My Ambition about temples

-- HH Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

In days yonder, population was less and wealth was in abundance. The rulers showered their wealth in beautifying the Lord. Kings donated generously towards decorating the temple deities with precious ornaments and jewels.

What is the state today?

There are so many temples in each city, especially, in the South. The city of Kumbakonam is a home to innumerable temples -- Sarngapani temple, Pottramarai Kulam, Kumbeswara Temple, Chakkarathaazhwar Temple, Someswara Temple, Banapuriswara Temple, temple for Lord Varaha, to name a few. Other cities like Thanjavur and Kanchi are likewise.

In each temple there are so many ‘sannadhis’ (sanctums). One would invariably find in each Shiva temple, the sanctums of Lord Shiva and His Consort, Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Somaskanda, Lord Muruga, Gaja Lakshmi, Chandikeswara, Goddess Durga, a separate sanctum again for Devi and ‘Palliyarai’ (a sanctum for the divine couple to rest at night), the 63 Nayanmars and Navagraha. In Vishnu temples too, one would find umpteen sanctums, for instance the Ranganatha temple at Srirangam has sanctums for Lord Ranganatha, Vittala, Tirumazhisai Azhwar, Chakkarathaazhwar, Dhanvantri, Thayaar (Goddess Ranganayaki), Rama, Paravasudeva, Senai Mudaliyar, Sri Ramanuja, two sanctums each for Aandal and Garuda, and so on.

So many temples and so many deities in each temple! Today, the dwindling resources simply make it difficult to maintain the temples. It has become hard to find the right people and resources for cooking and performing poojas in the temples. Maintenance of these temples have become a challenge by itself. Neither the temple authorities nor the visiting devotees take enough care to keep the temple clean. A devotee would buy an ‘archana thattu’ and give it to the priest and forget all about it. Eventually we see that there is so much dirt and trash piled up even in the holy ‘Garbha Gruha’ (Sanctum Sanctorum). To add to the woes, in most temples the administrative powers are not in the right hands. The conditions of the smaller and less popular temples is even worse. Here, festivals are celebrated as a mere formality.

Shortage of resources has bred crime. Burglary has today become commonplace in temples. The Somnath temple was one of the richest temples. It is then no wonder that down the ages it was looted. When the temple in Mannargudi, Tamizh Nadu was looted, the priest was also murdered. The Aaravamudhan temple in Kumbakonam was looted. Vaitheeswaran Koil was burgled not too long ago. The Vimana of Bangaru Kamakshi temple in Tanjore which was gold-plated was not spared either.

Sri Bodendra Saraswati Swamiji, one of the greatest saints the world has ever produced, had graced mankind with His Holy Padhukas which He had left at a place called Perambur near Mannargudi. The Holy Padhukas were safe for 320 years, only until some noble soul offered to plate the Sandals in gold. No sooner had that been done than we lost the Padhukas too.

The immediate question that arises in the mind is, why not provide enough security to these temples?  Let us look at the situation from a practical perspective. It is simply not possible for the Government to provide such a level of security. One of the earlier governments suggested that all the ornaments be melted and stored as gold blocks in safes. Does that not then defeat the very purpose of offering ornaments to deities?

So, whenever you wish to offer a golden chariot or golden tower ('gopura') or any precious ornament to a deity, be aware that you are adding additional burden to the security of the temple. One day, the thief who breaks in to steal the ornaments will steal the idol too.

It is but an undeniable fact that the state of the temples is pitiable and situation is only going from bad to worse.

Amidst all this, how can one expect to experience the divinity of the Lord?

Considering all the above aspects, I give below my vision for the temples for this Age :

1. Avoid constructing new temples, especially large sized ones
2. Try not to expand existing temples with additional deities and sanctums, for, by doing so, you are only increasing the burden of renovation and maintenance for the future generations
3. Keep the temple clean and tidy and renovate it properly.
4. Stick to proper pooja timings and ensure that they are carried out regularly
5. Instead of giving monetary offerings and repenting later if the money were not properly used, spend the same money in printing the different hymns and kirtans like Tiruvachagam, Tirumalai, Vinayagar Agaval, Kanda Shashti Kavacham sung by great saints or articles like Tulasi Mala, Rudrakshas and distribute it to devotees, especially to the poor.
6. Maintain strict discipline in the temple and allow the temple to be a place of Satsang, Nama Kirtan and Upanyas (on the subjects relating to the deity)
7. Clean dresses for the deities, regular offering of food for the deities, poojas performed in time, keeping the temple clean by maintaining it well and keeping them as a holy venue for prayers,  are alone the hallmarks of a good temple.
8. The government speaks of abolishing the practice of tying ‘parivattam’ (a turban that is traditionally tied on the head of the one who presides over a temple event or function as a mark of respect) stating that everyone is equal in the eyes of God. A wealthy person offering huge donations to the temple naturally makes other devotees feel guilty, creating inequality among the devotees. Abolish all sorts of money-entry systems into the temples. That is verily the best way to ensure equality of everyone in the eyes of God.
9. God does not distinguish between languages. Personal worship is best carried out in one’s own mother tongue. Provide adequate importance to worship in the local language of the region.
10. Just like the places of worship of other faiths, regard temple as a place for satsang and prayers. One should go to the temple for satsang and prayers. Don’t complicate religion.

Debating on whether what we have done till date is right or wrong is not the question. What is more important is to ask ourselves the question, ‘Given the current day scenario, is it right to continue with the way it has hitherto been?’

Your conscience will answer you.