--- In SriRangaSri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "rvv21" <ranjanvv@xxxx> wrote:
>> I think it's unlikely you'll find a "Vishnu-only" temple in
the > UK (apart from ISKCON temples) - but I could be wrong.
However, the > sizeable Sri Lankan Tamil community in many parts of
London have > retained their Shaiva temple culture to a relatively
high degree and > have constructed many 'south-indian' style temples,
if you were > interested in seeing them for interest. Many have a
sannidhi for > Lakshmi/Naaraayana as well.
****************
Dear members,
This is a very interesting thread of discussion and I like your
exchanges.
One of the odd things I have noticed about Hindu temples abroad is
this: they are designed to accommodate and built to serve the
sentiments of all denominations of Hindu religous society. Such
design and architecture is no doubt well-intentioned but the results
are sometimes a mixed bag.
I toured parts of USA East Coast last year. My host was kind enough
to take me to a very beautiful temple in Maryland. It was called
Shiva-Vishnu temple but inside I was surprised to see many more
special "sannidhi-s" (shrines or sanctums) for a number of other
deities in the Hindu pantheon -- Ganesha, Murugua, AmbAL, AyyappA,
Venkateshwara, Krishna... I saw devotees come in throngs and each
proceeded straight to that shrine he or she wanted to particularly
worship. Thereafter he or she spent a few moments at other shrines
before exiting. I couldn't help thinking it all vaguely resembled the
modern and convenient "multi-cuisine cafeteria" concept applied to
temple architecture i.e. you come shuffling in a long queue with a
plate in hand, go slowly around the table and help yourself
generously to the dish you particularly like, and just a little bit
of everthing else in the spread.
Don't get me wrong. It's not that I want to be critical of "Shiva-
Vishnu" temples, I hasten to add. Who knows, perhaps the "Agama
sAstras" themselves do, in fact, permit such "cafeteria" design of
temples. But I must say this: I cannot help sometimes wondering if
the presence of more than one Deity within a temple-precinct does not
go against the essentially monotheistic grain of Hindu religious
thought and practice. My own personal experience is that when I am in
the presence of the main Deity inside a temple I'd rather fully
concentrate on worshipping that one Divine Entity alone. But instead,
I often find that, at the back of my mind somewhere, I'm being
distracted by the anxious thought of having to rush for "darshan" to
the "next crowded counter" -- viz. other satellite shrines
or "sannidhi-s". The result is that a temple visit, far from
affording one an opportunity for experiencing a certain sense of
abiding One-ness with God, leaves the devotee with a strange feeling,
instead, he's just concluded a long and hectic series of business
appointments.
Let me confess to one more thing. I always come away from a temple
feeling a little guilty and disappointed if, after I've had "darshan"
of the main Deity first, for some reason or other, I've been unable
to offer worship at subsidiary "sannidhi-s". I've never relished such
a feeling. It has always robbed the first experience a little of its
joy.
An exclusively Vishnu temple (with His other divine forms serving
perhaps as smaller satellite "sannidhi-s") seems to me OK. An
exclusive Shiva temple too seems OK. An exclusive Devi or AmbAl
temple is OK too. But a "Shiva-Vishnu temple", and many of similarly
newly-built, multi-themed, composite "designer temples" (in India and
abroad we come across these days) -- they all seem to me to be
somehow straying far from the central monotheism of that very Faith
they are actually meant to reflect and enshrine.
What do members think? I'd like to hear your learned comments.
respectfully,
dAsan,
Sudarshan
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