write 8 set instructions to be followed in a temple
Answers
Answer:
Before entering Hindu temples, please follow the rules:
Take a bath. Cleanliness is important.
Remove your footwear outside.
Make sure you’re in the supported attire that the temple rule allows. Some temples (like in Guruvayur) do not allow men to enter the temple with shirts or vests. Most temples do not allow entering the temple wearing . Also, make sure you remove any head covers like cap or helmet or a cloth, which is a token of respect that can be seen even among police.
Respect temple’s rules to turn off mobile phones and/or avoid having a camera with you. Thirumala temple has strict checking for phones and camera, and if found, the visitor is asked to keep it outside, before entering.
While inside the temple, please follow the rules:
Maintain silence.
Please note that the proper way to visit each shrines inside a temple is in clockwise path and not in counter clock wise path. Never ever, try to use counter clock wise path, as the direction is used in a ritual during last rites of death in Hinduism.
While you most likely enter the main entrance and see dhvajastambam or flag mast, it is best to bow down. It differs depending on the temple. For Vaishnavite temples, it is to be done while entering the temple and for Saivite temples, it is to be done while leaving the temple.
Most south India temples do not allow devotees to touch the deities, while north India temples allow. Abide by the rules maintained in the temple.
Understand the kind of offerings accepted in each temple and offer them accordingly. For example, fragrant screw pine flower is not accepted in any Shiva temples.
Avoid lighting camphor inside temples. It usually create a black soot on the ceiling and a black tar like dirt on the floor. Use oil lamps, instead. And light the lamps in exclusive places where it is advised to. Do not light the lamps anywhere as you feel. It can be resulting in fatal accidents also.
If prasadams (food offered to the deities, distributed to the visitors) are offered in the temple, it is best advised to have it after coming out of the temple. While inside, you can have it , but make sure you eat small portion as much that doesn’t fall off from your mouth. Also, avoid licking the fingers, when food sticks to hands. Was h your hands when a washing system is present or go outside the temple to wash your hands. Avoid applying the sticky oil or food on the temple walls/pillars. Temple is after all, home of the God, and it is our duty to keep the place clean, like we keep our home.
When visiting a temple at night and that the temple’s final pooja for the day is over (but the temple is about to be closed), do not take a walk in the prakara (or verandah). It is against the rule of Agama Sastra. However, you can only pray to the main deity and leave the temple, even if avoiding the walk will miss many small shrines in the temple.
Some temples offer prasadams, that may appear strange or different in taste (like the sand as prasadm in Kukke Subrahmanya Temple in Karnataka or in Oppilliappan Temple in Tamil Nadu where salt is avoided). Avoid commenting, at least inside the temple.
Avoid writing on the temple walls or pillars or anywhere, inside or outside.
Answer:
- Take a bath. Cleanliness is important.
- Remove your footwear outside.
- Make sure you’re in the supported attire that the temple rule allows. Some temples (like in Guruvayur) do not allow men to enter the temple with shirts or vests. Most temples do not allow entering the temple wearing lungi. Also, make sure you remove any head covers like cap or helmet or a cloth, which is a token of respect that can be seen even among police.
- Respect temple’s rules to turn off mobile phones and/or avoid having a camera with you. Thirumala temple has strict checking for phones and camera, and if found, the visitor is asked to keep it outside, before entering.
- While inside the temple, please follow the rules:
- Maintain silence.
- Please note that the proper way to visit each shrines inside a temple is in clockwise path and not in counter clock wise path. Never ever, try to use counter clock wise path, as the direction is used in a ritual during last rites of death in Hinduism.
- While you most likely enter the main entrance and see dhvajastambam or flag mast, it is best to bow down. It differs depending on the temple. For Vaishnavite temples, it is to be done while entering the temple and for Saivite temples, it is to be done while leaving the temple.
- Most south India temples do not allow devotees to touch the deities, while north India temples allow. Abide by the rules maintained in the temple.
- Understand the kind of offerings accepted in each temple and offer them accordingly. For example, fragrant screw pine flower is not accepted in any Shiva temples.
- Avoid lighting camphor inside temples. It usually create a black soot on the ceiling and a black tar like dirt on the floor. Use oil lamps, instead. And light the lamps in exclusive places where it is advised to. Do not light the lamps anywhere as you feel. It can be resulting in fatal accidents also.
- If prasadams (food offered to the deities, distributed to the visitors) are offered in the temple, it is best advised to have it after coming out of the temple. While inside, you can have it , but make sure you eat small portion as much that doesn’t fall off from your mouth. Also, avoid licking the fingers, when food sticks to hands. Was h your hands when a washing system is present or go outside the temple to wash your hands. Avoid applying the sticky oil or food on the temple walls/pillars. Temple is after all, home of the God, and it is our duty to keep the place clean, like we keep our home.
- When visiting a temple at night and that the temple’s final pooja for the day is over (but the temple is about to be closed), do not take a walk in the prakara (or verandah). It is against the rule of Agama Sastra. However, you can only pray to the main deity and leave the temple, even if avoiding the walk will miss many small shrines in the temple.
- Some temples offer prasadams, that may appear strange or different in taste (like the sand as prasadm in Kukke Subrahmanya Temple in Karnataka or in Oppilliappan Temple in Tamil Nadu where salt is avoided). Avoid commenting, at least inside the temple.