Whether you are a believer, an agnostic or an atheist, you can’t deny how your spirits and senses feel elevated when you visit a temple. The fragrance of incense sticks, the tinkling of bells and the chanting of prayers has a calming effect on your body. With our hands folded in prayer and our eyes shut, we place our biggest fears and greatest hopes in the hands of the almighty we trust. Irrespective of the problems with which we came in, we leave rejuvenated, happy and content. Ever wondered why we feel so enlivened after a temple visit?
# Why do we enter the temple barefooted?Irrespective of where you belong to — North India or South India — no temple in the country encourages the use of footwear in the temple space. “It’s because temple spaces are high in pure vibrations of magnetic and electric fields. The temple floors are good conductors that absorb positive energy. Walking barefooted on these floors will help the energy pass through your body.” It is also symbolic of leaving your ego behind.
# Why do we ring the temple bell?Temple bells are made of a combination of metals like lead, copper, cadmium, zinc and nickel. The ringing of the bell creates a pleasing chiming sound that helps calm you down. The hearing sense is activated when you ring the temple bell. The sound creates harmony between both the hemispheres of the brain.
# Why do we light camphor?Lighting of the camphor has a two-fold purpose. Camphor is often lit in a thali during an aarti because it activates the sense of sight in your body according to Dr Bhagwati. When the thali is brought in front, we hover our hands over the burning flame and touch our head or eyes with it. By doing so, our sense of touch is activated.
# Why do we offer flowers at the temple?Be it hibiscus for Ganapati or lotus for Laksmi, flowers are always a common fixture in temples. The sight of colourful blooms coupled with their sweet smell is enough to bring us out of a bad mood. The sense of touch is also activated by the softness the flowers.
# Why do we do pradaskina?Once the prayers are offered, it is a custom to walk around the idol clockwise. Dr Bhagwati says, “The term pradakshina literally means ‘towards the right.’ While the pradakshina is performed, the body absorbs the good vibrations from the idol and the temple premises, aiding good health and a calm mind.