Worship-Detailed study

Worshipping God as form of Nature is what Hinduism is all about. Idol worship is still worshipping God through the form of idol. Here's how it all came about...

Initially, ppl who lived worshipped Nature and its forms. This is called Sanadhana Dharma. These ppl worshipped Sun, Nature, Animals, Trees.. everything. Were there any temples during this time? No. becase these ppl were essentially nomads. They never stayed in one place. But, as they become more learned and culture started to take its form..they learnt to cook food instead of going in search for it. That is when colonies started forming.If u wud just notice, every single village, town (no matter how small it is) has a temple. Infact, it is just the other way around. Every single temple was built first, and the colony was established around it! When ppl gathered together to settle down in a colony, they first built the temple.

What do u notice the first thing abt any temple? It is vast, with huge walls. There is an outer boundary and then an inner boundary after which the real shrine is found.
In olden times, temple had better architecture than any home, because it was supposed to be the main social place for the folk! Ppl gathered in temple for all festivals. At times of calamity like floods, ppl took refuge inside the temple. It was big and it cud hold all the ppl of that village! It was like a fort! The belief that God protects us is what led to idols kept in this temple. If u notice ur grandma making savories for puja, u see her take a small block of da paste and make a triangular formation on the stove. Then she starts cooking! What is the concept? We believe nothin starts witout God's blessings. Same goes to temples. U build houses in a colony, not before building one for God.

Now, why the need of havin idols worshipped in temples, when we worship nature?

I already told u y having a form of God in temples was important. All idols r only carryin concept. Was ther sumthing special abt that stone? Yes, there is.
Idols are made out of "Panchaulagam" (five metals) The main three are gold, silver, copper.. and the rest two i dun remember, but it changes frm temple to temple. The idol was made and kept inside the shrine by chanting mantras. This is to invoke the God, who is everywhere in everywhere form, to also be in this form. Nowadays, idols r made out of stone. But, the power of the mantras r such that the stone after its kept in shrine is considered holy. The idols also had 'abhishekams'. Wat for? It was to have the mixture of all that milk, coconutwater, curd etc pass thrugh the five-metal-bound idol.. tats supposed to hav immense nutrients to it. U can notice in sum temples the abhishek water is sweet, sum a bit salty n so on.

No temple was started with rules and regulations. As colonies developed and muslim kings took over, muslims arrived. Then later on Christians. I believe, for sure ther must hav been sum kind of hassles which pushed the ppl of the temple to put up rules and regulations..(for the sake of safety). Each temple has its own rules and regulations (based on what circumstances it had to face..)

why some temples in karnatak and kerala (that were quite old) regained the customs of men removin their shirts??? See, i dont know the real meanin behind it. But, here's a gud way to look at it.

If u guys know how namaskarams r done by men and women, then u do notice that its different. Men were told to lie fully on the ground and his chest and forehead shud touch the floor. For his chest to touch the floor, he has to remove the shirt. This is how the old custom started.
While women were told to bend down and touch only their forehead to the ground. Never shud the chest or the womb touch the ground. Both were considered very sacred due to the motherly meaning. The womb is often referred to as 'garbam'. If u notice, all temples hav this very most inner room where the idol is kept, and that room is called 'garba-graham'(graham=house). So u see, women were thought of as quite sacred and holy then.

As culture developed, just walkin out and prayin to Nature with all the distractions around was not possible. The meditation atmosphere was no longer present in the houses. So, the temple was the main meditation centre! We all can study sittin at home, but now we have schools and institutions. Why? Bcause studying there in that atmosphere creates the mood. Same concept. Now doctors ask u to do yoga, to take mornin and evening walks. Hinduism never preached this. It was understood to visit temples in mornin and evening. It was understood to do the namaskaram on temple premises (as part of yoga).

No, the temple is not just built for the sake of 'worship' It was built for the society! Jus like Hinduism is referred to as a way of life, temples also play a part in our lifestyle!

-divster