SHRI DEV NARAYAN WALAVAL

DR.SHRINIWASKASHALIKAR

In India thousands of family groups worship different kuladaivatas or kuladevatas. Kula means pedigree and daivata or devata means deity. The temples of these deities are present in different villages and people assemble periodically in these temples and worship the deities with different customs and traditions. The yearly congregations are called jatras and constitute a great event of cultural rejuvenation, unification and harmonization.

In my view these kuladaivatas or kuladevatas are the divine doors to the home of ultimate truth. They are divine branches of the root embodying ultimate truth. These are divine channels or divine routes; to the abode of absolute truth. As I have discussed in my books such as Hitguj and Shambhavi, the temples in general; constitute; the unending springs of vitality and rejuvenation. These are the places where individuals can consume the sacred sap of enlightenment and

transcend above their petty ego, petty aspirations and petty pursuits.

Shri Dev Narayan is our kuladaivata and His temple is situated in a scenic place called Walaval in Kudal Taluka. It is about 8 km from Kudal ST stand and Kudal railway station.

Recently I visited and stayed in this temple premises for one night. Apart from the superlative rejuvenating experience, I realized that this and such many treasures of vitality are visited by us; only periodically and as a matter of custom and tradition. We get engrossed in superficialities of life and ignore/neglect the vital core of our life residing in these temples!

These sources of eternal empowerment and enlightenment are therefore largely untapped and unused, As a result we and these temples get “emaciated”, “weakened”, “paralyzed” and “helpless” and become caricatures of “our” and “their” majestic selves!

The holistic solution; which treats and heals the root problem is UPASANA. UPASANA; heals the heart and soul of universe. UPASANA simultaneously heals the heart and soul of the universe and also the individuals. UPASANA teaches us and convinces us that we should worship these deities not merely as a matter compulsion and fear of traditional pressure, but appreciating and admiring the deities therein; as the route to universal rejuvenation, unity and harmony!

These temples should be flooded with the people and become vibrant with their UPASANA for twenty four hours!

I am sure if we revisit and get engaged in UPASANA; in a passionate manner and with top priority, then we would re-explore and re-imbibe the vitality and the rejuvenating potential in these temples. UPASANA such as NAMASMARAN, which can be practiced by everybody; would soon bear the fruits; of several creative holistically

benevolent ideas, plans and projects in and around these temples and blossom us and these places!! These places; which are the nuclei of the social milieu, would soon rejuvenate the entire society and mankind!

What is true about the temples of kuladaivata or kuladevata is true for all places of worship!