Temples

We have been visiting many Hindu temples over the last view days. This is interesting because each temple is dedicated to a certain God. At the Ganesh temple in Pondicherry, we saw our first "Holy Elephant" that blesses people outside the temple ( after you give an offering of course!)









The second temple we visited was dedicated to Shiva. This temple is 1000 years old and 61 meters high with a stone on top that weighs 81 tons.







In the courtyard surrounding the temple there is a holy tree. People leave small offerings here when praying for a child's health or when they are trying to have children.



And of course, another Elephant blessing! Who could resist this opportunity!




The third temple we visited was a non-Brahmin temple. Traditionally in India, the temples are build and maintained by the Brahmin caste. ( The highest caste in India). In the past, the members of the lowest caste, the untouchables were not allowed to go to the temples. In some small villages these people made their own temples in order to have a place to worship. We stopped at one such temple on our way through the country side. The first picture shows the rice that had been spread out on the road to dry... blocking our way to the temple. Upon arriving at the temple the local Children came out to greet us.













The Temple is a series of statues placed at the base of a tree. Many puppets are placed here as an offering to ensure the health of village children. Parents typically make this offering when a child is sick, in hopes of a speedy recovery.






Some of the local villagers, stood on the road and avid as we left.



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Location:,Madurai,India