Temple Worship

I) Science and Symbolism in Temple Worship

Before we go to the temple, we have to prepare ourselves by first performing Pooja in our
house itself. (‘Athmaartha Pooja’). This will prepare us both physically and mentally and
ease us in accommodating ourselves in the temple worship (‘Paraartha Pooja’)

Steps of worship

1. Before we enter the temple we must first face the ‘Rajagopuram’ of the temple
and pray with our hands folded together stretched right above our head, pointed
toward the sky and head looking up at the ‘Rajagopuram’. This in Yoga is
‘Thaadasanam’ meaning – Palm Tree Pose – helps in gaining concentration. The
symbolical meaning is to pay respect to all of Gods creation which will be
sculptured as statues in the Rajagopuram.
2. Following this, we have to wash our face, hands mouth, legs – especially the hind
part of legs near the ankle and downwards and sprinkle some water on our head.
This helps in activating the pituitary gland, which again helps in concentration
and takes our mental level to the astral state. (Superconscious state of the mind or
meditative level)
3. Following this we have to go into the temple and go around the sanctum
sanctorum (“Moolasthaanam”) 3 times in clockwise circles, in a slow pace as if a
pot full of water is placed on our head and we should not spill a drop.
Symbolically this denotes that we should give up our desires of ‘Penn’ – women,
‘Mann’ – property and ‘Ponn’ – wealth. Here it solely means eradicate greed but
not the needs. Each of the rounds symbolizes this.
Scientifically it helps in absorbing the ‘Cosmic Vibration’ that is prevalent in the
temple, into our physical body and helps in cleansing ‘auras’ (Oli Kathirgal)
around our body
4. Once we finish the 3rd round we have to go up the ‘Thwajsthambam’ or
‘Kodimaram’ * we should not stand anywhere beyond this and perform our
prayers. The ‘Thwajsthambam’ has two strings crossly strung running round the
whole of the pole from the bottom to the top where a flag is placed. The pole
resembles our back bone. The strings resemble the ‘Pingalle’ and ‘Idaigalle’
Naadi, the two important nerves that are running through our spine to the brains.
The whole thing resembles that through meditation (Nyana – enlightenment stage
of worship) the Kundalini is activated and raised through the seven ‘chakras’ and
once it reaches the ‘Siras’ – the last ‘chakra’ the mind becomes elevated and thus
‘Nyana’ is obtained which shines like the flags which flies forming waves
 Why we should not go beyond the flag pole in the temple?
After the flag pole there is the ‘Bali Peedam’ not to sacrifice animals but
the animalistic characters like ego, hatred etc embedded within us. This
resembles that the ‘Athma’- (soul) – without the physical – after being
enlightened at the ‘Thwajsthambam’ – moves further – sacrifices all its
animalistic qualities at the ‘Balipeedam’ and moves further where the
‘Vahana’ as a pure ‘Athma’. As in all our ‘Puranas’ we see that the
‘Asuras’ (demons) go to war with the Gods and after being conquered are
accepted as their ‘Vahana’. Eg:
I. Lord Muruga defeats Surabathman and accepts him as the Cockrel
in the flag and Peacock
II. Mahishasuran defeated by Dewi is accepted as the ‘Lion Vahana’
III. Gajamuhasuran defeeted by Lord Ganesha is accepted as the
‘Peruchali Vahana’
This is the highest quality of God who, once we forgo our ‘Asura’
qualities and surrender at his Feet, will bestow his ‘Karunya’ – ultimate
love – and accepts us as a Pure Soul.
From this juncture that is the ‘Vahana’ as is seen symbolically the Pure
Soul concentrates with full attention (without being distracted) at the Deity
that is in the ‘Moolasthaanam’. This is why we are told not cross in
between the ‘Moolasthanam’ and ‘Vahana’.
The scientific reason for this is that, 3 waves namely Alpha, Gamma and
Beta, come out from the ‘Moolasthanam’ absorbed thru the ‘Sthupi’ from
the ‘Vimanam’ atop the ‘Moolasthaanam’ and passed into the
‘Moolasthaaam’ and energised by the ‘Yanthram’ that is placed below the
deity with all the gold, gems and ornaments spreading throughout the
temple premises. The beta wave which benefits women travels towards
left of the ‘Moolasthaanam’. The ‘Alpha’ wave which benefits men travels
towards the right of the ‘Moolasthaanam’. This is why women should
stand on the left side of the ‘Moolasthaanam’ and men on the right side.
The Gamma wave comes out straight from the ‘Moolasthaanam’. As this
wave is very forceful and highly powerful, it will affect general people
who are not equipped to absorb this wave. This is one of the reason why
we should not cross in between the ‘Vahana’ and ‘Moolasthaanam’ and
also not stand anywhere in the middle and pray face to face with the
presiding deity. This is why the ‘Vahana’ and ‘Balipeedam’ is purposely
made of granite stone that is neither masculine nor feminine just to absorb
this wave into them.
Usually a deity that is feminine in nature is made of feminine stone and
that is of masculine is made of masculine stone. The Hindu sculptor can
just tap the stone and find out its gender.
Other Scientific Aspects of Temple Worship
Since the ‘Moolasthaanam’ is empowered with the Cosmic Energy both by the existing
of the ‘Alpha’, ‘Gamma’ and ‘Beta’ wave and by the chanting of Manthras and the Kriya
(rituals) performed, it is most necessary that we bring a tray made of metal with all the
pooja items and hand it over to the priest. The priest then takes it into the
‘Moolasthaanam’ and performs the ‘Archana’ and brings out and gives it to us. The tray
being made of metal, is a good conductor and therefore it absorbs the Cosmic vibration
and when this tray is taken back to our home, our home is thus energized.
Nowadays we find shortcuts by placing a few dollars in the hands of the priest and he
comes out with a coconut shell of ‘Kaalanji’ just like a coco-cola vending machine.
The Cosmic vibration travels round the temple to the ‘Vasantha Mandapam’ where the
‘Eluntharuli Deity’ is placed. This Deity is made of some metal which absorbs all the
energy and once a while it is placed on a ‘Rathaa’ and taken out of the temple to bless the
devotees. Symbolically this means that God is ready to come out to serve the devotees
who cannot come to the temple and receive his blessings. This reveals to us that we too
should go out to the masses and serve them.
How the Five Senses are Activated?

Sight -Dharshan of the beautifully decorated Deity

Hearing -Ringing of bells
-Chanting of Manthram
-Traditional music
-Blowing of conch shell
Smell -Flowers
-Incense
Taste -Theertam
-Panjaamirtham
Touch -Pradakshana – going round the temple and absorbing the Cosmic energy
-Touching lit Camphor and touching it on our face
Thus going to the temple itself is so much a necessity, so our forefathers have told that
‘Kovil illaatha ooril kdi irukaathea’ – do not leave in a place where there is no temple and
‘Aalayam tholuvathu saalamum nandru’ – it is most profound to worship in the temple.
(II) Temple and Society (Alaayamum Samuthaayamum)
Worship – 2 Forms
Pooja at Home: - A) Aatmartha Pooja – personal – for spiritual upliftment
Pooja at Temple: - B) Paraartha Pooja – socially inclined other than purposes of
worship.
Ancient Temples built by great kings like Raja Raja Cholan – played this role and acted
as centres for :-
1. Cultural Development
2. Centre for Literary Development
3. Solving Social Problems
4. Housed Refugees During Natural Calamities
5. Were Godowns for storing grains for droughts
Eg:- 1. Sri Ranggam – during invasion of Moghuls, housed and protected Hindus
2. Chitambaram – housed all the Tamil Scriptures and also promoted culture

Since temples were meant also to cater for the needs of the society we also should use our
temples accordingly.
Examples of local temples doing such services:-
1. Subang Jaya Murugan Temple - running a kindergarten and preparing 20
students each year to be admitted into the local Tamil School.
2. Cheras Kaliamman Temple – in Kuala Lumpur – conducts lots of programmes
for developing students both in the academic and personal aspect
3. Masai – Johor Kaliamman Temple is providing monthly provision for needy
families and conducts tuition for PMR, SPM, STPM students.
4. Tampoi (JB) Muneeswaran Temple – gives out school books and uniforms/
shoes and fees for needy students and is ready to sponsor any kind of student
activity.
5. KL Kampung Lindungan KTM Ganggai Amman Temple – runs free
computer classes for the squatter area children and has developed the area into
a non-crime one.
6. Kluang Rivertek Mariamman Temple – organises weekly Satsangh after pooja
on Fridays, where they all discuss social problems and means to solve them
and also implemented these ideas.
Eg ; During the yearly ‘thiruvilla’ many youngsters would come dressed
ruggedly and create lots of nuisance by beating drums and so on. Instead of
chasing them away, the young committee – (made of our swayamsevaks)
made all these youngsters to be properly attired – organised a spiritual march
and made these youngsters to carry a tray of flowers each and neatly follow
the procession. The last ‘thiruvilla’ had about 1000s of such youth following
the chariot in an orderly manner with traditional attire.