Sanatan Dharma

Consecration of a Temple A person who has attained Mantrasiddhi and is at the zenith of spiritual realization is transferring the powers he has gotten through various rigorous Sadhanas into a point for the larger welfare of the world is what is called consecration of deity (Moorthi). Consecration of a temple is a very complex process. More so, as per the Kerala Tantric tradition. The rituals in the consecration of temples in Kerala is based on the Sanskrit text Tantra Samucchayam. More than 50% of this text is devoted to consecration and associated rituals. Tantra Samucchayam, Sesha Samucchayam, Kuzhikkattu Paccha are the major reference manuals for temples of Kerala. The first and the foremost step for the construction of a new temple is finding a suitable Acharya, who by his Sadhana has attained Mantrasiddhi for the consecration rituals. Mantrasiddhi is acquired through Purascharana – Japam, Homam, Tarpanam, Brahmana Bhojanam and Maarjanam (these five are together cal...

Temples, Human Body & Kundalini If we look at the way temples are designed, we can see that there are five outer layers, each in the shape of a square, before we approach the doors of the sanctum sanctorum. These layers are the compound wall, the outer courtyard, the external wall where lamps are lit, then the inside of the temple and the inner courtyard. All these different layers of a temple are as per a given proportion. Any warp is a deformity as in the case of a human body. The circumambulation paths are rectangular/ square considering that there are representations of the various subtle elements along with it. The square itself is the symbol of the main Panchabhuta in the constitution of a human body- earth.  As per the famous temple architecture book “Vishwakarmyam”, all parts of the body finds representation in a temple. See this shloka which describes in detail this aspect: Garbhagrham Sirah Proktam Antaraalam Mukham Tattha Sukhaasanam Galaschaiva Bahus...

Temples in Sanatana Dharma Himalayam Samaarabhya Yaavadindu Sarovaram Tam Devanirmitam Desam Hindusthanam Prachakshate A nation which owes its origin to the Devas with Himalayas in the North, Indu Sarovaram (Indian Ocean) in the South is thus called Hindustan (as per Vishnu Purana, Padma Purana and Bruhaspati Samhita) . This Rashtra would have been a conglomeration of different princely states, but bound by a unique thread- Sanatana Dharma. This land is the spiritual melting pot of the world. The natural surroundings just accentuate the pursuit in this holy land. We have mention of temples right from the time of Ramayana wherein Lord Rama Himself consecrated Rameshwara at the southern tip of Bharata. There are references of temples and worship even in the earlier parts of the epic. Mahabharata has got umpteen mentions of temples and also rituals associated with them. As time progressed, things changed. Vedic rituals were found to be cumbersome and people started g...