There are magnificent temples, huge, well-designed, decorated according to Agama Shastra in many parts of India. The temples at Madurai (Meenakshi Devi), Kanchipuram (Kamakshi Devi), Chidambaram with thousand pillars (Nataraja), Tirupati Venkateshvara, Anantapadmanabha Temple at Tiruvanantapuram, Somanatha, Dwarka, etc. are all very famous. These are only a few to mention! However, there are the famous Sharada Temple across the LoC in Kashmir and the Vaishno devi at Khetri that do not have the temple structures of Dravidian style. The Pindi or Shalagrama mark the devi and a high pedestal is the seat of the Devi! As we go north, the people just keep a few stones one above the other and worship with a piece of red cloth with golden colour border. That's all! What s important here is just 'FAITH'. People develop a certain faith and practice their faith s a family or community tradition. Behind this 'faith' and tradition is the fear and desire. We pray God, the Almighty, to get our desires fulfilled and protect us!
But the important question is: Should we go to temple to pray? What if there are no temples? The answer is simple. It is again the family tradition to go to temples, go on pilgrimage and visit shrines once in a while. Some families make it a tradition to visit their family shrines every year or on occasions to perform certain functions. It was the wish of most of the elders to visit the temples at Kashi and Rameshwaram before they die. Some went as far as Badrinath and Kedarnath in the Himalayas by foot! This tradition is there since times immemorial. Sri Shankaracharya visited the Pashupatinatha Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sharada Temple in Kashmir, and others by foot several times. The famous temples are mostly located in places where geo-magnetism is very powerful, and these are called shakti sthal. There are many Shiva temples of Jyotirling like this. Now, it suffices here to state that the visit to temples give solace, satisfaction, and feel a sense of protection from the tapatray= the three types of tapa, troubles and turmoil of life; one of Nature or Prakruti vikopa, second of neighbors, and the third of self-made commission and omissions!
Temple tourism is another pastime. Behind the construction is the design as laid by the Agama Shastra. The foundation and the structure are well defined. Prof. Salagrama Ramachandra Rao has written a beautiful account of these in his Shilpa Shastra, temple architecture. Jakkannacharya is a famous name in the science of sculpture. He has created marvelous idols. Th carvings on the walls of temples, particularly the erotic ones, have called for a special attention. Some say, it is symbolic that the devotees should give up these sensuous thoughts before entering the shrine. Some are of the opinion that these are chiseled to divert the attention of the people who are not having firm faith and devotion! In Konark, as the story goes the erotic sculptures were designed to attract or lure the invaders and kill them! The temple pillars are a wonder! The most important thing one should notice here is the lay-out of the Temple. This is of special significance.
When we enter a temple, we notice two doors at the entrance. The first door is fitted with nail-like sharp metals to prevent forced entry and even elephants get hurt if they try forced entry! Inside is the place for drummers and musicians and then the door that leads to a vast open space. There is a small pandal of stone where usually the palki is kept before the deity is taken in procession. It is also used for functions like dance and music. Then there are five doors before one reaches the sanctum sanctorum (garbha gruha) where the deity is located. The front wall surrounding the temple is usually very high and the entrance has Gopuram with seven levels. These are so constructed that the morning Sunrays directly fall on the Deity!
Symbolically enough, the seven doors are the seven levels of Consciousness that one has to cross to reach the highest nirakara, nirvikalpa stage! It is all like an annual temple Festival or Jatra. with fun and frolic. People come with families and fix tents, cook food, spend leisure time and wait for darshan! Since long que is there, they wait and finally enter the temple! Symbolism: First, the outside stalls, hotels, and theatres for entertainment are the world at large. These are sense organs and their objects. Then enter the first door. This is determination to seek spiritual attainment. Second door is the firm mind and the door is the symbol of obstruction, as well as, a means to enter! Weak minds fail and give up if there is rush, go back to entertainment. Third door is the entrance into the main temple. Here, the mind tries to push the door and enters the door of Buddhi, and then the door of ahankara. These doors are all swirling doors that may throw back people who do not have firm faith and devotion. The successful ones who conquer mind and intellect and ahankar and turn to prajnya will get the inner door leading to sanctum sanctorum. Finally, the true devotee will have darshan of his Self! This is Atmasakshatkara and darshan! Thus, one has to cross the seven doors- horizontal and seven gopuras vertically, in order to reach the Brahmn.
During the early centuries, the temples played important role as pathashala teaching Samskruta Bhasha, Shastra samhita, Ayurveda, Astrology, yoga, organizing lectures (purana pravachana), etc. and inculcating means of spiritual development as also conducting certain rituals. Now a days, the temples have become highly commercial ventures and place of social contact and gossip. The tragedy is that people engage themselves in personal dealings and discussions while the puja is going on! Tha Agama Shastra do not permit puja according to the will and wish of rich people and temple administration (treating VIPs.). The Priests (archaka) will perform archana and arti several times, or even whenever the VVIP want! This has reduced the status and value! Obviously, the modern day youth who think rational give up these traditions?
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