Friday 18 April 2008

South Indian Temples

Shiva Nataraja temple, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu

Entering a Hindu temple is quite an experience. From the outside, it is often a very high and colourful building, whith so many sculptures it makes your head spin.

Rameshawaram corridor

As you approach the center of the temple through very large and high corridors, you leave the light of day behind you and immerse yourself more in more into the darkness. It is cool inside, and very peaceful. You might hear mantras or people singing and laughing. It is not permitted to take pictures in the temple so you'll have to use your imagination for most of what follows....

Ganesha, Thanjavur

Shiva, Thanjavur

Everywhere there are amazing sculptures, some of which are smothered in ghee (clarified butter), ash and sacred powders, some of which wear clothes, some of which are adorned with food and flowers. I remember vividly a sculpture of a couple on a pillar in Chidambaram ; the man tall and tenderly protective, the woman smaller and all in sensuous curves, the man had his hand under the woman's chin and somebody had placed a few raisins there. A very moving picture.

Praying in Madurai (c) Claude Renault

Devotees are everywhere, some stay standing, others kneel, a few lie on the floor to show their absolute worship. Some shave their hair and give them away to the temple.

The central shrine is generally not visible to non-Hindus. It is a small dark cave in which a representation of the God is placed (often a lingam and a yoni). Lots of candles are lit. The doors of the shrine are only open a few hours a day. Fire and water always present.

After receiving darshan (benediction), devotees are given a little spicy milk to drink from their cupped right hand. All in all there is a powerful smell of milk and butter that reminds the sweet sour smell of young babys. Therefore it feels a little like being in your mother's womb again.
Theyyam (c) Claude Renault
In some temples in Kerala region there are trance dancing performances known as Theyyatam at certain times of the year.

All in all something very powerful can be felt there. On my first visit to a temple, I simply cried. Later, I understood that at least in India, God certainly exists. You can see it in the shiny eyes of the people .

9 comments:

Hervé said...

1 : congrats for your blog !
i had no idea you were so prolific !
I will take time to read you more later
2: two noticeable coincidences:
- most of my blood is from India, thougth my culture is not from there at all !
- you have chosen the same theme for your blog as mine !

And If i dare :
bisous !

Padparadscha said...

I am very moved by this message, my friend. Bisous to you :o)

GraceBeading said...

You're description is wonderful, I had very vivid images in my mind and the smells... wow. It sounds like a powerful and incredible experience. Thanks so much for posting about it.

KV said...

This is a truly moving entry, Helene. Thank you for sharing it with us . . .


Kathy V in NM

Padparadscha said...

Well, it is a wonderful experience :o)

Quilt Architect said...

You did such an incredible job describing the temple. I know that for me it would have been so hard to convey such strong and strange emotions...yet through your eyes I felt the journey into the unknown. Thank you.

Padparadscha said...

I'm glad I was able to share my emotions with you, Sacred Artist. I met a French woman in India who had visited this temple, and she told me she had felt nothing at all...

Renu said...

Thank u so much for writing such a beautiful and powerful post on Indian temples !

Padparadscha said...

Thanks Renu, I am very moved by your comment.