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G22-THE BEAUTIFUL TEMPLE RITUALS

 

By  PRAGYANSHARAMA   POLAVARAPU(VRS.SOMANCHI)

In morning the temple floors are washed with water and the temple is decorated with fragrant mango leaves and garlands of fresh flowers. The big oil lamps are lighted .There is holy fragrance of incense, fresh flowers and Tulsi leaves everywhere .The atmosphere is transformed. I vividly remember that when  we were there two decades ago,people were sitting in little groups eagerly waiting for the temple rituals to begin. I could not visit the temple again after my first visit 23 years ago, living after retirement in faraway Hyderabad city250 kilometers away and enmeshed in domestic problems every day.

 But I still vividly remember that first visit to the temple. I consider myself greatly fortunate for visiting the abode of the mighty god Lord Narasimha (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in a fierce half-man half-lion form). It is not to remember  the beauty of the jungle environment that I recount the temple trip but entirely out of reverence for the  great god and his most holy temple and because of the great  devotion in our families for the lion god.

I   vividly remember the holy temple rituals as if l witnessed them with great reverence yesterday. At the end of the long rituals ,consisting of reciting of long prayers and singing of most sublime Sanskrit hymns, the chief priest lights the holy the camphor flame in a shining brass plate and shows the holy lame  most respectfully to the god almighty of the universe. The fragrant smell of the camphor vapor is familiar to devotees. This most holy ritual act is called “Harathi”in south India and “Aarthi” in north India.

The ten feet high imposing black granite statue of the great god dressed in silks is surprisingly tied with chains as per a long prevailing custom and belief. The sanctum sanctorum is purposely kept dark to increase the great holy feeling and trans-like experience of every devotee as if he is seeing the great god in his real heaven. It is said that the great god has still anger and vexation in heart about the evil deeds of earth’s people and permits tying his hands in chains for subduing his anger!

While performing  the Harathi ceremony the priest  rings a small bell with his other hand raised up and chants beautiful and thrilling   Sanskrit hymns in praise of the god .Bright oil lights  burn  in the long pillar-like  brass lamps kept  on either side of the great god in the sanctum sanctorum. The thick wicks give bright light. The smells of burning wicks, the smells of camphor and incense and smells of sandal paste and flowers all mix in the air. People feel that the temple is not on earth and is in god’s heaven. The priest or the assisting priests touch the head of all devotees with a holy metallic “Shathagopam” cone (hollow six inch long six inch wide dazzling silver  cone studded with jewels). This action is equivalent to great god almighty himself blessing the devotees  with his own hands!

The priests sprinkle on heads of devotees “god-blessed” holy rice grains mixed in perfumed turmeric paste. This is somewhat like sprinkling of flowers by gods from heaven as we read in mythological stories .  The priests pour into devotee’s hand  a spoonful of “Theertham” or holy water blessed by god. The devotees gulp down the holy water with reverence and joy. Parents ensure that in all these rituals even little babies are not excluded .  The priests finally give to every devotee the holy “prasadam” consisting of pieces of fresh coconut kernel  and fruits mixed with sugar.

Earlier the  prasadam and flowers had been placed near the god in the sanctum sanctorum for some time to get god’s blessings . All the time the priests recite aloud great Sanskrit hymns in praise of god. I have perhaps not correctly mentioned the rituals in correct order but all these steps are followed in every temple. The temples resound with melodious bell sounds which reverberate all around. I still faintly remember watching all these ceremonies at Mallur temple on that distant day .

 

 

 

 

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