humans are present. In addition to this, ambience of a temple is made pious by recitation of sthothras, chanting of Veda mantras, singing of songs and bhajans, performances of traditional dances, etc.
In a nutshell, the kind of sacred environment present in a temple is somehow missing at home because at home many mundane chores and materialistic activities also take place and there is a little scope of regular chanting of Vedic mantras to make domestic ambience as pious as a temple.
Temple Defined in Ancient Scriptures:
As mentioned in our age old Shastras and Puranas, the virtue of praying to Lord in a Vedic temple can never by matched with home worship. Many sages and scholars have also mentioned extensively on this subject in their books.
Adi Shankaracharya in his sacred text Bhaja Govindam says the following:
satsaNgatve nissNgatvaM
nissaNgatve nirmohatvam
nirmohatve nishchalatattvaM
nishcalatattve jiivanmuktiH
This means that company of pious and virtuous people helps one to get detached from this world. An oblivious and detached mind becomes calm and peaceful and this ultimately leads to liberation or moksha from this world.
Temple Visit Repairs our Spiritual Disorder:
In the age of Kali Yuga, man is so much loaded with material comforts and mundane activities that he doesn’t understand the importance of visiting temple regularly to achieve the Absolute Truth. It is said that Krishna’s external energy i.e. maya has enamoured every human being today. Everyone is bound by the stringent laws of material comforts that prevent them from visiting temple.
Today, most of the people also avoid visiting temple thinking that God is all-pervading and hence it is not required to visit any temple in order to seek his darshan (sight) and blessings. But, the fact is the omnipresence of god is not perceivable without a spiritual vision that one accumulates only through the energies present in a temple. Man has forgotten that he himself is a spirit soul; hence it is extremely important for him to repair his spiritual disorder through daily temple visit where gods are prayed to strictly in accordance with our rules and regulations as revealed in our ancient scriptures.
Temple and Hindu Traditions:
A temple is a place where one may seek divine knowledge and wisdom. The design, construction, architecture, decoration and rituals performed focus on enlightenment and spiritual liberation. As mentioned in our Hindu Shastras, a temple is a place where all devotees come with a common goal, i.e. to unite with the Almighty. God may be all-pervading, but an invoked idol (followed by Prana Parthista) has the power to awaken a devotee’s mind and bring him awareness about the virtues of God. This helps him understand the fact that truth is everywhere.
As per records, in the earlier days, temples were like today’s community centres, as singing, dancing, secular learning, spiritual discourses, etc. used to take place here. Indian temples represent the ethnicity and identity of Hindu religion as a whole. Indian culture also promotes renovation and preservation of the older temples.