Visiting a Hindu Temple in Varanasi India
A visit to a vibrant Hindu temple on Saturday afternoon. An experience to not be missed.
First step, as you enter the temple property, phones go into lockers, as photos are strictly prohibited. Bags in lockers as well. Next walk through a metal detector followed by a wand scan — separated by gender of course.
After a lovely walk on a curvy sidewalk surrounded by trees, the temple comes into sight. Before proceeding further, shoes and socks come off.
The temple is an aging one story complex with several small buildings. The exterior walls are marked from the hands of devotees.
The area is filled and flowing with deeply dedicated devotees. People line up and move throughout the temple segments, with each area seemingly meeting a separate need. Cookies and flowers are sold, as gifts to the gods. Lines form to purchase the gifts. Some outside buildings have people circled in chairs, with a priest among them, listening or chanting.
Many people encircle the main building, touching it in prayer. A placard mounted with Sanskrit draws much attention. People stop. They touch and pray. A baby is lifted, and the side of its head pressed lovingly against the building, with a cheek making contact. No worry of germs. This is time to worship and celebrate.
Around the other side are small containers of wet orange paint. People dip a finger and paint the nearby columns and walls. Across is a metal gate with a 3 letter Sanskrit word inscribed several times. Fingers carefully trace the letters. Some doused in orange paint, covering the letters. Words are heard. Prayers are heard. Reverence is felt.
Around the side are small booklets – approximately the size of a passport. Inside there is red Sanskrit lettering on the pages. Devotees hold the booklets, staring at the words, speaking, chanting unison. Many are sitting on the ground. A crowd. Possibly a central figure is leading the chant.
Across is another small building. The devotees split into separate lines of men and women. Heads crane around the person in front of them. Clearly much anticipation to reach the priests in the front. Pushing and jostling, just like
vehicles on the roads. Upon reaching the front, holy men are revealed, facing the crowd. Followers’ right hands are out stretched. A splash of holy water is received. Some hands also hold gifts of flowers, cookies or both. These gifts are accepted. After the hand is wet with holy water, it is lifted swiftly, splashing some water on the forehead or hair. Eyes look upward. Reverence is thick in the air. Prayers sounding thankful are heard. Upon exiting that small building, the right hand touches the ground, and then the head. Words of thanks are heard again. Prayers.
All around are sections with burning candles, likely made from butter, generating light heat and dark smoke. Cupped hands swoop up some smoke, sometimes passing through the flame, pulling smoke to the devotee’s face and into their hair. Several swoops occur. Prayers are heard. A few foreigners are amongst the crowds, their non-traditional clothing gives them away. A few quick stares but the focus is mostly on the serious intention of prayer.
After the experience shoes are retrieved and put on, a walk back through the trees, a key is given and locker contents returned. Now back onto the busy side street.
Wow! What an experience! Time is needed to let it soak in, and reflect. Even without time to reflect, a deep feeling engulfs the visitor, that they just witnessed something powerful. The deep devotion of the people is evident. The temple is sacred. The rituals are sacred. The gods are listening.
Their prayers are genuine, and needed like the body needs oxygen. Scarce funds are eagerly spent on gifts for the gods. Hygiene is irrelevant. People’s spirits are lifted. Clearly this is core to life as a Hindu. Tradition. Superstition. Family bonding. Reverence. Melting bad karma. Adding good karma. Deep deep devotion. It’s difficult to fully express. I’m moved by the experience.