Hindu Temple – Final Blog! Please read part 1 & 2 of my series on Hindu Temple. In this final part, I have covered “The Significance of Water & Fire in a Temple & “Invigorating the Five Senses” followed by a Conclusion on this subject.
4. The Significance of Water & Fire in a Temple
Introduction:
Human body is made up of almost 75% water or H20 (2 atoms of Hydrogen combining with 1 atom of oxygen forms one molecule of water). Our mother earth is also made up of 75% water. The Big Bang created all matter & energy that we see around us. Soon after the Big Bang, once the Universe started to expand & cool down after approx. 400,000 years, 75% Hydrogen & 25% of Helium formed. Hydrogen is therefore the first element or the primary building block of life in this Universe. According to NASA – the Big Bang, fusion that occurs in small and large stars, supernovae (explosion of a star during its last stages) and fragmentation by cosmic rays, are the events that created various elements that form part of our human bodies and all objects around us. This only proves that Human Beings (Microcosm) are a small of part of the Grand Universe (Macrocosm). Not different at all!
Hydrogen accounts for 90% of all atoms in our Universe and two thirds of atoms in human bodies are made up of Hydrogen (<To know more click here for an article on “First there was Hydrogen”). As the Universe cooled down and when the temperature of Earth dropped below 100 Deg C (4.4 billion years ago), dihydrogen monoxide (H20) also known as “Water” began to condense on its surface. Life on earth thus emerged from this aqueous environment.
This is also true as per the Vedic scriptures or Puranas as well, when we look at the TEN Avatars of Lord Vishnu starting with 1) Matsya (Fish) 2) Kurma (Tortoise) 3) Varaha (Boar) 4) Narasimha (Half Man – Half Lion) 5) Vamana (Dwarf) 6) Parashurama (Cave & Forest dweller) 7) Rama (Ideal King) 8) Balarama (Who signifies Farming & Agriculture) 9) Krishna (Teacher & Guide of Humanity) and 10) Kalki Avatar who is supposed to appear at the end of Kali Yuga! All life therefore began first from WATER (indicated by Matsya or Fish Avatar) and evolved/transformed thereon. (Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama was an “awakened human being” who lived in Kali Yuga between the 6th & 5th century BCE and some consider him as a Vishnu avatar. Sometimes Balarama & Krishna as brothers are mentioned together as a single avatar. Then the number of Vishnu Avatars become Nine!).
Water & Fire offered by the Priest in a Temple:
In my previous blog on Hindu Temple (<click here for more information) and on the subject of “The Power of Granite” the following was mentioned:
“Granite has all the Five Elements (earth, air, water, fire & space) – Pancha Bhutas in ideal proportions. Since Granite has the necessary moisture, porosity (minute spaces), heat element, crystalline granular structure, tone & grade/quality, it can absorb the divine vibrations emitted during the chanting of mantras via air & water and in turn energize the surroundings”.
In the Grabhagriha or Sanctum sanctorum, normally water with a Thulasi or Holy Basil leaves are kept in a small copper vessel and the Priest after chanting of mantras offers it to the devotees to sip/drink. The divine vibrations are thus passed on through water. Water is therefore has always been considered a “purifier” in the case of all major religions and is called “Holy Water” and used in all rituals. Water is the “media” through which people are blessed when they visit religious places, thereby passing on that spiritual energy.
The priest lights camphor and as he shows it to the idol and each part of the idol is revealed to the devotee. The devotee gets glimpse of the beautiful decorated image of the Lord. (Flame or Fire has always been considered as a “purifier” in all Hindu rituals). When lit, Camphor is a substance that sublimates from solid form directly to gaseous form & leaves no residue behind. It exudes only fragrance. A fragrance of the innate nature, signature or personality of a human being driven by “Vasanas or Desires”. Thus the burning of camphor signifies removal of our remaining Vasanas or Desires. When there is no desire there is no EGO. What remains is our PURE BEING – ATMAN.
Entering temples with wet clothes:
It is very common in India especially South India to see Temples that have a water tank or river located nearby. The devotee takes a dip in this tank before entering the Temple with wet clothes. We will now understand why.
When the body is wrapped in a wet towel, the body temperature lowers as the body transfers the heat from the body to the towel by “conduction”. (“Conduction” is the process of losing heat through physical contact with another object or cooler surface). The wet towel then transfers the heat by evaporation to the surrounding air, lowering the temperature furthermore by “convection”. (“Convection” is the process by which heat is transferred from a solid surface (cloth) to a nonsolid, such as air). Human resistance can go as high as about 100,000 ohms, but when a person is wet it can go as low as 1,000 ohms. When the resistance of a person is low, he is more receptive to that sound energy (chants & sounds) which creates divine vibrations in & around him.
Verse 2.1.2 of Taittiriya Upanishad on Water & Fire:
From the Self or Brahman, Ether or space arose; from ether, Air; from Air came Fire; from fire, Water; from water the Earth. From earth came herbs; from herbs food; from food the human/person. Therefore, from Supreme Consciousness arose Space whose primary matter is Ether with the only quality which is Sound. From this Etheric state grosser elements arise: Air, Fire, Water & Earth. This is the cyclic nature of our universe, wherein one element after the other arises and this transformation is ongoing.
Both Fire & Water are interconnected. When the combustion of fuel (hydrocarbon) in the presence of oxygen (Air) takes place, carbon dioxide & water are formed. In addition, when a person grieves or sweats, water is produced because of the heat or fire element existing in our body (Water thus comes from the Fire element!). Again, water has Hydrogen & Oxygen. Intense heat can separate hydrogen & oxygen from water. Hydrogen becomes combustible at the right temperature and when mixed with oxygen causes Fire/Explosion. (Fire thus comes from the Water element!). Fire comes from water but then water is also used to extinguish fire. This is the interaction or interplay of both Fire & Water. Water creates life & Fire creates forms & energies. Therefore both fire & water are important elements that are used for “purification” in a Temple.
How did carbon form in the Universe?
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched in 2021 and arrived at its destination in January, 2022. JWST has found that carbon molecules & carbon dust (graphite or diamond like grains) were existing within approx. 1 billion years of the Big Bang. These particles look similar to “polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons” (PAH) (<click here for more information). It was earlier thought that these particles formed in abundant quantities much later and not within 1 billion year time frame of the Big Bang. The speculation is that these carbon particles came from ejections of supernova (meaning: massive explosion created by a dying star, thus ending its life) explosions. The first stars were made of hydrogen & helium and when they exploded provided the carbon dust for furthering life in the Universe. This is the accumulated dust that was spotted by JWST. Hydrocarbon is Hydrogen + Carbon and Carbohydrates are Carbon + Water (Hydrogen + Oxygen) – These are the building blocks of life in our universe!
5. Invigorating the Five Senses.
Introduction:
A typical Temple has three circular passages that enclose the main idol in the sanctum sanctorum. As we enter the main Gopuram or the entrance tower, we see the first circular path which is the widest among the three and open to the sky. As we move further, there is a second circular path in the Mandapa with a covered roof. Beyond this is the sanctum sanctorum or Garbhagriha where the main idol is located in a dark enclosure that is surrounded by another circular pathway. These are the three passages in a Temple that represent the 3 bodies: Gross, Subtle & Causal (<click here for more information) bodies of man.
The outermost pathway from the Garbhagriha represents the gross body which is constantly involved with the outer world. Then comes the middle pathway that represents the subtle body consisting of thoughts, emotions & desires (manifested vasanas). Then is the innermost pathway surrounding the Garbhagriha that represents the causal body which contains un-manifest Vasanas, which are a bundle of stored desires & impressions from our past lives in the un-manifest form. The symbolism is that a Man has to transcend these three paths by shaking off these “Vasanas”, to finally merge with the Supreme Godhead or Brahman. Thus Causal Body or “Seed Body” manifests first as Subtle Body (consisting of thought, emotions & desire) and further manifests as gross body which perceives & acts.
Symbolism of offering coconut to the Deity:
Offering made at the Garbhagriha usually consists of fruit & coconuts. Coconut is a preferred offering because it does not spoil or rot over a period of time and stays fresh. A small tuft of coir or fibre is left at the top of the coconut while giving it to the priest. Symbolically this tuft of coir represents that some desires or vasanas are still remaining within the seeker, which is removed by the Priest as it is given to him. This signifies that the last traces of “vasanas” are eliminated as the devotee stands before the main Idol. The coconut is then broken revealing the white kernel inside which is the realization is the supreme self. This breaking of the coconut and pouring of the coconut water on the Idol also “conveys intention” of the devotee to merge with the “Supreme Self”.
Energizing the 5 senses:
Finally for a devotee, a temple visit is an experience where his Five Sense organs (Jnanendriyas) together with his Five objects of Perception ((Tanmatras) are energized as follows:
- Ears/Sound: By the divine sound of the chanting of Mantras/Instruments
- Eyes/Sight: By light or Fire revealing the beautifully decorated image of the Deity.
- Nose/Smell: By Fragrance of incense sticks & camphor etc.
- Skin & Touch: By applying sandalwood paste or Tilak on the “Ajna Chakra” of the forehead
- Mouth/Taste: By Holy water & “Prasad” consisting of a piece of coconut, banana or food.
Conclusion:
A true follower of Sanatana Dharma knows that everything that he encounters in his journey from birth to death is Divine. When he has understood the concept of Vedanta, he knows that he is nothing but the Omnipotent, Omniscient & Omnipresent “Supreme Brahman or Consciousness” and not the accumulation of the Five Elements! These Five Elements or Pancha Bhutas (<click here for more information, if required) that constitute his body are perishable.
The Six enemies of our mind are:
1. Kama | Lust or Desire |
2. Krodha | Anger or Hatred |
3. Lobha | Greed or Avarice; |
4. Moha | Delusion or Ignorance |
5. Mada | Pride or Arrogance |
6. Matsarya | Envy or Jealousy |
After we are born, during the course of our life’s journey, we gradually accumulate some or all of the above negative qualities that contaminate the “Pure Being” or the Supreme Brahman in us. Once we have realized this, we need to remove this contamination. This can be achieved through “Ashtanga Yoga”. Ashta means eight and is so named because of its “eight limbs or forms” consisting of 1. Yama (Restraint) 2. Niyama (Rituals) 3. Asana (Posture) 4. Pranayama (Breathing or more clearly expansion of vital breath energy) 5. Pratyahara (withdrawal or “Returning to the Source” as Osho calls it) 6. Dharana (retention or concentration) 7. Dhyana (Meditation) & 8. Samadhi (Liberation).
We have to remember this when we visit a temple. Unless there is divineness or a certain divine quality of that deity in us, we cannot connect with the divine! When most people pray, they do so because they fear God. Their prayer is not out of Love but Fear. If we fear God, what about the Devil or Demons? Should we love them? People say God is Love, God is Forgiveness, God is Happiness etc. but there is fear! When Man realizes that he is nothing but Supreme Brahman himself – that he is deathless, fear will go away. “When fear disappears, love arises. Then a prayer springs forth which is without fear, out of love, gratitude & thankfulness – Osho”.
Each one of us is responsible for ourselves. It is up to us to feel miserable or happy. When we feel miserable the entire world looks miserable and when we a happy the outside world reflects that. It is an illusion that the outside material world or others can make us happy. Finally, a Temple was created as an “energy space” to stimulate our body & mind; to absorb positive energy. It is not a place for begging God for favors. In India, there are adequate number of beggars sitting outside the temple already!
My next blog will discuss Shiva Linga against the backdrop of cosmology….