Ranjith Vadiyala
With BJP MP Sri Satyapal Singh introducing the bill to free Hindu temples and institutions from the clutches of the government, the discussion on this important issue started again. But the larger question, “do Hindus have the capability to manage their temples and other institutions?”, still remains. I shall try to answer this, in this essay.
Many opine that there is no other choice but to have the temples run by the government, even though they know about the loot of the temples by the government. There is some justification for this kind of opinion. The operation of our temples is quite complex. It has to do with the faith and devotion of crores of people, thousands of years of Bharathiya traditions, customs and civilization. In addition to this, our temple properties are worth several lakhs of crores of rupees.
As and when the government steps away from controlling and operating temples, who and how will the temple administration going to be carried forward? Except a few, not many seem to have any inkling of how this can be done. Since this is a very complex issue, it calls for an in-depth analysis of the many facets of temple administration. Let us first examine the answers that are usually being given by those who oppose government control of temples to those who support it.
- What is the rationale behind denying Hindus their right to manage their own temples? While all the other religious groups all over the world (and even in India) can self-govern their places of worship and religious organizations, why can’t Hindus do the same?
- Temple administration by the government is a very recent phenomenon. We managed our temples for thousands of years and so can do the same now. Also not all temples are under government control.
- We had comprehensive systems in place in our country to govern the numerous aspects of our temples. Some families have been dedicated exclusively to shoulder the responsibilities of managing the temples. Once government gets out, we can gradually revert back to our conventional ways of managing temple.
This argument is valid in case of a few temples, but not for all. We need to search for alternatives. There will certainly be challenges reviving traditional temple management systems. We are not fully sure if the families which used to take care of the temple operations, a few generations ago still have the capability, devotion and flexibility to do the same now. After a careful study, we might find out that it may be possible to revive the temple management systems in some instances but not all. Tirumala devalayam administration is a case in point. Before it came under government control, the temple operations were relatively simple. Now the temple operations have become lot more complex due to manifold increase in the number of devotees who visit the temple and also income. So the same setup which was managing Tirumala before government’s take over might or might not have the ability to do the same now. This is a valid apprehension.
For the purpose of this essay, I am restricting my focus to big temples only, even though thousands of smaller temples are also in the control of government. These smaller temples can be easily managed by the local temple management teams as and when they come out of government control.
If we limit our focus to the management of big temples, then we need to deliberate on what systems need to be put in place once government withdraws its control for temples. Who will take over the management of temples and run them effectively within the legal framework of the country? To answer this question, we need to first know the role government is playing in managing temples
Role of government in temples that are being managed by them
The operations of a temple can be broadly segregated as secular affairs and Dharmic (spiritual) affairs. In plain words, whatever happens inside the Garbhagruha (sanctorum) of the temple are Dharmic affairs and whatever happens outside the sanctorum are secular affairs. Though there are exceptions to this, for a broader understanding, this detention works. From a legal perspective, government has no say in what are considered the Dharmic affairs, such as puja rituals, offerings to the deities and decorations of the vigrahas/ moorthies etc. These are carried out by the archaka swamis who strictly adhere to the traditions and directives set out in the Agama shastras.
The secular affairs of the temples include managing the wealth of the temples, taking care of security of the temple premises and properties and undertaking repairs and new construction activities of the temple etc. Another important secular affair of the temple is to determine the price structures for various services the temple extends to the devotees. From this, it is clear that the individuals/institutions, who step in to take care of the temple administration, need not be well versed in Agama Shastras and other in-depth temple traditions. All we need is ethical, disciplined, upright, and able administrators who are devoted to the cause of the nation and the cause of Hindu Dharma.
So, I guess it is now evident, that the responsibilities government is shouldering in temple administration within the legal framework can easily be transferred to organizations such as Shankar mutts, Jeeyar mutts, Rama Krishna Mission, Art of Living, Isha Foundation, RSS, and VHP, etc. We can also consider handing over the administration of the temples to those organizations that are aligned with the specific traditional leanings of the temples. If this is done, we can say without a shadow of a doubt, that the temples that are thus managed by these mutts and organizations will manage temples way better than the government. The proof is in the pudding. Almost all of these organizations are already managing their respective trust properties which are worth several thousands of crores very effectively. Some of these organizations have been managing these properties for tens of hundreds of years. Barring few differences of opinions between some of these organizations, there have been no allegations of impropriety. These organizations have an impeccable track record and their integrity and uprightness are unquestionable. A corporate house like Birla can also be entrusted with the responsibility of administering a few temples if needed. We have many Dharmic organizations that are rooted in Hindu spirituality which can take on the responsibility of temple management.
One more important thing that needs to be considered is the fact that though government has no role e in the dharmic affairs of temples legally, it still controls them indirectly. Total control of temple finances by the government gives them this control. The new system formed should ensure that it is not repeated.
Managing Temple Properties is a Complex Problem
While the accusation that government is negligent in managing temple properties is true, it is also true that the management of temple properties is not an easy task. The complexity of this task is compounded several folds as temple properties comprise lakhs of acres of agricultural land spread across the country. It is no mean job to collect the monies due from individuals who have taken temple lands on lease and ensure that temple lands are not illegally usurped by lanland-grabbingfias. There is one viable solution to this complex problem, which is to convert the agricultural temple lands into commercial properties. The agricultural lands that are owned by the temples can be sold out and those monies can be invested to buy commercial properties in big towns and cities. It is relatively lot easier to manage commercial establishments than to take care of thousands of acres of agricultural lands. These commercial complexes which are thus owned by temples can be leased out to the government and other big corporations. It is not easy to illegally usurp commercial properties to evade paying rents. If temples can buy commercial properties in metros like Mumbai and Bangalore or any other big city and get into long-term lease agreements with government institutions and corporate houses, then managing temple properties will almost become a cakewalk.
Therefore, if temple administration is handled by Dharmic institutions and if agricultural lands and other smaller properties attached to the temples are sold and that money is invested in buying commercial properties, most of the issues related to temple administration will be solved.
Transfer of Power
Much water has flown under the bridge while people made excuses after excuses as to why it is a bad idea to remove government control over the temples. The reasons and excuses remained the same: “temple management is complex and if the government steps out, it will be impossible to find an able team to shoulder this responsibility”. What needs to be noted here is that this transfer of control doesn’t happen instantly but will happen over a period using a well-devised process. For example, if it is decided that Tirumala Temple’s administration is going to be transferred to Chinna Jeeyar Ashram, then the first step will be to replace the government with the Ashram while not disturbing the existing staff and systems. The change of administration should be carried out in phases with proper processes in place. Once the ashram officials step in, they will slowly gain an understanding of the operations and will gradually replace the government staff with ashram employees. As long as a system is in place to provide the necessary training for the staff that will replace the government employees in temple administration, we will not face any major roadblocks in this process.
I will draw the readers’ attention to one last thing before I conclude. Using the available resources at their disposal, temples are carrying out many dharmic and humanitarian activities such as running hospitals, educational institutions, gaushalas, vedapatasalas, anna daanams etc. In addition to doing this, temples also need to brace up to take on the responsibility of warding off the attacks on Hindu Dharma. Today Hindu Dharma is coming under attack by various devious forces which act in unison to launch their vitriolic attack against Hindu Dharma. Various political ideologies supported by print and news media are using television programs, movies, and advertisements, etc to launch attacks on Hindu Dharma. Joining this hate brigade, we also find the so-called NGOs which use both Indian and foreign Universities. These institutions in the name of “research” have taken up the task of attacking Hindu Dharma as an educational and scholarly pursuit.
Both Islam and Christianity have succeeded in destroying the local religious traditions of the lands that they set foot in. India is the only country where Islamic and Christian forces have not succeeded in destroying the local religious tradition. Muslim and Christian organizations have a worldwide and well-oiled machinery to propagate and establish their institutions with impunity. We as Hindus lack this organizational strength and our temples must play a crucial role in consolidating our forces and to achieve this end, temple monies have to be allocated.
English Translation: Srimathi Mary Suresh Iyer
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