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Public lecture on the relevance of Temple worship in ones spiritual evolution by Poojya Swamiji at Sithi Vinayaka Temple, PJ during the Malaysia Jnana Yajna 2024

Date: 28 August 2024
Location: Sithi Vinayagar Temple, Jalan Selangor, Section 4, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

In Hindu society, there are only two institutions that have preserved the Hindu tradition, knowledge, and culture—Temples and Ashrams. Temples and Ashrams are mutual and they fulfill one another. The temple helps to inculcate devotional and religious feeling in the hearts of people. After years of worshipping, there comes a point when the worshipper starts questioning whether his worship reaches God. This crisis is met by Ashrams, where a living Guru guides him.

There is a great science behind the installation of a temple. A stone is found and the sculptor chisels it and gives it a beautiful form. Then the priests, by mantras and tantras, administer divine brilliance and benedictory power to the idol. Only then the idol becomes Ishwara and showers blessings on all. The priests, by means of many purificatory processes, ensure that the brilliance and benedictory power of the idol grows. The temple organizes regular Poojas, special austerities, special festivities, spiritual discourses, and Anna dana to ensure its brilliance and vibrancy.

Scriptures say that the temple activities must enfold all the various people in the society. In addition to Vedic rituals, special audio-visual art programs must be held. Programs must be done in vernacular languages and folk lore also must not be ignored. The wealth of the temples must be managed and used discreetly and carefully.

The objective of the temples is to purify the mind and elevate the intelligence of people. The devotee must understand that the real blessing of the Lord is to be realized within, when the mind is purified.

Srimad Bhagavatam speaks about three stages of devotion. An uncultured devotee worships God but does not care for the welfare of others. The middle level devotee has love for the Lord, friendship towards other devotees, sympathy towards his critics, and he ignores those who hate them. The best devotee is one who ties the Lord in his heart by tying the Lord’s feet with the cord of love. Swamiji urges all listeners to attain such a high level of devotion.

Shlokas chanted in the Satsang:
30:25 - सर्वत्रगोसि भगवन् किल यद्यपि त्वां…. Tantra Samucchaya 6.64
34:47 - भूमेरुत्पन्नमष्मं कथमपि….Tantra samucchaya
51:48 - श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञ: परन्तप…Bhagavad Gita 4.33
58:41 - नैवात्मन: प्रभुरयं निजलाभपूर्णो…Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.11
1:05:34 - अर्चायामेव हरये पूजां य: श्रद्धयेहते ...Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.47
1:07:31 - ईश्वरे तदधीनेषु बालिशेषु द्विषत्सु च…Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.46
1:10:32 - गृहीत्वापीन्द्रियैरर्थान्यो न द्वेष्टि न हृष्यति ....Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.48
1:11:45 - विसृजति हृदयं न यस्य साक्षाद्..Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.55
1:14:31 - न पारमेष्ठ्यं न महेन्द्रधिष्ण्यं…Srimad Bhagavatam 11.14.14

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Narayanashrama Tapovanam, an Ashram located in Thrissur, Kerala, embodies the unique tradition of Guru-shishya Parampara, disseminating Brahmavidya (Science of Self-knowledge) through regular classes, satsangs, and above all, through learning in the association of a realized spiritual master.