Genesis & Relevance of Temple - Worship : Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha(10 of 24)

 

Earth, water, air, fire and space that constitute the world are a creation of God, the Almighty.  But somehow, due to lack of proper thought in the matter, people are not able to perceive the world as Godly, as  a Godly product, with the result that they look for something additional or special to relate to God, while thinking of worshipping Him. 

The Idol, the sculptor makes and the priests consecrates, becomes the general focus in religious worship. It is in a way strange, nonetheless, an irrefutable need of the human mind. Our thinkers, Sage Authors, have always understood this fact and catered to the needs of the society. 

The manner in which devotees go to the temple, stand in front of the Lord, submit their prayers and express their feelings, fondness as well as needs, is something greatly touching. 

To construct a place of worship like the temple, the scriptures point out, is the most holy act, rewarding and fulfilling in every way. It is pleasing to the Lord, Sreemad Bhagavatam emphasizes. 

A temple is actually a place of public worship. When a place is set up wherein worshippers can come, stand before the Deity and worship, it becomes a temple. 

There are 'self-born' (svayambhuh) temples, as also those instituted and consecrated with the relevant ceremonial and scriptural procedures and prescriptions. 

It is to live peacefully, harmoniously and fearlessly that we build our homes. But often what happens is the reverse! Tension, apprehension and affliction assail the residents. Even when everything is all right, people still become anxious about the welfare of the family. 

Temple naturally becomes both a refuge and an inspiration. Standing in front of the Lord, devotees pray, unloading their heart, expressing their wishes and seeking the Lord's favour to give them relief, hope and confidence. Despite the fact that they do not get any direct answer from the Lord, their heart feels a sense of security and relief, something not available anywhere else. Thus temples have become an inevitable psychological need. 

In a temple, the prayer and worship offered are not really to the stone or Marble Idol as such. Worshippers look at the Idol, no doubt, but their thoughts are clearly focused on the Supreme Omnipresent Lord, represented by the Lord. The prayers made are always to the Lord Supreme. Temple but facilitates the whole interaction. That is the sole purpose of the temple institution. 

'Ya Matih so gatih'. Human thought, aspiration and will are quite powerful. Whatever one thinks, that he verily can become. Such is the supreme law. 

The divine brilliance and the benedictory power of any deity in a temple, is directly proportional to the sanctity and sublimity of consecration performed by the human being. In fact, the chief priest, who does the consecration is called the father of the deity. The deity owes its Divinity completely to him. You can say that the Deity is born of him. 

It is exactly like a child wishing to have the fondling parental touch!

When the Upanishads declare that Knowledge alone is supreme and it is the Ultimate Existence, this means Knowledge must be the very source of all creation. When do we reach at the fullness of knowledge. It's not the object knowledge. 

A thing becomes an object to be sensed or perceived only before a subject. When you see the world, including yr body, it falls in the 'object' category. And you, the seer, are the subject in the whole process, who does the seeing. Seeing as an act or function can only proceed from and rest upon the seer. Body is the object, so where and what is the subject? This is how we recede to our own within, into the arena of knowledge, knowing and ultimately the knower. When our consciousness, receding from both external and internal objects, begins to reveal the subject as it does the object, it is called prajnanam. Knowledge led thus to its fullness, becomes the Supreme Reality. It is existence, consciousness and blissfulness all at once. Sat-Cid-ananda. 

By withdrawing your gross activities and interactions, you have to remain afloat in your own mind, and thereby dissolve all mental modification like thought, thinking and thinker, to get into the real substance, which brings about all this differentiation. That unitary inner state of awareness, where all differences set and a full singularity dawns, is the wonderful fruition called prajnanam.

Temple and Deity installed in it is like a prop for those who cannot understand this. The idol idolizes the supreme. 

1) Temple worship is an Initial step. 

From acara (ritual) to vicara (contemplation)

Temple is men's creation for his own purpose. 

All the words we use to describe His qualities and powers in fact, represent our own thoughts, ideas and needs. Each of these has originated from our own mind. If deeply searched, all their connection, relevance and utility also are with us and us alone. 

2) True devotee has lord tied to the heart and want nothing. 

God rejects offers from narrow minded. 

Temples and Ashrams are complementary centres. 

Hari Oam Tat Sat!