A Hindu of Chennai approaches the Madras High Court seeking an order to restrain Chief Minister Stalin (an atheist) from heading any advisory committee under Section 7 of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, unless he took a pledge before a Hindu god in a Hindu temple that he would profess Hindu faith. Shockingly, the learned judges of the bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice PD Audikesavulu observed on August 10 “The sentiment expressed in the petition cannot be appreciated in this day and age.” They said the plea is “utterly mischievous and in extreme bad taste” and dismissed it. That was an indication that the true nature of what makes a Hindu temple is completely lost sight of even in highly learned circles in society. Hence a set of facts on Hindu temple worship is presented lest the general public be misguided on this vital aspect of religion:
Hindu temples are revered by Hindus as God’s abode and is the property of the presiding deity of that temple. The daily routine from morning to night in a temple commences from the day of its consecration and will continue as long as the temple exists, irrespective of attendance by devotees. Opening of the temple in the morning, time of pooja at various intervals, nature of prasad offered to the deity during different times and closure of temple in the late evening / night has all got a meaning to it and is closely associated with the presiding deity’s characteristics. The presiding deity is believed to be a ‘living person’ after prana pratishtha is done during consecration. In Hindu temples, worship would mean an “audience” of a devotee with the deity. The connection is directly drawn by a devotee to the deity. Sermons and other community events like bhajans are arranged on special occasions, which conclude with offering of food (prasad) to devotees.
Thus, Hindu temple is not a place of mere congregation of the faithful to gather and listen to sermons like other non-Hindu places of worship like mosques, churches and synagogues.
Hindu temples have got sanctity by their very nature. Those who believe in the philosophy of Sanatana Dharma and are keen to follow the agamas of that particular temple can only run and manage a temple. It is not an administrative function and not confined only to managing resources. Running of Hindu temples goes beyond these administrative functions and calls for a deep-rooted belief in Sanatana Dharma.
It is very strange that those who do not believe in Sanatana Dharma and those who wilfully and intentionally insult Hindu practices, continue to illegally manage and control the administration of Hindu temples in TN for more than 70 years.
The Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act 1951 was struck down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in 1954 as illegal. However, to the shock and surprise of Hindus, the legislation was re-enacted in 1959 with the same provisions that were struck down 5 years ago. Though the stated intention of the legislation is to manage the “secular” aspect of Hindu temples (it may sound strange as to how a Hindu religious place can have “secular” aspect in it), the successive governments took over the entire management and control of the temples illegally including interfering in agamas and practices of the temples.
This illegal management has gone from bad to worse from 1967 in TN, when the forces which claim to be non-religious (but anti-Hindu in its construct) came to power. In addition to looting temple funds and mismanaging the properties of the temple, the brazen manner in which the “secular governments” interfere with the agamas of the temple is abhorrent.
The current government, which took over in May 2021 is no exception to this aberration. The Hon’ble minister, who holds the portfolio of TN HR & CE department is trying to project a positive image by announcing a slew of measures, which may appear to be just and genuine to the onlookers. However, those who have known the history of these Dravidian parties and their anti-Hindu outlook are much concerned about the state of affairs in TN.
The announcement by the Hon’ble minister that Hindu temples are “not private property” has raised the eyebrows of the Hindus. What does he intend to convey ? Is he conveying that Hindu temples are “government property” and that the government has got whole and sole control of the temples ? If Hindu temples are “government property”, then will it be open even for non-Hindus to stake claim in the temple affairs including the huge assets ?
Another announcement by the Hon’ble minister that the gold ornaments offered to temples by the devotees would be melted and kept in bank deposits as gold biscuits, has rung an alarm bell in the minds of the Hindus. The political party, known for its corrupt practices is now planning to lay its hands on the huge gold available in Hindu temples in the form of ‘administrative measures’.
Wil these governments dare to touch the practices and properties of non-Hindu places of worship ?
The chorus “Free Hindu Temples” that picked-up momentum a few months back is not only relevant, but has become a necessity now considering the ill-intended actions of TN government in spreading its fangs far and wide as far as Hindu temples are concerned. Hindus need to realise that they need to raise their voice to preserve their age-old agamas and practices and cannot expect “others” (including secular government) to support them. Will Hindus realise this and raise their voice ? Need of the hour to do so.
