Children at temples

[Stormcry]

Am I the only one who sees kids greedy? . The time has changed and as I can see most of the kids are greedy..now they're no longer that much innocent as they're during '19s... It's all about Modern technologies like TV, mobiles and games......

 

[Vinayaka]

Am I the only one who sees kids greedy? . The time has changed and as I can see most of the kids are greedy..now they're no longer that much innocent as they're during '19s... It's all about Modern technologies like TV, mobiles and games......

I've rarely seen that at temples. Kids want money from their parents so they can put that money into the hundis.

 

[Vinayaka]

So this morning there is a young family - first time at this temple. The boy is maybe 2, maybe 3. At first he's really clingy to parents, but slowly he warms up to the place, realises it's all safe, etc. But observing him, there's one thing I really notice about children this young. They really are ridiculously inquisitive. The way they look at things, yet always just inside the protective vision of parents. This guy reminded me of a little kitten - gone exploring the big new world.

 

[Sb1995]

So this morning there is a young family - first time at this temple. The boy is maybe 2, maybe 3. At first he's really clingy to parents, but slowly he warms up to the place, realises it's all safe, etc. But observing him, there's one thing I really notice about children this young. They really are ridiculously inquisitive. The way they look at things, yet always just inside the protective vision of parents. This guy reminded me of a little kitten - gone exploring the big new world.

Which is your main day to day temple that you most frequently visit? please post a link. I thought you'd be glad to see that this is my new favourite mandir what do you think? Sri Katpaga Vinayagar Temple WebSite - Home Page

 

[Aupmanyav]

Whomever they worship, I bow to those Gods and Goddesses.

 

[Vinayaka]

Which is your main day to day temple that you most frequently visit? please post a link. I thought you'd be glad to see that this is my new favourite mandir what do you think? Sri Katpaga Vinayagar Temple WebSite - Home Page

I go to this one ... Maha Ganapathy Temple- Edmonton, AB, Canada

Lately its been Wednesday mornings. I like it when it's quiet. We have very similar temples. Same God, same style, same ethnic group running it. I'm sure I'd feel at home there.


I

 

[Sb1995]

I go to this one ... Maha Ganapathy Temple- Edmonton, AB, Canada

Lately its been Wednesday mornings. I like it when it's quiet. We have very similar temples. Same God, same style, same ethnic group running it. I'm sure I'd feel at home there.


I

Please come visit soon, things have changed since you last visited

 

[ShivaFan]

Namaste

Children at temples always beeline right for me soon after I walk in. I guess I'm special. Then the mothers turn their face to me and smile. Life is wonderful. Especially when little Indian children are crawling over you. It is a blessing of the Lord Murti and Devi watching, watching, watching, laughing.

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[Vinayaka]

Namaste

Children at temples always beeline right for me soon after I walk in. I guess I'm special. Then the mothers turn their face to me and smile. Life is wonderful. Especially when little Indian children are crawling over you. It is a blessing of the Lord Murti and Devi watching, watching, watching, laughing.

Om Namah Sivaya

I have that 'problem' too. I think its because I notice them, so they notice me.

 

[Jainarayan]

As I've observed in the past, today was no different than then... it was Camp Run-Amuck. It doesn't bother me personally, but I don't understand why parents don't teach the kids that there should be a modicum of decorum in temple, and just what it means. The parents make their rounds of the shrines, but they leave the kids to run around.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

As I've observed in the past, today was no different than then... it was Camp Run-Amuck. It doesn't bother me personally, but I don't understand why parents don't teach the kids that there should be a modicum of decorum in temple, and just what it means. The parents make their rounds of the shrines, but they leave the kids to run around.

I see this too. It's 50/50 for whether the kids are respectful or out of control. I try to smile at them either way. What can you do?

:camp:

 

[Vinayaka]

Jai, I'm in the middle on this. At one of the temples in Vancouver, there were signs everywhere about 'No Unsupervised Children' almost to the point like we have 'No Camera" signs. The tone was quite unfriendly, and it sounded like kids wouldn't be welcomed at all. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to take my children there. I remember hearing once ... "If they don't want your kids, they don't want you."

I prefer the situation where the children are gently supervised by parents, and they're cut some slack. They are kid after all. But allowing them to run around all helter skelter isn't right either. In the summertime here, at festival time when the pujas are 3-5 hours long, we tell them to go outside, and they love it.

Good to hear you've started going back, BTW.

 

[Poeticus]

The parents make their rounds of the shrines, but they leave the kids to run around.

The children are innocent. In fact, the Gods are pleased
that they fool around. Remember Krishna ? What Krishna
used to do makes the running around of rowdy young
children look extremely normal. He would desecrate the
yajna grounds (a big, big, big offense), hide behind trees
with his friends, and laugh as the priests go bonkers.​

 

[Jainarayan]

I see this too. It's 50/50 for whether the kids are respectful or out of control. I try to smile at them either way. What can you do?

:camp:

Oh, they're cute, no mistake. I smile but I get weird looks back.

 

[Jainarayan]

Jai, I'm in the middle on this. At one of the temples in Vancouver, there were signs everywhere about 'No Unsupervised Children' almost to the point like we have 'No Camera" signs. The tone was quite unfriendly, and it sounded like kids wouldn't be welcomed at all. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to take my children there. I remember hearing once ... "If they don't want your kids, they don't want you."

I prefer the situation where the children are gently supervised by parents, and they're cut some slack. They are kid after all. But allowing them to run around all helter skelter isn't right either. In the summertime here, at festival time when the pujas are 3-5 hours long, we tell them to go outside, and they love it.

Exactly. I never held with my parents' beliefs that children had no place in church (or in this case, unwelcome in temples). That's not right. They have as much right to be there as anyone. I also prefer them to be somewhat supervised and taught. It can also save the parents embarrassment if a kid runs into a sanctum or starts knocking things over. :run:

Good to hear you've started going back, BTW.

Yeah, it felt good. At the risk of hijacking the thread, I went the other night just for darshan, but today I went for Sri Mahaganapati abhiskeham. I maaaay go tomorrow.

An older woman looked at me and said "You look very nice, and you wear that [dhoti] so nicely. I wish my husband would wear it". He got a sheepish look on his face. I thanked her. But I was somewhat embarrassed when the priest asked for the silver fittings for Sri Ganesha, and I had no idea what he was talking about (accent as thick as molasses in a Canuckistan winter). He pointed in their general direction, but it took me getting through the bananas and the flowers first. On the third try I got it right. I was so embarrassed. Another older couple looked at me and smiled, because I whispered "that's my first time doing it". The priest smiled and thanked me.

Anyway, back to our story...

 

[Jainarayan]

The children are innocent. In fact, the Gods are pleased
that they fool around. Remember Krishna ? What Krishna
used to do makes the running around of rowdy young
children look extremely normal. He would desecrate the
yajna grounds (a big, big, big offense), hide behind trees
with his friends, and laugh as the priests go bonkers.​

That's true to an extent. I know kids get squirmy and have short attention spans but it doesn't seem that the parents are teaching the children why they are in temple. Krishna knew what he was doing and why. Like I said, it doesn't bother me personally, but I'm just surprised, maybe because I was raised differently (not better, just differently).

 

[Poeticus]

That's true to an extent. I know kids get squirmy and have short attention spans but it doesn't seem that the parents are teaching the children why they are in temple. Krishna knew what he was doing and why. Like I said, it doesn't bother me personally, but I'm just surprised, maybe because I was raised differently (not better, just differently).

The parents here are wonderful
teachers. I am only pro-kids-going-
cray-at-temple 'cause it doesn't
happen here. Here, they are quite
reserved and attentive.​

 

[Aupmanyav]

As I've observed in the past, today was no different than then... it was Camp Run-Amuck. It doesn't bother me personally, but I don't understand why parents don't teach the kids that there should be a modicum of decorum in temple, and just what it means. The parents make their rounds of the shrines, but they leave the kids to run around.

Children are Gods and Goddesses. A temple is their territory. How can one restrain them in their own territory? A cute devi or a bala gopala? It is a delight to make a hullaboo in the temple when the elders are worshiping. Decorum is for the elders. Hindu psyche.

 

[Aupmanyav]

But I was somewhat embarrassed when the priest asked for the silver fittings for Sri Ganesha, and I had no idea what he was talking about (accent as thick as molasses in a Canuckistan winter). He pointed in their general direction, but it took me getting through the bananas and the flowers first. On the third try I got it right. I was so embarrassed.

Flowers and fruits, optional, even putting something in the Hundi. Don't know what the priest was after! He could just have given you 'charanamrutam' if not any 'prasada'. Do not like that.

 

[Vinayaka]

Don't know what the priest was after!

I had to think about that too, but I think he means silver coverings that sometimes go on hands, trunk, ears etc, as part of the decorating. Many temples have gold-plated entire coverings they use on special occasions, That was my guess, but Jai will let us know.