The body is the temple of God. The life of the person is the priest. The five senses are the vessels used in the religious ceremony. Atma is God, the idol of God. One cannot say that the body is the temple of God unless it is. Every act, thought, and word should be worship in the temple. The five senses should be constantly cleansed and polished, so that the worship is reverently offered to God. One goes to the office and says to himself that every act of the day should be worship to God, and it will be so. (CWBSSB, p. 114)

 Deho devalaya prokto, the body is said to be the temple. Jivah Brahma sanatanah, and in that temple is installed the jiva who is the ‘timeless’ God. The inner motive force is God, and when He is dwelling in the heart of man, He is called Jiva. That jiva is not recognised as God because of the darkness of delusion. (SSS Vol.2, p. 62)

The real temple for man, is his heart, but forgetting this fact, man goes after temples outside. Temples are erected to remind men about God, but the Divine dwells in the heart and should be sought there. Men go through any amount of difficulties, hardships, trials and tribulations in life, but few try to understand their essential divinity which should be the primary aim of life. Men devote considerable care and attention to the preservation of the body, which is perishable. But they do not cultivate good thoughts and do good deeds through which they can attain enduring bliss.

Temples serve to provide the company of the good and the godly and should be used for cultivating such company and acquiring mental peace. It is not enough merely to go to temples as a mechanical ritual. You must cultivate good thoughts in tune with the sacred atmosphere of the temple. Even in uttering the names of the Lord, the words should come from the depths of the heart and not merely from the lips. Acquiring the name of the Lord is like getting a precious pearl from the deep ocean. Having got it you should not let it go out of your hands. Faith in the Lord must be strengthened by repetition of the name. Faith is the foundation of all activity. Spiritual sadhana is needed to develop faith in God even as curdling and churning are necessary to obtain butter from milk. The fire in a match-stick will be seen only when it is struck. Likewise God can be realised only through spiritual effort. (SSS Vol.18)

Temples are intended to instruct men in the art of removing the veil of attachment that lies over their heart. That is the reason why Tyagaraja cried at the temple in Tirupati, ‘Remove the veil within me, the veil of pride and hate,’ The fog of Maya melted away before the rays of grace and so, he could discern and describe the image of Divine charm in the song, ‘Shivudavo Madhavudavo’ and drink deep this sweetness of that Form. The churning of his heart by the Divine formula produced the spark of Jnana, and grew into the flame of Realisation. (SSS Vol.30, p. 119)

We go to a temple to have the vision of the Lord. While seeing the idol in the sanctum sanctorum, we close our eyes and offer a Namaskar. What is the significance of this? The physical eye is of no use in your attempts to get a vision of the Lord. You have to use your wisdom eye or the Jnana Netra. Closing your eyes implies that you understand that the physical eyes are not appropriate for seeing the Lord. It follows that all you see with your physical eyes is unreal and only those who can use the eye of wisdom can get a true picture of God. (NNSG Vol.7, p. 6)

In all temples where idols of Shiva are installed, we find Nandi and in temples of Vishnu we find Garuda idols; they too appear intent on adoration only and awaiting, with unwinking eyes the orders of their Masters. Their vision is one-pointed, their goal is eternal bliss, their strength is also revered; the journey to mammon is worthy of only rebuke.

There are only two roads before man: the road to god and the road to Mammon. Few are those who choose the first and reach the Goal that lies within, where Atma shines in supreme glory. The multitudes trudge along the wilderness to which it leads. There, the beast in man asserts itself and suppresses the excellences with which he is endowed. (SSS Vol.14)

(See – Avail, Body, Jesus, Naivedyam, Sense Organs, Shivam, Sin, True Devotion, Universe, Vijnana, Yearning)