Some more points on proper attire for Lord's Darshan

[Guest guest]

Priya Bhagawatas,

Jai Srimannarayana

 

Adiyen would like to put forth some more points on the importance of

traditional dress code for any devotee before the Lord of the Universe

 

Many of our traditional customs/attire/do's/don'ts etc which we follow

are directly taken from our elders/acharyas/Jeeyars etc., without a

question, because we cannot go on looking for proof/reference etc.

before we start following/implementing. For example use of shoes

within the temple. We may not immediately find a quote from sastras

barring shoes while in the temple. But barring shoes within the temple

is not only from hygienic point of view but also as a respect to the

place of worship, One may say that if one is supremely pure at heart or

totally innocent/illiterate, God will not punish but pardon such

violations like entering with shoes. Really God is so merciful because

of which we are still living happy inspite of our huge

innocence/illiteracy/ignorance etc of our past. But everyone should

not just live but uplive (i.e. not just jeevit but ujjeevit) from

time to time. A child will not only be pardoned but chuckled, if

it eases on its parent, but it cannot go on for ever even after

growing up (though a parent still may not punish, but a child should

realise with growth such improprieties). Similarly though people may

be ignorant in the beginning but should try to improve from time to

time in their attire while having darshan.

 

Thus sporting a Sikha, wearing oordhwapundram, wearing dhoti, etc

is recommended only for people who like to join the Sattumorai goshti.

It is followed with love and reverence and anyhow is not mandatory for

others. But it does'nt mean others should not wear such traditional

attire while having normal darshan also. If true love for the Lord is

there, one automatically switches over to the simple but traditional

attire after voluntarily enquiring their elders/acharyas as to what

else one should don which is befitting to have a darshan of the

ever-merciful/mighty Lord of the Universe. True love for the child

(atleast for one's beloved) automatically results in so many actions

which cannot be hidden by 99% of the people. If one says that tons

of love is within and that need not be exhibited does'nt hold much

water.

 

Our traditions/rituals are so set that one can start off with

actions (karma yoga)right from birth, befitting the occasion without

knowing the inner truth but one can cherish more if the reason

behind such traditions get clarified from time time. As Lord

SriKrishna said in Srimadbhagawadgita that of all the Yogas, Karmayoga

(with total surrender of fruits/doership of all actions to Him) is safe

and superior than other yogas like Gnanayoga, Bhakti yoga etc. Thus

all actions are inevitable for our survival and which we never

compromise even an iota like food/drinks/dress/comforts etc in our day

to day life; if it is so why one should go for compromise sporting

ignorance/innocence while attending to the kainkaryams for the Lord in

the home/temple.

 

Though a dress code for military people may not directly affect

their performance during the warfare but no excuses are permitted in

their dress code throughout their peace time activities. Because dress

code has lot of advantages like discipline, uniformity, identity,

appearance-value, ease of operation etc. Similarly a dress code before

the Lord of the Universe as advised by our elders/acharyas should be

revered and followed one day or the other.

 

Another example is wearing shirt in front of the Lord (w.r.t. the

machos) in the sanctum sanctorium though not barred in majority of the

temples except a few like Sri Ananthapadmanabha swamy temple

(Trivandrum), Sri Kanyakumari temple etc. Is it not befitting to appear

before the Lord heart to heart without the hindrance of a cloth between

?. It certainly gives positive feelings both for the devotee and the

Lord. Adiyen may be pardoned but the truth is that when it comes to

personal bond even the most innocent/illiterate/ignorant people

would prefer to abandon all obstructions between them during love

making.

 

When the Lord is fully present in the Archa moorthy as the

Isavasyopanishad states 'Poornamidam poornamadaha......' and when all

our highly learned acharyas/Jeeyars of the past and the present are

behaving in full faith throughout their life till the last second of

departure, it is high time for atleast the members of this type of

forums to totally try to get convinced with the traditions/practices

followed in the temple or home-sannidhis.

 

Jai Srimannarayana

 

Sarvaaparaadham

 

Dr.Kilambi Ramakrishna Ramanuja Dasan