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| Kalasam on Thanjavur Big temple, TN. outline.aminus3.com |
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| Srikanteswara temple,Nanjangud, Karnataka dreamstime.com |
Kalasam is like an inverted pot made of an alloy of five metals (iyympon) normally you will find atop the Hindu temple Tower/ Gopuram. Metals including gold, silver, copper and tin are used in right proportion to make kalasams. These metals are believed to give these kalasams an electro-magnetic property. There is no Hindu temple across the world that does not have kalasams atop the Vimana. The number of kalasams depends on the structure and choice and the total number of kalasams comes in odd number. Fixing kalasam on top of the temple has been in practise for centuriesand it is done on an auspicious day. In India there are countless 1000 plus year old historical temples that have metal kalasam(s). According to an ancient Tamil wheeze: ''Don't live in a place where there is no temple'' (in Tamil: ''kovil illatha ooril kudiyerrukka vendam''). This is the reason why Tamil Nadu, in particular, has tens of thousands of Hindu temples. Invariably almost all kalasams are well decorated
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| Cross section of a Vishnu temple. North Indian style .quora.com |
The following are the interesting facts associated with Temple Kalasams:
01. Worshipping of Gopuram /Temple Tower (Gopura dharsanam) is one of the important rituals of Hindu temple worship. One should view the tower along with Kodimaram (Temple flag mast). It also goes by the name of Dwajasthambam.
02. In ancient time no building was allowed to build taller than the temple tower within the specified perimeter, considering the deity's exalted status. No body is above the almighty.
03. Each Kalasam is filled with various dhanyams (grains) like millet (Kambu), rice (paddy) etc and the quantity will be not less than 50 kg. In case of a deluge or some kind of powerful natural disaster that might wipe out the plants, crops, etc, sustenance or survival of humans will become questionable. To avoid food shortage, the dhanyams -will be taken out of kalasams for cultivation purpose, making room for prolification in the future. The belief is in case of vast flooding, the water level won't touch the kalasams at higher elevation and the grains will be safe. The grains in the kalasams on top of these towers will be protected and dry and they could be used for sowing.
04. The kalasams are filled with grains like rice, salt, ragi, millet, corn, maize and sesame. Millet, especially, is used in huge quantities as it is claimed that it could conduct electro-magnetic waves.
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| Lingaraj Mandir, Bhubaneswar, Indiain.pinterest.com |
06. Yet another fact is these Dhanyam/ pulses in the metal kalasam minimize the impact of lightning on the structure and avoid damage to it.
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| Jambukeshwarar (Shiva) Temple, Thiruvanaikaval, Trichy, Tamilnaduin.pinterest.com |
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| Meenakshi Amman Temple at Madurai in Tamil Naduin.pinterest.com |
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| Srirangam Ranganathar temple, TN. in.pinterest.com |
08. In this elaborate ritual lasting few days, puja is done to the kalasams replacing the old dhanyams/pulses with fresh ones. In some temples, new kalasams are made and ceremoniously fixed atop the tower. This is mostly done by priests who are well- versed in temple Agama sastras. On the day of kumbabishekam, holy Thertham is poured on the metal pots on the tower
09. The artisans do not begin their work on the temple kalasam without doing elaborate puja/prayer. Besides, they choose only auspicious day and time to begin their work. The artisans specialized in making idols, kalasams, puja articles and other related items for the temples have a good knowledge of Agama sastras and do their work accordingly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalasam
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