I wouldn't know where to begin when entering

[Jainarayan]

Namaste.

You are right about the compassion and courtesy. As I mentioned in a couple of the posts while you were away, one of the priests in particular has apparently taken a liking to me. I see him most often. He makes a special effort to come greet me after the usual namaskars, and we exchange a few pleasantries.

Last week at aarti a few people cut in front of me for waving the light. So I just stood back, not wanting to be pushy. After all, that I was there is what God cares about. But the priest wasn't satisfied with that... as another person reached out for the plate with the lamp on it he noticed I had not gotten the plate, getting cut off by other people. He put his arm out to the person who was cutting in front of me, with a somewhat disapproving look on his face as if to say "enough of pushing this guy back". He motioned to me to come take the plate. I smiled and nodded to him and waved the light, passing it on.

I didn't take it personally that I was cut off; it only shows that people really are alike wherever you go. Rarely does anyone mean to offend, people just don't think. I think the queue, or "receiving line", as we say for approaching the bride and groom at a wedding, is a better way than just having people in a jumble. There were times that even after receiving prasad, people just stayed where they were instead of moving back.

[Jainarayan]

Namaste.

I did not make it to the Kumbhabhishekam on Sunday. I was told that with the crowds, the heat and the general atmosphere, it was difficult to feel the purpose of the event. However, I went last night for the first time, for the Shiva Parvati Kalyanam, I will go tonight for a 108 kalasham abhishekam to Lord Guruvayurappan, Satyanarayana Puja, and then tomorrow night for Laksharchana to Lord Guruvayurappan. I will attempt to get my dhoti properly wrapped to wear it (Vrindavan-Gokul style).

Something I've been wondering is what do people generally pray when they stop at a sanctum? I see some people do a quick namaste mudra, others stay for a minute or three. Me, it depends... for example, at the Sri Radha-Krishna sanctum I say the Maha Mantra. At others, I just stand there for a few seconds with a namaste mudra, head bowed, and listen if the deity has something to say, and just feel the energy.

Do people sometimes make a request at the sanctum? I rarely ask for anything because I know God knows what I need (need, not want) before I ask; I am happy for whatever He sends to me. Though sometimes in a particularly difficult time I will ask for help to guide me in what to do.

[charitra]

were there any elephants on the maha kumbhabishekam, that still I would like to know. Yes people do make a special mention of their wants at the sanctum sanctorum, thats just a belief some harbor, someothers make a recital of one mantra or the other. Some just stand silently. Namaste.

[Jainarayan]

Namaste.

Originally Posted by charitra

were there any elephants on the maha kumbhabishekam, that still I would like to know.

From what I understand the live elephant carried the murthi of Sri Guruvayurappan. As far as I know, there was only one. It was the live version of the weekly Seeveli. Last night the priests did the indoors version with a small wooden elephant and murthi. I'm sure there will be pictures on the website soon of the live procession. I'll make sure look for it and post it.

Yes people do make a special mention of their wants at the sanctum sanctorum, thats just a belief some harbor, someothers make a recital of one mantra or the other. Some just stand silently. Namaste.

OK, thanks. That's pretty much what I thought. Sometimes I will recite the deity's mantra once, like Om Sri Saraswatyai namaha, or Om Sri Hanumate namaha, etc. and bow.

[Jainarayan]

Here are a couple of pitiful pix I got with my phone last night during the 108 Kalash Abhishekam to Lord Guruvayurappan. They don't do justice to the temple by a long shot (no pun intended).

The sanctum with the copper roof (which I imagine will get a green patina over time), in the center of the temple, is Sri Guruvayurappan's (the presiding deity). To the left and back is Sri Rama Parivar; to the right of and behind Sri Guruvayurappan, but not visible is Sri Radha-Krishna; the smaller one to the right is Sri Devi, then Sri Balaji (the guy in the blue shirt is standing between them); then Sri Satyanarayana Swami. Sri Andal (Bhudevi) is between Sri Balaji and Sri Satyanarayana Swami, but is not visible. It is the same size as Sri Devi's (Mahalakshmi). Sri Devi's and Bhudevi's have small steps in the front.

Back to Sri Guruvayurappan; in the last pic are Ambika's (r.) and Lord Shiva's (l.) sanctums. To the left and behind Lord Shiva's sanctum (which has a murthi of Nandi facing in), is Sri Ganesha's sanctum, as large as Ambika's, but not visible. In the lower left of the last pic is a small Shivalingam and murthi of Nandi.

Farther to the left, and barely visible (copper roof) is the sanctum of Lord Ayyappan. The sanctums of Lord Shiva and Lord Ayyappan are almost as large as Sri Guruvayurappan's. There is a set of 18 stairs and a door into the temple from the outside, directly in front of Lord Ayyappan's sanctum. Of course it's accessible from inside the temple. I was told, however, that no one would use the 18 steps unless they took a vow to Lord Ayyappan.

The temple was mobbed; I snapped the pix before the crowd came in. It was also Sri Satyanarayana Puja and Guru Purnima.



The sanctums of Ambika, Sri Ganesha, Sri Hanuman, Rama Parivar, Kala Bhairava and others are close to 6'x6' square and almost ceiling height. There are smaller sanctums to Tridevi, Gayatri, Sri Garuda, Navagrahas, Ardhanarishvara and others I can't think of right now. There are tv monitors that focus on the particular sanctum a puja is being performed in, so anyone anywhere in the temple can have a view directly into the sanctum.