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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00003 Nov 2003

 
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Dear Bhagavathottamas,

 

                       We all have very well realised that temples are central 
for the continuance of our traditions and cultural heritage. Our acharyas have 
established beyond doubt that Lord, invited by us (?prathishta of deity is 
equivalent to this?)  is living along with us for our benefit in the form of 
?Archvatharam? which is similar to his performance in Krishnavatharam. Swamy 
Deshikan has aptly put ? Aapeethaath mouli paryantham pashyathaha 
Pusrushottamam, Pathakaanyaashu nashyanthi kimpunasthuupapathakam? which means 
Lord exists in the form of archavatharam to help us see him and get us rid of 
our sins.  Unfortunately, today the existence of these institutions are 
challenged by  legislation 30/87 enacted by the late N.T.Rama Rao Government in 
A.P. during 1987. This legislation along with abetting administration and 
conniving vested interests have created irrepairable damage to the institutions 
leading them to loss of their glories. There are about 31000 temples in Andhra
 Pradesh alone which are completely without daily poojas.  Excessive 
corruption, just like in any other govt. body has crept into the temple 
administrations which have lead to progressive commercialisation of religious 
activities. Darshan tickets which creates differences among devotees before the 
lord is in itself  a shame on our religious system. Over and above this the 
corrupt authorities are rolling and re-rolling the same numbers so that the 
collections are not really adding to the intended temple fund. Websites sport a 
variety of arjitha sevas which are fantastically designed by qualified MBAs to 
attract devotees. There is also vested interest involved here. Strangely, it is 
only our hindu religious institutions which resort to such methodology to 
generate funds. Other institutions world wide are flourishing better with 
different means. Temples are places for selfless service and not places to make 
money! Today money collected from the rich temples of A.P goes to the Govt
 exchequer to pay hefty salaries to the officials. Yet poor Archakas are left 
to fend for themselves. Many prime temple lands have been auctioned for 
pittance and temples reduced to penury, while crores of money and land have 
been eaten away by the land grabbers in connivance with the authorities. 
Certain erstwhile pious temples have been reduced to gambling dens where 
alcohol and meat too finds place. Thanks to the anti-corruption bureau which 
brought to book some corrupt officials and recovered crores from them. But 
thats only the tip of the ice-berg. Many nice temples have slowly lost their 
art pieces and some of them even their utsava moorthies and one can imagine the 
plight of priceless jewels and ornaments. Having identified the tools of 
destruction of the pillars called ?temples? in the form of the legislation and 
excessively conniving authorities and vested interests, having singled out the 
pests, it is now time to strike with a heavy and weighted iron hand in the form 
of an
 organised move to stop everything which has been the offshoot of this 
legislation. As a first call for mass protest, the Temple Protection Movement 
convened by Prof. Soundararajan has requested all the devotees to refrain from 
buying tickets for various sevas in all the temples. Its a month since this 
call has been given and there is a great response from the devotees. Prof. 
Soundararajan, my father, has asked me to communicate this widely to the 
Bhagavatottamas of the net and appeal for their support. This is my first 
communique in an attempt to bring in awareness. 

Sajjana Padapadma parama renuhu
Lakshmi Narasimha dasan

 



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