25.Science and Sacredness in the Hindu temples

Each and every gesture done in the Hindu culture has a deeper sense than the apparent. It should never be crossed out as superstition. All the hindu tradition is built upon a lifestyle that, from the smallest of the gestures to the biggest of the celebration, is conducive to the spiritual advancement of the jiva through the performance of his/her daily routines in his/her life.

Another clarifying article mailed from the American Hindu Association, via Hindu Association of the USA, that I would like to contribute to spread. Although I would rather use some other terms like murti instead of idol (for the negative connotations of the word idol), o Bhagavan instead of God, I have respected the original text exactly as I received it.

India is known for it’s rich Hindu culture and tradition. There are hundred’s of mesmerizing Hindu temples across the country in different design, shape, locations; but not all temples are built as described in Vedic literature.

Paying visit to the temples are not only to get blessing but to get a calm and better mind set. The following 10 scientific reasons are the actual purpose of visiting the temple according to the Hindu script.

1. The Location and Structure of The Temple

Temples are found deliberately at a place where the positive energy is available abundantly from the the magnetic and electric wave conveyances of north/south post push. The idol of God is set in the core center of the temple, known as “Garbhagriha” or “Moolasthanam”. Ideally, the structure of the temple is built after the idol has been placed in a high positive wave centric place. This *moolasthanam* is the place where earth’s magnetic waves are discovered to be most extreme.

2. Removing Your Footwear Before Entering Temple

Temples are the place that contains pure vibrations of magnetic and electric fields with positive energy. In olden days, temples were built in such a way that the floor at the center of the temple were good conductors of these positive vibrations allowing them to pass through our feet to the body. Hence it is necessary to walk bare footed while you enter the core center of the temple.

Another known reason is shoes and chappals are used everywhere hence they tend to get all the impurities like dirt, germs etc which spoil the pure environment of the temple and is the source of negative energy.

Five senses of Human Body are sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. These are activated by the following actions in the temple:

The positive energy in the temple is absorbed properly only if you ensure that all five senses are activated in your body while you are in the temple. Also the place of worship is said to be pleased only if your five senses are pleased.

3. Ringing the temple bell when you enter the temple – Hearing Sense Activated

People who are visiting the temple should and will Ring the bell before entering the inner temple (Garbhagudi, Garbhagriha, Moolasthanam or womb-chamber) where the main idol is placed. These bells are made in such a way that when they produce a sound it creates a unity in the Left and Right parts of our brains. The moment we ring the bell, it produces a sharp and enduring sound which lasts for minimum of 7 seconds in echo mode. The duration of echo is good enough to activate all the seven healing centres in our body. This results in emptying our brain from all negative thoughts.

This bell sound is also absorbed by the idol and vibrated within the Garbhagudi for a certain period of time. 

4. Lighting Camphor in Front of Idol – Sight Sense Activated

The inner core of the temple is usually dark where the idol is placed. You usually close your eyes to pray and when you open your eyes you should see the camphor which was lit to do the Aarthi in front of the idol. This light seen inside the dark activates your sight sense.

The other reason of lighting camphor is for the idol to absorb the heat and vibrate within the Garbhagudi for certain period.

5. Put your hands over the camphor flames and then touch eyes – Touch Sense Activated

Once the camphor is brought to you after offering the prayer, you usually put your hands over the camphor to make your hands warm and then you touch your eyes with your warm hands. This action assures your touch sense is active.

6. Offering flowers to God at the temple – Smell Sense Activated

Flower, is good to see, spreads good fragrance, very soft to touch, the nectar given by flower pleases the tongue, and this combination is perfect for using at the temple.

Only specific flowers are used for offering to God like rose petals, jasmine, marigold based on different factors, amongst them fragrance is most important. The fragrance of the flower, camphor and incense sticks all together have the strong essence to keep your smell sense active and pleasant giving calmness to the mind.

7. Drinking Theertham – Taste Sense Activated

The next part of your act would be to drink theertham ideally from a silver or a copper vessel. The water used for theertham usually would contain Thulasi leaves dipped in water and must be stored at least for eight hours in the copper vessel.  According to Ayurveda, water stored in a copper vessel has the ability to balance all the three doshas in your body, (vata, kapha and pitta) and it does so by  positively charging the water. By drinking this Thulasi water you activate the taste sense. The other benefits of drinking Thulasi water from a copper or silver vessel also includes cure for soar throats, Fever & Common Cold, Coughs, Respiratory Disorder, formation of Kidney Stone, Heart Disorder chances will be reduced.

8. Doing Pradakshina around the Garbhagriha/Moolasthanam

Finally, after performing all the above rituals you have to walk around the idol inside the Garbhagirha, the inner most chamber of temple in clockwise direction for nine times. Pradakshina literary means right side in Sanskrit.

The idol inside the Garbhagriha absorbs all the energy from the bell sound, camphor heat and vibrates the positive energy within the Garbhagriha for a certain duration of time. When you do the pradakshina at this point of time, you tend to absorb all these positive vibrations once your five senses are activated. This vibration inside the Garbhagriha is considerably less and hence it is advised to visit the temple very often and follow the same rituals again.

9. Applying Tilak/Kumkum given by the Temple Priest

On the forehead, between the two eyebrows, is a spot that is considered as a major nerve point in human body since ancient times. The Tilak is believed to prevent the loss of “energy”, the red ‘kumkum’ between the eyebrows is said to retain energy in the human body and control the various levels of concentration. While applying kumkum the points on the mid-brow region and Adnya-chakra are automatically pressed. This also facilitates the blood supply to the face muscles.

10. Why offer Coconut and Banana to God when you visit Hindu temples ?

Coconut and Banana are the only two fruits in this world which are considered to be “Sacred fruits”. All other fruits are tainted fruits (partially eaten fruits). For example, the apple tree grows from the seed of another eaten fruit and that fruit is treated as tainted.

In the case of coconut and banana, the shell or the sleeves is not used for anything. To grow a coconut tree, you have to sow the entire coconut itself and Banana tree grows with the sampling. This is the reason why Coconut and Banana has an important place in all religious activities.
Our Ancestors had found this reality long ago and they had made it as a system which is still followed religiously.

THE END

—-

Now let´s visit one particular temple, Chidambaram temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva in His Nataraja form. It is located in Tamil Nadu in the temple town Chidambaram. It is one of the five holiest Shiva temples, each representing one of the five natural elements (earth, water, air or wind, fire and ether or skies). All of the creation, including the human body, is made up of these five essential elements and upon death, the human body dissolves into these five elements of nature, thereby balancing the cycle of nature.

The Chidambaram Temple is in the heart of the city. It is one of the few temples where both the Shaivite and Vaishnavite deities are enshrined in one place, Lord Shiva Nataraja and Lord Govindaraja Perumal.

According to Shivaits Puranas when the Lord Shiva was in a happy blissful mood he took the form of Nataraja (Nataraj). He continuously dances in a state of eternal bliss “Aananda thaandava”, with his consort Sakthi called Sivagami, the other form of Him. In the course of ‘Anantha Thandava’ he took several other forms and created this Universe. He does this dance even now and takes new forms. For instance, Lord Shiva displayed his dance of bliss (the Aananda Thaandavam) to Pathanjali and Vyagrapathar. Sage Pathanjali wrote the famous Suthras that constitute the foundational text of Ashtanga or Raja Yoga.

Chidambara Rahasyam (Secret)

After 8 years of research and development, Western scientists have proved that at Lord Nataraja ‘s big toe is the Centre Point of World ‘s Magnetic Equator.

Our ancient Tamil Scholar Thirumoolar has proved this Five thousand years ago! His treatise
Thirumandiram is a wonderful Scientific guide for the whole world.

To understand his studies, it may need a 100 years for us.

Chidambaram temple embodies the following characteristics :

1) This temple is located at the Center Point of world ‘s Magnetic Equator.

2) Of the “Pancha bootha” i.e. 5 temples, Chidambaram denotes the Skies. Kalahasthi denotes Wind. Kanchi Ekambareswar denotes land. All these 3 temples are located in a straight line at 79 degrees 41 minutes Longitude. This can be verified using Google. An amazing fact & astronomical miracle !

3) Chidambaram temple is based on the Human Body having 9 Entrances denoting 9 Entrances or Openings of the body.

4) Temple roof is made of 21600 gold sheets which denotes the 21600 breaths taken by a human being every day (15 x 60 x 24 = 21600)

5) These 21600 gold sheets are fixed on the Gopuram using 72000 gold nails which denote the total no. of Nadis (Energy channels or subtle nerves) in the human body. These transfer energy to certain body parts that are invisible.

6) Thirumoolar states that man represents the shape of Shivalingam, which represents Chidambaram which represents Sadashivam which represents HIS dance !

7) “Ponnambalam” (Chidambaram) is placed slightly tilted towards the left. This represents our Heart. To reach this, we need to climb 5 steps called “Panchatshara padi ”
“Si, Va, Ya, Na, Ma ” are the 5 Panchatshara mantras.

There are 4 pillars holding the Kanagasabha representing the 4 Vedas.

8) Ponnambalam has 28 pillars denoting the 28 “Ahamas “as well as the 28 methods to worship Lord Shiva. These 28 pillars support 64 +64 Roof Beams which denote the 64 Arts. The cross beams represent the Blood Vessels running across the Human body.

9) 9 Kalasas on the Golden Roof represent the 9 types of Sakthi or Energies (loosely translated).

The 6 pillars at the Artha Mantapa represent the 6 types of Sashtras.

The 18 pillars in the adjacant Mantapa represents 18 Puranams.

10) The dance of Lord Nataraja is described as Cosmic Dance by Western Scientists.

Whatever Science is propounding now has been stated by HINDUISM THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO !

 

Sources for Chidambaran temple: information received by mail

http://awesometemples.blogspot.com.es/2009_03_01_archive.html