Hindu Temples are sacred places to people of Hindu faiths. While you are welcome to enjoy the Rituals and the facilities at the Temple, you are requested to observe certain basic guidelines within the Temple Premises.

Sri Venkateswara Temple Helensburgh is Open to all to Visit

You do not have to practice the Hindu religion to visit the Temple.However, you are expected to respect the beliefs and customs of the Hindu religion whilst in the temple and the overall site.

Dress Code

Before you enter the Temple

Attire for the Temple

1. Hygiene: According to Hindu belief, it is necessary to have a bath before going to the temple.
2. Dress code: To be properly attired to access a place of worship. It is not necessary to wear Indian outfit but it is necessary to be modestly covered at all times.
3. Footwear: Removing footwear before entering the temple premises is not just a sign of respect, but also for cleanliness and humility. According to the ancient religious text, the Vedas, removing footwear is a symbol of leaving the outside world and thereby all materialistic desires and thoughts. Hence removing footwear is an important aspect of Hindu temple customs and etiquette. Facilities are available outside the temple to keep the footwear safely outside.

In the Temple

1. Sanctum Sanctorum: The innermost part of the temple where the idol of the deity resides, is called the sanctum sanctorum. This is considered the most sacred part of the temple and except priests; no one is allowed to enter here.
2. Pradakshina: It is customary to circumambolate the sanctum sanctorum or the temple in a clockwise fashion. The belief being that God is the essence of our existence and our thoughts and actions shoold be centred on Him.
3. Join hands in prayer during a puja: It is believed that joining both hands such that all the tips of the fingers are touching each other activates certain pressure points in the body releasing positive energy.
4. Holy water, sacred flame and Prasad: After the puja, holy water, sacred flame and special offerings called ‘Prasad’ are offered as blessings to the devotees. The priest offers a spoonfol of the holy water to all the devotees. This is accepted with a cupped right hand, sipped and then the right palm is touched to the forehead. When the sacred flame is brought around, with palms facing down, one reaches out both hands gently over the flame and then touch the hands to one’s eyes. The ‘Prasad’ is an edible offering, generally a fruit or a sweet, which is accepted reverentially with a cupped right hand before eating.
5. Noise reduction: To remain calm and observe / maintain quietness, inside the Sanctum.