A typical contribution offered at any temple in India would normally comprise of flowers, coconuts, sweets among others. In certain śaktī pīṭhas, the devotees offer food items of non-vegetarian form and intoxicants, liquor. If that is not outlandish enough, there is an Indian temple cited in Orissa in the district of Kendrapada where the partisans make offerings of 'Clocks'.
A once in a lifetime trip, absolutely undertaken is to the 'Maa Panchu-baraha temple' located in the district of Kendrapada, in the block of Rajnagar. The highly revered, nearly four centuries old temple is situated in a sea-facing village. The credence is that if one desires to partake in a voyage or entreat for one's secure homecoming, then an offering in this temple would aid in taking care of one's trip.
The ardent devotees make offerings of timepieces, different clocks, inclusive of even wrist watches to the goddess of safety and for the well-timed passage while going to and coming back from remote places. During the by-gone days of Satabhaya and its adjoining places, the locals required to travel far and wide in order to vend clothing, paddy, veggies and several articles. In the olden days, a travel via roadways or through water was considered being laden with perils, due to which the village dwellers would visit the temple prior to heading off on their ventures to remote locales.
The temple is highly revered amongst the transporting and travelling community. Several individuals who drive various forms of transport like buses, trucks amongst others make offerings of clocks with the staunch hopes that it would protect them from any road disasters. The eminence of the temple has penetrated to wide quarters, with countless followers thronging the temple premises to make their offerings.
The interiors of the temple are ornate with an assortment of clocks that embellish its walls. The heightened time when activity is at its zenith are at the times of the Indian festival 'Dusehra' during October and in 'Paṇā Saṅkrānti' during March.
The warehouse of clocks received via offerings is later auctioned by the temple authorities as a means to amass funds to be routed to the temple's refurbishment. The ritualistic clock offering is merely a century old phenomenon and thus considered quite recent is that matter. However, deemed olden or otherwise, the tradition has directly meant that the watch vendors in the close by Bausakani and Gupti villages are sure making merry on their detour from the bank, all thanks to the heavy clock sales, all in the name of God.
November 2, 2009
Although there is debate on the exact date of birth of Śrī Guru Nanak Deva, this does not change the fact that the celebration of the Jayanti should be done on Kārtika Pūrṇimā. The birth dates of the great seers, the Maharṣi and other gurus of India may not coincide with the celebration of their jayanti unlike that of the avatāra where this must coincide. The reason being spiritual learning and teaching is a process in which the soul has to incarnate several times in a life and each of these spiritual events is regarded a rebirth. Hence the word dvija (twice born) is used for those who are initiated into the gāyatrī mantra.
Kārtika Pūrṇimā will always have the full Moon in Bharaṇī or Krittikā nakṣatra in the sign Aries which symbolises the teachings or knowledge sign. The ninth from this it the dharma which is Sagittarius and the Guru is the first and final definition of God ~ God is the teacher and then there is no difference between God and the spiritual master. Such a strong faith in the guru can only come from Sagittarius, the dharma bhāva for the Sikhs (Khālsā).
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