• Do not wear footwear inside temple premises.
• Do not enter temple premises in a vehicle.
• Before entering the temple, do its parikrama (pradakshina) first.
• Parikrama should not be done in a hurry.
• Inside the temple, before doing parikrama, one should always prostrate before the shrine.
• Never step on the shadow of gopura, vimana, walls, or flagpost of the temple; this may be unavoidable while doing parikrama.
• One should wear lower and upper clothes (dhoti) while entering a temple.
• Entering a temple wearing a single cloth or wearing only kaupina is not permissible.
• Stitched clothes such as shirts and caps are not permissible inside temples.
• Weapons are not to be carried inside temples.
• One should not go to a temple empty-handed; some offerings should be taken along.
• Never bring food from outside and eat inside temple premises.
• Never chew betel leaves inside temple premises.
• Always wear a tilaka on the forehead.
• If food is received as prasada from the temple, do not throw the remains or plate recklessly in the temple premises.
• Flatulence should be avoided inside the temple so are possibilities of defecation or urination (especially by children).
• Enter the temple premises only with a steady and pure mind.
• Never enter a temple in an intoxicated condition.
• Never stretch your legs across the entrance to the temple or sleep there.
• Always be humble and erect inside the temple.
• Prayer should not be offered in grief or crying.
• No kind of violence, shouting, insulting, etc. is permissible inside temples.
• Do not gossip or talk needlessly inside temples.
• Worldly discussions should be avoided inside temples.
• Never tell lies inside temples.
• Do not enter into arguments or debates inside temple premises, even about spiritual matters.
• Do not engage in preoccupations such as reading, mobile browsing, etc. inside temples.
• Do not make phone calls inside temple premises.
• One should not boast inside temples.
• Do not praise another human being while being inside a temple.
• One should not greet or bow before another person inside temples.
• Do not sit or stand with your back towards the deity.
• While doing parikrama, the deity should always be on your right.
• One should not try to peep in if the deity is screened off during worship.
• One should not force to open the temple doors if it is closed as part of worship or after worship time.
• One should visit the temple only during permitted timings.
• The salutation should be offered to the deity with both palms joined together, never with a single hand.
• Do not do atma-pradakshina inside temples.
• Do not stretch your legs towards the deity.
• Do not sit on chairs and high seats inside temples.
• Do not sleep or lie down inside temples.

Knowledge Bank

What is the main theme of the Vedas?

The main theme of the Vedas is the search for truth and knowledge, as well as the exploration of the relationship between the individual self (atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman).

Did Balarama take part in the battle of Kurukshetra?

No. Instead, he went on a pilgrimage.