Temple Worship Procedures

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Temple Worship Procedures

 

Temples are the connecting points of high importance in our religion

and culture. The absolute necessity of the temple worship is stressed

throughout by the great saints of the religion. It is not very

difficult to realize the important role they play in cultivating the

spiritualism in people. It is the place for collective worship. Given

these significant roles of the temples it is required to have some

discipline to be followed in the temples for having the real expected

out of the worship. Here are a few one can follow to set that

harmony. Most of these are in general applicable to all Hindu temples

though a few are specific to shaivite temples.

 

1. Going to the temple with a clean body. Legs and hands shall be

cleaned at entering the temple.

 

2. Going to the temple adorned with holy symbols like the Holy Ash,

rudrAxam.

 

3. Taking something to offer to the Lord. It is an offering out of

devotion. It would be nice if the offering is the one required in the

worship.

 

4. Not to enter the temple with foot wear.

 

5. Prostrating in front of the flag column (dwajastaMbham) (towards

the North) on entering the temple.

 

6. Not to prostrate anywhere else in the temple.

 

7. Not to prostrate to anybody else in the temple premises.

 

8. Taking the permission of nandi dEvar mentally before entering His

abode.

 

9. Saluting the elephant headed Lord enter the Lord's abode.

 

10. In Lord shiva's abode, engage the mind in the thinking of the

God. Avoid any gossip. Temple is not the place for gossiping. Can

sing or chant His names loudly and sweetly if it would not disturb

others. Otherwise it could be done internally without making noise.

 

11. The Holy ash given as the blessings should be worn

saying " shivAya namaH " . It should not be spilled on the ground or

wasted.

 

12. It is normally a procedure to offer something to the priest whose

whole life should be in the service of the Lord.

 

Circumambulating the Lord saluting the Goddess and the deities in the

temple. The circumambulation would be done at least for three times.

On special occasions like pradoshham the are special circumambulation

methods like soma sUkta pradhaxiNam are followed.

 

13. While in the temple either the Holy five letters or any praise

could be chanted.

 

14. Before coming out of the temple go to the place of chaNdEshwarar

and take permission for the materials which after worship are taken

out of the temple as blessings. One must not take anything out in

excess and things taken from the temple should be only as the mark of

blessings. If nothing is taken it is the normal practice to wipe

(rub) the hands together in his place.

 

15. Should do something in the promotion of the temple physically or

materially or whichever is convenient and required.

 

16. On coming out of the temple, again prostrate in front of the flag

column towards the north. Sit facing the north and meditate on the

God chanting the Holy five letters.

 

17. While inside the temple should not make the place dirty in any

way or make any noise.

 

18. Going to the temple at least once in a week with the family.

 

The mind should be focussed on the Lord like the dust of iron that

stick to the magnet. A worship with such an orientation would have

very good effect in us by the grace of the Almighty.

 

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