temples in India

In my attempt to learn more about Hinduism, I would love to spend time in temples meditating and participating in worship. As a non-Hindu is this an option for me? Are Hindu temples in India generally open to non-Hindus as long as traditions and customs are observed? Can one volunteer to clean / do menial tasks in exchange for food and/or lodging? Are there temples folks would recommend to visit / avoid in Northern India?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Namaste
Samjay

Westerners are "untouchables" as far as Hindus are concerned; I doubt you will be able to do any work in the temples.

Non-Hindus are not allowed in many temples -- usually the ones you'd like most to visit: Puri, Varanasi, Trichy... etc etc

Usually the inner sanctum, which houses the main deity, is not open to non-Hindus, but the shrines on the periphery are often open. There is not really a big collective worship service, as in a Christian church, but the offering of pujas, bathing, etc. I'm sure you could find a temple priest to assist you with a puja (devotional offering) and teach you about it. There are also huge festivals with processions, dressing and immersing deities in a river. You could easily pariticipate in one of those as one of the large crowd.

As for taking on tasks and being part of temple life, you can always ask. There are also educational programs and special events for tourists. The Meenakshi Temple in Madurai does a lot of this.

There will be a limit as to how far you can proceed as a non-Hindu, but you should be able to find opportunities to learn and participate just by asking.

It's true that some of the really important Hindu temples are not open to non-Hindus but equally you will be welcome to enter and participate in the worship, if you wish, in many others.

I can think of many places we visited in the past where we visited "live" temples as compared to archaeological sites and were welcomed - Mysore, Somnath in Gujarat, Hadimba Temple in Manali HP, the Ganesh Temple in Ranthambore Fort, Meenakshi in Madurai (apart from the inner sanctum) and others.

If you are interested I'm sure you will find people who will explain things to you. I'm not sure about being able to work in one.

Has anyone here been to the temples in Hampi? I've heard a lot of great things about them, such as easy accessibility (people sleeping in them at night etc).

I'd love to have a look for myself - there's something about temple ruins that I love - but will not get there until late March (at the earliest) so the weather might be against me.

Thanks.

The really famous temples will not allow a "foreigner" into the sanctum sanctorum. Many other temples have stragglers & hangers on who perform "seva" & probably get food &/or accom. in return. They are not from "outside", but mostly from the same community/village/both. Even INDIANS from "outside" (commty/vllg/both) will find it pretty difficult to get into the clique of sevadars within (say) 15 days..... they also might have to put up with resistance for a while after which someone in the clique will acquiese. This is not a situation where a "low caste" person can even think of "getting into" unless he/she lies about his/her origin.

Foreigners, on the other hand, are quite welcome at very many of the lesser known temples, obviously for the supposed "cash" they could contribute. Many such temples do not even conduct the 16-part worship properly (or worse) not at all.

There is a via-media though. There are ashrams in Rishikesh, Haridwar, etc where foreigners are welcome to do any "yoga" or some such study course for a nominal fee or free of cost. Most of these places have a dedicated temple where the residents can conduct worship in their own way. Foreigners would not be barred at such places, especially where the courses are taught in "English".

If you are persistent, you will eventually find some place. Even if you choose to pay for food & stay in a "dharamshaalaa", attached to the temple, it will not set you back by more than say, 30 or 40 rupees a day. (Some places as less as 10 to 15 Rs a day). Surely, as a person earning the good ol' dollar.... you CAN afford this much! Its not even one dollar!

In general, temples in North India, (some are very powerful in energy) are to be avoided cuz the worship, chantings, purity of rituals are generally corrupted, spoilt or ignored altogether. As always, there are exceptions.... it would be a task finding them.

South Indian temples are more adherent to the ancient ways but will not allow a foreigner inside the "innermost" chamber.... you will have to partipate from the main/general hall. If it is a consolation, even INDIANS are not allowed inside the "inner" chamber of (most)South Indian temples except for a brief "darshan" (means "sighting").

I am not an avid temple goer..... if I DO go to one, I close my eyes and feel my "feelings" inside.... if I sense PEACE then plus point one..... if I sense divine LOVE (its a sorta welcoming feeling) then plus points four, on top of this, if I feel tremendous surge of energy then plus points nine!.... I would sit there to meditate or stay for a while. Of course, this is not a standard system, it may not work for everyone.

Try Rishikesh.... try an "English Instructing" ashram run by South Indians. If they have a temple inside, (very likely) you could state your reasons plainly. At best (worst) they will impose a "course" of whatever they are teaching... but will allow you to "participate". Remember, nowadays even Indians do not know how to conduct the "worship" in the proper manner. Those who know somewhat may skip some parts on some days. Even THEY do not know the full significance of the elaborate 16-part worship ritual. Dont be upset if you discover that things are not what you thought them to be.