Know Your Dharma - Deivam Manushya Rupena

 

Know your Heritage

*A Conversation in a Temple Courtyard*

(Deivam Manushya Rupena – God in the form of a Human)

It was Anna’s first visit to India and to a temple. She had been in India for a week. She loved the colours, the energy and the chaos. Her hotel manager had recommended that she visit the local Devi temple during evening arthi time for a “feel” of India. Anna was not disappointed, The chanting of Sanskrit verses, the women and men carrying puja articles, the ringing of the bells were all mesmerising in the dusk.

Anna felt very peaceful and positive. She wanted to understand what the various sculptures and rituals meant. She did not know whom to ask. She looked around curiously.

An old priest sitting with his beads saw her and beckoned her. She went to him and sat down in front of him. Then she started hesitantly.

“Swamiji, I’ve travelled to many countries, but in India, I feel temples are so diverse. Sometimes you worship animals, sometimes nature, sometimes even different forms of men and women as divine. How is that possible?”

The priest smiled warmly and replied *That is the beauty of Sanātana Dharma, child. We see divinity everywhere — in the sun, moon, rivers, animals, even in grains of food. For us, Ishvara takes many forms to remind us that creation itself is sacred.

Take for example the *Surya Mandir at Konark in Odisha* — here, the Sun is worshipped as the giver of life. Without him, no grain can grow, no being can survive.”

Anna replied, “Yes, I saw the pictures of that chariot-shaped temple! But you also worship the moon?”

Priest: “Indeed. At *Somnath Jyotirlinga in Gujarat*, Lord Shiva is called “Somnath” — the Lord of the Moon. The moon represents the rhythm of time and emotions. Just as the tides depend on it, so too does our inner balance.

We are the oldest religion on earth. Imagine how men and women would have related to the divine in times immemorial. The easiest way would have been to relate to what you see which is nature, animals, plants and others created by God.

Anna: Yes Guruji. I saw Nandi, the bull, in front of Shiva temples.

Priest: Ah, Nandi is not just an animal. He represents strength, patience, and dharma. In *Lepakshi temple (Andhra Pradesh)*, there is a giant Nandi carved from a single stone — a reminder that service and loyalty itself is divine.

We also revere the *Varaha Avatar* — Lord Vishnu taking the form of a wild boar to rescue Mother Earth from the depths of the ocean. Even the *Matsya (fish) Avatar* and *Kurma (tortoise) Avatar* show us how divinity enters even humble forms to protect the universe”.

Anna : “So these avatars are your way of telling your followers the divine nature of every living species?”

Priest “Yes. No creation on earth is too small to love God or serve God. We even have an incident in the Ramayana where the humble squirrel helped Lord Rama build the bridge across the ocean when he had to go and fight Ravana and bring back his divine wife Sita. As you know, my child, Rama’s army also consisted mainly of monkeys and bears.”

Anna nods.” Yes Guruji. I have read the Ramayana in English. Fascinating story.”

Priest laughs “It is not a story for the millions following Hinduism dear. We believe our Lord walked this land to show us the way.”

He blessed a devotee who came to pay his respect and then continued. “Did you know that we consider our rivers divine?”

Anna: Fascinating! So even rivers are seen as divine?

Priest: Yes. The *Ganga at Varanasi* is worshipped as Mother Ganga, purifier of sins. In Tamil Nadu, *Kaveri is called “Kaveriamma.”* To us, rivers are not just water — they are lifelines, flowing grace. Our people make offerings to the rivers in the form of flowers and clothes.”

Even mountains are sacred. Have you heard of *Arunachala in Tiruvannamalai*? It is worshipped as Shiva himself, in the form of fire, standing as a mountain.”

Anna: (eyes widening)

You mean even fire and space are worshipped?

Priest: Yes, the Panchabhūtas — earth, water, fire, air, and space — each has a temple in Tamil Nadu. For example:

* Arunachaleshwarar, Tiruvannamalai* – Fire

* *Jambukeshwarar, Trichy* – Water

* *Ekambareswarar, Kanchipuram* – Earth

* *Sri Kalahasti, Andhra* – Air

* *Chidambaram Nataraja* – Space

Together, they remind us that the very elements we live by are forms of God.

Anna: I see… and you also worship the feminine form?

Priest: Of course. The Mother Goddess is central to us. In *Kamakhya temple, Assam, she is worshipped as the power of fertility and creation itself. In **Meenakshi temple, Madurai, the divine takes the form of a queen who rules alongside Shiva. We say *Shakti is the energy, and Shiva is the consciousness — neither can exist without the other.

Anna: (thoughtful)

So… when you say “Bhagavan Manushya Rupena” — God taking human form — it means like Rama or Krishna?

Priest: Exactly. When dharma declines, the Lord takes form among us — like Rama to show righteousness, or Krishna to guide through wisdom. But in truth, God is not bound to any one form. He can be the fish, the sun, the mother, the teacher — all at once.

Anna: (with folded hands)

Swamiji, now I understand. For you, worship is not limited to idols, but to seeing the divine in every corner of life.

Priest: (nodding) -Yes, child. The goal of Sanātana Dharma is simple — to recognize the sacred in every being, every grain, every element. When you see the divine in all, then truly, life itself becomes worship.

✨ The temple bells ring softly in the background as Anna bows with gratitude, her heart carrying a new understanding of the Indian way of seeing the universe.