The document discusses temples of kuladaivata or kuladevata deities in India. These deities are worshipped by different family groups and have temples in various villages. People periodically assemble at these temples for worship according to unique customs and traditions. The author believes these deities represent doors to ultimate truth. They also view temples more broadly as places that can help individuals transcend ego and mundane pursuits by consuming their sacred essence. The author advocates for more frequent worship, or upasana, at these temples through practices like namasmarn to help rejuvenate both individuals and society.
2. In India thousands of family groups worship
different kuladaivatas or kuladevatas. Kula means
pedigree and daivata or devata means deity. The
temples of these deities are present in different
villages and people assemble periodically in these
temples and worship the deities with different
customs and traditions. The yearly congregations
are called jatras and constitute a great event of
cultural rejuvenation, unification and
harmonization.
In my view these kuladaivatas or kuladevatas are
the divine doors to the home of ultimate truth. They
are divine branches of the root embodying ultimate
truth. These are divine channels or divine routes; to
the abode of absolute truth.
As I have discussed in my books such as Hitguj and
Shambhavi, the temples in general; constitute; the
unending springs of vitality and rejuvenation.
These are the places where individuals can
consume the sacred sap of enlightenment and
3. transcend above their petty ego, petty aspirations
and petty pursuits.
Shri Dev Narayan is our kuladaivata and His
temple is situated in a scenic place called Walaval
in Kudal Taluka. It is about 8 km from Kudal ST
stand and Kudal railway station.
Recently I visited and stayed in this temple
premises for one night. Apart from the superlative
rejuvenating experience, I realized that this and
such many treasures of vitality are visited by us;
only periodically and as a matter of custom and
tradition. We get engrossed in superficialities of life
and ignore/neglect the vital core of our life residing
in these temples!
These sources of eternal empowerment and
enlightenment are therefore largely untapped and
unused, As a result we and these temples get
“emaciated”, “weakened”, “paralyzed” and
“helpless” and become caricatures of “our” and
“their” majestic selves!
4. The holistic solution; which treats and heals the
root problem is UPASANA. UPASANA; heals the
heart and soul of universe. UPASANA
simultaneously heals the heart and soul of the
universe and also the individuals. UPASANA
teaches us and convinces us that we should worship
these deities not merely as a matter compulsion and
fear of traditional pressure, but appreciating and
admiring the deities therein; as the route to
universal rejuvenation, unity and harmony!
These temples should be flooded with the people
and become vibrant with their UPASANA for
twenty four hours!
I am sure if we revisit and get engaged in
UPASANA; in a passionate manner and with top
priority, then we would re-explore and re-imbibe
the vitality and the rejuvenating potential in these
temples. UPASANA such as NAMASMARAN,
which can be practiced by everybody; would soon
bear the fruits; of several creative holistically
5. benevolent ideas, plans and projects in and around
these temples and blossom us and these places!!
These places; which are the nuclei of the social
milieu, would soon rejuvenate the entire society and
mankind!
What is true about the temples of kuladaivata or
kuladevata is true for all places of worship!
