THULABHARAM
Tulabharam is a Hindu ritual that
has been practised from Dwapara Yuga. Tulabharam means a person weighing
himself or herself in a balance and pay in equal weight of gold, fruits or
grains to God when one’s prayers are fulfilled. Temples in Tirupati, Guruvayur,
Dwaraka, Udupi and several other towns practice such offerings. Recently,
Guruvayur temple hit the headlines in newspapers when a businessman from
Bangalore gave the temple his weight in gold – 70 kg. Tirupati temple hits the
headlines now and then when famous politicians and film stars give something to
god measure for measure. This is offered to the gods when their prayers are
answered.
The earliest reference to a
Tulabharam comes from the Mahabharata, about the great emperor Sibi. He was so
famous his name is found in ancient Tamil Sangam literature in four places and
later in hundreds of places. He was even praised in Buddhist Jataka stories and
Borobudur (Indonesia) sculptures. Emperor Sibi was a just king. Lord Indra and
Agni wanted to test him and came in the form of an eagle and a dove. When the
dove came to Sibi for protection from the chasing eagle, Sibi was ready to
offer anything to save the dove. The eagle asked him to give his flesh measure
for measure. Sibi cut himself bit by bit but the pans in the balance were never
equal. At last when he himself stood on the pan the Gods appeared in front of
him and blessed him. The story is found in other Sanskrit works as well.”
Prof. John Kurakar
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