Temple Services
Pushpaka Brahmins were temple employees but they were not aristocratic like the Nampoothiris. In the past they resided within the temples in their quarters and were sustained by the temple. They were simple people who lived at the benevolence of the temple. The major temple services of Pushpakas are:
- Teaching of non-Vedic scriptures such as Ayurveda (medicine), Sanskrit, Nyaaya (logic), and sacred texts such as Mahabharatam, Ramayanam in Pathasalas associated with temples and their own houses known as Mathas
- Making flower-garlands for decorating the vigraha and the temple (Kazhakam | കഴകം)
- Cleaning the inner-temple
- Lighting of oil lamps in the tample
- Holding the traditional Hindu-lamps in various temple ceremonies
- Distribution of sacred theertham, chandanam, prasadam etc. to the devotees
- Priestly duties to lower castes
Read more about this topic: Pushpaka Brahmin
Famous quotes containing the words temple and/or services:
“And if blood of Martyrs is to flow on the steps
We must first build the steps;
And if the Temple is to be cast down
We must first build the Temple.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)
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—Jeanne Elium (20th century)