Hidden secrets

Deepam/lamp

In all the temples we get a deepam/light/lamp, indicating the life energy. This also indicates two of pancha bootha thathva - Air/vaayu and Fire/agni. With air only the light is glowing. We are alive with our breath.  

In Saiva or Shiva temples -

We get Kumkum in mother's shrine and Viboothi or ash in Shiva's shrine.

Manjal & Kumkum

Kumkum is made of turmeric. Turmeric is yellow in color. Initially the life while getting the form is in yellow color (inside egg). After that it is getting the blood etc, which are in red color. So the starting or birth is indicated by this.

Vibuthi

Vibhoothi or ash is in white/light grey color. This indicates death or after life this body will be burnt to ash. 

The red and white color also indicate female and male. With that only new lives are being born and both the energies are important to sustain life on this earth. That is why, outside walls of the houses in India had red and white color.

Man and woman together lead a dharmic life together and achieve the purpose of life, i.e. becoming one with the divine.
They help each other and the society to achieve the goal.

 In the picture at the left side, the lowest level of the man is in red color and at the top white is seen. Means one has to get out of animal nature and travel through the chakras to become one with the divine. That is why the temples of south India has walls painted with red and white.

In Vaishnava or Vishnu temples -

We get deepam/light, thulasi water, thulasi leaves or flowers, chadari and chandan.

tulsi water

Deepam indicates Air and fire elements.

Thulasi water indicates water element.

Flowers or leaves indicate land.

Flowers

Chadari which has divine feet over it, indicates aakasha or space.

In land we need to be soft like flower and never become a rock. 

Chadari

Even if you are a king, you are below the feet of the divine indicated by the chadari kept on head. Chadari has divine feet at the top. 

Chandan is to keep one's body and mind cool. Vishnu is the maintainer or the cool operator. 

Jai Gurudev!