The Shop by the Temple

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 THE SHOP BY THE TEMPLE

I run a shop by the temple. The temple premises have become my second home. I sell garlands of hibiscus and marigold and fragrant white flowers which the devotees need for prayer. I keep my flowers fresh by sprinkling regular water and make garlands myself. The flowers come from the farm and the sweets I make. I sell besan laddu and peda and batasha. The batasha comes from my brother's shop. For he melts sugar and ladles the juice and knows how to make them all. My products are cheaper and purer than any sweet shop for to the diety you must offer them. It should be affordable to one and all. I keep these and the red chunaris which are more than pieces of cloth and keep incense sticks and sandalwood, coconut and matches which I know will sell through the day. 

My wife and I take turns to manage the shop. She is an expert in making besan laddu and peda. We also keep images of the temple deity framed in small and big sizes. This employs the local artisans and I keep miniature version of the statues of temple deities which are loved always. And I keep lockets with images of the gods strung on thick black thread. These things I keep in abundance for I must cater to all of devotees' needs when they come and carry a bhakti in their hearts. I help to assist in the puja process by giving them the materials and such pious is my livelihood and holy is the ambiance where I spend my day.

I sit opposite the main shrine and it is my routine. People come from such distances to visit this place that I feel fortunate for no other shopkeeper or sweet maker would experience this peace and activity. This is a big complex with the top red flag of temple visible even at great distances. It is a pantheon where so many gods are worshiped. Devotees come at 10 am when the temple opens and the temple closes by 5 pm and the sadhus return to their ashrams. In the temple complex are monkeys whom everybody feeds for they are holy and it is our custom to worship nature. There is this tree of tulsi (basil) decorated in a painted mud pot and dedicated a place of its own. There is this ancient banyan tree decorated with many red strings that the devotees tie around. When their wishes are fulfilled they come to offer prayers and untie them. Such is their faith and I sell these red strings too. There is this main shrine with idols of Shri Radha and Shri Krishna but there are other temples around it to dedicated to Lord Shiva outside which Nandi sits garlanded. The sadhus in saffron roam around and sadhvi sisters sit meditating. Their foreheads covered in sandalwood paste assisting the devotees. 

Now comes the customer whose shoes I will look after for she will buy a basket full of laddu, peda, batasha, incense sticks, garlands and more. I have seen her for the first time and so many strangers come here. But thing is common among them all, their bhakti or devotion and I help them all the same so blessed is my life...

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