Visitors to Skanda Vale will see a great variety of forms and images depicting the diverse ways in which God manifests and relates to humanity. To some pilgrims the very idea of worshipping an external image or idol as a representation of the Divine can be uncomfortable. Worship in the three Temples in Skanda Vale is about experiencing the living energy of God, and for the monks and nuns the foremost means of gaining this experience is through the Mahabishekam or ritual purification of the image of God.

The objective of this ancient and sophisticated form of worship is to purify and sanctify the image of God so that we may invite the highest embodiment of consciousness to manifest and reside in the image. First we offer flower petals to say to the Lord: “Our lives, like the petals, are fleeting and impermanent.” Then incense representing the earth element, the fan representing wind, the sounding of the conch shell representing ether, the camphor flame representing the purifying fire of Divine consciousness and water as herself, the purifying element. Thus these five elements are the personality of God dedicated to that aspect of the Divine depicted in the image. Cows milk, that sacred fluid providing sustenance to life, yoghurt, ghee representing the life force, honey depicting Divine sweetness, turmeric and citrus juices to purify are poured over the image whilst reciting the mantra of the aspect being worshipped. Finally the image is anointed with precious oils, garlanded and blessed with the sacred tilac upon the forehead, hands, feet and navel.

The training of the Swamis to perform this ritual is a long process; only when conducted with concentration, exactness and selfless dedication does one begin to transcend the mundane ritual and realise the energy of God has transformed the image from an inert statue to a living vibrant force. As in the Holy Communion celebrated to remember Christ, where bread is transformed by the energy of God, so the image of God begins to live and resonate and becomes a reservoir of Divine energy from which the human being can drink. Also, like the Holy Communion, the Mahabishekam is a mystery of love. When the human being worships with love he becomes one with God, all that is offered to the image is also offered to the worshipper, he is purified, sustained, venerated and transformed to live on in the consciousness of God.

Once charged with the power of devotion the image of God becomes a very sacred item, like a high voltage cable it must be handled with great care and respect, for if desecrated with impure vibrations it becomes a negative force which can cause mayhem in the lives of the unaware. It falls upon the monks in Skanda Vale to safeguard our many sacred images and ensure the Divine reservoir of our three Temples grows and prospers for the benefit of the many thousands of pilgrims coming to be refreshed here.