Visiting a Hindu temple – How to take benefits spiritually

1. Visiting a Hindu temple – How should we climb

the steps of a Devalay (Temple)?

         ‘Devalay’ is an abode of God, meaning, the actual existence of God. By going to a Devalay our wishes are accepted by God and we experience mental peace. With this faith, the devotees visit a Devalay. It is said that, God is present where there is bhav (Spiritual emotion). It does not matter which way a staunch devotee with bhav has darshan (View of the Deity), he still experiences God’s grace; however, an ordinary devotee does not have as much bhav and hence, it is imperative that he has darshan in a spiritually correct manner. Our shastras (scriptures) provide us with knowledge, through which we can incorporate simple acts while visiting a Devalay in order to have maximum benefit of the darshan.

Visiting a Hindu temple – Doing Namaskar to each step of the Devalay

        If there are steps at the entrance of the Devalay, Namaskar should be done to each step while climbing up. Namaskar to a step can be done by touching a step with the fingers of the right hand and then, placing the same hand at the Adnya-chakra (Sixth centre or chakra in the spiritual energy system; located in the mid-brow region in the subtle-body). This amounts to Namaskar to the Chaitanya (Divine consciousness) of the Chaitanya-bhumi (Chaitanya endowed land) of the Devalay. It activates the Chaitanya in the land and provides benefit to the individual. It also helps in destroying the Raja-Tama particles present on the body of the individual. Also, the steps are a link that takes the individual from duality to God, meaning, non-duality.

Picture (based on subtle-knowledge) of a devotee paying obeisance by touching the steps of a temple with his right hand and then touching the Adnya-chakra with the same hand

2.Visiting a Hindu temple – Importance of touching each step of a Devalay

1. Dissolution of ego by touching the steps of the temple, and awakening of bhav of complete surrender : When a person touches the steps of a Devalay, his ego dissolves. When the ego dissolves, ‘I’-ness gets destroyed and enlightenment takes place; which means that, he has darshan of God in the true sense. This does not happen because of the person; rather, God only bestows His darshan. Nothing remains after camphor burns; similarly, nothing remains in a person after dissolution of ego, and thus, darshan of the Deity takes place sooner. Bhav of complete surrender also gets awakened in the person.

2. The person becomes introverted and moves from the world of Maya (Great Illusion) to Brahman (God).

3. Elimination of the black energy covering around the body upon activation of the Surya-naḍi (Sun channel): When the person bends to touch the steps of the temple, his Surya-naḍi gets activated and the covering of black energy around his body is eliminated.

4. Being conscious about God-realisation : A person becomes humble upon touching the steps of the Devalay and also becomes aware that, ‘In the same way, he has to attain God-realisation by climbing one step at a time’. By touching the steps of the temple, a person becomes humble, modest and devoted, and starts becoming one with God.

5. With every step, the person destroys his shaḍaripus (Six foes) and inculcates qualities for God-realisation, and finally, he has a darshan of God, that is, Final Liberation.

6. Obtaining the Earth Principle : Touching the steps of a Devalay amounts to having darshan of Mother Earth and performing Her ritualistic worship before having darshan of the Deity of the temple. It is because of this that the person obtains the Earth Principle.

A devotee paying obeisance by touching the steps of a Devalay with his right hand and then touching the Adnya-chakra with the same hand.

3.Visiting a Hindu temple – Benefits of touching the steps of a Devalay with the

right hand and then touching the Adnya-chakra with the same hand

  A. Subtle benefits

• When the devotee touches his Adnya-chakra with his right hand after touching the steps of the Devalay, the Principles absorbed through the Panchatattva (Five Cosmic Principles) emitted by the steps of the Devalay enter his body through the Adnya-chakra.

• Due to the vibrations absorbed through the Adnya-chakra, the black energy covering on the devotee’s body, mind and intellect is eliminated. Consequently, the devotee is able to easily absorb the vibrations in the form of blessings emitted by the Deity.

• Unnecessary thoughts arising in the devotee’s mind, and the intellect which instigates these thoughts are associated with the Adnya-chakra. By touching the steps of the temple with the hand and then touching the Adnya-chakra with it, there is a reduction in the proportion of these unnecessary thoughts.

B. Is it correct to do Namaskar to the steps with only one hand ?

Doing Namaskar to a step, while climbing the steps of a Devalay is a sattvik (Sattva-predominant) action that should be performed within a short time, while simultaneously balancing oneself. Climbing the steps is a Rajasik (Raja-predominant) movement, resulting in activation of the Raja component in the body of the individual. Touching the steps with one hand, that is, with the fingers of the right hand leads to transmission of sattvik and calm waves of the Chaitanya-bhumi into the body through the fingers. This, in a way, amounts to keeping under control the Raja component in the body of the individual through the medium of Surya-naḍi, meaning, the momentary fulfilment of the duty of the Surya-naḍi. Through this process, the individual is taught to make use of the Raja component for enhancing the sattvikta. Hence, the relevant actions become appropriate at the respective level.

Reference : Sanatan’s Holy Text, ‘How should one have darshan in a temple?’