Temples: history, architecture and distribution

10-26-2005, 06:38 PM

Open Letter to Shri Narayan Datt Tiwari , Chief Minister, Uttaranchal
Subject: Takeover of Hindu shrines, temples and their estates is anti-Hindu, anti- secular and suppression of Hindus right of religious freedom

Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Tiwari ji,

It is a matter of serious public concern that Hindu religious places now autonomous, should be unilaterally brought under government control, though an unconstitutional law , particularly in a Congress ruled state and despite the party's professed adherence to the principles of secularism. The proposed Uttaranchal Public Religious Institution (Management and Development) Bill-2005 will empower the government to take over the historic akharas, ashrams, trusts and temples like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri and other sacred shrines, and govern through a state sponsored "Chaar Dham Vikas Parishad" (attachment A). The state Govt. seems oblivious that the doctrine of nationalization and state control of the places of religious worship and their estates cuts at the very roots of the fundamental principles of secularism which dictates the separation of state and religion.

Assigning such jurisdiction to an autonomous Hindu community Board could be the most appropriate instrument for guidance and governance of shrines and temples to satisfy public and government concerns, if any, on management - the age old practice without the governmental dictates and as followed by other religious communities. Further appointment of auditors and specific recommendations for transparency and accountability but without clamping down government control upon the religious entities could do the job.

Before the state government attempts to impose this highly questionable and provocative law here are some of the basic questions it must ponder upon. What authority, background and special training the government operatives posses for controlling every aspect of the cultural centers of Hindus when the concept of secularism - neutrality towards religions - is enshrined in the Indian constitution? Why not allow an autonomous Hindu board to govern temples under the guidance of religious leaders, just as it is permissible in the case of other religions? The Waqf Board of Muslims and the management of Christian churches and religious institutions have vast funds, properties and endowments, in addition to the immense flow of foreign funds - yet their independence and autonomy is left intact !

By controlling Hindu temples and their estates the Govt. is denying Hindus of their fundamental âReligious Rightsâ guaranteed under Articles 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution. According to Article 25 of the Constitution, all persons are equally entitled to the right to profess, practice and propagate religion. While Article 26, provides that every religious denomination "shall have the right (a) to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes; (b) to manage its own affairs in matters of religion; Â© to own acquire movable and immovable property; and, (d) to administer such property in accordance with law".

The Indian Parliament through an Act in 1991 legislated that ââthe status of religious places, as on August 15, 1947 shall be retained". The faithful implementation of this law itself will require the authorities to let the control of places of worship be under the Hindu community governance.

The term "secular" was incorporated in the Constitution of India by the 42nd Amendment in 1976. A secular Govt. cannot legitimately be involved in the operation and management of religious places since secularism firmly stands for the separation of state and religion. But In the case of Hindus the Govt. intends to act above and beyond the limitations imposed upon it by the national constitution.

 The State government plan to take over all important religious places is a brazen challenge to Hindus. Besides the historic temples of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri (the so- caled Char Dhams" in Uttaranchal), other "devasthans" will include -- the Shanidev temple of Khirshali, the entire area of Gomukh, Chandrabadri temple, Raghunath temple and Nagaraj temple of Semmukhem in Devprayag, Rajrajeshwari temple of Shrinagar, Neelkanth, Chandi Devi and Mansa Devi temples of Haridwar, Surkunda Devi and Kunjapuri Devi temples of Tehri, Mata Anusuya Devi, Rudranath and Kalpanath temples of Chamoli, Jwalpa Devi and Dhari Devi temples of Pauri, Hatiyali Devi temple of Rudraprayag, Poorna Devi, Jageshwardham, Kainchi Devi Mandir, Dronagiri temple and Baijnath temple of Kumaun region.

Hon'ble Chief Minister, we have to be candid in assessing the repercussions by this act of usurping all important sacred places, insulting and challenging Hindus on their most intimate and revered sentiments, faiths and places of worship. It may not be surprising that some Hindu youths accept the challenge and come to a conclusion that the way to convince blasphemous politicians is through methods of the Maoists, the LTTE and the jihadists.

Our contention encompasses the legal and philosophical commitment of the secular Indian State - that the management and administration of the religious institutions, their estates and places of worship, must reside in the hands of the representative bodies of the believers. That being the ground rule how would Sikhs (Golden temple), Muslims (Jama Masjid, Aimer Sharif) or Christian churches in India react to Govt. control of their places of worship? Such an intrusion by the government authority in otherwise an autonomous domain has a potential of generating a chain of serious consequences including the charges against the state itself for being a major instrument of dismantling Hinduism.

It is simply disgraceful that the Indian Govt. should subsidize the "Hajj" pilgrimage of the Muslims to the tune of Rs. 200 crores annually and make special reservations for them on the basis of their religion, but on the other hand the State government, under section 50 of the proposed bill with 74 sections, is planning to impose a tax on pilgrims and vehicles visiting religious places in Uttaranchal. This is a crusade to systematically destroy the self- supporting foundations and structures of Hinduism and its religious infrastructure, using unlawful state control as a tool. Such extra legal actions constitute a reverse discrimination against the religion of Indiaâs majority community. It also smacks of imposing Jazzia upon Hindus in their home country âHindustanâ once again.

Sir, could you explain to the majority community electorate your rationale for violating the Indian Constitution, under provisions of which discriminating, managing, reforming or patronizing religions is completely and fully out side the scope of the government in office. If Mahatma Gandhi were alive today, he would have strongly opposed such a move and possibly gone on hunger strike to redress this illogical step. When governments are fast privatizing state owned companies, nationalization of temples is beyond comprehension.

The grandeur of Hinduism - its Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharatha, the Bhagwad Geeta -its glorious ancient culture, spirituality and values that the community would like to protect, project and propagate can only be done under a devoted Hindu religious governance. There are other dharmik aspects also, e.g. sewa and dharma prachar that only NGOs could pursue - again the practice in vogue in other religious organizations. This is essential for national cohesion and integration, because Hinduism is the single most important unifying factor in India's body politic.

Hon'ble Chief Minister, if Hindus can occupy responsible positions in industry, business and government as you do, why are they not allowed to manage their own "devasthans", particularly when other religionists are permitted? What is it that the proposed Govt. sponsored "Chaar Dham Vikas Parishad" will do but a community Hindu Board cannot do ?

Sir, if the intention of the Act is to rationalize operation and maintenance of shrines, may we suggest that the representatives of shrines, temples, Hindu community and religious leaders from Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, etc. be motivated to convene an assembly where they could be asked to take charge of clearly defining the new legal framework for the community governance of the religious places in Uttaranchal - a land of ancient temples. Such an approach among other things could make the Board completely autonomous and thereby responsible for the entire administration including planning, executing, auditing, guiding, investigating and taking corrective steps on allegations or complaints as and when needed.

Hon'ble Chief Minister, may we suggest that rather than taking over the religious places and formation of a Govt. sponsored "Chaar Dham Vikas Parishad" to manage them, you exercise your leadership in motivating the Hindu community to form a Hindu Board that your Govt. will treat on par with the Waqf. The intrusion and imposition of governmental dictates in an otherwise autonomous domain, will justify the charge against your administration of being anti- Hindu and anti- secular. Such charges will include demolishing the Hindu religious infrastructure and undermining the majority community by altering its traditional cultural identity with a view to de- Hinduise India. Consequently, the proposed Act will be termed not only as "anti-Hindu" but also "anti-national" for Hinduism is the single most important unifying factor in India's body politic.

With best wishes and looking forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jagan Kaul October 24, 2005
Krishan Bhatnagar
Hindu Jagran Forum (Maryland, USA)
email: krishan.kb@verizon.net

Note: We e-mailed you a letter, pleading against the proposed Bill on April 25, 2005 but sorry to say that we have not got any response from your office so far.

QUOTE
Attachment A
Congress plans to encroach on temple property

By Ravindra Saini
Organiser, October 16, 2005

The Congress Government of Uttaranchal is planning to bring religious places and institutions of Hindus under its control. A bill to this effect is likely to come before the State Assembly soon. The bill, the Uttaranchal Public Religious Institution (Management and Development) Bill-2005, if passed, will empower the government to take over the historic akharas, ashrams, trusts and temples like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri and other sacred shrines. Now they are being managed by autonomous bodies and trusts.

The Government wants the State bureaucrats, who are already pre-occupied in so many things, to manage the temples and religious institutions of Hindus in the State. The move has invited a sharp reaction from various Hindu organisations and religious leaders across the State. A copy of the proposed bill has already been circulated among political parties and MLAs of the State.

Uttaranchal is a land of ancient temples and lakhs of people across the country visit the historic temples throughout the year. According to Shri Vinod Nautiyal, former chairman of Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Mandir Vikas Samiti, besides the historic temples of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, the State government proposes to take over the Shanidev temple of Khirshali, the entire area of Gomukh, Chandrabadri temple, Raghunath temple and Nagaraj temple of Semmukhem in Devprayag, Rajrajeshwari temple of Shrinagar, Neelkanth, Chandi Devi and Mansa Devi temples of Haridwar, Surkunda Devi and Kunjapuri Devi temples of Tehri, Mata Anusuya Devi, Rudranath and Kalpanath temples of Chamoli, Jwalpa Devi and Dhari Devi temples of Pauri, Hatiyali Devi temple of Rudraprayag, Poorna Devi, Jageshwardham, Kainchi Devi Mandir, Dronagiri temple and Baijnath temple of Kumaun region.

The Central government provides air ticket and other facilities to Haj pilgrims. But on the other hand the State government, under section 50 of the proposed bill with 74 sections, is planning to impose a tax on pilgrims and vehicles visiting religious places in Uttaranchal.

The four dhams are not in Uttaranchal, but the State government, through the proposed bill, intends to form a Chaar Dham Vikas Parishad to manage the temples. Not only this, the State government has already appointed a vice president for the Parishad, which is yet to be constituted and has also provided him with all facilities. According to Shri Nautiyal, several Hindu organisations have given a memorandum to the Chief Minister registering their protest against the move. Despite this the government is in the process to get the bill passed by the Assembly as early as possible.

The saints of Haridwar have vehemently opposed the proposed bill and have warned the State government of dire consequences if the move is not withdrawn. The Bharatiya Janata Party and Samajwadi Party are also equally critical of what they called the State governmentâs attempt âto seize control of maths, akharas, ashrams and temples through the back door.â

Talking to Organiser in Dehradun, the State BJP President, Bhagat Singh Koshyari, said his party would fight against the bill tooth and nail. âWe will not allow the proceedings of the House if the government does not desist from attempts to get the bill passed,â he said. The BJP youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, organised demonstrations at several places and burnt effigies of Congress leaders in protest. Senior party leader Dr Murli Manohar Joshi alleged that the bill was âa brazen attemptâ to interfere with the affairs of religious institutions.

Samajwadi Party workers also came out on the streets protesting against the Congress governmentâs bid to tighten its noose around religious institutions. The Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad felt deeply hurt by the State governmentâs move. Mansa Devi Mandir Trust President and Akhara Parishadâs spokesperson Mahant Ramanand Puri while denouncing the bill said that the Congress government would have to pay a heavy price. He said the saints of the Akhara Parishad would soon meet to discuss the assault by the Congress on the religious sentiments of Hindus.

11-03-2005, 08:52 PM

The discovery of a late Tamil Sangam age temple 50 km from Chennai strengthens the view that a string of Seven Pagodas existed along the Mamallapuram coast

11-07-2005, 12:39 AM

http://www.akshardham.com/whatisakdm/index.htm

Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi epitomises 10,000 years of Indian culture in all its breathtaking grandeur, beauty, wisdom and bliss. It brilliantly showcases the essence of Indiaâs ancient architecture, traditions and timeless spiritual messages. The Akshardham experience is an enlightening journey through Indiaâs glorious art, values and contributions for the progress, happiness and harmony of mankind.
The grand, ancient-styled Swaminarayan Akshardham complex was built in only five years through the blessings of HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) and the colossal devotional efforts of 11,000 artisans and BAPS volunteers. The complex was inaugurated on 6 November, 2005.

Akshardham means the eternal, divine abode of the supreme God, the abode of eternal values and virtues of Akshar as defined in the Vedas and Upanishads where divine bhakti, purity and peace forever pervades.

For the first time ever in the world witness the heritage of India in all its facets, insights and beauty at the Swaminarayan Akshardham through its monument, exhibitions, verdant gardens and other attractions

<img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/specool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='specool.gif' /> <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/specool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='specool.gif' /> <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/specool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='specool.gif' />

**acharya** · 11-07-2005, 06:42 AM

<img src='http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/2005/11/07/20051107_temple.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

New Delhi: A view of the newly built Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple. ap

agnivayu · (This post was last modified: 11-08-2005, 04:27 AM by agnivayu.)

The Temple is very impressive. We need more structures of even greater scale (and height especially) to show Hindu control and dominance.

One question though about the temple, there appears to be a cross on the highest dome, or am I mistaken ? (can't tell from the picture posted, but if you look at the ones on the actual website )

11-08-2005, 04:29 AM

QUOTEthere appears to be a cross on the highest dome, or am I mistaken 
No, its flag.

11-08-2005, 08:16 AM

QUOTEPrez, PM inaugurate Akshardham temple

New Delhi, Nov 06: Amidst a glittering cultural show, President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tonight inaugurated the Akshardham temple complex here.

Commending the architectural marvel of the 100-acre complex exhibiting Indian art and culture, the Prime Minister said it would be counted among the important places to visit in Delhi.

In his description of the complex, Kalam said he felt he was "in another world".

Lauding the efforts of architects and others involved in construction of the Akshardham, the President said they had built a magnificent complex. 

Singh lauded efforts of the devotees of Swaminarayan for raising the huge amount for the construction of the temple.

The Prime Minister said he was hopeful that the Akshardham temple would continue to spread the message of love and communal harmony.

Singh recalled the inauguration of the Lakshminarayan temple in Delhi by Mahatma Gandhi.

The Prime Minister said the Indian civilisation had always advocated peaceful co-existence and allowing people to flourish.

He said there was never an incident where Indians were for military conquest outside the country.

Speaking on the occasion former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani termed the Akshardham temple as amongst the wonders of the world.

He said though the plan for construction of the temple was finalised only after a few years ago, the craftsmen had done a splendid job in completing it in five years.

President Kalam, who was also seen referring to his laptop, said the Swaminarayan Akshardham cultural complex was the second biggest event that he had witnessed, the first event having taken place 45 years ago.

Kalam also wrote a poetry on the complex and administered a pledge to the people which among other things, containing a vow to direct all efforts and knowledge to make India a knowledge society.

11-08-2005, 09:00 AM

I happened to see the recorded live-telecast of the cermony in our local BAPS center and man.. it looks impressive at night with changing colours,musical (based on vedas) fountains and about 90000 trees in the whole area.

It's built on 100 acers, with 200 crore rupees and has IMAX teather with a boat ride taking you thru the Indian(hindu) history.

What I found distateful was the speech of PM.he kept on repeatng the same 'non-violance', 'Indian tradition of respect of all religion', and 'secularism' etc.. BS like a congressi, I hope he has the guts to do the same when he goes a church or a mosque.

The cermony started with Vande mataram and ended with Jana gana mana...

That apart..this one is more impressive then the one they have in london/Gujarat/Chicago and one comming up in LA(construction started after lots of protest from locals) in near future.

But in nutshell...it does give one pride about being a hindu.

Taj never tempted me to visit Delhi.. but this one will sure....

Jay Smawminaray.

11-09-2005, 04:30 AM

slide show on rediff.

http://specials.rediff.com/news/2005/nov/08sld1.htm

11-23-2005, 03:42 AM

QUOTEThais Revere Hindu Gods
The Nation
THAILAND, November 13, 2005: For generations, Hindu Gods and Goddesses have occupied a special place in the hearts and minds of many Thai Buddhists as well as foreign visitors, especially from other Asian countries. One unique place in Bangkok where you may observe or worship these deities is the Ratchaprasong intersection, where many of the city's upscale shopping and hotel complexes are situated. Last Wednesday was a special day at the extremely popular Brahma shrine in front of the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel. Hundreds of Thais and foreign faithful flocked to the shrine to pay obeisance and pray for fulfilment of their desires. Apart from the Brahma shrine, set up in 1956, there are five other prominent shrines in the vicinity of Ratchaprasong intersection.

A statue of the elephant god Ganesh sits in front of Isetan shopping centre, while the Trimurti, a form of Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva, adorns the front of Zen department store. At the Interconti nental Hotel near Gaysorn Plaza, Narayana, another name for Vishnu, is mounted on his celestial vehicle Garuda, while the plaza itself has the Statue of the Goddess Uma Parvati on its fourth floor. Opposite Gaysorn is the Amarin Plaza, where the rain god Indra stands majestically.

The property-owners view Hindu Gods and Goddesses as helpful for the prosperity of their businesses. For instance, the owners of the original Erawan Hotel decided to build a prominent shrine to the four-faced Brahma back in 1956 after several workers lost their lives in mysterious construction accidents. Essentially, the shrine was intended to ward off misfortune. Since its consecration, the shrine has become a model for similar ones nationwide.

Besides property-owners, all these shrines of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are also immensely popular among local and foreign worshippers, especially the Chinese from Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Chen Siek Hui, an Indonesian-Chinese, said she had returned to Bangkok last week after a trip to Vietnam to offer prayers at the Erawan Brahma shrine and thank the deity for answering her prayer. "I prayed here last year when my business ran into trouble. I believed Brahma would give me the courage and strength to solve the problems. Now my business is running smoothly, so I came back to say thank you, and while I was here I asked for better health for my mother," she said. A relative of Hui, who accompanied her to Bangkok, said there were several Brahma shrines in Indonesia but Hui had great faith in the one at the Erawan Hotel. Besides Indonesian-Chinese, the Erawan Brahma shrine often sees worshippers from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia, including celebrities. Among these is Taiwanese movie star Nicolas Tse, who said that his prayer had been answered after he visited the shrine.

HPI News

11-24-2005, 10:16 PM

QUOTEFrom: www.deccan.com/home/homed...ll%20mutts
State will take total control of all mutts
Hyderabad, Nov. 23: The State government has decided to take absolute control of Hindu mutts. The proposal has been pending for four years. The State government is also considering bringing Hindu religious trusts under its control. The government is planning to amend the AP Endowments Act to enable the endowments commissioner to oversee the day-to-day administration of mutts.

Once the Act is amended, 181 mutts will come under the control of the endowments commissioner.
According to sources, the law department has vetted the proposed amendment. An ordinance amending the Act is expected after the winter session of the Assembly. Another amendment pertains to scrapping the clause which specifies that only officials above the age of 45 should be appointed as endowments commissioner.

This is being done in the wake of the High Court nullifying the appointment of IAS official J.S.V. Prasad as endowments commissioner, since he did not fulfil the age requirement. Mutts such as Hathiramji of Tirupati, Raghavendra of Mantralaya, Byragi of West Godavari and Gavi in Uravakonda in Anathapur, which have assets worth crores of rupees, would come under the control of the government.

This will strip many âfinancial powersâ of the heads of mutts. For instance, âpadu kanukaluâ (offerings made to deities of temples run by mutts), will now go into a general account. Earlier, they were considered the property of the mutt head. Sources said the government was also keen on bringing wealthy Hindu religious trusts under its control but was yet to take a concrete decision on the matter.

12-01-2005, 07:51 PM

QUOTECULTURAL HERITAGE RENAISSANCE TRUST (Regd.)
(A Trust to Renovate dilapidated Ancient Temples)
31, West Circular Road,Â Mandaveli,Â CHENNAI-600 028,Â INDIA

President:
Prof. R. Radhakrishnan, Professor (Retd.)
IIT-Madras.

Dear Devotee,

As our Group Devotees are well aware of, our TRUST has undertaken renovation of dilapidated ancient temples in villages depending wholly on the contributions of Devotees.

Hence, the TRUST would be grateful if more number of devotees participate andÂ contribute even in a small measure to our efforts forÂ this DIVINE CAUSE.Â

Kindly spareÂ a little bit of your precious time to go through our following mail and also the web-sites.

Â Â Â Our Ancient Temples - with amazing sculpture and architecture - created by the great efforts of our kings, saints and the wealthy, in various structures including TEMPLESÂ (which served as the focal points of society in the past), have passed through SEVERAL CENTURIES.

Â Â Â Â Most of these templesÂ Â are at present in a state of ruin and neglect with a little or no funds to maintain or preserve them.Â This is mainly dueÂ to the migration of people from rural areas to various cities or abroad in search ofÂ employment / business opportunities.

Â Â Â Â Now, many such dilapidated temples are being renovated using sand blasting etc.Â

Â Â Â But, the temples completely shrouded by bushes and trees,Â with their roots penetrating deeply into the beautiful architectural constructions,Â can hardly be restored without damaging the fractured structure.Â

Â Â Â Still it is the utmost duty of everyone to safeguard and preserve this kind of excellent architectural marvels.

Â Â Â Realising the importance of preserving these artisticÂ manifestations, the CULTURAL HERITAGE RENAISSANCE TRUST, was formed and registered as a Public Religious Trust.

Â Â Â The main aim of the TRUST is to lovingly preserve the priceless, ancient architectural / cultural / historical treasures in our temples handed down to us by our forefathers and also to pass it on to our future generations.

Â Â Â Â The TRUST consists of five members (three members retired from IIT-Madras). During renovation work, two of its Members stay in the Temple villages, apply their expertise and involve the local residents in the Renovation Work.

For more details of our efforts, please visit our following websites:
www.geocities.com/templerenovate (with pictures)
www.geocities.com/cultureheritage
http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/10/14/stories...01400580300.htm
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2004/0...61101760400.htm

Â Â Â The TRUST guided the local residents to organise religious functions on important days like Shashti, Pradhosham, etc. in these Temples and this has become a regular feature nowadays.

Â Â Â Since the TRUST fully depends on the contributions of devotees, the Devotees of our Group may kindly interact with the TRUST for completing this Temples Renovation.

TRUST's REQUEST:
Contributions fromÂ DevoteesÂ are solicitedÂ through crossed Cheques payable in favour of
"CULTURAL HERITAGE RENAISSANCE TRUST"
(in any currency) to the above mailing address,
for this DIVINE CAUSE.Â

Â Â Â With regards,
Yours,
Prof. R. Radhakrishnan
President,
Cultural Heritage Renaissance Trust (Regd.)
31, West Circular Road,
Mandaveli, Chennai-600 028, INDIA
Ph: 044-24642088

President:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Secretary:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Treasurer:
Prof.R. RadhakrishnanÂ Â Â T.R. NagarajanÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â S. Chandramouli
Professor (Retd.)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Chartered AccountantÂ Â Â Â Â Â Secretary (Retd.)
IIT-Madras, CHENNAÂ Â Â Â CHENNAIÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â IIT-Madras, CHENNAI

Members:Â Â K. Jayaraman,Â Regl.Director (Retd.),Â Â Â Â Min. of Labour, Govt.of India.Â Â Â Â
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â S. Pichuraman,Â Â Asst. EngineerÂ (Retd.),Â Â IIT-Madras, CHENNAI

12-01-2005, 11:30 PM

QUOTESubject:Â AP Govt. plans to take over all Hindu Mutts and trusts and run Tirupati as a tourist center are anti- Hindu moves to suppress Hindus religious rights, demolish Hindu religious infrastructure and de- Hinduise India

Aadarniya Shri Singhal ji,

Here is some deeply shocking newsÂ -- the Andhra Pradesh Govt. has decided to take absolute control of Hindu mutts, and is also considering bringing Hindu religious trusts under its control (attachment A). Further, Chief Minister Dr. SamuelÂ Reddy has revived the Tirupati ropeway plan and convert Tirupati into a tourist center.Â Andhra Pradesh Tourist Development Corporation (APTDC) chairman and managing director J. Raymond Peter says the visitors' zone project is an important part of the government's plan to develop Tirupati into an A-class tourist destination (attachment B). These blasphemous moves need urgent action to thwart Govt. initiatives to further demolish the Hindu religious infrastructure.

Special note should be taken of the fact that historically the entire seven hills region at TTD is very sacred for Hindus and it is an integral part of the Hindu history. Therefore, respecting the Hindu sentiments, any improvements in the Hindu religious infrastructure must be undertaken by the Hindu community in its entirety. And the development of the town must be carried out with the approval and under the supervision of the Hindu community. This town is highly sacred to Hindus. Therefore, the rightful role of Hindus must not be surrendered.

At this point in time may we suggest urgent actions for the following:

* Governance and Improvements ofÂ temples, mutts, their estates and temple towns must be undertaken under the exclusive control of Hindus without any role for the Govt. for it, except providing the budget for the projects. A Hindu committee should be set up for this task which must come up with long range plans.

*Â An ad hoc Hindu Council should be composed by Acharyas/VHP etc. to demand partnership with Govt. for all development of the TTD and oversight of "devasthans" and their estates nowÂ under Govt. control, pending their transfer to a community Hindu Board.

Every place of Hindu worship and reverence is now under attack .

Sir, at Hyderabad you had recently "advocated the setting up of an autonomous spiritual body to manage temple affairs, and that the VHP would organize a nation-wide agitation to achieve the objective. It would be launched from Andhra Pradesh" (attachment C). Such agitation could not be postponed any more, because they are fast undermining the majority community by altering its traditional cultural identity with a view to de- Hinduise India. Without a strong awakening and a convincingly compelling response by the Hindus, the continuing serious erosion of the Hindu Samaj can neither be halted nor reversed.

With respectful pranams

Dr. Jagan KaulÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â December 1, 2005Â Â
Krishan BhatnagarÂ
Hindu Jagran Forum (Maryland, USA)
email: krishan.kb@verizon.net


QUOTEAttachment A

State will take total control of all mutts
Deccan Chronicle, November 24, 2005

Hyderabad, Nov. 23: The State government has decided to take absolute control of Hindu mutts. The proposal has been pending for four years. The State government is also considering bringing Hindu religious trusts under its control. The government is planning to amend the AP Endowments Act to enable the endowments commissioner to oversee the day-to-day administration of mutts.

Once the Act is amended, 181 mutts will come under the control of the endowments commissioner. According to sources, the law department has vetted the proposed amendment. An ordinance amending the Act is expected after the winter session of the Assembly. Another amendment pertains to scrapping the clause which specifies that only officials above the age of 45 should be appointed as endowments commissioner.

This is being done in the wake of the High Court nullifying the appointment of IAS official J.S.V. Prasad as endowments commissioner, since he did not fulfil the age requirement. Mutts such as Hathiramji of Tirupati, Raghavendra of Mantralaya, Byragi of West Godavari and Gavi in Uravakonda in Anathapur, which have assets worth crores of rupees, would come under the control of the government.

This will strip many "financial powers" of the heads of mutts. For instance, "padu kanukalu" (offerings made to deities of temples run by mutts), will now go into a general account. Earlier, they were considered the property of the mutt head. Sources said the government was also keen on bringing wealthy Hindu religious trusts under its control but was yet to take a concrete decision on the matter.


QUOTEAttachment B

Holy ire as YSR revives the Tirupati ropeway plan

Outlookindia.com,Â December 5, 2005
MADHAVI TATA

Faith may be a short and simple word. But it is what drives 50,000-odd pilgrims to the Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala every day. It is also what makes the temple the richest in the country, with an annual budget of Rs 630 crore, fixed assets of Rs 10,000 crore and jewellery worth Rs 5,000 crore

So it wasn't surprising that the globalisation-friendly Chandrababu Naidu government drew up ambitious plans to develop Tirupati as a tourist spot as well. The project included a religious theme park (Rs 20 crore), multiplex shopping complex (Rs 16 crore), star hotels and a Rs 91-crore ropeway from Alipiri to Tirumala. The ropeway would waft pilgrims to the hillock while allowing them to take in the scenic sight below. In 2002, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which runs the temple, allotted Rs 117 acres at Alipiri, the foothills of the Tirumala, to the state's tourism development corporation (APTDC) for the scheme.

However, there was strident opposition from the Agama Advisory Committee (panel of priests and experts who have the say over the temple's traditions) and prominent pontiffs like Chinna Jeer Swamy and Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswati, forcing Naidu to cancel the project a year later. The land was then returned to the TTD.

For the priests, a cable car for pilgrims up to the temple is like gliding above the lord's head.

However, two weeks ago, chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy gave the go-ahead to the ropeway and asked the APTDC to take up the scheme in a time-bound manner. He opines that the cable car will reduce pollution and curtail accidents on the ghat road. But horrified local Agama advisors regard this as a deadly sin. They believe that the 6.3-km cablecar ropeway to Tirumala will violate the age-old shastras and traditions. According to them, the ropeway would disturb meditating deities, saints and spirits present among the Seshachalam hills in invisible form.

"The hill on which the temple stands is Vishnu swaroopam (Lord Vishnu's form). To travel over the Lord's head is a cardinal sin," says C. Rayabhattacharyulu, an Agama expert. He adds that if the government insists on going ahead with the project, several powerful religious bodies would move court to obtain a stay order to ensure there's no violation of the holy airspace.

Another open opponent of the project is the Vaikhanasa Peetham, a powerful religious institution at Tirupati. G. Prabhakaracharyulu, in charge of the peetham at Tirumala, says the devotees come for the Lord's darshan with purity of thought. "The government is trying to convert a holy place into a picnic spot. I mean, do you really want to see an imax theatre here?"

Interestingly, the temple's chief priest Ramana Deekshitulu, who also heads the Agama Advisory Committee, is reluctant to voice an opinion. "We need to examine the Agama shastras, puranas and dharma shastras and then brief the TTD," he says. Asked how the same board that objected to the cable car in 2003 could possibly okay it now, Deekshitulu says two members had opposed it then. "But the committee will examine it afresh. Whatever decision is made will be collective."

Meanwhile, APTDC chairman and managing director J. Raymond Peter says the visitors' zone project is an important part of the government's plan to develop Tirupati into an A-class tourist destination. The cable car, says Peter, won't fly over the temple but would transport 40,000 pilgrims every day to its base. Peter, who is back in India after a five-year stint with the World Bank in the US, feels the AP government should follow the American method of utilising the existing infrastructure of a place and developing it into a tourist destination. "Providing hotels, parks or a ropeway at Alipiri will induce tourists going to Tirupati to stay back longer. Think of the employment this would generate," says Peter.As the arguments continue, the gap between local religious sentiments and American-inspired mass tourism grows ever widerâperhaps too wide for the ropeway to bridge.

QUOTE
Attachment C

A) VHP movement to protect Hindu temple property
2005-11-12 Published by new kerala.com Gathered by Press Trust of India

HYDERABAD,NOVEMBEr 12:Vishwa Hindu Parishad International President Ashok Singhal saturday announced a country-wide agitation against the Andhra Pradesh government for allegedly using assets of Hindu temples to ''develop wakf properties''. Inaugurating a two-day National ''Mutt Mandir conference'', organised to protect the sanctity and property of Mutts and Mandirs here, he demanded a white paper on the revenue generated by various Hindu temples and how they were spent.

Advocating the setting up of an autonomous spiritual body to manage temple affairs, Mr Singhal said the VHP would organise a nation-wide agitation to achieve the objective. It would be launched from Andhra Pradesh. He charged that not even 25 per cent of temple revenue in the state was being utilised for development of dilapidated temples and the cause of Hindu spiritualism. The VHP would demand an ordinance for protection of Hindu property and setting up an autonomous body. He said the revenue of Hindu temples should not be used for any purpose other than temple development and the Hindu cause.

====================================

B) VHP calls on Hindus to protect temples
November 13, 2005
Published by newindpress.com Gathered by
United News of India

HYDERABAD,NOVEMBER 13: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international president Ashok Singhal on Sunday said all Hindus must start a Bhaktha mandali in every temple to maintain them in accordance with the age-old religious and cultural traditions. Alleging that the ideal system which was functioning for thousands of years in the temples was being eroded due to administrative negligence, Mr Singhal told newsmen.

The bhaktha mandalis should strive to revive the ideal system of the functioning of the temples.

Demanding the centre to enact a law to free the temples from the clutches of the state governments and release a white paper on temple properties, he said VHP would launch a massive movement to protect temples and their properties if the centre does not respond to their demands. Stating that 34,000 temples in Andhra Pradesh, 34,000 in Tamil Nadu, two lakh each in Kerala and Karnataka were being neglected by the governments, he said many important temples had been taken away by the archaeological departments for research. Mr Singhal said 5 lakh acres of temple lands were in the hands of government in the state.

Referring to the Ayodhya issue, he said the VHP would take concrete steps to construct Ram temple during this year. The construction of the temple would be completed in one year after the works start. Answering a question, Mr Singhal said the arrest of Kanchi seer Shankacharya was an insult to Hindu community

12-07-2005, 05:45 AM

QUOTEMandirs for devotees or tourists?
By Sandhya Jain

The Hindu mandir has once again become the focus of secular controversy. Reformists have taken umbrage at the refusal of Orissa priests to let a White American Hindu woman and a Thai princess enter the Jagannath and Lingaraj temples. There is also outrage that the famous Guruvayoor temple in Kerala announced it was repeating five days of puja after a deranged Christian was found disturbing devotees on the premises.

This anger is misplaced, and derives not from a sense of dharma violated, but from embarrassment at what others will think and say about believing Hindus. This is nothing but a hangover of the inferiority complex instilled in Hindus during the colonial period when Christian missionaries unleashed a barrage of propaganda against the tradition, in their quest for converts.

To understand the issue in its proper perspective, we must understand the difference between the Hindu mandir and monotheistic houses of worship. The mandir is literally god's palace; it is built according to shastric specifications, and once the images are consecrated it means the gods have accepted the invitation to reside in the respective temples. This is what gave temples their power and sanctity in all ancient traditions.

In monotheistic traditions, the synagogue, church and mosque are houses of congregation where the respective gods are remembered in community worship. But monotheistic gods do not descend from their heavenly abodes to dwell with the believers, even during the hour of worship. This is an important distinction, because the congregation itself has no special sanctity, and can meet anywhere. Hindu tradition, on the other hand, shares divinity with the believers, because man is made of the same atman as Parambrahman. Hindus can invite god to be present at a ceremony (wedding, satsang) or sacrifice, and both the devotee and the devoted have sanctity.

Mandirs thus belong to god and the devotee. In India, priests of all except some especially sacrosanct temples have allowed free access to temples to visitors who may not be Hindus, but this is not a right that can be demanded by anyone. Yet media publicity has put Hindus so much on the defensive that they have been quick to blame `Brahmin' hegemony for the behavior of the priests of Lord Jagannath and Lord Lingaraj. This is ironical, because both these gods are popular Hindu deities worshipped by all castes. Jagannath was the god of the Sabara (Savara, Saora) tribe, and even today, only Daityas (descendants of the original tribal worshippers) can dress and move the god and renovate his wooden image. At Lingaraj, only the tribal Badu priests can bathe and adorn Lingaraj!

At Jagannath, medieval iconoclasm destroyed the images of the gods and the temple ceased worship for 144 years before Raja Man Singh assisted in reviving worship. Even thereafter, there were several threats to the temple. Since the story of the molestation of the gods and the devotees is well known on an all-India plane, it was only natural that some of the most prestigious temples protected their
sanctity by denying entry to non-believers.

Temple entry cannot be a secular right of non-believers. It is a privilege of the believer, and that is why truly reform-minded Hindus in previous centuries fought for the right of underprivileged believers, like Harijans (Dalits), to enter temples. This is an issue to which Hindu society urgently needs to rededicate itself.

The custodians of each holy site must have the right to decide who shall be permitted entry. At Pushkar, priests hitherto permitted foreigners in the sacred precincts and then discovered them acting contrary to the sanctity of the place. They have now prepared a code of conduct for outsiders. It is humbling to recall that the great Vaishnava acharya, Haridas Thakur, being born in a Muslim family, never tried to enter the Jagannath mandir at Puri, even though many persons wanted him to have darshan. I believe this is because he felt he should be born as a Hindu in order to enter the temple. Even Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, personally a very devout Hindu, was denied entry to the Puri temple because she married a Parsi and thereby shared that identity. She accepted the decision with grace and withdrew.

The American-born Pamela Yadav may do well to emulate this example; she should visit the innumerable temples where entry is free, and not enervate devout Hindus by calling our priests `racists.' Tomorrow, another American will protest that not getting meat and eggs in holy cities is a violation of human rights, and Amnesty will breathe down our necks. It is time we drew the line somewhere. It may be mentioned that the priests of the Jagannath temple have traditionally recognised Hindus, Buddhists and Jainas from undivided India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, as officially entitled to enter the temple.

There may be a case to extend this privilege to practicing Buddhists of Asian countries which have a civilisational affinity with India, but this is a decision the priests must take with due consideration, and cannot be forced upon them by external agencies.

In Guruvayur in Kerala, priests of the famous Shri Krishna temple discovered a deranged non-Hindu had been present in the temple for five days, which affected the sanctity of 15 pujas conducted in that period. Temple administrators pointed out that though there were boards requesting non-Hindus to keep out, the rules were difficult to enforce if people did not respect the sentiments of others. They said that whenever non-Hindus were detected, they sprayed punyaham (holy water) inside the temple. Such a "purification ceremony" was held after the son of Congress leader Vayalar Ravi and his Christian wife entered the temple during his wedding some years ago. That time also, far from supporting the besieged Hindu community in protecting the sanctity of its holy spaces, secularists tried to brand the priests as intolerant communalists.

Temple entry cannot be a secular right of non-believers. It is a privilege of the believer, and that is why truly reform-minded Hindus in previous centuries fought for the right of underprivileged believers.

12-15-2005, 09:12 PM

Article by Prof Subhash Kak: The Axis and the Perimeter of the Hindu Temple

12-15-2005, 10:01 PM

er i could not open the page.

is it possible to c/p the material here?

12-23-2005, 05:03 AM

Rs 1.4 crore worth ornament offered to Lord VenkateswaraQUOTEAn offering of a diamond studded gold ornament worth Rs 1.4 crore was made by a devotee to Lord Venkateswara of the famous hill shrine at Tirumala on Thursday night.

The devotee, who wished to remain anonymous, handed over the "mukkapattika" (forehead band) to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Executive Officer APVN Sharma, temple sources said.

01-17-2006, 09:01 PM

Letter to Shri Ashok Singhal ji, President, Vishwa Hindu Parishad

Subject: A Temple Seminar void of Hindu religious Leaders betrays its real intent of deception against the Hindu world.

Aadarniya Shri Singhal ji,

We are sending this urgent missive with a request that you may take a serious note of the intent and purposes of the Govt. Organized deceptive International Temple Summit in Mumbai on Jan. 28 & 29, 2006 (attachment A). In our opinion the summit is nothing but a PR and propaganda tool in the arsenal of the congress/UPA Govt. Its fraudulent and deceitful character is further explained by the following factors: a) No recognized Hindu religious leaders have been invited to participate; b) the convener of the summit is a person from Siddhivinayak temple that is already under the Govt. control therefore, in a subordinate position; c) by and large the other major temples under Govt. control have been afforded participation; d) a solitary Temple from Nepal has been invited obviously to justify the claim of the event being international.; e) The Union Minister for tourism Ms. Renuka Chawdhury, a Congress Lok Sabha MP from Andhra Pradesh, (a political and not a religious person) will inaugurate the seminar - and temple tourism will be high on the agenda; f) Corporate leaders have been put in the forefront to proclaim secular NGO dimensions of the event .

It wouldnt be unrealistic to assume that the UPA is putting up this faÃ§ade of a show to avoid the imminent Hindu backlash due to the growing public awareness against the govt. usurpation of temples in association with its deepest appeasement policy towards the minorities. This strategy seems to be invented for grabbing some gullible Hindu votes by appearing to be religious and sensitive towards temples.

They are trying to make people to forget the utter mismanagement of temples under their control. For instance, A) in Karnataka, they are siphoning temple revenues for investing in madrassas, Mosques and Churches, and, B) in Andhra Pradesh, a) they are diverting temple revenues to the state exchequer leaving pujaris to starve, b) sale of endowment lands; c) encouraging illegal occupation of temple lands; d) changing the character and de- Hinduisation of TTD, by allowing churches and facility for Idgaah , e) proposal for a ropeway at TTD against the wishes of Hindu public, f) diverting Hindu funds for non Hindu and non religious purposes, g) implanting the adversary religionists in the temple management, etc

Aadarniya Singhal ji, it is high time that the Govt. is made to understand that a secular state does not operate or manage any religious institutions and Hindu temples must have the same autonomy as allowed to Mosques and Churches. Authorities must understand that the temples are national treasurers built by our forefathers over the centuries, with endowments to sustain them in perpetuity. Such autonomy of temples must be preserved and enhanced. Management and decisions on the sale and use of endowment lands and temple revenues, modifications to shrines and temple towns, etc. must have approval of the community - the legitimate owners

A special note should be taken of the fact that the UPA is pursuing a proposal to takeover all Hindu temples. One wonders if this show is meant to create an environment showing their vision for corporate type secular governance and take over all temples. The seminar will draw corporate bosses, who will hold forth on areas of their expertise. It will be a non-religious seminar on temple management and administration." It is also ironic and disgraceful that while the issue before this Govt. arranged summit is temples, vehicle of discussion is non-religious secularism and the independent Hindu leaders with public recognition are, perhaps on purpose, left out. Without the participation of the religious leaders, this seminar is an exercise in futility and it highlights only the fraudulent character of Governments deceitful policy.

Under the Govt. management the temples are usually under the departments of tourism. The aim of temples is not to attract or please tourists by puja and rituals in order to generate revenues for govt. coffers, but to convey the religious message of Hinduism and the scriptures more or less the same way as they do in Churches and Mosques.

By controlling Hindu temples and their estates the Govt. is depriving Hindus of their fundamental Religious Freedom guaranteed under Articles 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution. According to Article 25 of the Constitution, all persons are equally entitled to the right to profess, practice and propagate religion. While Article 26, provides that every religious denomination "shall have the right: (a) to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes; (b) to manage its own affairs in matters of religion; Â© to own acquire movable and immovable property; and, (d) to administer such property in accordance with law".

The unconstitutional usurpation of temples by the govt. seriously violates the fundamental precept of secularism which dictates the separation of state and religion. Such practice is against the norms of governance of religious institutions in all free and democratic societies. In India this illegal practice is applied to only Hindu shrines. In retrospect it has proved to be an instrument of decimating Hindu religion and culture. We strongly believe that transferring the jurisdiction of temples to an autonomous Hindu community Board would be democratically valid, legally sound and the most appropriate instrument of correcting this highly unjust situation. Such transference would simultaneously provide community based guidance and governance to shrines and temples which in turn would satisfy any public concerns.

Aadarniya Singhal ji, from every stand point it would be prudent to demand Hindu community participation in governance of the endowment departments for assuring proper functioning and utilization of temple resources in the first phase of denationalization be guaranteed. Such transformation could be attained through the composition of an interim Hindu Council to be nominated by the Hindu religious leaders and the community at large.

It is baffling that political organizations of Hindus like BJP and Shiv Sena, while paying lip service for Hindutva, do not raise a finger on this very basic issue of saving Hindu religious infrastructure from demolition. This is an issue that could brighten their political and electoral fortunes.

It may be worth noting that recently Baba Ramdevji was saved only by his courageous stand and support by public and some politicians against a tirade by CPI (M) communist MP, Ms. Brinda Karat and anti- Hindu establishment and thus avoided bad publicity on himself, Ayurveda and Yoga.

Similarly, since the politicians do not care for constitution, law or logic when it comes to dealing with Hindus, we believe that time has come for organizing highly visible and massive demonstrations in Mumbai, outside the venue of the summit and nationwide at state capitols. Bajrang Dal usually protests on St. Valentines Day on February 14, by protesting outside Greeting Card stores, etc. It will be a patriotic act for them and for other dedicated Hindus to demonstrate now against: a) govt. control of temples; b) exclusion of religious leaders from the Seminar; c) the denial of autonomy and liberty to Hindu temples.

The issue may also be brought before the nine spiritual TV channels in the country. Such campaign could be continuous before the seminar and afterwards till the temples are liberated. Every effort has to be made to thwart the bids by unscrupulous politicians to de- Hinduise India. Taking a cue from anti- Hindu forces that harp on post Godhra riots day in and day out, the duplicity of Congress/ UPA must be continuously exposed in encouraging and rewarding jihadists with minority reservations, Hajj subsidy, etc. while suppressing and undercutting the Hindu majority.

At the conclusion we would like to reemphasize that this issue be given the utmost importance and a strong public demand be put forward for a) including the legitimate Hindu leaders and Acharya Sabha in the upcoming Temple Summit; and b) Hindu community participation, through an interim Hindu Council to be set up, to oversee governance of temples and endowments in the first phase of denationalization.

With respectful pranams

Dr. Jagan Kaul January 14, 2006
Krishan Bhatnagar
Hindu Jagran Forum
Maryland, USA
email: krishan.kb@verizon.netQUOTE
AttachmentÂ A

Temple titans in temporal tryst

The Telegraph, January 5, 2006
CHANDRIMA S. BHATTACHARYA

Mumbai, Jan. 4: Almost all famous temples of the country are coming together to conduct for the first time serious worldly business. On January 28 and 29, the temple teams will come together at a new five-star hotel in the city for a seminar, held at the initiative of Mumbais most revered mandir, the Siddhivinayak temple, to discuss corporate governance.

With faith staging an explosive comeback as many as nine spiritual channels are on air in the country now temples feel that it is high time they go in for management tools to run their secular affairs.

To be attended by the biggest temples apart from Siddhivinayak, there will be 20 mandirs, including Tirupati, Vaishnodevi, Guruvayoor, Shirdi, Kedarnath, Badrinath and also Pashupatinath in Nepal the International Temple Summit 2006 will be inaugurated by Union tourism minister Renuka Chowdhury (temple tourism will be high on the agenda).

The seminar will draw corporate bosses, who will hold forth on areas of their expertise It will be non-religious seminar on temple management and administration, says Sanjay Bhagwat, appropriately designated CEO of the Shree Siddhivinayak Temple Trust.
Deepak Parekh, chairman, HDFC Ltd, who confirmed his participation today, will address the seminar on financial management problems.

Ad guru Alyque Padamsee will hold forth on the importance of public relations in temple management.
Financial advice is necessary, says Bhagwat, because temples have a lot of surplus income, and they want the money to be invested judiciously.

At the end of the summit, the participants would be in a position to understand the need and relevance of temple management and administration in todays times. They would also be oriented towards certain tools to effectively manage the administration, says the Powerpoint presentation on the seminar by Bhagwat.

He will also moot the idea of an integrated call centre for all the temples. There will be one toll-free telephone number that will offer information on all temples of India, says Bhagwat. The information on offer will cover puja schedules, location of temples, donations and all matters related to worship. A proposal for an integrated website for all temples will be discussed.

Siddhivinayak has impeccable credentials to take the lead in the corporatisation effort. As far as temples go, it is on the cutting edge of technology, symbolising the rapid strides made in the abodes of the gods in the past few years.

The Mumbai temple, which attracts almost 70,000 devotees on Tuesdays, considered auspicious, including celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, takes immense pride in its webcam service. Ours is the only temple which webcasts the puja live, says Bhagwat.
With two webcams installed in the sanctum sanctorum, devotees can log on to the temple website and see the puja being performed.

On the anvil are online booking though a devotee can already book a puja through e-mail and ISO certification. The idea is not to have a certificate, but to corporatise our financial administration, says Bhagwat. He says that the temple is gearing up for an external audit, though there is some resistance from the traditional-minded staffers.

Security at the temple is hi-tech. Several CCTVs are already installed and a blast-proof wall is being built around the temple. With all the new equipment of CCTVs, metal detectors and baggage scanners, the new security measures have cost Rs 5 crore, says Bhagwat.

The economy of temples has boomed, too, in leaps and bounds. Siddhivinayak is a case in point. The temple says its annual income for 2004-2005 is Rs 17 crore, a sharp rise from last years Rs 12 crore. I dont know about other temples, but in 2001, when I joined, when we counted money twice a week, it used to be around Rs 2 lakh per count. Now it is about Rs 6 lakh per count, twice a week, Bhagwat says.

It must be the other side of software, shopping malls and fat salaries the rising stress that has no worldly cure.

ramana · 01-20-2006, 01:51 AM

Op-Ed in Pioneer , Jan 19, 2006, about the controversy in Guruvayoor Temple in Kerala

QUOTEDiplomatic gaffe in a shrine 

For a religion founded on ideas of tolerance, recent events in Kerala should prove alarming for the Hindu community, says Anuradha Dutt

The more things change, the more they are the same. This is the natural response on learning that custodians of Kerala's famed Guruvayoor shrine are belatedly enraged over the entry of a non-Hindu - a foreign dignitary - into the temple premises some days ago.

A similar controversy erupted when permission was denied to the visiting Thai princess to enter the Jagannath shrine in Puri. Then, as now, a debate had raged on the ethics of a practice, which derived from orthodox biases against mlechhas, women and the impure castes. Over the years, Hindu reformers have clashed with revanchists over lifting restrictions on the entry of Dalits into shrines such as Nathdwara, and permitting women as well as lower castes to officiate as temple priests. The right of non-Hindus to worship at Hindu shrines, so far kept out of their reach, is one aspect of this ongoing conflict.

While the catholicity of Hinduism is its most attractive feature, certain prejudices and traditions still continue to influence religious practices, even if prohibited by laws. The myth that a person is born a Hindu, and cannot become one, is a popular misconception, despite socio-anthropological findings suggesting that many successive waves of intruders were incorporated into the Hindu fold, in various castes and sub-castes.

Swami Vivekanand, a most devout Hindu, by any criteria, and an exceedingly well-informed traveller through India, stated in his writings that the process of religious and social transmutation was an old one. Citing some instances, he said that Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century AD, spearheading the theistic offensive against the heterodox faiths that were more concerned with individual freedom than God, had made tribes of Balochis into Kshatriyas and southern fisher folk into Brahmins.

Whether Advait or Dvait, the great reformers declared that in the kingdom of God, all were equal. But this does not apply to the bastions of orthodoxy. The person to have invited the priests' ire in the present instance happens to be Ms Shiranthi Rajapakse, the wife of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, who donated a gold crown at the Sri Krishna temple in fulfillment of a vow. He was accompanied by his wife on the pilgrimage. Since temple rules forbid the entry of non-Hindus, barring Buddhists, Jains and the ilk, from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and other culturally linked neighbours, the lady's religious affiliation has suddenly become a matter of serious concern. Authorities are assailing the State Government with queries about the Sri Lankan dignitary's faith.

The issue has triggered a row in Kerala as well as Sri Lanka. The media in the neighbouring country is devoting extensive coverage to the possible lapse, which reportedly, has been denied by the President. The information available suggests that the first lady was born a Catholic but converted to Buddhism. She, perhaps, has religious contacts with Christian leaders in the island nation. However, the temple authorities, dismayed by the prospect of pollution of the shrine, are considering antidotes that recall the India of yore, when priests held sway and prescribed the most debilitating remedies for transgressions, with good Hindus obsessed with the rites of expiation and purification. Much of their energy was expended on such activities, rendering them unfit to combat foreign intruders.

Little matter that India's secular Constitution guarantees the freedom to worship and abolishes discrimination against anybody on the basis of birth and religion. The democratic promise of equality seems to have failed to shake off the stranglehold of orthodoxy.

As in earlier times, when the heterodox impulses of Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, in addition to the cults of Tantra and Bhakti, enshrined the egalitarian spirit, modern India has opted for a prejudice-free society and polity. But, the gap between the ideal and the real persists, especially in areas that were the domains of certain privileged groups. Hereditary priests are yet to reconcile themselves to the erosion of their powers over their flock and the loss of control over many important pilgrimages, which have been taken over by Government-appointed bodies.

The Guruvayoor authorities are considering cleansing ceremonies to expel the alien's polluting influence. Such a course would not only be a diplomatic blunder, but also revivify the orthodox forces. The conflict between modernity and obscurantism takes many forms, whether it be the sporadic demand to recognise the right to commit sati, revive polygamy, or accord precedence to priests over other castes.

This is an opportune occasion for the state to further free the domain of religion from obsolete shackles that divide people.

01-20-2006, 02:12 AM

Is Guruvayoor a public temple ? Was it built using tax payer money ? How is it anyones business to tell the temple people who to allow and who to disallow ? I dont get this.

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