INDIAN TEMPLES NEAR ME!

Indian temples are popular all over the world for their most adored traditional practices backed by well-grounded scientific reasoning. Majority of Indians and Non-Indians across the globe, who devote themselves to the cultural practices of the country have proven to shape their lives based on the spiritual conditioning that the land offers them at different phases of their lifetime. With a strong spiritual background, India offers a sense of self-mastery through rituals and strict religious practices. The question here is, Can an individual benefit from the same spiritual experience while staying outside the spiritual land?

Here we bring in several reasons and solutions to the questions on how individuals can wholly take advantage of the religious constructs and practices that have spread out across the world. Why not check out what's in store for you from the Indian belief systems, just in the location where you are right now!

The Spiritual Asset of India

Looking back at the ancient centuries, people from the Indian roots at different parts of the country followed unique spiritual and scientific practices which later took form together as one major religion - Hinduism. Apart from Hinduism, various other religions have said to have their roots in and around India which is believed to guard the discipline and culture of the land. Although different religions are practiced by different communal groups in the country, the secularism practiced in the country is quite noteworthy to have bonded each community with an essence of patriotism. This secularism is truly an asset of India and her culture!

Following the secular nature embedded in the genes, Indians and Non-Indians with India’s cultural affinity are more devoted to deepening and widening their experience day by day. This enhances the chances of spread of the culture and spirituality while maintaining the consistency of the original practice by strict rules in each belief system. One finest example is the practice of religious individuals visiting Indian temples regularly.

Influence of Spirituality on Indian Culture

Religion is prevalent in most households who practice Indian culture. Even at houses where religion might not play a major role, a normal Indian life-style is highly influenced by spirituality. The daily routine is somehow embedded and adorned with the beauty of spiritual habits that bring in more connection and gratitude to the homeland. These spiritual practices are also proved to be the world’s most famous scientific gestures that benefit an individual as well as the society. For example, a normal traditional practice of lighting incense sticks in a household or an Indian temple is said to have high influence in curbing out the germs meanwhile creating a positive ambience. Similarly, handing neem leaves or mango leaves at households and Indian Temples have their own benefit of being a natural antibiotic to the environment. Not one, but several deep spiritual as well as scientific meanings lie behind every practice in the Indian culture.

Types of Worships in Indian Temples

One could very well notice a dedicated room or space for worship in a house which follows the Indian culture. Apart from daily worship at this space, the religious ones visit Indian temples on regular days.

When an individual enters an Indian Temple, one may get stuck in awe with the several practices followed to worship the deities. Here we brief the 5 most popular ways of offering prayers to the Gods and Goddesses in an Indian Temple in the following context.

Puja is considered as the heart of Indian worship. It involves worshipping the deities using substances like flowers, incense sticks, fruits and various other objects that amplify the ambience with more religious feeling.

Bhajans or Chanting of Slokas are considered as the praise part of the worship for the deities. The hymns, songs and slokas which are beautifully composed as a prayer-chant or song are sung in person or in chorus as a means of glorifying the deity.

Arti is the worship using lamps. This practice involves the reception of blessings from the deity and the devotees receiving them by placing their hands near the heat of the flame and taking it towards them.

Prasad is the blessed food distributed to the devotees after getting the blessings from the deity.

Darshan is the practice of getting sight of the deities installed at the sanctum during pujas and artis.

Deities Worshipped at Indian Temples

Hinduism is said to have several main deities and a crores of demi-gods. Each temple is installed with one or more principal deities.

The main deities in Indian temples include Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Several temples are installed for these popularly famous tridevs across different parts of the world. Other well known deities include Ganesha, Krishna, Muruga, Rama, Hanuman, Devi, Mahakali, Lakshmi, Karthikeya, parvati, Surya, Sai Baba, Saraswati, Durga, Meenakshi, Kamakshi, Annapoorna, Manasa, Svaha, Dakshinamurthy, Ayyappan, Durga, Visalakshi, Rudrani, Shashthi, Bhumi, Hayagriva, Madhava, Lakshmi Narayan, Vishvarupa, Ranganatha, Madhusudhana, Govinda, Vasudeva, and more. A complete detailing on each deity and temple will be done in our following pages.

Where can you find Indian temples near you?

Whether you are an Indian or a Non-Indian residing outside India and would like to visit a temple, here we are to help with finding the most famous and nearest temples from where you live. In our further pages, you may expect to get a complete list of Indian temples near you, their deities, history and location details from which you may benefit from the blissful experience of visiting as well as cherishing the Indian culture, architecture and spirituality.