under Chola rule were interwoven
with the royal family?s authority.
Shiva was the Cholas? divine state
authority. However, local traditions
in the Tamil-speaking region and
other Chola territories honored a
myriad of other deities?including
Brahma, Vishnu, and the goddess
Devi?reflecting the diversity of
beliefs that are understood as
Hinduism today.
The central act of Hindu worship is
puja, a ritual to engage the senses
of both the devotee and the gods.
Puja can be performed on an
elaborate scale in a temple setting
by priests, or on a smaller scale in a
family home. A Hindu god is treated
like a member of royalty, with all of
the accompanying delights. A
representation of the deity is
bathed in milk, curds, honey,
butter, and water; dressed in rich
fabrics; adorned with jewelry and
flowers; anointed with sandalwood;
and offered flowers, food, and
water.The ritual also involves the
scent of incense; the sound of
music, bells, and chants; and the
light and warmth of lamps.
Preparing the gods for temple
processions in this way has been an
important part of worship in south
India since the sixth centuryDarshan, the act of seeing and
being seen by the deity to attain
grace, is one of the central aspects
of Hindu worship. The eyes of the
deity, cut in a special ceremony, are
critically important to the devotee?s
ability to make direct visual contact.
With continued bathing, anointing,
and other aspects of worship the
eyes are gradually worn down and
therefore must sometimes be cut
again.