Science and Religion - II

Adding to my previous blog on the same subject, in ancient temples the idol is kept at (garbha griha) such a place that has some magnetic properties. And when we circumnavigate the temple we actually cut these magnetic lines and this has a positive impact on our health as well (remember magnetic therapy ?)

When we go into temples we go bare footed. and when we walk on the ground (usually on sand or stones) we actually put pressure on various important points on our foot that again has positive impact on our health (heard of acupuncture..right?)

It is also worth noting here that even the architecture of temples resemble human beings ( a male). In Vedic Hindu view, an individual's body is referred as a temple with the in dweller as God. In Gita, Lord Krishna even says this in following verses: "Idham shareeram Kounthaya kshetra mithyavadheeyathay"

The Vedic seers (Rishis) having realized God within themselves gave designs and functions of temples in scriptures (agama shastras) of Vedic Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma). Its purpose is to enable a devotee to use a physical temple and the ritualistic worship as a reminder to the spiritual journey to be carried out within oneself. In addition, it also serves as a place for celebrations of Hindu religious festivals. A Vedic Hindu temple's architecture is a divine and yogic representation of a human being as shown in the figure (ref: Agama kosha by S.K. Ramachndra Rao). The feet represent the spire (rajagopura). The hands represent the walkway (prakaara) encompassing all around the temple. The main hall (mandapa) represents the abdomen. The entrance porch (antaraala) represents the heart. The sanctum sanctorum (garbha griha) represents the head. The deity is consecrated with religious rites in the sanctum sanctorum. There is proportionality between the size of the deity in the sanctum sanctorum and the sizes of the temple construction details.

An article worth reading on Vaastu related to temples is: http://www.hindutempleokc.org/TempleArchitecture.pdf. It is really fascinating to see the even things that seem most trivial to us, has some much of facts and science into it. More in future blogs or in an edited version of this itself. Watch Out !!!