| Introduction to Temples - The
Repositories of Truth |
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 Why do we need Temples? Were temples relevant only for older cultures and were
they ignorant and less sophisticated than the modern scientific cultures or is
it the other way around? What were our ancestors thinking and were they more
intelligent and in tune with subtler energies than the modern culture? Are
Temples relevant now?
From time immemorial, not only Hindus or Rishi
cultures, but cultures from all over the world in all traditions have been
creating space for the Divine as part of their culture and lives. Researchers
say that even animals living in groups allot a specific area for rest which is
not used for eating or anything else. Hindu culture created huge temples for
communities as a means for relating with the Divine. Every village in India has
a temple making one wonder why these huge structures were created, even if the
homes in most villages were made of mud. Most of these temples are constructed
in granite and are sometimes more expensive than the cost of all houses in these
villages. What did we gain spiritually, culturally and socially from these huge
structures?
Scientific studies were conducted by a scientist Dr. Rudolf who stayed in the
Amazon along with
 a group of tribes for 30 years to research the tribes’
lifestyle. These tribes believed that
by creating an image of a particular
person and by invoking that person’s energy into the clay image they could
heal or transmit any disease of that person, even if the person lived thousands
of miles away. This scientist published papers and a book named ‘Hidden
Mysteries’ and produced ample proof, evidence and case studies in which he
reported that in 98% of observations three things were evident. First conclusion
was that they were truly able to heal people of any disease, secondly, they were
able to heal even animals & trees –by making clay models of those trees
and by making vibrations or sounds they could bring the dead tree to life and
thirdly, they were even able to handle energies of dead human beings or talk and
relate to them continuously. In most cases they could bring a dead person to
life within three days.
 If
this tribe related to ordinary persons through a clay image why is it mysterious
or strange to relate with the Divine energy that envelopes us and has created
the whole Universe. This is where our ancestors succeeded in giant leaps. It is
a common mistake to think that Hindus worship idols. In Hinduism, there is no
idol worship, but only worship through idols. There is a big difference between
idol worship and worshipping through an idol. When idols are created out of
stone, clay, marble or any other material you would not find one saying ‘Ok
stone give me a boon’ or ‘Ok marble heal me’, instead you would find them
saying ‘Oh Shiva, heal me, bless me’ or ‘Oh Devi, bless me’.
Ignorance sets in with great speed when there is a rush to imitate what seems
like another glamorous culture or so called scientific cultures and more so when
there is no clear knowledge or patience in understanding of the original
cultural practice. Some of the western scholars translated Vedas – just to
prove there is nothing worthy in it. Max Mueller translated the Vedas and in one
of his letters to his mom, he mentions with deep disrespect, that he did this
just to prove there is nothing worthy in it. Many Eastern scholars have also
picked up the same trend, same thinking style and started condemning the Hindu
worship, culture and the way of life, and started giving more importance to
Advaitic philosophy without understanding that it not just one philosophy, but
the whole Vedanta itself is a clear and practical essence or juice of the
fascinating facts of spiritual science discovered and recorded by the rishis,
saints and mystics.
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Vedic Temples