From my study of the scriptures at a young age, especially of the Upanishads, Gita and the works of Sree Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda, I had formed a clear conviction that the entire world is nothing but Brahman alone, like a boundless ocean.
Brahman is the sole reality. The variety we see in the universe is more or less like a shadow or minor part of that Brahman. The Upanishads give illustrations such as, the universe is like the Sun or the Moon, as seen reflected in small waterpools of mud.
Once a person acquires Chittasuddhi, he/she will be able to clearly perceive that Brahman, as the sole reality pervading everywhere. Many unimaginably Great Rishis of ancient and modern times have directly realized that Brahman. Vedic Rishis state "Vedahemetam Purusham Mahaantham".
So whenever I visit a temple, I will first identify a suitable corner to sit in, and then mentally bow to the omnipresent Brahman who is present there by default (even though invisible to me, since I am not presently endowed with spiritual perception), and recite the holy VSN, meditating on each naama as to a glory of that Brahman.
I don't recite the stotram seeking any worldly goals. I feel perfectly contented with whatever it is that the lord has blessed me with. I recite VSN only for the joy of connecting with that Brahman of supreme bliss. In some ancient temples there could be the presence of bodiless Siddhas too. While reciting, I seek their blessings too.
Along with the recital, I will perform mudras like the Jnana, Sankha, Prana, Prithvi mudra. This way, I benefit in multiple ways, my time utilised well.
Isn't nature a manifestation of the glory of the lord? So isn't it appropriate that we offer prayers to that Supreme One who created all this beauty for our eyes? Hence, I will also do this, in the places of scenic beauty I visit in my travels.
This practice has always given me great joy and peace. At the end of the japam, I might perhaps do a Pradakshinam in the temple, perhaps I might not. But I am not at all particular about getting "darshanam" of the deity, since I know that it is the same Brahman everywhere. What if I don't see the Vigraham with my eyes? Still he present in me, as well as everywhere near me. All that I need to do is to feel his existence everywhere. Asti Ityevopalabdhavyah (Katha Upanishad).
It doesn't matter which deity the temple is for - be it Shiva or Vishnu or Devi or whatever. All gods are forms of that Supreme One alone.
Visiting temples is primarily because I enjoy travelling and seeing places. As per Vedic astrology, mine is a Ubhaya lagnam, hence I will get maximum freedom and pleasure through travelling. Moreover, I tend to feel that temples are to a certain extent an extension of my home. I am allowed to sit, and spend some time there. It is something which I cannot expect to be allowed to do in another person's house. So I go to the temple, watch the people worshipping there, sit in my corner and recite VSN, just to enjoy myself.
