Datta Maata 103: When you go to temple, you must offer our respects to every deity.

Few people like Ganapathi. Few like Skanda. Few others like Shiva or Mother Parvathi. In this way, each and everybody has their liking for different Gods. That is all. But, there are several other deities associated with the Gods. Firstly, we need to offer our prayers to them and seek permission and then go to the main deity. This is the order. We cannot go to the king directly. We must have the permission of the authorities and only then can we meet the king. Also, when we do so, we need not face any difficulty from anybody. Those who do not follow the rules and regulations must face the difficulties like a devotee of Shiva. Let us recollect that story.

That devotee of Lord Shiva prostrated to Shiva alone. He used to circumambulate only around Shiva linga. At some distance, there is mother’s idol. But, he neither looked at the idol nor bothered about the matter. He did not even see the idols of other deities that surrounded the linga. He used to circumambulate around Shiva even without bothering to look at the faces of the deities. He never even saw Nandi, Shiva’s vehicle but used to go round the temple. All the other deities were angry upon him for his negligence towards them. But they could not blame or harm him in anyway just because he is the devotee of Lord Shiva.

One day, Mother Parvathi devi observed his behavior. She made her idol touch the Linga. Once again, the devotee came to the temple to make rounds. He was surprised to see the idol of Parvathi next to the Shiva linga. He understood that if he circumambulates, then it would be an offering to both Shiva and Parvathi. But he felt that he must only go round the Shiva linga and not around the idol of mother Parvathi. He thought deeply for a while. Then, suddenly he remembered about the Parakaya pravesha vidya (knowledge of entering into other’s body) that he studied long ago. Implementing that, he became a small insect. Now, he went round around the Shiva linga by going through the space between the linga and the idol of Parvathi. This was good. Parvathi devi became furious seeing this. She said, “O stupid fellow! Vedas, scriptures and everybody state strongly that both Shiva and Pravathi are one and the same. Didn’t you ever hear that? Why is it that the knowledge that both of us are one did not come to you? After going near Shiva, you should have this feeling very strongly. You did not follow the rules and regulations of a temple. By not seeking the permission of the other deities, you have shown indifference. O Sinner! May all your energies get drained! ” This is how mother Parvathi cursed him. This was an eye opener to the devotee. He said,” O Mother! Kindly forgive me”. Saying so, he prostrated. Shiva also said, “Despite being my devotee, if you do not follow the rules and regulations, how will others follow them all? You must lead others by example.” He then felt sorry for his actions and from then onwards, by doing sit ups; he offered his respects to Nandi and thus did his service to the primordial couple. !

It is always good to offer our namaskar to others by bending our head. It indicates that we respect them. By doing so, the egoism also gets washed away. When you go to temple, you must offer our respects to every deity.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!