Of all the headlines that literally gives us insomnia or indigestion day in and day out, this one grabbed my attention. Not only this drew my attention, it made me lose my peace of mind. This is not about the security of the nation; it is not about the border struggle between two states, not about film celebrities or cricketers but about God.
Thus goes the Headline: “Shirdi is the 2nd richest temple”. No prices of guessing the 1st richest temple – of course, it is the Tirumla Tirupati Temple famously known as Balaji Mandir. My initial reaction to this headline was, “Kya zamaana aa gaya – We have started classifying temples also as rich and poor”.
As I started reading the details, there is much more into it that kept me thinking for the whole of last week. While the TTD (Tirupati) grossed over Rs 700 crore, Shirdi Sansthan recorded a collection of Rs 81 crore in cash, 920kg of Gold, 440Kg of silver in its hundi. Besides this, donations worth Rs 42 crore were also made. Some devotee donated a Golden throne and another offered to cover the sanctum sanctorum with a gold sheet!
Saibaba, through out his life lived like a fakir. Instead of following him by adhering to his principles, we made him a God and are offering him a Golden Throne. Does not it sound ridiculous? Did Sai Baba ask us to provide Him one? For a great soul who spent his life under the shades of a tree, we are providing a roof of golden sheets! Of late, it is observed that every temple is planning to build a golden chariot for the Almighty. Why? What does this imply? Is it not an action of vulgar demonstration of wealth? Are we offered to have such an extravaganza?
These donors are cheaters of Government. They evade tax and the black money generated is offered as donation to these temples. They think that by bribing God, they can get rid of the sins they accumulate. These donors are termed as philanthropists. I can’t accept it. There is no dearth of temples in India but there is a huge shortfall in number of toilets, hospitals, primary health centers, schools etc., Will these so called philanthropists donate similar amount to build these toilets or schools or hospitals? The best charitable deed is not to build a temple not to feed a beggar but to educate someone. Why these donors have not thought of this?
In olden days, temple building provided employment to sculptors, artists, builders, and craftsmen etc., Temples were used as shelter in case of natural calamities. The wealth of temples were utilized in case of calamities, war etc., Also when there were no banks, the kings decided to have the wealth in form of temples and deities so that the wealth will not be stolen (as a respect to the Lord) by the invaders., In olden days, we had everything in abundance. So, instead of wasting the material like milk, curd, honey down the drain, it was offered to Lord in the form of abhisheka. Why to follow the same even now when people created by Him are starving of the same?
I am aware that TTD has been doing a great service to the society but they can always avoid such extravaganza. In Palani temple, Tamilnadu the wealth was literally looted by the politicians. The idol of Muruga is made of medicinal herbs. So whenever we consume the material that is applied on the idol in form of abhisheka, it had the medicinal effects on us curing certain problems. But what happened. The authorities literally scrapped the herbs and sold it in the open market for financial gains and the idol has become too weak that abhisheka cannot be performed on it or else the idol would break.
I am not aware of the practices of worshipping centers of other religion so I cannot comment on it. I am not against the agama rules of the temple. I believe in God but I can’t digest the extravaganza we practice. When the needs of the people created by Him are not met, practicing such extravaganza in temples seems a demonstration of vulgar display of wealth.
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