Comments on: Why are our temples so dirty? http://satyameva-jayate.org/2008/08/08/temples-cleanliness/ Dedicated to "Bharat" and "Dharma" Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:22:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: संदीप नारायण शेळके http://satyameva-jayate.org/2008/08/08/temples-cleanliness/comment-page-1/#comment-48195 संदीप नारायण शेळके Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:13:18 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/?p=586#comment-48195 Excellent post and very knowledgeable. I admire suggestions by Shri. Kulkarni. Jai Hind! Excellent post and very knowledgeable.
I admire suggestions by Shri. Kulkarni.

Jai Hind!

]]> By: Vinay Kumar http://satyameva-jayate.org/2008/08/08/temples-cleanliness/comment-page-1/#comment-13245 Vinay Kumar Sun, 14 Sep 2008 04:18:27 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/?p=586#comment-13245 A few thoughts: 1. Hindu temples are the only religious institutions which are controlled by government. In other words, money you leave in donation box goes to Govt, not to the temple. Furthermore, this money is usually distributed to subsidies of other religions. All other religious groups in India have custody of their shrines, except hindus. 2. HIndus are not known for donating large sums of money for temple upkeep (and in light of No. 1, it may be argued that they shouldn't). 3. Hindus often won't religiously allocate an hour or so a week for local temple service such as cleaning etc. I usually devote about 5 hours per week to local temple cleaning etc. But I started this only recently. All the above are action items - we need a movement to free temples from Govt. control so the money there can be used for hindu works. And we need to ask hindus to spend man hours at their local temple, cleaning up etc. A few thoughts:

1. Hindu temples are the only religious institutions which are controlled by government. In other words, money you leave in donation box goes to Govt, not to the temple. Furthermore, this money is usually distributed to subsidies of other religions. All other religious groups in India have custody of their shrines, except hindus.

2. HIndus are not known for donating large sums of money for temple upkeep (and in light of No. 1, it may be argued that they shouldn’t).

3. Hindus often won’t religiously allocate an hour or so a week for local temple service such as cleaning etc. I usually devote about 5 hours per week to local temple cleaning etc. But I started this only recently.

All the above are action items – we need a movement to free temples from Govt. control so the money there can be used for hindu works. And we need to ask hindus to spend man hours at their local temple, cleaning up etc.

]]> By: B Shantanu http://satyameva-jayate.org/2008/08/08/temples-cleanliness/comment-page-1/#comment-10960 B Shantanu Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:05:02 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/?p=586#comment-10960 Hrishi, Venku, vck: Thanks for your comments...I am a little tied up but will respond in more detail in a day or so. Hrishi, Venku, vck: Thanks for your comments…I am a little tied up but will respond in more detail in a day or so.

]]> By: v.c.krishnan http://satyameva-jayate.org/2008/08/08/temples-cleanliness/comment-page-1/#comment-10922 v.c.krishnan Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:14:35 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/?p=586#comment-10922 Dear Sir, The opinions expressed by Shri. Kulkarni are very thought provoking. Though I would like to immediately agree with all the provisions of this mail I have my reservations and would like to put it across. At the outset it is not because the Brahmin Priests wanted to sleep and go about their worldly acctivities that the temples were closed citing that God was sleping or otherwise. It was for a singular purpose of safety and protection. The temples closed for a short time so that the guards good go for their meals and the temple premises were cleaned by the persons employed for the same and the temple was emptied of all vagrants and all visitors and the sanctum sanctorum was closed with all the jewellery adorning the deity in place. If the temple is kept open throughout the day the cost of the upkeep will be enormous and the security will become a problem. With regard to the question of jewellery and celebrating the deity by dressing it, we have to addres a fundamental point which will against the spirit of the argument of TEMPLES themselves. The Brahman of "the way of life" DOES NOT NEED A TEMPLE, he is THAT and hence resides in everyone. So then there is no GOD and then where is the question of a temple!! It is because the understanding of many, including me, of this thought of the Brahman is difficult to understand and comphrehend one has introduced GOD and then one brings GOD in his own likenes and then structuring the activities as one sees in daily life!! That is the reason we pray, dance, recite slokas, play music, dress the GOD in jewellery etc. Paying for a darshan is stupid and the most abnoxious practice and one needs to get rid of it. One question arises within me; How does one pay for the upkeep of the temple in that case? We Hindus are not known for great munificence as regards donations, I will stand corrected if there is another opinion, but from all the schools and hospitals and poor homes and conversions one can derive my answer!! As he has prescribed we can keep the environment and the surroundings clean. We can set examples by not taking anything plastic into the temple and also see that all biodegardable items are put in the proper place for bio mass production. If one looks keenly at the items used in temples all of the items used in it are all 100% biodegradable. If we assist in the maintaning the surroundings clean I am sure we can create a clean surrounding very easily. Let us take the first step towards it. Today many temples are providing for toilets and other facilities for the yatris. OOPS from LAND BELONGING TO THE TEMPLE!!! There are so many temples and millions of pilgrims and it will take time to spread around. Today's pilgrim likes to see GOD in comfort otherwise GOD may be forced to start using the YOUTUBE for their convenience. Time will assist in bringing it to a stage when we will understand that in all times cleanliness IS next to GODLINESS. Regards, vck Dear Sir,
The opinions expressed by Shri. Kulkarni are very thought provoking. Though I would like to immediately agree with all the provisions of this mail I have my reservations and would like to put it across.
At the outset it is not because the Brahmin Priests wanted to sleep and go about their worldly acctivities that the temples were closed citing that God was sleping or otherwise.
It was for a singular purpose of safety and protection. The temples closed for a short time so that the guards good go for their meals and the temple premises were cleaned by the persons employed for the same and the temple was emptied of all vagrants and all visitors and the sanctum sanctorum was closed with all the jewellery adorning the deity in place.
If the temple is kept open throughout the day the cost of the upkeep will be enormous and the security will become a problem.
With regard to the question of jewellery and celebrating the deity by dressing it, we have to addres a fundamental point which will against the spirit of the argument of TEMPLES themselves.
The Brahman of “the way of life” DOES NOT NEED A TEMPLE, he is THAT and hence resides in everyone. So then there is no GOD and then where is the question of a temple!!
It is because the understanding of many, including me, of this thought of the Brahman is difficult to understand and comphrehend one has introduced GOD and then one brings GOD in his own likenes and then structuring the activities as one sees in daily life!!
That is the reason we pray, dance, recite slokas, play music, dress the GOD in jewellery etc.
Paying for a darshan is stupid and the most abnoxious practice and one needs to get rid of it. One question arises within me; How does one pay for the upkeep of the temple in that case? We Hindus are not known for great munificence as regards donations, I will stand corrected if there is another opinion, but from all the schools and hospitals and poor homes and conversions one can derive my answer!!
As he has prescribed we can keep the environment and the surroundings clean. We can set examples by not taking anything plastic into the temple and also see that all biodegardable items are put in the proper place for bio mass production.
If one looks keenly at the items used in temples all of the items used in it are all 100% biodegradable. If we assist in the maintaning the surroundings clean I am sure we can create a clean surrounding very easily.
Let us take the first step towards it.
Today many temples are providing for toilets and other facilities for the yatris. OOPS from LAND BELONGING TO THE TEMPLE!!!
There are so many temples and millions of pilgrims and it will take time to spread around. Today’s pilgrim likes to see GOD in comfort otherwise GOD may be forced to start using the YOUTUBE for their convenience. Time will assist in bringing it to a stage when we will understand that in all times cleanliness IS next to GODLINESS.
Regards,
vck

]]> By: Venku http://satyameva-jayate.org/2008/08/08/temples-cleanliness/comment-page-1/#comment-10867 Venku Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:39:00 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/?p=586#comment-10867 No need to do all those things. Only thing is temples need to get the income from the temples own property. Anybody will be surprised to know how rich the temples are and the money that is spent on the temples. If the temples can manage their properties they can not only keet them clean they can also afford to keep the whole surroundings clean. No need to do all those things.

Only thing is temples need to get the income from the temples own property.
Anybody will be surprised to know how rich the temples are and the money that is spent on the temples.
If the temples can manage their properties they can not only keet them clean they can also afford to keep the whole surroundings clean.

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