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Home > Temples of Kerala > Temple rites Temple ritesThe various rites associated with a temple are meant to give the deity the occult powers for the benefit of all. Pooja systems generally fall under two types ie, aathmaarttham (relating to the individual who does the pooja) and paraarttham (relating .to the deity who in turn looks after the welfare of others or the community at large). Of these, the latter has greater significance. As the thaanthric capabilities of the priests influence the invoking of occult powers of the deity the self-purificatory rites adopted by priests have an added importance. Equally significant is the role of the astrologer and the Deva-prasna conducted by him as they determine the auspicious time for the various rites in a temple. All these aspects are briefly discussed in this chapter. Temple, as already stated, is a place where the devotees obtain solace. Aagamas are the scriptures that help the yearning soul to perceive the nature of the universe and to realise the true nature of the self, thus freeing it from the bondage and seek self-realisation through Divine Grace. There are three schools for the Aagama saasthra, viz. Saaktheya, Saiva and Vaishnava and they relate the Goddess Sakthi,Lord Siva and Lord Maha Vishnu through symbols and images which are consecrated according to sacred texts and traditions. Generally all the schools have certain common characteristics like pooja (internal and external), images and mode of worship though there are some slight differences depending on the deity worshipped, apart from the philosophical backgrourid of Advaitha, Dwaitha, and Vishishta-advaitha. Some of the earliest scriptures are Saivagamaas (which feature the worship of Siva and Sakthi)and they relate to the period before sixth century B.C while vedas are considered as general to all. Thanthra-saasthra, on the ritualistic side, contains the more commonly accepted rituals of Hinduism viz. nyaasa, manthra, japa, pooja, dhyaan.a etc. of which manthra has a significant role. The manthra (vedic hymn or sacrificial formula addressed to any individual deity) as well as the thanthra (derived from 'Than'means to spread 'thra means to save) form part of the thanthric system.
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