#contemporary hinduism
Following up on my earlier post on the cluster of five temples that constitute the Mālvaṇ Deuḷwāḍā, the first i.e., oldest, and foremost temple is that of Śṛī Deva Rāmeśwara, dedicated to Lord Śiva Mahādeva as the patron deity or Iṣṭadeva of Lord Śṛī Rāma–ĪśwaraofRāmawhenceRāmeśwara. The first recorded large temple in the spot was built circa 1920.
The temple is described as jāgṛt – literally meaning ‘awakened’, conveys that devotees report feeling the presence of the deity in this shrine.
The Gāvkar clan has the honour and responsibility of keeping the temple functioning and well maintained (मानकरी). The shrine also has designated person for worship ritual (पुजारी), recitation of holy texts (पुराणिक) and performance of sacred songs (कीर्तनकार) – all these roles are fulfilled by families residing in Deuḷwāḍā.The present temple was renovated around 10 years ago and has two spacious halls leading up to the sanctum sanctorum (गर्भगृह) which are used for congregations and worship rituals.
The tiled floor and concrete pillars replace the older stone flooring and wooden pillars.
Back in the day menfolk in the neighbourhood often took some light bedding to sleep in the out hall of the temple on hot summer nights - when the stone and wooden temple with high ceiling would often be cooler than their homes. No one was supposed to sleep in the centre of the hall though. According to legend, that was the path the the devchār - the king of ghosts - tread at the stroke of midnight as he walked in to prostrate himself before Lord Śiva. Any impudent human sleeping in the path would be kicked out of the way!
The ornate tiling in the inner hall is where the purāṇik - the reader of sacred texts purāṇik - sits facing the deity.
The sanctum sanctorum where is installed the sacred deity.
In front of the temple stand the tipor – pillars of light which are lit up with oil lamps Mahā Śivarātrī; behind the tipor is the nagārkhānā formerly used to house the musical instruments for the temple (drums and trumpets), this now has a loudspeaker.
The outer entrance is decorated with stucco images framed in a kīrtimukha, a clear influence of southern temple architecture.
On special occasions and festival celebrations, the presiding deities of the two main shrines of Deuḷwāḍā – Śṛī Deva RāmeśwaraandŚṛī Deva Nārāyaṇa – are taken out in a procession circumambulating the two temples accompanied by percussions and religious songs. Specially made silver icons of the deities are used for this.
In all the change that modernity brings in, some corners remain where tradition holds fast.
