I was born and brought up in a very conservative family in Kumbakonam in pre-Independence India. I was one among 11 children, raised with deep religious convictions and beliefs. When I was 8, my parents milked cows that we owned at home and made me (and sometimes my sister) walk a mile to the nearest temple to offer milk and morning prayers to Lord Shiva (one of the principal deities in Hinduism). I did this every single day at 6 AM for about 4 years at my parents’ behest, without truly understanding why. I still remember the Saturdays when I used to feel lazy to attend school, intentionally stay back at the temple only to come home late and get excused from going to school! To pass time at the the temple, I used to do a few hundred Pradakshinas around Lord Shiva, without really understanding what this meant.
As I grew older and shaped with such experiences during childhood, I gained a respect and belief in God. Over the years, I have visited over 200 temples in India. There are a few which I visit every single year visiting many over 30 times. Every time I visit a temple, I learn something new. Some new story about a divine intervention, a sacrifice that someone made, peoples lives changing because of their faith, new conventions, new traditions.
As I travel to visit these places, I also like to share my stories and beliefs with people I meet. I get a sense of joy in sharing stories of faith with people and hearing their experiences. Ever since my son got me a smartphone, I have been trying to share the same with people around the world in the form of reviews. Google Maps promptly identifies the temple I am at and gives me an opportunity to share my story. And I rarely pass on the opportunity to do so.
The younger generation, while interested in religion (thanks to social media and WhatsApp), is sometimes unaware of the historical significance of these ancient temples. They are unfamiliar with what to expect at these temples and how to navigate the traditions and customs. I try to impart some of this knowledge in my reviews, hoping that the people who read them will have a better experience visiting the temple and wishing that the experience would make them visit again.