6d: Garlands

In the daily temple worship, garlands of flowers are offered to the Jagannatha Deities; after these garlands have been worn by the Deities, they are then distributed to the various devotees to wear, and this is very auspicious. In the Vedic scripture Skanda Purana, Lord Brahma states to Narada, "Anyone who puts around his neck a flower garland formerly used by Krsna becomes relieved of all disease and reactions to sinful activities, and gradually he becomes liberated from the contamination of matter." Other auspicious temple activities include dancing before the Deities during aratrika and kirtana, bowing down when the curtains of the altar are parted, and circumambulating the temple in front of the Deities. These are all auspicious activities. It is stated in the scriptures that as clapping one's hands causes birds to fly away, so the birds of sinful activities which are sitting on the body can be made to fly away simply by dancing and clapping before the Deity of Krsna. Also, incense is burned during temple ceremonies, and to engage the senses in smelling incense offered to Krsna is another spiritual practice of the highest order.