There are many Hindu temples throughout the length and breadth of India. Some of the oldest temples that are still intact, especially in south India, date back to the 17th and 18th centuries (CE). However, the discovery of the...
There are many Hindu temples throughout the length and breadth of India. Some of the oldest temples that are still intact, especially in south India, date back to the 17th and 18th centuries (CE). However, the discovery of the remains of ancient Hindu temples, which go back to the 3rd century BCE, suggests that Hindu temples existed way back in time.
It is not known when temples became an important part of Hindu life and worship, but it is a fact that the Vedas, which are the oldest and holiest Hindu texts, do not mention them. However, there are Hindu temple architectural guides that date back to the 4th century CE, which indicate that temples have been part of Hindu worship for at least 1,600 years, and perhaps even before that.
The Worship of God in Temples
Temples are also called ‘mandir’, which is a Sanskrit word that means “dwelling place”. They are the abodes of the deities. Almost all Hindu temples have an idol or ‘murti’, which is the “embodiment” of god. It can be a statue, image, or representation of the deity that devotees who come to the temple worship.
Except for some groups like the Vaishnavas, Hindus, in general, do not believe that idols are actually gods. Their role is to help the devotee visualize the deity who is being worshipped so that they achieve spiritual focus. The devotee understands that the statues are not actual living beings or deities. But the presence of the murti in the temple helps them feel a connection with the deity. Some feel that the god’s spirit dwells in the image or manifests through it. The priest is like an attender for the deity who is also bathed daily, worshipped, praised, decorated with floral garlands, etc. The priest also burns incense to them and makes various offerings to them, including Aarati, and the deity is carried in processions on special occasions. All these are expressions of the love and devotion that the devotee feels for the deity represented by the murti.
Connecting with God through Temples
Unlike Christian churches, Hindu temples are not places for social interactions. People visit temples to pray, meditate, perform Poojas, make offerings, and receive Prasad. Hindu temples help connect the devotee to god through the offerings and the rituals that take place there and the images of god, which are the focus of such acts.
Hindus often have shrines at home where they offer worship, which is equivalent to worshipping at the temple. But many people feel that they can connect with the divine on a higher level when they visit a temple, where learned Brahmin priests perform certain rituals that ordinary Hindus cannot perform at home.
Temples and Festive Celebrations
But temples are not just places of worship and spiritual rebirth. They are also places where festivals and celebrations take place. Most Hindu festivals entail a visit to a temple. Hindu festivals combine many things. They are religious ceremonies and grand spectacles that are highly ritualistic. Apart from prayer and worship, they include processions, music, dance, feasting, charitable activities like Annadaanam or feeding the poor, and other traditional and religious activities. Such activities were performed to purify, ward off evil influences, reinvigorate society, and stimulate Nature. Most Hindu festivals have associations with the cycles of Nature and are celebrated to prevent stagnation in Nature. Thus, for Hindus, it is not an easy task to separate festivals from temples and also temples from their daily life. They are all deeply connected.
When Hindus visit a temple, they gaze into the eyes of the deity and see the deity looking back at them. This intimate encounter is described as receiving ‘darshan’. It is the essence of bhakti worship. Thus, Hindus visit temples primarily to connect with God, to lock eyes with Him or Her, and to assure themselves that the deity is aware of their existence, is watching over them, and that their prayers will be heard and their wishes granted as a reward for their devotion which is expressed through the longing in their eyes as their souls commune with the deity.
Some Common Reasons for Visiting Temples
Hindus also believe that temples are holy places filled with positive vibrations and energies. When building a temple, the builders choose what they believe to be auspicious places.
Many people also visit temples, seeking peace of mind. One can find some people meditating in silence in a corner or just sitting quietly, immersed in their own thoughts. The calmness and peaceful environs of the temple relax the mind.
Temples are built according to Vaastu Shastra principles. Care is taken to ensure that all the 5 natural elements or Panchabhootas are balanced. These elements are also a part of us. When we visit temples, any imbalance in the elements in our body may be healed.
People also visit temples to enhance their spiritual quotient. The divine vibrations in a temple can make us feel more spiritual and reduce our materialistic approach to life.
The Theertham offered by the priest to devotees who visit the temple can supposedly cure imbalances in the 3 humors or Doshas – Vata, Pittha, and Kapha – that are responsible for our physical, mental, and emotional health.
Doing Pradakshina or circumambulation around the sanctum sanctorum or Garbagriha helps one to absorb positive energy.
Thus, there are many reasons why Hindus go to temples.
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