The Jagganath Temple of Hyderabad

Dana and I went to the Jagannath Temple, dedicated to Krishna, which is actually a replica of the original in Orissa. We were present at a ceremony in which the priest waves plates of fire in front of the idols, then brings it out for worshippers to wave towards them. The fire represents purity, and the waving of the fire towards one's faith symbolizes absorbing the pure energy from it. Pictures of the ceremony were not allowed, so we contented ourselves with taking pictures outside. Before entering the temple, we removed our shoes and left them in charge of the concierge.

The temple is dedicated to the god Krishna. The picture which reads "Prasadam counter" is actually serves food that has first been offered to the deity.

 While we were at the temple, we ran into groups of children who really liked to pose for pictures.

One girl called out to me, "Auntie! take my picture, please!" I was only too happy to oblige.

At one point we saw a large scale set, and wondered what it was used for. Soon after the temple ceremony we saw a family and a priest place a tiny girl on one of the scales, and her father began adding packets of something on the other side. Later we spoke to the parents and found out that they were offering the girl's weight in milk to the temple. It turns out it was her second birthday, and Hindus generally celebrate birthdays by giving offerings of that nature. The year before they had offered her weight in rice. Sree DEei also offered the information that since the couple were not very young, they may have been giving special thanks for having had a child after waiting for a long time.

Children posing for pictures

Baby Girl Worth Her Weight in Milk

 

The illustrations are from Hindu myths, such as the Ramayana

and the Mahabharata

The most revered Hindu teachings are in a book of the Mahabharata (which means "Great India") called

the Bhagavad Gita, in which Krishna expounds his philosophies

These two young men had never spoken with Americans before. Dana and I talked to them for a long time, asking questions about their lives. The young men on the left spoke English very well; he said he had learned it from movies, and from talking to himself!

An older woman resting at the temple

Spirituality is everywhere in India, as this
shrine dedicated to Ganesh, the elephant-headed
god of successful endeavors, placed right outside a
mall, demonstrates