Today, mirrors come in all sorts of shapes and curves, each serving a different purpose. Some reflect your image accurately, while others make you appear thinner, taller, shorter, or wider. A broken mirror offers a fragmented reflection; a dusty one distorts your appearance.
The most general and fundamental purpose of a mirror is to show us as we truly are. Right? But if it fails to do so, is it your fault—or the mirror’s? Can a mirror ‘fix’ itself? Or is it your responsibility to build and maintain it properly so you can use it effectively?
Take a moment. Be still. Let these questions settle like dust in sunlight.
They are not to be rushed—
but gently held, quietly turned over,
before we journey deeper,
where even a mirror can become a teacher,
revealing more than just our surface.
A distorted or broken image is not a reflection of any flaw in you, nor is it necessarily the fault of a ‘bad’ mirror. However, if you wish to see yourself as you truly are, it becomes your responsibility to make the necessary arrangements: providing a proper frame, a secure nail to hang it, placing it in the right spot with good lighting, and ensuring it’s protected from anything that could damage or distort it.
Mirrors reveal our outward appearance and help us observe and confirm changes in how we look.
Temples, on the other hand, are divine mirrors that reflect our inner self, guiding us towards a healthy life filled with peace and joy.
They reveal whether we are truly happy within and show us the path for a blissful life in this world and for after the current life-period.
Just as we need a mirror to see our own face despite having eyes, we all need divine centers to discover our true selves, despite being ‘intelligent’.
Just as we must keep the mirror clean, in tact and rightly shaped to see ourselves properly, we should ensure all temples are functioning in a proper order in all angles – the process, priests, devotees, trustees, and the entire unit must function as per design if we want the deity to bless us with peace and joy, or whatever greater good one desires!
Priests must be qualified and devoted.
Temple trustees and management should be lovingly serving the true needs of the temple.
Devotees should approach with humility, not demanding changes to sacred traditions for personal comfort.
as mother Yashoda once bound little Krishna — not with rope alone, but with devotion.
It is then that He will be present in the temple,
ready to pour forth grace and blessings—
upon those who come seeking something from Him,
and upon those who seek not a gift, but the Giver Himself.
– From the discourse of HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji – Swarnotsav: 50 years celebration – Sri Venkateswara Swami temple, Siddhipet – 20th and 21st May 2025
Swamiji remarked, “Sriman Harish Rao garu cares for Siddipet like his own family. He, along with his team, is deeply devoted to protecting their cherished ‘mirror’—the Padmavathi Sametha Sri Venkateswara Swami temple. It is a sacred and powerful place that offers peace and joy to every sincere seeker in the community.”
Swamiji also praised Madavaneni Raghunandan Rao and his wife for their dedication and genuine interest shown during the event.
He fondly recalled his deep affection for Siddipet, sharing a memorable incident from 1975 involving Sri Pedda Jeeyar Swamiji. Faced with an unexpected situation, Swamiji asked whether a Yajnasala could be set up overnight so that rituals could begin the very next day. The people of Siddipet responded without hesitation, driven by unwavering faith and devotion. They neither questioned nor faltered — a testament to their deep-rooted spiritual commitment and reliability.
It was Sri Pedda Jeeyar Swamiji himself who consecrated this very temple 50 years ago. Swamiji expressed the special bond he shares with Siddipet for this reason.
Magic Mirrors
Today, mirrors come in all sorts of shapes and curves, each serving a different purpose. Some reflect your image accurately, while others make you appear thinner, taller, shorter, or wider. A broken mirror offers a fragmented reflection; a dusty one distorts your appearance.
Take a moment. Be still. Let these questions settle like dust in sunlight.
They are not to be rushed—
but gently held, quietly turned over,
before we journey deeper,
where even a mirror can become a teacher,
revealing more than just our surface.
A distorted or broken image is not a reflection of any flaw in you, nor is it necessarily the fault of a ‘bad’ mirror. However, if you wish to see yourself as you truly are, it becomes your responsibility to make the necessary arrangements: providing a proper frame, a secure nail to hang it, placing it in the right spot with good lighting, and ensuring it’s protected from anything that could damage or distort it.
Mirrors reveal our outward appearance and help us observe and confirm changes in how we look.
Just as we need a mirror to see our own face despite having eyes, we all need divine centers to discover our true selves, despite being ‘intelligent’.
Just as we must keep the mirror clean, in tact and rightly shaped to see ourselves properly, we should ensure all temples are functioning in a proper order in all angles – the process, priests, devotees, trustees, and the entire unit must function as per design if we want the deity to bless us with peace and joy, or whatever greater good one desires!
Priests must be qualified and devoted.
Temple trustees and management should be lovingly serving the true needs of the temple.
Devotees should approach with humility, not demanding changes to sacred traditions for personal comfort.
Let everyone’s pure love for the Lord bind Him to the temple,
as mother Yashoda once bound little Krishna — not with rope alone, but with devotion.
It is then that He will be present in the temple,
ready to pour forth grace and blessings—
upon those who come seeking something from Him,
and upon those who seek not a gift, but the Giver Himself.
– From the discourse of HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji
– Swarnotsav: 50 years celebration
– Sri Venkateswara Swami temple, Siddhipet
– 20th and 21st May 2025
Swamiji remarked, “Sriman Harish Rao garu cares for Siddipet like his own family. He, along with his team, is deeply devoted to protecting their cherished ‘mirror’—the Padmavathi Sametha Sri Venkateswara Swami temple. It is a sacred and powerful place that offers peace and joy to every sincere seeker in the community.”
Swamiji also praised Madavaneni Raghunandan Rao and his wife for their dedication and genuine interest shown during the event.
He fondly recalled his deep affection for Siddipet, sharing a memorable incident from 1975 involving Sri Pedda Jeeyar Swamiji. Faced with an unexpected situation, Swamiji asked whether a Yajnasala could be set up overnight so that rituals could begin the very next day. The people of Siddipet responded without hesitation, driven by unwavering faith and devotion. They neither questioned nor faltered — a testament to their deep-rooted spiritual commitment and reliability.
It was Sri Pedda Jeeyar Swamiji himself who consecrated this very temple 50 years ago. Swamiji expressed the special bond he shares with Siddipet for this reason.
టెంపుల్ ను మ్యాజిక్ మిర్రర్స్ అని చెప్పడం చాలా బాగుంది స్వామీజీ! మన మనసు చూసుకోవాలంటే దేవాలయాలు ఎంత అవసరమో బాగా తెలియజేసారు. జై శ్రీమన్నారాయణ!
This post beautifully articulates how temples function as divine mirrors, reflecting our inner selves towards peace. It offers a truly profound perspective on spiritual reflection and communal responsibility. Jai Srimannarayana 🙏
టెంపుల్స్ను ‘మ్యాజిక్ మిర్రర్స్’ గా వర్ణించిన స్వామీజీ వారి ప్రవచనం చాలా అద్భుతం. మన అంతరాత్మను చూసుకోవడానికి గుడులు ఎంత ముఖ్యమో చక్కగా వివరించారు! జై శ్రీమన్నారాయణ!
A powerful reminder that true clarity comes when we align our hearts with divine purpose, just like mirrors reflecting only when clean and well-positioned. Jai Sriman Narayana
Jaisrimannarayana