Lord Venkateswara Swamy’ s costumes and ornaments look very rich, and it would add more beauty to his appearance. Likewise, the deity ornaments and costumes is the main attraction in the temples, and compared with other deities, the deity of Vishnu would be adorned with costly garments and rich ornaments. Ancient Chola, Chera and Pandya kings have contributed lot of costumes and ornaments to the deities, and they have also gifted several kilos of gold to the temples, in order to express their bhakti on the almighty.
Sometimes the ornaments of the deities would be stolen by the thieves, in order to convert it in the form of cash. While constructing the Prahaladapuri Temple at Multan, Pakistan, before 5000 years ago, Sri Prahalada had gifted lot of gold jewellery to the temple, in order to adorn it to his beloved deity Lord Narasimha. Still now, some childless couple would write a will in favour of the temples, to utilise their wealth after their death, in order to turn it in the form of costumes and jewels, to decorate the body of the deities.
Even if we are unable to donate costly things for the deities, at least, we could donate a cotton dhoti along with some flowers, to decorate the deities in the temples in a simple manner. In general, god would not expect anything big from us, but he would expect only our sincere devotion and dedication on him, and even if we donate a small piece of cloth for decorating the deity of Lord Vinayaka, with our simple gift, the great elephant god would get satisfied and would happily wear our small piece of cloth on his waist, and would render his everlasting blessings to us.
But nowadays, some people are adopting illegitimate ways, like stealing the idols and the ornaments of the deities, in order to get money easily and quickly. But doing that act would fetch lot of bad karmas for them, and during their next birth, either they would be born as blind or as mentally or as physically handicapped persons, and with their handicaps, they must have to suffer throughout their life.
“OM NAMO VENKATESAYA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR