I think there are countless temples in our country. Even in our small town, Udupi, there are many temples to gods and goddesses. During certain months temple festivals take place. There are fairs in the temple grounds and at the end, fireworks. Annually, ceremonies are performed consisting of various rituals. They are well attended. Eating food at temples is considered as prasada (consecrated foodand water). We too have enjoy it.
A few days ago, some people living in our locality distributed leaflets about religious activities in a temple not far from our home. We very rarely go there. The function was to start at 5 o’clock. We were there by 5.15. To one side of the temple there is a small shrine. Many people were standing there, and the priest was offering prayers. Here it is the custom to pray to God and ask for blessings before starting any activity. It is called prarthane.
We joined the group. The people were following the priest and crying out for mercy, forgiveness of sins and general protection in tones of absolute submission. We had never heard anything like that before. But it was not so for the others. They were completely immersed in what was happening. We quietly walked away, entered the temple, sat there for a few minutes and left. It was not only me, but my husband and Aravind too found the experience disturbing.
We decided to go to the temple of Goddess Mahishamardini not far from there because we felt unsettled. We go there at least once a month and is one of our favourite places. Last week some religious activities took place there. Our neighbours had attended them. Yesterday there were many devotees. Some were singing bhajans and the atmosphere was very nice. We sat there for quite some time, and it was very soothing, especially after the earlier experience.
Mukhamani 
I’m glad you were able to go to a temple that calmed you down before returning home. I love your photos!
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Lakshmi,
You tried something new, but were able to reflect and make a change based on what you wanted and needed. Even better, you found a temple that’s a better fit before heading home. I enjoyed reading this journey and following along!
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That long pillar looks like it’s gonna topple over!
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San, that pillar is a very important part of temples. It is actually very straight, maybe the angle of my taking the photo makes it look as if it is going to topple 😊.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhvajastambha
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I was more worried about its apparent thinness and height, but obviously whoever built it must have taken all important factors into account,
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Yes, all factors are taken into contact. I think there are precise measurements about the height and the width.
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Your photos are beautiful. I’m glad you could follow up the strange experience with a calming one.
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Different people need different things. Like you, I need a more calming atmosphere when I go to church. Glad you were able to find calm after the seeming chaos. Your mention of festivals and fairs made me think of the different church bazaars we have during the summer. Good food, music, streets crowded with people.
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We are more comfortable with familiar practices and it can sometimes be quite disturbing to encounter something that is unfamiliar and unsettling. There seem to be so many extremes of behaviour in all aspects of life now. I am pleased that you found solace in the temple of Goddess Mahishamardini.
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Is the man with the pillar apparently on his head an optical illusion? Or is he managing to balance it? It’s certainly very striklng!
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Your photos, as always, bring us to your moments. Sometimes that unsettled feeling is there for very good reason – – and I’m glad you found a temple experience that countered the unsettling one.
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Lakshmi, thank you for taking us along for the tour of these temples. The introduction is perfect for where you went: “I think there are countless temples in our country.” You visited some of those countless temples, and ended in the one that was familiar and soothing.
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