Friday, May 1, 2009

Temple Room Etiquette

Temple Room Etiquette:

Offer obeisances to all assembled vaishnavas as soon as you enter the temple room. Even if the temple room is empty we still offer our obeisances to all vaishnavas."Vancha Kalpataru " prayers should be chanted while offering obeisances.

Then one should offer obeisances to Srila Prabhupada, keeping him on one's left, and chant his pranati mantra "Namo Om Vishnupadaye .." . One should then move towards the deities and offer obeisances, keeping the deities on our left side and chant their respective pranama mantras.

While taking darshan one may stand at the sides so that darshan is not obstructed from the devotees who are siting. The darshan should begin, as we face the deities, from the left-hand corner and move progresively, Deity by Deity to the right-hand corner.

Maintain a devotional mood while in the temple room and avoid talking in front of the deities, during lectures, kirtans, etc unless required for service. If you need to burp or pass air go out of the temple room.