Conspiracies happening in the temples of Thamizh Nadu

Temples in general doesn't need any definition as people not only from our own culture but also from different parts of the world are inspired and knows a lot about our Temples of our own Rich Hindu culture and practices.

Why am I writing this?

At present the temples administration and priests(gurukkals) and their behaviours are not at all good. Most of the administrations of the Hindu temples are in the hands of 'Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department' under the control of Thamizh Nadu government. Those who are in power really misusing and doesn't really care for the wellness of the temple to maintain those divine vibrations and special kainkaryas done for the deities.

The supreme deities will always have their own way for keeping the devotees in track and to get their kainkaryas done. However, those who are in power, holding certain responsibilities should get their works done. But as they decide to go with the flow of corruption, they just get some commission and not doing their works properly.

I've witnessed many incidents happening in many temples in Thamizh Nadu. Now I just want to talk about 

• Priests (Gurukkals) who are only doing kainkaryas for the sake of money
• Role of corrupted 'Aranilayathurai ' officers

I have earned this much of experience by going for volunteering services in SankaraNarayanan temple in Thanjavur and also while visiting temples around Thamizh Nadu.

Gurukkals (Priests)

Gurukkals aka Temple archagars, generally known to every one of us. However, they learnt Vedas and shastras just to earn themselves a livelihood at the par their duties are highly respectable. Sometimes back Priests felt so lucky for their jobs. But now most of them just doing their jobs and pooja kainkaryas just for the of money.

Previously they used to do abhishekam for Lord Shivan and Lord Nandhi by chanting Rudhram and Chamakam. But now just by chit-chatting and speaking with others. Performing Homams back then yielded immediate results but now a days only a few priests and Shastrigals are doing their kainkaryas perfect, rest of them all are just running behind money.

In some temples these kind of priests takes some materials for personal use(home) which comes for abhishekam offered by the devotees like milk, curd, oil etc.

Another side, these priests became dependent on the committees formed by some general people who regularly visits specific temple in their neighbourhood. These committees are formed with the help of ample people and visits temple on specific occasions like pradosham, ashtami, shivaratri etc. These committees are helpful for the priests to earn money on these specific occasions. At the same time due to these committees’ huge crowd is attracted and comes to the temple regularly earning goodness, vibrations and punya (Good Deeds). But being more dependent on these committee that are helping these priests to earn money is something not acceptable. The priests who are so caring about these committee members doesn't questions whatever the committee members do. 

These priests never hesitate to judge the people by what and how much they put in the arathi plates in the temples. If you're putting Re.1 or Rs.5 then you're not eligible for the prasadams which are generally vibhuthi or kumkum and flower from the deity, If you're giving 10 bucks or more than that, then you'll get prasadams undoubtedly. And no to mention that if any celebrities enters the temple, these money minded priests forgets all other general public. Just those celebrities will be shining in front of them even shinier than the GOD himself.

Now I should really talk about the exemptions. At par there are really many more priests who really cares for the good fortune of the devotees who comes to their temples and also readily helps the poor. Many more Priests do their kainkaryas perfectly. These kinds of perfect priests are really less in numbers comparing to that of the other types, that's the saddest part.

TNHRCE- Aranilayathurai

It's an organization under the ministry of the local state government. Act for this part was passed on 1923 during the Madras Presidency Rule. It manages and administrates the temples within Thamizh Nadu.

There are some corrupted people in some areas of this department, who gets some commission from the temples and hide the conspiracies. These corrupted officers are involved highly behind the minor theft happening in the temple related materials and issues.

I seriously don't have much detailed information about these corruptions.

There is temple in Thanjavur where the Tulsi malas which was offered for lord Narasimha, after sometimes the same Tulsi malas are removed and given back to the flower sellers (for sales again), who regularly sells flowers and Tulsi malas outside the temple. The Oil offered by the devotees are repacked for sales again. these conspiracies are unattended even after known to the concerned officers of TNHRCE.

Now-a-days you can find that most of the temples having special entrances. By paying prices from range of Rs.20-Rs.250, which differs based on the temple's footfall. This in first place creates a huge difference among people and label them as rich and poor.  This is one of the huge revenue yielding method for this administrative body. However, many honest officials do proper development works for the temples.

The above-mentioned problems are genuinely witnessed by many people but still not spoken publicly.

I personally wish these kinds of conspiracies and concerned persons at least should fear for god as they're not afraid of any superior or any honest peer group.

I have posted this after a lot of shocking happenings I personally experienced. Even many of the general people themselves knows many of these problems, the reason that they are silent is that they don't want to get involved into these dirty things at a sacred place. Now-a-days the power of some temples is still preserved just because of these kinds of true and kind-hearted devotees. 

With this I'll end this post.

Yours East Gaterr