Blessed by the four elements

The Indian stone temple also included, in its architectural form, the means for being blessed by the four elements—earth, wind, water, fire.

  • Before entering the temple gates, one removed one's shoes to touch and be blessed by the earth.
  • Then upon passing through the temple gateway, one is blessed by the air with a gust of wind.
  • A blessing by water is obtained by bathing in the temple tank, or at least descending its steps to touch the water.
  • Finally, on entering the cool interior of the sanctuary, the worshipper is given a mark on the forehead with ashes taken from a sacred flame by an attendant priest. Even this blessing by fire has a slight cooling sensation to it.

Perhaps it is only coincidental that each of these four blessings is associated with a cooling sensation; and yet, the use of forms and materials that inevitably create coolness is quite remarkable.

  1. ​Avatar: The Last Airbender​
  2. ​The Legend of Korra​
  3. ​A hierarchical system of sense​