I don’t particularly fancy going to temples: over the years, the spirituality that I associate with temples has gradually diminished. For one, I don’t approve of a separate ‘VIP’ queue for those who are willing to pay extra to escape the never-ending queue of worshippers, who gather hours before the day dawns to bow before their God (even if just for a second). Also, I have always found the temperament of temple-goers quite intriguing; the concept of trashing the resting place of a deity – they so revere - is beyond me. The current state of most Indian temples is so ugly that no popular temple is without banana peels and plastic bags.
"What are you looking for and why are you here?
- I seek a quiet morning in what was once God’s lair."
The temple walls narrate stories of erotica, war, celebration and glory on a canvas which is small but nothing short of grand and all set in a 5th century plot. The sculptures on the pillars inside the temple are both interesting and delightful for anyone who can recognize and appreciate art. There is a garden on one side of the temple and a small pond on the other. It is said that the pond connects the temple to an ancient city through an underground link. The temple doesn’t get many visitors and so is peaceful and clean. All in all, the temple offers contentment to the art hungry, refuge to the restless and titillation to the curious.
And even a skeptic like me doesn’t mind admitting that if God ever resided on earth, he must have lived in the walls of temples such as this one.
