Throughout our history, the temple has exercised an enormous influence on our social life. Apart from keeping the torch of dharma urning aloft, the temple has been a great cementing factor.
Its shrine and icons have given peace to the frustrated minds. The construction and maintenance of the building have provided employment to the architects, artisans, sculptors and labourers.
Religious discourses and musical discourses (pravacanas and harikathas) have helped the propagation of religion, Music, dance and other fine arts have received great encouragement and provided pure and elevating type of entertainment to the devotees. Being a centre of learning, the temple helped in the acquisition and propagation of knowledge. Both scholars and students found shelter there. With its
enormous wealth, it also acted as a bank to the needy, giving easy credits. The granaries of the temple helped to feed the hungry, and those unable to earn their livelihood due to disease and deformity. There are several instances of even hospitals and dispensaries being run by the temple. The temple often played the role of a court of law for settling disputes. The temple also gave shelter
to the people during wars. Thus the temple was al1-in-all in the social life of our country for centuries.
The Temple and the Devotee
When we want to meet our superiors or persons highly placed in life, we observe certain etiquette, norms and decorum.
Therefore it is but natural that the devotee who wants to visit the Lord of the universe in a temple, is expected to observe a certain code of conduct.
Taking bath, wearing freshly washed clothes is a must. If and when possible, this should be done in the Puskarini attached to the temple.
After entering the precincts of the temple, he should observe silence and try to withdraw the mind into the thoughts of God. After having the darshan of the deity and getting his individual worship if any, performed, he should circumambulate the main shrine three, five or seven times.
Then he should bow down to the deity from a place outside the dhvajastambha, taking care to see that his feet do not point in the direction of any of the minor deities. Visiting the shrines of the minor deities is his next duty.
Before leaving the precincts of the temple, he should sit quietly in some corner and meditate. Since distribution of alms to deserving beggars in the vicinity of the temple is considered meritorious, the devotees are advised to do so.
Apart from these general rules to be observed by the devotee, he should also be aware of the daivapacaras, modes of behaviour which will offend the deity in the temple.
This is very important because when a temple is built and the image consecrated ceremonially, the power of the deity will manifest itself through that image. This is technically called arcävatara.
The following are some of the modes of behaviour which will offend the deity in the temple, and bring misery and suffering upon the transgressor: not observing the rules concerning personal, environmental and ceremonial cleanliness, missing the important festivals of the temple, not making obeisance or circumambulation, carelessly treating the things offered to the deity, not offering the best kind of things even though one can afford to do so, disposing of the offered articles to people who have no faith or devotion, engaging in purely secular and nonreligious activities in the presence of the deity, boisterious behaviour, observing caste restrictions, misusing the things belonging to the temple and so son.