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Home > Temples of Kerala > Temple rites Temple ritesAs explained in Chapter 2 Vaasthu-mandala has 64, 81 or 100 padas but generally the rite is done in a square-padma 115 of 81 padas (9 rows and 9 columns), the width of each square padma being 4 angulams. The nine padas at the centre are combined into one, known as Brahma-pada, and a swasthik symbol is laid over it. The details of drawing other padas and columns used are not given here, However at comers also the padas are combined. Ultimately there will be 52 padas representing 52 Devathas. Over the padma thus drawn karuka or kurumpullu, akshtha (mixture of paddy & rice) and flowers are placed. Thus when the seats of the Devathas are-ready pooja is commenced with the initial purificatory rites of the priest, which have been discussed at the beginning of this Chapter. Then the aavaahanas (invocations) of Vaasthu-Purusha and Devathas are done with their specified.manthras. (The position of Vaasthu-Purusha for conducting the pooja is with his head at east in case of Vaishnavite deities and at north-east for Saivaite deities (inclusive of Bhadrakaali etc). The position of Brahma is at the navel of Vaasthu-Purusha, which indicates that He is none other than Viral-Purusha but having slight thaamasa-guna. It is followed by offering (haviss) consisting of akshtha to Vaasthu-Purusha, Brahma and other Devathas. In exceptional cases ata (made up of rice) and kuruthi (a liquid made up of turmeric powder, lime (chunnambu) and water) are offered representing flesh and blood respectively. Rituals demand that the priest who offers ata and kuruthi has to take bath again before resuming the bali. The rituals of Vaasthu-bali are completed by prasannna-pooja and sprinkling of samghaata all over the place for purification of the site.Vaasthu-bali is also conducted as part of prathishta and expiatory rites.
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