Temples as a place of worship

There is always a question asked by the younger generation ?why should one go to a temple to pray,why not at home.So, today's topic is on temple as a place of worship.We know that God exists everywhere,but still the idea does not get firmly established in our minds.It does not get reflected in our actions.If one remembers God all the time,how can one commit evil acts? Is idol worship necessary? Yes would be the answer.The reason is very simple.God is ominipresent,we build temples only to focus the power of the lord in a consecrated idol for our benefit in an easy way.It is like this.sun's rays is everywhere and it contains heat energy.If we keep a piece of paper in the sun,it does not catch fire by itself,but if we place a lens and focus the sun's heat rays on that piece of paper,after some time,we find that the cloth catches fire.Idol worship is very important in our religion,for the ordinary people.when we bow before the idol or pray before the diety consecrated in the idol we never think that it is only a piece of stone,but we thinkthat the diety in the idol is the protector and the root and cause of the whole world.thus temples,help to increase the devotion of a person to god and this devotion helps him to overcome or reduce his sufferings.Here are a few guidelines while visiting a temple:
1.Going to the temple with a clean body. Legs and hands shall be cleaned at entering the temple.
2.Going to the temple adorned with holy symbols like the Holy Ash, rudrAxam.
3.Taking something to offer to the Lord. It is an offering out of devotion. It would be nice if the offering is the one required in the worship.
4.Do not enter the temple with foot wear.
5.Prostrate in front of the flag column (dwajastaMbham) (towards the North) on entering the temple. do not prostrate anywhere else in the temple.
6.Take the permission of nandi dEvar mentally before entering His abode.
Salute Lord ganesha when you enter the Lord's abode. In temple, engage the mind in the thinking of the God. Avoid any gossip. Temple is not the place for gossiping. you can sing or chant His names loudly and sweetly if it would not disturb others. Otherwise it could be done internally without making noise.
The Holy ash given as the blessings should be worn saying "shivAya namaH". It should not be spilled on the ground or wasted. It is normally a procedure to offer something to the priest whose whole life should be in the service of the Lord.
7.Circumambulating the Lord saluting the Goddess and the deities in the temple. The circumambulation would be done at least three times.
Before coming out of the temple go to the place of chaNdEshwarar and take permission for the materials which after worship are taken out of the temple as blessings. One must not take anything out in excess and things taken from the temple should be only as the mark of blessings. If nothing is taken ,it is the normal practice to wipe (rub) the hands together in his place.
Should do something in the promotion of the temple physically or materially or whichever is convenient and required.
On coming out of the temple, again prostrate in front of the flag column towards the north. Sit facing the north and meditate on the God .
While inside the temple should not make the place dirty in any way or make any noise.
Going to the temple at least once in a week with the family is very important for every hindu family.