Temple Visit Etiquette Comprehensive Varies depending on the temple pooja
Temple Visit Etiquette Comprehensive Varies depending on the temple pooja
Related Articles
Lyrics with Meaning
View lyrics page →१. शुद्धि मन्त्र (Purification before Entering)
Original
अपवित्रः पवित्रो वा सर्वावस्थां गतोऽपि वा। यः स्मरेत्पुण्डरीकाक्षं स बाह्याभ्यन्तरः शुचिः॥
Transliteration
apavitraḥ pavitro vā sarvāvasthāṁ gato'pi vā | yaḥ smaretpuṇḍarīkākṣaṁ sa bāhyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ ||
Meaning / Translation
Whether a person is impure or pure, or in whatever condition one may be, whoever remembers the lotus-eyed Lord Pundarikaksha (Vishnu) becomes purified both externally and internally.
२. गोपुर दर्शन एवं प्रवेश (Viewing the Gopura/Shikhara and Entering)
Original
गोपुरदर्शनं पापविनाशनम्। शिखरदर्शनात् सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्॥ मन्दिरद्वारे पादप्रक्षालनं कृत्वा, नम्रभावेन अन्तः प्रविशेत्।
Transliteration
gopuradarśanaṁ pāpavināśanam | śikharadarśanāt sarvapāpapraṇāśanam || mandiradvāre pādaprakṣālanaṁ kṛtvā, namrabhāvena antaḥ praviśet |
Meaning / Translation
Beholding the temple tower (Gopura or Shikhara) destroys all sins. One must wash their feet and hands at the temple entrance, remove footwear, and enter with deep humility and devotion.
३. घण्टानाद मन्त्र (Ringing the Temple Bell)
Original
आगमार्थं तु देवानां गमनार्थं तु रक्षसाम्। कुर्वे घण्टारवं तत्र देवताह्वानलक्षणम्॥
Transliteration
āgamārthaṁ tu devānāṁ gamanārthaṁ tu rakṣasām | kurve ghaṇṭāravaṁ tatra devatāhvānalakṣaṇam ||
Meaning / Translation
I ring the bell to welcome the divine energies and to drive away negative forces; this ringing serves as an auspicious invocation of the Lord.
४. प्रदक्षिणा मन्त्र (Circumambulating the Sanctum)
Original
यानि कानि च पापानि जन्मान्तरकृतानि च। तानि तानि प्रणश्यन्ति प्रदक्षिणपदे पदे॥
Transliteration
yāni kāni ca pāpāni janmāntarakṛtāni ca | tāni tāni praṇaśyanti pradakṣiṇapade pade ||
Meaning / Translation
Whatever sins have been committed across many past births, all of them perish with every step taken during the holy circumambulation (Pradakshina).
५. आत्म-समर्पण एवं क्षमा याचना (Surrender and Seeking Forgiveness)
Original
कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा बुद्ध्यात्मना वा प्रकृतेः स्वभावात्। करोमि यद्यत्सकलं परस्मै नारायणायेति समर्पयामि॥ अपराधसहस्राणि क्रियन्तेऽहर्निशं मया। दासोऽयमिति मां मत्वा क्षमस्व परमेश्वर॥
Transliteration
kāyena vācā manasendriyairvā buddhyātmanā vā prakṛteḥ svabhāvāt | karomi yadyatsakalaṁ parasmai nārāyaṇāyeti samarpayāmi || aparādhasahasrāṇi kriyante'harniśaṁ mayā | dāso'yamiti māṁ matvā kṣamasva parameśvara ||
Meaning / Translation
Whatever actions I perform with body, speech, mind, senses, intellect, or through my natural disposition, I surrender it all to the Supreme Divine. Thousands of faults are committed by me day and night; considering me as Your humble servant, please forgive me, O Supreme Lord.
६. चरणामृत ग्रहण मन्त्र (Accepting the Holy Charanamrit)
Original
अकालमृत्युहरणं सर्वव्याधिविनाशनम्। विष्णोः पादोदकं पीत्वा पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते॥
Transliteration
akālamṛtyuharaṇaṁ sarvavyādhivināśanam | viṣṇoḥ pādodakaṁ pītvā punarjanma na vidyate ||
Meaning / Translation
The sacred water from the feet of the Lord removes the danger of untimely death, eradicates all diseases, and liberates the soul from the cycle of rebirth.
७. शान्त उपवेशन एवं प्रस्थान (Silent Contemplation Before Departure)
Original
अनायासेन मरणं विना दैन्येन जीवनम्। देहान्ते तव सायुज्यं देहि मे परमेश्वर॥ (मन्दिर प्राङ्गण में कुछ क्षण मौन बैठकर प्रभु के स्वरूप का ध्यान करें।)
Transliteration
anāyāsena maraṇaṁ vinā danyena jīvanam | dehānte tava sāyujyaṁ dehi me parameśvara || (mandira prāṅgaṇa meṁ kucha kṣaṇa mauna baiṭhakara prabhu ke svarūpa kā dhyāna kareṁ |)
Meaning / Translation
Grant me a life free from destitution, an effortless death, and ultimate union with You at the end of this physical existence, O Lord. (Traditional etiquette advises sitting silently in the temple premises for a few moments to absorb divine peace before leaving).
