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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