How should we climb the steps of a Devalay (Temple)?

‘Devalay’ is an abode of God, meaning, the actual existence of God. ‘By going to a Devalay our wishes are accepted by God and we experience mental peace’ – with this faith the devotees visit a Devalay. It is said that God yearns for bhav (Spiritual emotion). It does not matter which way a staunch devotee with bhav has darshan (View of the Deity), he still experiences God’s grace; however, an ordinary devotee does not have as much bhav and hence, it is imperative that he has darshan in a spiritually correct manner. Our shastras provide us with knowledge, through which we can incorporate simple acts while visiting the devalay in order to have maximum benefit of the darshan.

1. Doing Namaskar to each step of the Devalay

If there are steps at the entrance of the Devalay, Namaskar should be done to each step while climbing up. Namaskar to a step can be done by touching a step. This amounts to Namaskar to the Chaitanya (Divine consciousness) of the Chaitanya-bhumi (Chaitanya endowed land) of the Devalay. It activates the Chaitanya in the land and provides benefit to the individual. It helps in destroying the Raja-Tama particles present on the body of the individual. Also, the steps are a link that takes the individual from duality to God, meaning, non-duality.

2. Picture based on subtle-knowledge of a devotee paying obeisance by touching the steps of a temple with his right hand and then touching the Adnya-chakra with the same hand

A. Positive vibrations in the picture based on subtle-knowledge : 2%’ – H.H. Dr. Athavale (Sanatan’s source of inspiration).

B. Proportion of vibrations : Divine Principle – 1.25%, Chaitanya – 1%, Shakti (Divine Energy) – 2%

3. Importance of touching each step of a Devalay

A. Having darshan of the Deity of the temple sooner due to dissolution of ego by touching the steps of the temple, and awakening of bhav of complete surrender : When a person touches the steps of a temple his ego dissolves. When the ego dissolves, ‘I’-ness gets destroyed and enlightenment takes place – Which means that he has darshan of God in the true sense. This does not happen because of the person; rather, God only bestows His darshan. Nothing remains after camphor burns; similarly, nothing remains in a person after dissolution of ego, and darshan of the Deity takes place sooner. Bhav of complete surrender also gets awakened in the person.

B. The person becomes introverted and moves from the world of Maya (Great Illusion) to Brahman (God).

C. Elimination of the black energy covering around the body upon activation of the Surya-nadi (Sun channel): When the person bends to touch the steps of the temple, his Surya-nadi gets activated and the black covering around his body is eliminated.

D. Being conscious about God-realisation : A person becomes humble upon touching the steps of the temple and is conscious that, ‘In the same way, he has to attain God-realisation by climbing one step at a time’. By touching the steps of the temple, a person becomes humble, modest and devoted, and starts becoming one with God.

E. With every step, the person destroys his shadaripus (Six foes) and inculcates qualities for God-realisation, and finally, he has darshan of God, that is, Final Liberation.

H. Obtaining the Earth Principle : Touching the steps of a temple amounts to having darshan of Mother Earth and performing Her ritualistic worship before having darshan of the Deity of the temple. It is because of this that the person obtains the Earth Principle. – Ms. Priyanka Lotlikar, Sanatan Sanstha (Nij Vaishakh Krushna 14, Kaliyug Varsh 5112, 11th June 2010).

Reference : Sanatan’s Holy text ‘How should one have Darshan in a Temple’?