The ancient temples of Kerala are always centred on the worship of the central energy of the world i.e. God, and the Hindus call it "Siva". The other Gods are attributes of this central energy representing wealth (Maha Laxmi), education (Saraswathi and Ganapathy), valour (Subrahmanya) etc and at a later time heroes like Rama, the ideal King who ruled Bharat and Krishna, the protector of Dharma with the strength of a great giant, with the knowledge of all Vedas and Upanishads, and with a thorough organising capacity who removed all autocrats from power (like Jarasandha, Kamsa, Sisupala and Duryodhana and installed kings like Dharmaputhra) also were considered as demi gods and became gods in the Temples. Thus Iswara is Siva and others are Devas (Daivam).

The ancient Kerala temples were made in the style of a Yagasala and as per rules of Vasthu. It is said that most of the old temples (Sanctum sanctorum with round base and conical top ) were built by the great architect Perumthachan or his direct disciples with perfect mathematical calculations of its wooden structures and there is hardly any one who can replace a dilapidated conical (a vertical right angle triangle rotated on its vertical side) structure at present, as managers of many temples can vouch.

It is not known whether the public understands the real use of temples to society apart from gifting material benefits for their prayers and offerings, and whether the managers of temples are motivated to benefit society.

This attempt is to give ideas as to how temples act as benevolent and useful institutions to Society, including those who do not believe in the invisible power or energy that is God.

 

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