Like knocking on the door of a person’s home to notify them of your arrival, ringing the bell informs the deities you’ve come to seek their association. Many temples have a brass bell hanging near the entrance, which devotees ring before entering. Removing dirty shoes makes you cleaner, and is a sign of respect for the proprietor whose house you are about to spend time in. If it’s not obvious where to do so (racks for shoes, informational signs) just ask where to leave your shoes. Sometimes this is entirely outside the temple complex and other times at a designated space inside the complex, but before entering the temple proper. Before entering a temple everyone is required to remove shoes. When you enter, you are a guest in that home. Some place a greater emphasis on dressing simply, requiring men to be shirtless and to wear only unsewn cloth. Traditions can vary, however, from temple to temple. For both men and women, this generally means not wearing shorts and keeping the shoulders covered. Being conscious of certain etiquettes can help one navigate the hallowed grounds of a temple respectfully.īefore entering a temple, it is generally recommended to be clean and modestly dressed. Though most Hindu temples are usually open to the public, it is important to enter each one with the understanding that it is a sacred space. For thousands of years Hindu temples have been constructed, allowing people to immerse themselves in an atmosphere where they can worship a particular form of God, gather with other devotees, and become more connected to the Absolute.
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