Culture Series 6 - Why is the Sanctum Sanctorum in a Hindu temple small and dark?

Usually the gateway to a temple will be a massive and magnificent construction. When we stand in front of it we are made to feel so insignificant before the Lord of the universe! As we proceed inwards leaving behind the grand carvings and decorations of the outside, we notice that the sanctum sanctorum itself is small and dark. We can have the darshan of the Lord only when a light is lit up and waved before Him. This indicates that we have to leave the grand external world outside, direct our minds inward, light up the lamp of knowledge there and behold the Lord within the sanctum sanctorum of our hearts.

Note: If you like the above post (or any of the other posts from 'Culture Series'), please don’t forget to thank the person who has put in a lot of efforts in collating these articles - Srinivas Ji. He can be reached at srini_p2001@yahoo.com

Culture Series 5 - Why do we put tilak on the forehead?

The tilak invokes a feeling of sanctity in the wearer and others. It is recognized as a religious mark. Its form and colour vary according to one’s caste, religious sect or the form of the Lord worshipped.

In earlier times, the four castes (based on varna or colour) – Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra – applied marks differently. The brahmin applied a white chandan mark signifying purity, as his profession was of a priestly or academic nature. The kshatriya applied a red kumkum mark signifying valour as he belonged to warrior races. The vaishya wore a yellow kesar or turmeric mark signifying prosperity as he was a businessman or trader devoted to creation of wealth. The sudra applied a black bhasma, kasturi or charcoal mark signifying service as he supported the work of the other three divisions.

Also Vishnu worshippers apply a chandan tilak of the shape of "U", Shiva worshippers a tripundra of bhasma, Devi worshippers a red dot of kumkum and so on .

The tilak cover the spot between the eyebrows, which is the seat of memory and thinking. It is known as the Aajna Chakra in the language of Yoga. The tilak is applied with the prayer – "May I remember the Lord. May this pious feeling pervade all my activities. May I be righteous in my deeds." Even when we temporarily forget this prayerful attitude the mark on another reminds us of our resolve. The tilak is thus a blessing of the Lord and a protection against wrong tendencies and forces.

The entire body emanates energy in the form of electromagnetic waves – the forehead and the subtle spot between the eyebrows especially so. That is why worry generates heat and causes a headache.

It is also said that the chandan or bhasma cools the forehead and the spot between the eyebrows, which is known to generate heat during stress and tension. It is also known to prevent energy loss.The spot where the tilak is applied is also the seat of the pituitary glands. Applying chandan on the pituitary gland keeps the whole body in a state of balance.

Note: If you like the above post (or any of the other posts from 'Culture Series'), please don’t forget to thank the person who has put in a lot of efforts in collating these articles - Srinivas Ji. He can be reached at srini_p2001@yahoo.com

Culture Series 4 - Why do we use Rudraksha during worship?

Rudraksha beads are strung into strands and worn on the body. These malas are also used in the practice of japa.

Rudraksha means both a sacred seed and the tree that bears it. In English, it is called the Blue Marble tree, or, less commonly, the Utrasum bead tree. It is known botanically by the names Elaeocarpus sphaericus, E. grandis and E. ganitrus.

All legends of the origin of rudraksha describe them as the tears shed by Lord Siva for the benefit of humanity. "Rudra" stems from the Sanskrit rud or rodana, which means "to cry." It is the original name for Siva as it appears in the Rig Veda. Aksha means "eye," and thus rudraksha beads are deemed the tears of Siva.

As per the tale in The Garden of Life, "Rudra wept when He witnessed the towering metropolis, Tripura, or triple city, created by man's superbly ambitious technology. In its arrogance, this magnificent human creation had undermined the balance between the Earth, atmosphere and sky. Then, according to the Mahabharata, having shed the implacable tear which turned into a rudraksha bead, the Lord of the Universe drew his bow and unleashed his arrows at the triple city, burning its demons and hurling them into the western ocean, for the welfare of creation." Wearing the rudraksha, devotees remind themselves of God's compassion for the human predicament, His watchful love for us all.

Note: If you like the above post (or any of the other posts from 'Culture Series'), please don’t forget to thank the person who has put in a lot of efforts in collating these articles - Srinivas Ji. He can be reached at srini_p2001@yahoo.com

Culture Series 3 - Why do we light a lamp?

In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit daily before the altar of the Lord. In some houses it is lit at dawn, in some, twice a day – at dawn and dusk – and in a few it is maintained continuously (akhanda deepa). All auspicious functions commence with the lighting of the lamp, which is often maintained right through the occasion.

Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness, ignorance. The Lord is the "Knowledge Principle" (chaitanya) who is the source, the enlivener and the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence light is worshiped as the Lord himself.

Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Also knowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievement can be accomplished. Hence we light the lamp to bow down to knowledge as the greatest of all forms of wealth

Why not light a bulb or tube light? That too would remove darkness. But the traditional oil lamp has a further spiritual significance. The oil or ghee in the lamp symbolizes our vaasanas or negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the vaasanas get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes. The flame of a lamp always burns upwards. Similarly we should acquire such knowledge as to take us towards higher ideals.

Whilst lighting the lamp we pray:

Deepajyothi parabrahma

Deepa sarva tamopahaha

Deepena saadhyate saram

Sandhyaa deepo namostute

I prostrate to the dawn/dusk lamp; whose light is the Knowledge Principle (the Supreme Lord), which removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be achieved in life. The lighting of one oil lamp enables the lighting of countless number of lamps, just as one knowledgeable person can enlighten others with his knowledge.

Note: If you like the above post (or any of the other posts from 'Culture Series'), please don’t forget to thank the person who has put in a lot of efforts in collating these articles - Srinivas Ji. He can be reached at srini_p2001@yahoo.com

Culture Series 2 - Why do we burn camphor and perform Aarti?

Having worshipped the Lord with love, lit by the lamp we see the beauty of the Lord in all his glory. The singing, clapping is associated with the joy that accompanies the vision of the Lord.

Aarti being performed with Camphor has a spiritual significance. Camphor burns itself out completely without leaving a trace. Camphor represents our Vasanas, unmanifest desires. So also if we were to take refuge in the Lord, obtain knowledge, these desires will get burnt out. Although the camphor burns itself out, it emits a nice perfume. On a human plane it means that we should sacrifice ourselves to serve society, in the process spread the perfume of love and happiness to all.

We close our eyes while performing the Aarti as if to look within. The Self or Atman is within us. Self realization can be achieved by knowing thyself, with the flame of knowledge. At the end of the aarti we place the hands over the flame and touch our eyes and top of the head. It means that may the light that illumined the Lord light up my vision, may my thoughts be pure and beautiful.

With the Aarti comes the flame which signifies light. There can be light in our lives only if we have knowledge. In an era of darkness there would be ignorance, we would be perpetually running to fulfill our vasanas resulting in unhappiness and stress all around.

Note: If you like the above post (or any of the other posts from 'Culture Series'), please don’t forget to thank the person who has put in a lot of efforts in collating these articles - Srinivas Ji. He can be reached at srini_p2001@yahoo.com

Culture Series 1 - Why do we do namaste?

Indians greet each other with namaste. The two palms are placed together in front of the chest and the head bows whilst saying the word namaste. This greeting is for all – people younger than us, of our own age, those older than friends, even strangers and us.

While singing the praises of namaste, it should be observed how efficient a gesture it is in an age of mass communication. A politician, or performer can greet fifty thousand people with a single namaste, and they can return the honour instantly. In such a situation a handshake is unthinkable and a mere waving of one hand is somehow too frivolous.

There are five forms of formal traditional greeting enjoined in the shaastras of which namaskaram is one. This is understood as prostration but it actually refers to paying homage as we do today when we greet each other with a namaste.

Namaste could be just a casual or formal greeting, a cultural convention or an act of worship. However there is much more to it than meets the eye. In Sanskrit namah + te = namaste. It means – I bow to you – my greetings, salutations or prostration to you. Namaha can also be literally interpreted as "na ma" (not mine). It has a spiritual significance of negating or reducing one’s ego in the presence of another.

The real meeting between people is the meeting of their minds. When we greet another, we do so with namaste, which means, "may our minds meet," indicated by the folded palms placed before the chest. The bowing down of the head is a gracious form of extending friendship in love and humility.

The spiritual meaning is even deeper. The life force, the divinity, the Self or the Lord in me is the same in all. Recognizing this oneness with the meeting of the palms, we salute with head bowed the Divinity in the person we meet. That is why sometimes, we close our eyes as we do namaste to a revered person or the Lord – as if to look within. The gesture is often accompanied by words like "Ram Ram", "Jai Shri Krishna", "Namo Narayana", "Jai Siya Ram", "Om Shanti" etc – indicating the recognition of this divinity.

Namaste is cosmically different. Kings do namaste. Sat Gurus say namaste and mothers do namaste to their own family. We all do namaste before God, a holy man or even a holy place. The namaste gesture bespeaks our inner valuing of the sacredness of all. It betokens our intuition that all souls are divine, in their essence. It reminds us in quite a graphic manner, and with insistent repetition, that we can see God everywhere and in every human being we meet. It is saying, silently. "I see the Deity in us both, and bow before it. I acknowledge the holiness of even this mundane meeting. I cannot separate that which is spiritual in us from that which is human and ordinary."

There are other, more mystical meanings behind namaste. The nerve currents of the body converge in the feet, the solar plexus and the hands. Psychic energy leaves the body at these junctures. To "ground" that energy and balance the flow of prana streaming through the nerve system, yogis cross their legs in the lotus posture, and bring their hands together. The anjali mudra acts like a simple yogic asana, balancing and harmonizing our energies, keeping us centered, inwardly poised and mentally protected. It closes our aura, shielding us psychically. It keeps us from becoming too externalized, thus we remain close to our intuitive nature, our super consciousness.

Touching the hands together puts you in touch with your centre, your soul. Namaste puts you forward as a soul, not an outer personality.

The gesture has a subtle effect on the aura and nerve system. Bringing focused attention and a collection of one's forces, so to speak. It also protects against unnecessary psychic connections which are fostered by shaking hands. This might be called a form of purity also-protecting one's energies.

When we know this significance, our greeting does not remain just a superficial gesture or word but paves the way for a deeper communion with another in an atmosphere of love and respect.

Note: If you like the above post (or any of the other posts from 'Culture Series'), please don’t forget to thank the person who has put in a lot of efforts in collating these articles - Srinivas Ji. He can be reached at srini_p2001@yahoo.com

Long time...

It has been ages since I posted on this blog…not that I didn't get the time - in fact there are articles that I wrote and are lying in my onenote but could reach the blog - for various 'silly-stupid' reasons…:)

So today I am starting with a series of posts known as 'Culture Series'. The motive behind these posts is to understand some of the beautiful things that we have been doing knowingly or unknowingly. I must thank Srinivas Ji (you can mail you comments and thank Srinivas Ji at his mail id: srini_p2001@yahoo.com) who has put in a lot of efforts to collate these articles on whose behalf I am publishing these, unabridged. I would also thank Srinivas Ji for allowing me to post his articles on this blog.