Ours is a society that owes much to the age-old temple culture. For centuries, people have been praying at temples in this country. But many still don’t know how to behave in temples.
A temple is place meant exclusively for praying. Yet it is a pity that people talk politics or family matters within the temple premises. It should be insisted that no sound other than chanting of mantras be heard within.
What are mantras? There are different definitions of mantras.
“Manyate njayate eeswaraadesa: Anena iti Manthra”
(Through this we know God’s order, and hence it is mantra)
“Mananat madrupasya avabodhanat manthra: ithyuchayate”
(Since we get awareness about our self through its reflection, it is mantra)
“Manthryate guptham sambhashyate iti manthra”
(Since it is uttered in secrecy, it is mantra)
These interpretations of mantra, whose sources are Sage Sayana, Yogasiropanishad and Sabdakalpadrumam also indicate the glory and greatness of chanting them in the premises of a temple.
There are different mantras to praise and please each deity. The devotee should learn the respective mantra and chant it. The atmosphere in the temple should help one add to his or her power of concentration.
No distractions are allowed there. Purity and sanctity are the hallmarks of the temple. And when chanting is done without interruptions, it creates an atmosphere of piety and tranquility.
Another tradition in temples, especially in South India, is one that prevents devotees from standing right in front of the idol while praying. In most temples a fence is built to avoid this. It is advisable to stand on the left or right, a little away from the area where the deity’s direct vision falls. The devotees can stand leaning 30 degrees with folded hands and pray. It is believed that divine grace emerging from the idol reaches the devotee in snake-like waves. At this time, the devotee is supposed to stand with folded hands, eyes closed and fully absorbed in meditation. While standing thus, the fingers that touch each other guide the pranic energy (life energy) from the brain all over the body. Each finger conveys different energies. As a result, the devotee gets physical strength, an alert intellect and self-confidence.
However, human body cannot bear the direct impact of the energy emerging from the deity. Hence it is advised that one should not stand right in front of the idols and pray.
In certain temples it is a practice that men should not wear shirt or other upper garments while doing the circumambulation of the deity. It is believed that the energy of the deity easily enters those who don’t wear upper garment while praying in a temple. Visiting temples in wet clothes and wet body helps the devotee absorb the divine grace more effectively.
For women, however, it is not advisable or practical to resort to this doctrine. It will be an affront to their purity, which we Indians hold in the greatest esteem.
Exposure to the morning and evening sunlight rich in vitamin D makes the body healthier. From this perspective too, the doctrine that men should not wear upper garment in temples is justified.
And most importantly, such practices subtly erase the ego of the devotee and purifies him.

— Dr Venganoor Balakrishnan is the author
of Thaliyola, a book on Hindu beliefs and rituals.
He has also written books on the Vedas
and Upanishads. The author can be reached
at drvenganoor@yahoo.co.in