Children at temples

[Jainarayan]

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.

Right, that's it. The silver coverings for the hands etc. I guess I didn't fully explain that it was for dressing and decorating the idol after the abhishekam. Ordinarily there are two priests, but this time the other one disappeared for some reason (but came back later). He couldn't reach the decorations and clothing without having to climb in and out of the shrine, so he needed someone to hand them to him. I definitely got the prasad.

 

[Kalidas]

I finally have a children at temple story!

So I was able to go to the Kali Mandir again, it only took a year lol.

There was this young boy sitting i. his dads lap. So while we were all singing Bhajans(well not me I don't know the words so I just clapped)

The dad is helping his son clap and teaching him the words it was cute.

So after when everyone started going I went into the shop and there he and his dad are. So I ask how old he is and found out hes' 6. The dad recognized me from last time and we had a small conversation about big bear and how I live near there. The boy was shocked I cam such a long way for a temple. The boy was VERY excited about this conch shell, he REALLY wanted the conch shell. He also wanted this large hairy fan like thing(never seen it before). But he was sooo excited about the conch shell for home. Ever need to be a better devotee? Look to children.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

I finally have a children at temple story!

So I was able to go to the Kali Mandir again, it only took a year lol.

There was this young boy sitting i. his dads lap. So while we were all singing Bhajans(well not me I don't know the words so I just clapped)

The dad is helping his son clap and teaching him the words it was cute.

So after when everyone started going I went into the shop and there he and his dad are. So I ask how old he is and found out hes' 6. The dad recognized me from last time and we had a small conversation about big bear and how I live near there. The boy was shocked I cam such a long way for a temple. The boy was VERY excited about this conch shell, he REALLY wanted the conch shell. He also wanted this large hairy fan like thing(never seen it before). But he was sooo excited about the conch shell for home. Ever need to be a better devotee? Look to children.

Nice story! And awesome for you for getting back to temple. People are sometimes surprised that I make the trip to temple even though I'm only an hour away from mine.

And that hairy fan thing you were talking about? I don't know what it's called but I have seen priests use it to waft incense smoke toward the deities during puja.

:camp:

 

[Vinayaka]

The hairy thing is a fan. It's used just like any other fan ... incense, cooling, etc. Here that get used on parades ... when we take the deity on procession. Two people walk in front giving Ganesha a cool breeze.

Yesterday friends of ours had the annaprasanna samskara for their son. They are always fun. Of course the little guy (6 months) fell asleep about 5 minutes before it was supposed to happen. But our priest did a few other things to allow him some time to nap. Mom, Grandma, my wife, and I all gave him some food. He seemed to relish the attention. He wasn't the sort to make shy either, so that was cool. He's a heavy tyke, but I got to lug him around for awhile. He stared at the deities during the pujas. I always wonder what's going on in there.

 

[Aupmanyav]

He also wanted this large hairy fan like thing(never seen it before).

Chamaram (Chanwar as we term it in Rajasthani) - fly whisk, made out of yak tail hair of white color. The hand-held fans are made of peacock feathers. For Gods/Godddesses and Royalty. Offers in extended Puja - Chhatram samarpayami (Umbrella), Chamaram Samarpayami (fly-whisk/fan). The actual meaning of Chamara is skin, leather. Now that confuses me. Perhaps in some old stone-age days. (Note: no peacocks were ever killed for the feathers. That began only in the modern days because they can be sold in other countries. Only the discarded feathers were collected)

 

[Vinayaka]

First time back in about 10 days this morning, which is a long time for us ... We bought a nice archana for He who has One Tusk. On the way out a girl about 4 was on her way in, leading her family. There was a van parked in front, picking up the decorations from Navaratri, so there wasn't a ton of room just outside the front door. She was quite pushy cute ... "Out of my way, Everybody, I'm here, I'm here!"

I had the thought that she was one of those little ol' women from Tamil Nadu who push their way into lineups for darshan ... reincarnated, but still at that game.

 

[Jainarayan]

You probably know me well enough by now to know I had to have one of those. It's a not a very big one, and I do use it at the end of my puja.

 

[Vinayaka]

Where in _____ did you buy that, Jai?

 

[Jainarayan]

I think it was Krishna Culture or the Krishna Store. I've ordered things from both of them. I don't think Rudra Centre has them.

Edit:

Yes, it was Krishna Store. http://krishnastore.com/chamara-economy-yak-tail-fan-wisk-h-krishna-1099.html It says May be synthetic, but I wouldn't know real yak hair from yeti hair.

 

[Vinayaka]

Thanks ... I ordered a couple of dhotis from them ... they're both high quality and certainly I can't get that quality here, for that price, even when shipped from India... 'may be synthetic' I think means 'they are synthetic'...

 

[Jainarayan]

Thanks ... I ordered a couple of dhotis from them ... they're both high quality and certainly I can't get that quality here, for that price, even when shipped from India...

Yep, I got a couple. They are heavy cotton, very nice. I may get one or two more with different borders.

'may be synthetic' I think means 'they are synthetic'...

I'm sure you're right.

 

[Aupmanyav]

A murti is a murti (idol), whether of any precious metal or stone or plaster of paris or plastic.

 

[Vinayaka]

So last night at temple, there were two young girls all dressed up and looking cute. One had a sticker collection book that she had to show everyone. The priest was waiting by the first shrine for to start the puja, and she showed him it. When I approached she gladly shared her knowledge. (4 stickers on one page, I think she had just got started) Amazing how open kids are ... no preconceived notions.

The second girl figured her long scarf would be put to better use as a skipping rope. So during some of the puja she's skipping. Considering the frailty of the scarf compared to a real rope, she did an admirable job and probably cleared it 3 times in 50 tries.

 

[Maya3]

So last night at temple, there were two young girls all dressed up and looking cute. One had a sticker collection book that she had to show everyone. The priest was waiting by the first shrine for to start the puja, and she showed him it. When I approached she gladly shared her knowledge. (4 stickers on one page, I think she had just got started) Amazing how open kids are ... no preconceived notions.

The second girl figured her long scarf would be put to better use as a skipping rope. So during some of the puja she's skipping. Considering the frailty of the scarf compared to a real rope, she did an admirable job and probably cleared it 3 times in 50 tries.

I love that about kids too.

Maya

 

[Vinayaka]

Because of the school holiday, there were several children at temple this morning. The guy I got to know last year on the daily go to temple sadhana/penance has gone all shy on me. Must have a poor memory. The whole family came today, even Christian Dad, so that was nice.

On the way out, a happy threesome of Mom, a 10 yr old and a 4 yr old came in. The 4 yr old wouldn't stop singing, and the 10 yr old interacted with me. The years of being a teacher come in handy for being friendly with kids. But it really hit me how nice the drop in style of temple is for children. They only need to come for 20 minutes, they can remain somewhat active by walking around to the various shrines, but most of all they're not expected to sit quietly and still for an hour to watch the adults do a havan, or sing long bhajans. I wish we had this temple operating this way when my own children were young, They would have like the temple trips so much more.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Oh, yes, temples are fun places. Normally, temples will have stone benches to sit in the area where I come from. Men and women would sit around and gossip (mean invariably discuss politics), Gods and Goddesses forgotten.

 

[Maya3]

Oh, yes, temples are fun places. Normally, temples will have stone benches to sit in the area where I come from. Men and women would sit around and gossip (mean invariably discuss politics), Gods and Goddesses forgotten.

In Sweden a generation or two ago they used to have a wooden bench outside country stores. It was called a "lying bench." That is where people, usually men, sat around and discussed or lied to each other.

Maya

 

[Vinayaka]

Tonight a a casual social group of children formed and played in the basement while the puja was going on. It's fairly common, and occasionally an adult will check in on them to see if all is okay. But they all missed the end of the puja when the sacraments were being handed out, and this is a time when they actually enjoy, because it is participating time. So they all come up together and the flame, vibhuthi, chandanam, teertham, kumkum, and flowers are all awaiting them at the table near the door, where they are all placed after being handed out to the devotees. So it's like some wild feeding frenzy of little fingers, pouring teertham, poking fingers here and there and all over. My little socialite buddy has the wildest pottu ever. Great fun. Not sure who enjoyed it the most ... me the watcher, or the group.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Little krishnas, gopis, Ganeshas and Hanumanas. Divine. My grandson has broken his plastic 'gada' by banging it against walls and staircase railings. We need to get a new one again. He always likes to hold it in the Hanumana pose.

 

[StarryNightshade]

I was at Krishna Archana yesterday, and the most adorable little girl was at the temple along with her parents. They recently moved to the area and had just found the temple. She was just so excited to be a part of the aarti when her parents when up to hold the flame.