(from a school student) Before we go to the temple, must we take bath in cold water and clothe ourselves in a wet towel?

You should be comfortable to worship comfortably. The reason why the elders have advocated this is, when you take bath in cold water your whole blood circulation improves. Apart from there is no big reason. If someone forces you to take bath in cold water, you need not follow that unless you are comfortable. The objective is to offer worship to God. You can offer your prayers, regardless of whatever your dress code is. Your mind must be focussed on God; that is what matters. No rituals, no rules. Do you think there is any university which teaches an infant how to drink milk? Has anyone taken a class? A new born infant - - be it a human child or a calf or a piglet - - instinctively knows, doesn’t it? So too your worship for God. You are always God’s child. No one needs to teach you to pray. Just let go and speak to Him in whatever way you want.

Kannappa Nayanar was applying his spit on the Sivalinga to stop its eyes from bleeding, he offered mutton to God, because that was the only food he was familiar with, and he wanted to feed God. He got Siva darshan even before the Sivachariyar could get, though the Sivachariyar was an orthodox poojari who offered all the mantras and homams to God. It is innocence which attracts God.

( Baba's replies to other questions continues next week....)