No sashtang, only namaskar in Guj temples
Paying Obeisance By Prostrating Prohibited To Curb Covid Spread
Bharat.Yagnik@timesgroup.com
Ahmedabad:12.01.2021
All through the Covid-19 pandemic, it was reiterated that `namaste' with folded hands was a safer way to greet people. It turns out it is the recommended way to pay obeisance to gods too as most temples across Gujarat have banned doing `sashtang pranam' citing Covid-19.
Accordingly, the common sight of devotees lying fully prostrated on the ground, their hands stretched out to the Lord, is not common place anymore.
In Ahmedabad and elsewhere, almost all major temples have Covid guidelines specifying devotees not to do sashtang pranam at the temple premises. This along with not ringing the temple bell leaves devotees to offer prayers by merely folding their hands.
“Lying prostrate on the ground offering `dandwat pranam' is prohibited inside the temple to avoid people from picking infection from the floor. In fact, devotees are not allowed to stand inside the temple during the aarti too. During Covid-19, all efforts are to ensure devotees pray to the Lord and leave the temple with minimum contact and exposure to any contagion,” said Vijay Chavda, manager of the Shree Somnath Temple, first among the 12 aadi jyotirlingas of India.
S J Chavda, deputy collector and administrator of the Shri Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust (SAAMDT), said sashtang pranam is prohibited for three reasons. “One, it is part of Covid-19 guidelines post unlock of temple, secondly to prevent devotees from catching any infection and thirdly and most importantly to ensure devotees keep moving and have limited exposure to others in the crowds,” said Chavda.
It needs mention that sashtang pranam has much significance including being an expression of complete surrender to the Almighty.
Ravindra Upadhyay of Dakor temple said that the `sashtang pranam' is not allowed as the temple authorities want to ensure minimum exposure in Covid-19 times.
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