Shiv Mandir Temple

The Shiv Mandir Temple is a modern Hindu temple in Bangalore, opened in 1995, with a major new feature added every year since. The main statue of Shiva in the temple is 65-feet tall (~20m) and has the 'ganges flowing from his head'.

The temple has numerous spiritual activities (Yatras) you can undertake or religious rituals (Poojas) to do. You can go and do all (as we did) or just select the ones that are relevant to you at this moment in time. Entering the temple and the spiritual activities all cost money both to take part in and sometimes also in terms of offering at the end of the activity. You can buy a plastic bag with all the relevant physical offerings at the entrance to the temple (Bananas, flowers, coconuts, fireworks etc). The yatras are all to be undertaken while chanting the mantra: 'Om namah Shivaya!' The temple also has a healing stone as well and several more periodical activities that are not described below. The temple is manned by guides, pandits (hindu priests) and helpers, many of whom are physically handicapped.

The first yatra is to drop 108 coins in 108 bowls. This activity is somewhat to clear your mind for the later activities and more specifically for good health. No you do not need to bring 108 coins - they are provided by the temple.

Next follows the Vighanaharan thread. By tying 2 orange threads around a staircase leading up to a 32ft statue of Ganesha you leave all your problems behind.

Then followed the Milk Abhishek - a cleansing ritual to clean yourself of sins by pouring (in one continuous movement) milk over the shrine.

As it is not possible for everyone to do a full Hindu pilgrimage the temple offers a version locally in the temple with a long tunnel leading you past the sacred sites offering many shrines in the process for many different purposes. (the Pahadi Shiv Dham Yatra and the Barah Jyotir Ling Yatra) 

Next comes miracle point - making a wish and dropping a coin in the water (on a special plate) followed by forgiveness - light a lamp and let it flow on the Ganges (the water pool in front of Shiva's statue in this case) - the Paap Naash Diya

In the Havan (a fire) you throw sticks of wood after walking around the fire 3 times, this yatra is to remind you of life being finite and to live a purposeful life. Again you can also submit wishes (written on paper) to the fire. 

The tour ends with the Navragraha Pooja, also involving fire and the nine planets. Circling the shrine with a lit fire will bring Harmony into your life.

Rick and Kaat circled the thing at least 20 times - at full speed so my worried face below has more to do with me being afarid of them getting hurt or burnt then the search for harmony.

 At the end we all received the Tika - even baby Duuk.