Namassadhasae.
Brahmins and Kula Devatha
Professor Kent of Colgate University, U.S.A. In a recent presentation has highlighted an interesting point regarding Hindu Gods. He has observed that Hindu faith has always expressed and exhibited its Gods through the nature and the products of nature. Wood, Stone and Mud are mostly the medium through which the original and ancient Gods of Hindu religion came in to the mankind. Professor Kent sees a relation between the evolution of culture and the awareness of basic needs by men in this process.
Vedic literatures glorify god through the natural powers like mountain, water and wind. When the mankind learnt to live in groups, making distinct identities, each separate from other, the need to create so many variations in visualizing Gods became a necessity. These variations developed in a systematic manner taking so many factors into consideration like artistic ability of the group, the availability of the medium and the accountability to the prevailing norms of the society.
Stone which was abundant in Tamil Nadu and other parts of India was the primary and first natural medium through which God was visualized. Wood, the freely available material of Kerala was the medium of people lived there. The later discovery and display of metals, like Gold and Bronze got their place in Temple as and when the people learnt to convert the knowledge in to art. Thus the evolution of mankind and the culture of worship had a direct relation.
The temples built over the years became the places of attachment, apart from the dwelling abode of God of their choice. Generation after generation found solace and satisfaction by visiting the temple and going over to the place.
The kula devatha worship had come to stay. The reasoning and rational angle will not answer the question ‘Why we get great satisfaction and immediate good happenings after a visit to a kula devatha Temple. Perhaps it may be a making of our mind and pure coincidence. Perhaps it may be something else.
We are sure of one thing in this matter. The vibrations we get on such visits to those places have some connection with our inner conscious. Our minds identify those Temples as the places our forefathers frequented. The Temple they worshiped is the only link in the chain left till date, which we can see with our eyes and feel in our mind as a matter of continuity between ourselves and our forefathers.
This great feeling, may not be visible outward, makes us act more vigorously and positively after every visit to the Temple of our kula devatha, which in turn leads to good results. This explanation, not based on any authentic text or knowledgeable source is arrived only by our loud thinking.
What ever the truth may be, we feel this practice should continue and be encouraged. At this crucial juncture of cultural melting and the youth of Brahmin community foregoing the traditions one by one, we can not compromise on this custom.
Our youth should be instructed and informed of the importance of this family obligation in clear terms. Let them start with this, that may lead to learn the glory of our forefathers who gave us every thing we inherited.
Courtesy: Brahmin Today Magazine April 2009
'அவரவர் இச்சையில் எவை எவை உற்றவை அவை தருவித்தருள்
பெருமாளே! - திருவக்கரை திருப்புகழ் '
Brahmins and Kula Devatha
Professor Kent of Colgate University, U.S.A. In a recent presentation has highlighted an interesting point regarding Hindu Gods. He has observed that Hindu faith has always expressed and exhibited its Gods through the nature and the products of nature. Wood, Stone and Mud are mostly the medium through which the original and ancient Gods of Hindu religion came in to the mankind. Professor Kent sees a relation between the evolution of culture and the awareness of basic needs by men in this process.
Vedic literatures glorify god through the natural powers like mountain, water and wind. When the mankind learnt to live in groups, making distinct identities, each separate from other, the need to create so many variations in visualizing Gods became a necessity. These variations developed in a systematic manner taking so many factors into consideration like artistic ability of the group, the availability of the medium and the accountability to the prevailing norms of the society.
Stone which was abundant in Tamil Nadu and other parts of India was the primary and first natural medium through which God was visualized. Wood, the freely available material of Kerala was the medium of people lived there. The later discovery and display of metals, like Gold and Bronze got their place in Temple as and when the people learnt to convert the knowledge in to art. Thus the evolution of mankind and the culture of worship had a direct relation.
The temples built over the years became the places of attachment, apart from the dwelling abode of God of their choice. Generation after generation found solace and satisfaction by visiting the temple and going over to the place.
The kula devatha worship had come to stay. The reasoning and rational angle will not answer the question ‘Why we get great satisfaction and immediate good happenings after a visit to a kula devatha Temple. Perhaps it may be a making of our mind and pure coincidence. Perhaps it may be something else.
We are sure of one thing in this matter. The vibrations we get on such visits to those places have some connection with our inner conscious. Our minds identify those Temples as the places our forefathers frequented. The Temple they worshiped is the only link in the chain left till date, which we can see with our eyes and feel in our mind as a matter of continuity between ourselves and our forefathers.
This great feeling, may not be visible outward, makes us act more vigorously and positively after every visit to the Temple of our kula devatha, which in turn leads to good results. This explanation, not based on any authentic text or knowledgeable source is arrived only by our loud thinking.
What ever the truth may be, we feel this practice should continue and be encouraged. At this crucial juncture of cultural melting and the youth of Brahmin community foregoing the traditions one by one, we can not compromise on this custom.
Our youth should be instructed and informed of the importance of this family obligation in clear terms. Let them start with this, that may lead to learn the glory of our forefathers who gave us every thing we inherited.
Courtesy: Brahmin Today Magazine April 2009
'அவரவர் இச்சையில் எவை எவை உற்றவை அவை தருவித்தருள்
பெருமாளே! - திருவக்கரை திருப்புகழ் '
