Character & Charisma #10
I was in Udupi, India when I visited the Shri Krishna Temple. This temple is a famous Hindu temple that serves as a holy place for daily prayer and living. Several temples that surround the Shri Krishna Temple are over 1000 years old, and the Shri Krishna Temple itself was founded in the 13th century. My family and I visited the temple during Rathosthav. At night, a large parade of chariots circled around the inner buildings of the temple. The chariots all had a rope attached to the front of them that the crowd pulled on to move the parade along. Following the chariots were many different groups of people, some had drums or other instruments, some were dancing, and there was also a group of kids running around and doing flips. People cheered along. I saw smiles everywhere I looked. At first there were a couple priests pulling the chariots, but soon the crowd rushed in to offer their help.
The story behind this temple particularly stands out to me because of the deeper meaning behind it. The temple has a statue that is facing away from you if you are inside the building, however if you look into the building from a window the statue will be facing you. According to the legend, this is because there was an untouchable man that tried to pray at this temple. He was denied entry into the temple and was unable to go inside and pray because of his caste. Instead of leaving, he remained outside the temple and decided to continue praying through a crack in the wall. It is said that the strength of his faith turned the statue around to face him. Now the crack in the wall has been turned into a window, where people go to pray to the statue outside of the temple.
What I admire most about this story is the untouchable man’s perseverance and devotion towards his faith. He had the strength to persevere even after being denied entry into the temple simply because of his caste. His love for his religion was so strong that the statue turned to see him., rewarding him for his faith. I have visited this temple several times with my family, and each time it brings me closer to my own faith. Although the caste system is not as applicable to my life as I have grown up in the US, this story and every time I visit the temple always reminds me to be grateful for what I do have. It always also reminds me that the ability to be able to worship freely means more to me than any material items. I think it is hard to be a teenager growing up in a materialistic society, however, this temple always grounds me and connects me closer to my parents who did grow up within the caste system. This temple features many different festivals throughout the year, each with hundreds of people coming together to admire their culture and their religion all together. I love coming together with locals, other tourists, and my family in order to appreciate our faith. It is extremely empowering seeing the devotion that people share, regardless of their caste.
Your visit to the Shri Krishna Temple during Rathosthav was captivating. Your description of the parade and the devotion of the people brought the whole scene to life! The legend about the untouchable man’s faith and the temple’s transformation is truly moving. It’s heartening to read how such stories connect and ground you, reminding us all of the deeper aspects of faith amidst a materialistic world.
Your experience at the Shri Krishna Temple is so beautifully narrated. The tradition during Rathosthav sounds breathtaking! The story behind the untouchable man’s faith is incredibly moving and thought-provoking. Your reflections on faith and gratitude, despite growing up in a different environment, are truly inspiring.
The portrayal of the Shri Krishna Temple and the Rathosthav celebration is vivid and enthralling. The story behind the untouchable man’s devotion speaks volumes about the resilience and depth of faith. Your personal reflections about grounding in faith in a materialistic world are so relatable. It’s wonderful how this temple helps you stay connected to our heritage.
Your experience at the Shri Krishna Temple during Rathosthav is so vividly detailed! The parade and the untouchable man’s tale are both deeply inspiring. Your reflections on faith and gratitude in a world centered around materialism resonate strongly. It’s inspiring how these experiences bind you to your roots and connect you with the essence of faith.
Your portrayal of the Rathosthav at the Shri Krishna Temple was incredibly vivid. The story behind the untouchable man’s unwavering faith and the statue’s turn to face him is powerful. Your reflections on staying connected to your faith, despite living in a different societal landscape, are truly touching. It’s heartening to see the devotion and togetherness of people despite societal divides.