Our temple traditions do not actually permit any sort of decorations or artificial or synthetic nature.
Moreover, agamas do not permit mindless change of shape of the idol or the precincts of the house of God.
The devotees and administrators can plan and execute the changes, if found necessary, only following the directions prescribed in the agamas or tantras and they have to make even these alterations can following strict through the strict procedures and guidelines under the supervision of learned Gurus and Vedic scholars. The process should start with seeking the permission of the deity through
Deva prashnam, followed by pariharams and prasyaschittams that such prashnam reveals and prescribes.
Even decorations with natural materials like flower or leaves or twigs should remain without change only for just a day at the most.
Even the most precious thing placed with the deity becomes obsolete within hours, and we should not reuse the same item for decoration or pooja. There are some exceptions like Tulasi and
Rudraksham, which we can use repeatedly.
Of course we do so many things opposed to agamas and rules..
We decorate the idol with external fittings that changes the appearance, sex, gender, and the bhava of the pratishta. In addition, we even advertise about it, publish snaps about the metamorphosed shape of the God...
Where is the permission for all this?
When we are talking about traditions we have to think of all such aspects..
Next question is about continuing namasankeerthanam without sandyavandanam, using non-agamic, non-Vedic non-tantric means and hymns for worship of traditionally consecrated Moorthies and vigrahas. Are these practices right?
Using garlands of lemon, Vada, Vettrila etc for decorating the Moorthies either Utsavam or Moolam--.which Veda or Agama or Karika has permitted us to do all these ?
The Gurukkal, Shivacharya, Azhvar, Bhattacharya, or Archaga Swami may permit it because he has no choice but to agree with the motley crowd. Alternately because he is ignorant.
