Dear members,
Here is a slightly dissenting view. Some of you may find it un-
palatable. Even at the risk of being understood and pilloried, I,
even as a SriVaishnavan, would still venture to express the bitter
but inescapable truth.
The state of our temples in T.Nadu is generally pathetic. Out of the
100 odd 'divya-desams' hardly 10-15% are well-cared for. The rest
are all simply going to seed.
One of the main reasons for such a state is the apathy and neglect
of the brahmin community. Once upon a time, lack of money-power used
to be blamed for such neglect. Now, even when there is money-power
to be found amongst the community, there is abject lack of man-power
to do the job. All the brahmins in the 'agrahArams' have become
software-engineers in Silicon Valley and chartered-accountants in
the Middle-East and Africa. Steadily over the past few decades, they
have simply moved on in life to "better their lot" elsewhere than in
temples.
So there is a big vacuum in the affairs of temples in T.Nadu. Both
Nature and Social Order abhor a vacuum. They will see to it the
vacuum fills up, one way or the other. Therefore, if Brahmins have
moved out of temples, it is only natural to expect others in society
to want to take their place.
Brahmins long ago lost the right to claim hereditary rights
for 'archaka' positions in the temples. They simply did not measure
up to the challenge of the times. That is why they all took the easy
way out, took up other non-traditional vocations to better their
material living standards in life. It would be hypocritical on our
part after so many years of dereliction of traditional duty to now
agitate for 'archaka' rights.
Let us be graceful in accepting our faults and failings. Let us pray
and hope that in the hands of other non-brahmin 'archakas' in the
new dispensation in Tamil Nadu the temples will flourish and
prosper. Let us pray to the ALmighty that at least the 100-
odd 'divya desams' will see better days now that they will be
in "better hands". Let us pray that religious-mindedness, theism,
God-fearing attitudes and charitable behaviour ('aram'
and 'aastikam') will now spread far and wide amongst all sections of
society than ever before.
Regards,
dAsan,
Sudarshan
> Thatha Desikan <tsdesigan@...> wrote:
> Pranams to all people,
>
> I hope many would have heard that the current DMK
> government of Tamil Nadu, is going to issue a
> government order that "All people, not just brahmins,
> can become priests in hindu temples". He has intended
> for all the temples that are currently under
> government. They also seems a plan to train many
> non-brahmin people for this.
>
> Our tradition is based on varnashrama darma and not
> caste fights. But, he wont understand this.
>
> Sorry to bring this news to groups, but any idea on
> what all the temples that might get affected?
>
> Regards,
> Desigan
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