Garbha gṛha

Sairam friends,

In Tamil, we pronounce this as Garbha Graha but when I see other articles related to it, they have spelt it as Garbhagriha. I believe in Sanskrit, its pronounced as Garbha Grha. Its the most scared section of any Hindu Temple where the Idol of the chief deity is kept. All other sannidhi in temples does have Garbagrha too but the main Garbagraha has the primary Gopuram (Vimana – Tall structure) on top of the Temple. 

Garbha Grha is usually is a small room and does not have any windows. This is to convey the message that we must not have any external distraction while showing devotion on God. Now a days, they keep artificial electric lights inside the Garbha Grha but its always auspicious to see it with the light emitted from Natural Lamps lit with Ghee/oil.

Womb Chamber of the temple:

Garbha Grha means “Womb Chamber” in Sanskrit.  I like Garbha Grha especially because of the divinity it makes me sense when I stand infront of the God/Goddess in ancient temples. It seems, Hindu temple architecture is well planned by experts even before thousands of years.

They make sure, the idol is not damaged by any natural disasters or any damages caused by Human.

One of the reason we have the ritual of closing and opening the curtain in Garbha grha is that, it signifies that the real God dwells in oneself. We can meditate remembering God in our mind and only to help people realize the God in them, the Garbha griha curtain is opened.

Thus when a person can keep the mind stable and clear with pure thoughts, he will be able to see God and Saints in himself. So at this moment, he doesn’t need the idol worship any longer.

Now lets go to the Sai leela.

Yesterday , I went to Nagasai mandir in the last minute and lit 3 lamps as usual. I usually don’t mind even if I am not able to go into the main hall. I am happy with Sai’s little Dwarakamai, Little Dhuni baba, my Sai’s Dhuni  and the Thulasi darshan.

8/9/2014 was Vara Lakshmi Vrata about which I wrote an article and thought my Ma is not going to do this pooja but when I came back from work, I saw my Ma has done the pooja keeping Kalasham, coconut, Mango leaves and offering of flowers. I truly felt divine.

I lit lamp and sat few minutes remembering Shirdi Saibaba and Lakshmi.

Then I slept off.

I used to have a very unique experience these days which I cannot reveal until Sai allows me to say to others. I did tell this to my parents and one of the priest I know in Perur. The priest said that since you are devoted to God, you might have such experiences but nothing to fear in it.

Until yesterday, I thought some evil has haunted me and I am having such ( which am not revealing) strange experience. But yesterday, The same thing happened and I realized its not any evil but Sai dwelling in me ( and he does with everyone of you. You just din’t had time to feel him if you can’t understand what I mean)

I clearly hear the words “Garbha gṛha” pronounced as Garbha Graha.
What really surprised me was when I was having this experience, My father too had same experience but he doesn’t know that. He was sleeping and I finally realized the Sai is dwelling in me and everyone who’s devoted to him and sometimes, he chooses his own way to make us feel his presence.

Our heart is Sai’s Garbha Grha and he dwells there. What ever we do is know to him. Every the little thoughts that crosses your mind reaches him.

Let is keep remembering Saints, Gods and Goddess we love in our mind because that’s where they really live.

C.Venkatraman