Shri Mahaprabhuji’s Baithakji Temple

Chambakulam Moolam festival is the major festival celebrated in this temple, in the commemoration of bringing the idol to the temple. Aarattu is the second important festival celebrated in the temple. The festival falls on the auspicious day of Thiruvonam. Many cultural dances can also be seen during the festival.

1. A new/silk pair of clothes (dhoti and Indian kurta – bandi for gents and saree etc. for ladies).
2. A cloth body-wrapper for bathing.
3. A new towel for use after a bath.

The above should be preferably carried in a jute bag enabling one to handle it safely after a bath.

For Shri Acharyaji’s Seva (as per one’s capabilities and desire):-

1. Raw Sugar. (mishri)
2. Dry Fruits.
3. Fresh Fruits.
4. Dhoti and Uparna (a cloth draped around the neck on the shoulder).
5. Attar as per the prevailing season.
6. Dry Kumkum, 2 Kanthis (dry tulsi beads strings).
7. Jap-mala (optional) and its cover (Gaumukhi, also optional).
8. Cash offerings at Shri Acharyaji’s lotus feet. (As per individual wish).

“A P R A S” -In simple terms it would mean A-Sparsh meaning not to touch or to be more simplified, not to touch anyone who is not in Apras. Once a vaishnav has a bath inside a baithakji, he is not to touch another person. This is in order to prevent the opposite person’s impure vibrations from entering one’s body and mind.

After bathing in apras (body should be completely soaked with water) and drying yourself, wear the new clothes, adorn the kum-kum vaishnav tilak (an inverted U sign on the forehead), take a pinch of Charanamrut, wash your hands and you are ready to go into Seva. If you are new and cannot do the tilak or for that matter have any difficulty at any stage please do not hesitate to ask. Anyone within the baithakji, in or out of apras will help willingly.

Tasks a devotee can perform:

1. Sweeping (doing Buhari).
2. Preparing flowers in a specific place (known as Phool Ghar) for various sevas.
3. Attending “Doodh Ghar” or a kitchen where items relating to milk are prepared. Grains, oils, and flour products are not made here. They are strictly banned in this area. In this section a complete range of milk products, sweetmeats, fruits and beetal leaf Sevas are performed.

Here a vaishnav in apras can prepare a wide variety of sweets, milk products and arrange them artistically for offerings at the various time of the day. One should definitely bring along the ingredients for the items to be prepared and not expect them to be there at the Baithakji.

Every fruit should be washed, cut into proper shapes, cleaned of seeds etc. and arranged in an attractive fashion. Every item prepared is termed as a Saamagri and should be prepared with love, affection and without a self-desire for consuming the same.

Every care should be taken to see that no foreign particle falls into the ingredients or in the finally prepared Saamagri.

1. A vaishnav devotee, with the permission with the resident priest (mukhiaji), can also perform the “Kesar Snaan” or bathing Shri Mahaprabhuji with saffron melted in luke warm water. The method of performing the same will be shown by the mukhiaji at that particular Baithakji.
2. To fill Jhariji.

Chraransparsh

For Charansparsh, firstly, one should apply the Attar on right hands. And then very delicately with right-hand fingers first ask for permission from Shri Acharyaji respectfully and then lovingly touch the left toe and then the right toe and finally the left toe and then bowing down at the Lotus feet of Shri Acharyaji and then touch the fingers to the forehead.

One can also help the other devotees by

1. Serving them Prasaad/ food at Lunch or Dinner.
2. After consuming the prasad, cleaning up the place.
3. When a Vaishnav goes for bathing, one can dry his wet clothes, guide him from one area to another, help him with tilak etc.