5 things to never accept in a temple (except from a priest)

Temples have forever been the powerhouses of energy. They are divine, pure, holy, and of course, are the homes to Gods and Goddesses who look at the entire universe. And in these temples, some objects are common offerings. Coconuts, flowers, Kumkum, sacred threads, and so much more have always been offered by people to the Gods and distributed among others.
But unfortunately, some people are now playing with devotees’ feelings and share with them impure, and at times, with an evil intent these very same offered things. And as unfortunate as it may sound, it is no longer harmless to accept things from strangers even in the holy temples. Here we mention 5 things that are best not accepted from unknown people.

Sacred ash, also called Vibhuti or bhasm, is an extremely pure, sacred, powerful, and holy thing. The sacred ash could be made from burnt tree barks, cow dung, or even the bones of the dead! And in many temples across India, giving Vibhuti as part of the offering by the priest is common, and so people accept it without any hesitation. But, not many people know that something as pure and sacred as ash can also be turned negative and thus should not be accepted by any unknown person. In some cultures, ash is believed to carry specific energies or intentions, and if someone with bad intent offers you vibhuti, they may transfer some negative energy or influence on you.

Dolls and figurines can also be seen in the temple premises. In some temples, dolls are offered and in others they are just kept in shops to attract children. But certain figurines, in the face of dolls, can carry harm to a person.In some cultures, dolls and figurines are used to send ill into people’s lives and they are hexed in a way that brings misfortune to the other person. And so, it is best to not accept such things from unknown people and only take them home if a trusted priest offers it to you.

Kumkum, the bright red powder that is offered in many temples and is used to apply tilak or for rituals, should not be accepted from strangers at all. Kumkum that is offered by unknown people would not always be hexed or impure, but could be of inferior quality which can cause skin irritation or allergy if applied. But in the worst case scenario, it can be possible that a person might have made the Kumkum impure by sending you ill intentions with it.

One of the most important parts of Indian rituals are flowers and garlands that are offered to the Gods and idols. These offerings are a way of respecting the deity and giving them something bright and cheerful as a means of honour. And while it is common for people to jump at the garlands that are distributed by the priests in temples, it is best to not accept them from a stranger, even in the temple premises. Why? Because those could be rotten, have pests that will infest the home, or it could carry negative energy by the person who wished to lower his load of negativity.

Another sacred item that is common to Hindu temples and rituals are Coconuts. They are often broken as an offering to the Gods and distributed as prasad to everyone around, be it friends, family, or even unknown people.But, accepting a coconut from an unknown person now has more risks. Coconuts are sometimes used in specific rituals or practices, and their energy might not align with your energy which results in an imbalance in life. Sometimes, if you see or spot a coconut smeared with Kumkum or is producing smoke, then too it is best to steer clear of it.