Page 3 - No_Shoes_in_Temples
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“The temples were built based upon wearing too many clothes inside my
Hindu economic system. It was a house – I won't feel home with the
battery house of sorts – wealth, food, same dress I wear outside. I wear only a
arts, music, discussion, education etc. single dhoti. No shirts. This has been our
So, if our ancestors didn't wear footwear, tradition for last 5000 years and I
the reason should be economic. In earnestly follow it inside the house.”
ancient days, poor people cannot afford
footwear. And all were NOT allowed in “I know that. My father and grandfather
the temple. The temple entry was didn't wear upper clothes inside our
restricted to a couple of priests and the compound. However now-a-days we can
King. Others didn't have any business see Hindus wearing even overcoat inside
there.” (For details please read articles the home,” he said.
on Hindu Economics at
“You should feel home and comfortable
http://udaypai.in/hindu-economics-is-
inside the God's abode (devalaya) or
there-any-better-…/ and articles on Hindu
place of worship which is considered
Temples)
holy. Our body cells should experience
“Hmm. I have read those articles. I know the direct contact with such holy place
you have a strong point there….Are there and should feel home, relaxed. That
any other reasons for not allowing could even randomly invoke the
footwear inside the temple?” memories of our ancestors who spent
their life in building such temples in the
“There could be many other reasons too. cells. Those memories and your devotion
Another reason could be the expression together develop an emotion-of-sort that
of respect. It is like a European taking off you would get inside the temple. So in old
their hat. The removal of shoes in a place traditional temples you are required to
of worship is considered as exhibition of remove upper cloth (your shirt and t-shirt)
humbleness in the Sanatana dharma and wear only Dhoti. So it is not just
tradition. We must respect that tradition. footwear that needs to be removed. If you
We remove shoes before entering a don't like such things, well, nobody is
Hindu temple in order to pay appropriate compelling you to go to temple.”
respect to the deity within the temple.”
“Yes, Udayji, I have also noticed that. But
“Oh, yes, right. I didn't think that way…” upper clothes are not removed in the
modern temples and those temples in
“When I go inside my house, the first North India…”
thing I do is removing my chappals and
changing clothes. I am not comfortable “During foreign invasions thouands of
P.G. Better Living
