Vadodara: Want to pray, but worry about Covid infection? Visit the centuries-old Hanuman Temple in the Harni area that has emerged with the ‘Sankat-Mochan’ picture itself! Here, the temple management in Shri Bhidbhanjan Maruti Mandir has developed a mechanical system to offer oil to the god of Hanuman as part of a religious ritual safely from a distance.
“Most worshipers want to offer oil to idols as part of religious rituals every Saturday.
Many even offer oil every day.
But in the middle of a pandemic, gathering worshipers in the holy place for this ritual is not recommended and against safety guidelines,” Priest Mahant Harshad Giri Goswami told toi.
“Also, it is impossible to prohibit the entry of worshipers who want to offer oil in Hanuman Idol.
So, we are thinking of developing a system where people can do rituals while observing Covid guidelines.
Automatic machines that run on new power – This newly installed in the temple, “Goswami said.
All that must be done by worshipers is to press a few buttons outside the holy place in those places.
After the button is pressed, the oil will be offered on the Bajrang Bali idol and the mantra resonates in the holy place.
“People can offer oil worth Rs 5, 10, 20 and even Rs 50.
This system ensures that worshipers maintain a safe distance from priests and each other.
Also, they feel satisfied that they can offer their own oil,” Goswami Added “our temple followed the ancient system of Tantra, Mantra and Yantra.
Heavy worshipers with this arrangement,” he added.
Before Covid, the temple witnessed around 2,000 worshipers walking on all on Saturdays, but for the past two years the number has dropped to almost 500.
“Although mechanics, I get satisfaction to offer oil to God while following the Covid Safety Protocol,” said Mitesh Shah, a person worshipers who visit the temple every Saturday.