Friday, 11/1, en route to our final destination in Pondicherry, we were traveling very close to one of the largest temples in India; the Arunachaleswar Temple located in Tiruvannamalai (Northern Tamil Nadu). This is a smaller Shaivite town where Shiva (a God) is revered as Arunachaleswar, an aspect of fire.
The temple dates from the 11th century, but was added to in the 17th and 19th centuries. It has four large unpainted gopurams (intricate pyramid gateway tower). The largest is 13 stories tall. We went through the main shrine and offered puja (prayers). As you pass through the shrine, the priest puts a bindi (forehead mark) on the men and offers ashes to the women to place your own bindi (as he can't touch a woman).
It was obviously a spiritual place and I was suprised by the level of acceptance, openly allowing Western tourists to take part.
We weren't done touring. As we walked through another shrine, the puja had obvioulsy affected Billy too (2 1/2 yrs old). He wanted a kiss and a hug and I toured the last building carrying him. This was the best of all because he is so observant. He pointed out every important sight to me in a calm sharing manner....he's quite the kid.
I' m saving the best for last...there is a resident temple elephant. We stopped with the kids to feed him biscuits.....of course, I participated fully as a kid. Tracy suggested that I see if the elephant would bless me. Huh? What's that? She told me to hand to elephant a 10 rupee note and see. The elephant toke the note, handed it to his trainer sitting nearby and then laid his trunk gently on my head. The elephant actually did it three times, the third time Tracy got a photo. This is a huge trip highlight to say the least.
It was a big day. More to come later.
HUGs- W:)
The temple dates from the 11th century, but was added to in the 17th and 19th centuries. It has four large unpainted gopurams (intricate pyramid gateway tower). The largest is 13 stories tall. We went through the main shrine and offered puja (prayers). As you pass through the shrine, the priest puts a bindi (forehead mark) on the men and offers ashes to the women to place your own bindi (as he can't touch a woman).
It was obviously a spiritual place and I was suprised by the level of acceptance, openly allowing Western tourists to take part.
We weren't done touring. As we walked through another shrine, the puja had obvioulsy affected Billy too (2 1/2 yrs old). He wanted a kiss and a hug and I toured the last building carrying him. This was the best of all because he is so observant. He pointed out every important sight to me in a calm sharing manner....he's quite the kid.
I' m saving the best for last...there is a resident temple elephant. We stopped with the kids to feed him biscuits.....of course, I participated fully as a kid. Tracy suggested that I see if the elephant would bless me. Huh? What's that? She told me to hand to elephant a 10 rupee note and see. The elephant toke the note, handed it to his trainer sitting nearby and then laid his trunk gently on my head. The elephant actually did it three times, the third time Tracy got a photo. This is a huge trip highlight to say the least.
It was a big day. More to come later.
HUGs- W:)
2 comments:
Wow - you got blessed! Can't ask for too much more on a trip! :-)
Cate!
Wendy:
Also remember that the vermiion or sindoor as we call it is the sign of marriage and the only woman that any Hindu man should apply sindoor to is his own wife.
Thus, that would be a ombinaton of two things, not touching a woman as well as only being entitled to put vermilion in the parting or forehead of his own wife.
Ajay
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