Musings/Confusions of a TamBram Woman– part II

[ganeshrev]

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I had promised part II - but was caught up with domestic and official work along with a bout of cold.

This post is not a confusion, but that of outrage and helplessness in not being able to do anything and definitely- not only a woman’s point of view , not only a Brahmin’s point of view, not only as a Hindu, more so as a human being trying to live a honest life as far as possible

Though I am from Trichy, I hardly visit Srirangam during my annual visit to my mother’s place at Trichy.

One reason is the crowd that always seem to throng there– generally I keep away from crowd as a matter of personal preference - and the other reason, is an incident etched in my early days when I was 13 or 14.When my cousins from abroad visited Srirangam in 80’s,I went along with them. When there was a long serpentine queue even in paid darshan, he flashed a 100 Rupee note (which was a very big amount in those days when a gram of gold was in the range of Rs 200 to Rs 300) and we were smoothly let in. Actually, we had just visited Tiruvanaikkaval where it was smoother and the crowd was less.

This time though(May 2010 and to be exact on 9 May 2010), my brother in law insisted that we should go to Srirangam and so we went there to get a darshan of SriRanganatha, hoping that the situation would be better there. This is after a long gap of almost 20 years though I visit Trichy every year !

There was a special darshan queue of different denominations and since we had a small kid with us and it was late already , we chose the highest one .It was summer and was very sultry and hot. I think the fact that we are from outside was visible from the way the kids were talking among each other. This prompted some Brahmins to indulge in small talk with us and asked for money and my BIL shelved out some which we did not mind at all.

We thought our darshan will take within 10 minutes, but the queue did not move – Not only ours – all other kinds of queue as well. Then we figured out why – a family of 5 (obviously iyengars) had been having a special darshan for more than 20 minutes (as far as I noticed – could be more).This was at around 8 PM in the evening and after they left, right from the security to the kurukkals literally drove us out since the temple would close at 8:30 PM.

The kind of comments many people made - obviously from all kinds of communities – I don’t want to repeat that and I thought I understood why certain people look cynically at us as a community- Here we claim ourselves to be some descendents of Rishis, holders of all kinds of knowledge and values and look at the behavior by certain people who serve god and who administer the temples!

And so we came out – actually with mixed feelings –ecstatic for having had the darshan as well as with the sour feeling of the incident we had just witnessed .

We were very very eager to have a puliyodarai sold by temple.We love Iyengar Puliyodarai and it was advertised on the board as Rs 6/-.We wanted to have only one and I gave Rs 10/-.The counter persons refused to take Rs 10/- and asked for exact change which we did not have.

Then he gave an alternative – asked me to pay Rs 10/- and take a little more Puliyodarai. I accepted thinking I would get a receipt for Rs 10/-.But he gave a receipt for Rs 6/- only and I observed the same suggestions provided to many of the devotees.This means that to temple’s account Rs 4/- will not go for each puliyodarai sold! I should not have got Puliyodarai but the kids had been promised which was the sole reason I bought it.

I was wondering then and am wondering now – will these people have no sense of doing a paava kariyam? If we are not able to follow this simple act of honesty in every day life, what is the purpose of holding all kinds of Vedic knowledge and reciting Gita and Vishnu Sahasra nama? Where is the application of such knowledge in the day to day life ? Why should other community believe us to be the custodians of some Vedas and Upanishads when we are not honest?

Actually I do write blogs which I had discontinued lately and wanted to record it. But instead of blogging, after being a member of this Forum, I want to put questions to our community elders and learned members and through them to Mutts – Why are we not rectifying this?

Actually , when I came out of Karpagraham of Srirangam, I saw five Gurukkals counting money – It was bundles and bundles of money and my daughter , was awed by this sight having seen such a lot of money in a place other than banks and in her innocence shouted – “Amma , these people are really rich!!”.I covered her mouth before any body could catch her words!
I do not know who decides the salary of Temple Employees, Prasada Counter Persons and cannot something be done in case poverty is the reason for such behavior?

In Bangalore south where I live, I hardly witness such behavior in the temples I visit and I would like to ask our elders in the forum – What can be done about this?

Yachagam is one thing, cheating is another. Are we so immune to corruption in every walk of life that we accept this as well?

Namaskarams
Revathi

 

[sangom]

I had promised part II - but was caught up with domestic and official work along with a bout of cold.

This post is not a confusion, but that of outrage and helplessness in not being able to do anything and definitely- not only a woman’s point of view , not only a Brahmin’s point of view, not only as a Hindu, more so as a human being trying to live a honest life as far as possible...

smt. Revathy,

Shri Nara had written somewhere that the various services at Sreerangam Temple are auctioned and the employees/gurukkals bid them. Hence that temple runs on an entirely different footing from the conventional ideas we have about a temple.

I also read somewhere that in that temple there is a belief that every night the astral body or the power of the lord goes to the goddess' abode, has union with her and comes back early in the morning. I do not know whether it is true. Shri Nara may be able to say authoritatively.

You know there is a saying in Tamil which means something to the effect "the god's idol is simple stone statue for the priest". That is the fundamental rule of almost all temples. The
negative aspects of idolatry are inherent in temple culture.

Elders in my family used to say that temple going is not prescribed for brahmins; what we have to ensure is that we don't do 'apradakshinam' just around the temple's outer walls, sometimes to reach a place quickly and not to do anything which will be desecration.

But our outlook has become very much temple oriented and temples are business units exploiting the gullibility of the masses. So let us not view temples as anything different from a government office where we go for getting some service.

 

[kunjuppu]

revathi,

thank you for this post. personally, i visit only kapali temple, which is in the neighbourhood where i grew up in mylapore, and which is fortunately still free of such shenanigans.

it so happens, when i am in india very soon, i will be visiting thirupathi because my wife has a venduKol. personally am not looking forward to the crowds, though the wife is going to be surprised, if i will go for anything but dharma dharisanam.

i share your pain and outrage, not necessarily in that order. i cannot fathom the level of indifference and hypocracy in our society and not sure what it reflects.

God Bless.

 

[KRS]

Dear Srimathi Revathi Ji,

Nice to see another Trichyite in the Forum!

I used to visit both Thiruvanaikaval and Srirangam on my visits to India and may be because I suddenly noticed about 15 years ago how materialistic the temples have have become, I stopped visiting temples altogether.

What takes the cake is how the Chidambaram temple, the very abode of Nataraja is being maintained. And the materialism on display. That too on dishonest grounds, such as, "as a foreigner you need to pay an entry fee", and so on.

I think if I copyright a trademark for a small temple (any God will do) and franchise it in TN in particular, I will be an instant millionaire.

Sorry for thr sarcasm, but this how our religion has become. As Sri Sangom Ji rightly put, it has become a big business.

I don't know if things will change, unless the people make a stand, but what is the chance for that?

Regards,
KRS

 

[Nara]

.... I want to put questions to our community elders and learned members and through them to Mutts – Why are we not rectifying this?

Hello Revathi, First, the Brahminical MaThams have no say at all in how the temples are run, not even the pooja kramam. If a temple is under HRCE, like the Sri Rangam temple, then all administrative matters are managed by the EO, appointed by the government. In the case of Sri Rangam, the government also appoints trustees for a prescribed term. They oversee temple administration more as a watchdog and have lot of influence, but they do not have much direct power.

Sri Rangam is a very important temple for SVs. It is considered Bhooloka Vaikuntam. It is supposed to be the aradhanai Perumal of Lord Rama, who presented the vighraha to Vibheeshanan, who is supposed to visit the temple each night to perform aradhanai. All the 108 Perumals are supposed to gather in this temple and spend the night -- legends a galore.

All Azhvars except Madurakavi, who sang only about Nammazhvar, sang in praise of this temple. This temple has more verses in 4000 than any other. Many great SV acharyas spent their lives in Sri Rangam, including Bhagavat Ramanuja. Bhagavat Ramanuja's own body is buried in the outer praharam of this temple and it is called Udaiyavar Sannidhi.

This temple has a long history and with history comes historical rights aka முறை. For everything there is a designated family who have the rights that are not so easily given up. Whether it is playing the Veenai during Viswaroopa sevai, or bringing thiruthuzai, or watching the gate, everything is by this முறை system only. Each sannidhi, there are hundreds of them all around, has its own முறை system. Nobody can upstage it.

You can't put Vadakalai namam in place of thilakam, there would be an uproar. When 44th Azhagiya Singar built the Raja Gopuram, there was a dispute about what Namam to put, Azhagiya Singar is vadakalai, but Sri Rangam temple is overwhelmingly Thenkalai. A compromise was reached, there was to be one Thenkalai namam at the top. A few years ago, a group of Thenkalai enthusiasts managed to erect a huge Thenkalai namam prominently in the Rajagopuram. The present 45th Azhagiya Singar questioned this move and there were loud protests, procession, etc., condemning him.

The reason I am narrating all this because this is what excites people around Sri Ragam. Actually, there are two kinds of people in Sri Rangam, one is interested only in bhakti, for them, it is the realization of life-long dream, all SVs dream of living in Sri Rangam at least for one full year. The second kind, mostly made up of what one may call true locals, they are a jaded bunch, they care about protecting turf and nothing much else.

As Shri Sangom reminds us, most things that involve money are contracted out through an auction system. The government gets the money up front, and the auction winner is supposed to provide the required service and collect money from the public. I wouldn't be surprised if the Puliyodarai vendor is one such contractor. I have never seen him give change, it is as though Ranganatha has ordered him to demand exact change and if he gives change he will be sent straight to hell.

This auction system includes collection of donation from public. Those who finagled money from your BIL must be an employee of the contractor who won the auction for collecting donations from general public. They pay a deposit, collect "donations" keep their cut and the rest goes to the temple administration, hopefully for temple upkeep and renovation. The people who were counting money are most likely not counting their own money.

Needless to say, these auctions are rigged and shared among everyone involved.

All old temples are like this to some or large extent. The Bangalore temple you are referring to is probably a private temple, where the priests are paid decent salary. But most temples in Tamilnadu, the small ones not frequented by many, are not well off like Sri Rangam. The priests in these temples are paid pittance if any. They are made to extract as much as they can from visitors who may seem affluent enough. I have visited most of the SV temples in Tamilnadu. The story is pretty much the same in most places is the same. Very few are dedicated Bhattacharyas -- there are some -- most are slackers, do as little as they can get away with.

It is best to avoid large temples. There are many small beautiful temples, quiet and peaceful. But, they are not well known for getting admission, finding jobs, arranging marriages, granting babies, repaying loans, and so many other things general public demand from their god.

Cheers!

 

[T.S.Sankara Narayanan]

What Sow Revathy wrote about Sri Rangam Temple is 100 % True. It is also True that it is the same in almost all famous temples in Tamil Nadu.
Palani Fraud and Tiruchendur Fraud are very famous.
Archagar's posting must be Regularized.Their atrocities must be Controlled. If we people bring this to light,then Anti Brahmin Slogans will raise.
Such Archagars must be out casted in our community.

 

[Brahmanyan]

Musings/Confusions of a TamBram Woman– part II

Smt. Revathi,


I am pained to read your post on the subject. Many conflicting thoughts pass through my mind. Predominant one is why should I visit a Temple which is commercially turned into a business house?Our Scriptures proclaim repeatedly the Power of Truth is in you. Sanctum sanctorum in Temples are supposed to be a place of merger of individual with the supreme. Total silence should be maintained there except for the sound of Puja and rituals.

I am totally against issue of tickets for Dharshan in Temples. Money should not be the measure of devotion. Hundis should be removed from Temples. The Temples should be managed by independent Trusts with proper checks and balances, devoid of Government intervention.
Government should help in restoring the Endowments given to the Temples, for the use of maintenance of the Temples. Temples which are rich in revenue should adopt and take care of other Temples in nearby places which do not have resources even for daily maintenance.

Donations should be collected for maintenance of Temples. Respectable Salary should be fixed for Archakars and other Temple staff. Majority of Temple staff are paid highly inadequate and ridiculously low salary by HRE Department.

Agama Patasalas should be attached to each Temple for the training of Archakars for the Temple.

Devotees should pay munificent donation to the Temple when ever we visit. After all we do spend good amount of money willingly to travel all the way from our home town to various Temples.

Above all, There must be Dharmasalas with free food for all, should be established in Temples as it is being done in Temples in coastal Districts in Karnataka.

For the reasons mentioned in your post, I am rather scared and refrain from visiting Big / popular temples now a days.

Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore

 

[sangom]

...It is best to avoid large temples. There are many small beautiful temples, quiet and peaceful. But, they are not well known for getting admission, finding jobs, arranging marriages, granting babies, repaying loans, and so many other things general public demand from their god.

Cheers!

I am reminded of an incident which happened some 10 or 12 years ago. There is a Vinayaka Temple in our colony which is named after that deity - Vinayaka Nagar. In fact this idol was the property of a well-to-do brahmin family and they brought it from their rubber estate temple when the naxalite movement was at its height in that area. At that time this area was a large coconut garden owned by a local brahmana samudayam. When it was divided into plots and sold, some area was set apart for the deity, a temple was built and, because there has been general prosperity of all residents here, the temple now has no dearth of funds.

A "deva prasnam" was conducted about 12 years ago, because the managing committee felt things were not going on satisfactorily (I do not know the exact reasons, though.). Many deficiencies and desecrations were found as a result of the "prasna". (For those who are not familiar with this word, it is an astrological exercise to ascertain what is/are wrong with the temple, the idol, etc.)

After, all the issues were discussed and sorted out, the astrologer remarked that unless some image is created that this particular temple (deity) was very efficacious in granting some particular wish of devotees, there would be no crowd, less income, and the expenses will fall on the Managing Committee and the residents of the colony; further if a complaint is made by some dissatisfied elements to the Devaswom Board, they have the right to take over temples with weak finances.

Therefore, this temple has been promoted as good for "aksharAbhyAsa" and success in exams. etc.

 

[tbs]

hi Revathi,
i think the way which big temples are more commercialised.....its pity.....the priests are custodians of our temple rituals....but its their

routine life.....there are very beautiful and nice serenity still in villages....but they are not so popular....nice archanakas are doing good

job in villages...but its very rare....now a days many big temples money spinners.....even in north india....many big famous temples

are having the same problem.....just money making through non profit organisation.....some parts of Karnataka/kerala are still the

same tradition with bhakthi....its reality for many new younger generations.....


regards
tbs

 

[sangom]

Smt. Revathi,


I am pained to read your post on the subject. Many conflicting thoughts pass through my mind. Predominant one is why should I visit a Temple which is commercially turned into a business house?Our Scriptures proclaim repeatedly the Power of Truth is in you. Sanctum sanctorum in Temples are supposed to be a place of merger of individual with the supreme. Total silence should be maintained there except for the sound of Puja and rituals.

I am totally against issue of tickets for Dharshan in Temples. Money should not be the measure of devotion. Hundis should be removed from Temples. The Temples should be managed by independent Trusts with proper checks and balances, devoid of Government intervention.
Government should help in restoring the Endowments given to the Temples, for the use of maintenance of the Temples. Temples which are rich in revenue should adopt and take care of other Temples in nearby places which do not have resources even for daily maintenance.

Donations should be collected for maintenance of Temples. Respectable Salary should be fixed for Archakars and other Temple staff. Majority of Temple staff are paid highly inadequate and ridiculously low salary by HRE Department.

Agama Patasalas should be attached to each Temple for the training of Archakars for the Temple.

Devotees should pay munificent donation to the Temple when ever we visit. After all we do spend good amount of money willingly to travel all the way from our home town to various Temples.

Above all, There must be Dharmasalas with free food for all, should be established in Temples as it is being done in Temples in coastal Districts in Karnataka.

For the reasons mentioned in your post, I am rather scared and refrain from visiting Big / popular temples now a days.

Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore

Dear Shri Brahmanyan,

Past experience, in the Travancore region of Kerala, when the temples were endowed with lot of lands to generate the resources, and the management was largely with brahmins (and the upper castes), has been that the temple lands were gradually transferred to the private ownership of the brahmins (mainly). That was the moral standing and example set up. So, I am very doubtful whether trusts by themselves will render a better record in future.

 

[R. Ramanujan]

hai

Nice to see another Trichyite in the Forum!
I used to visit both Thiruvanaikaval and Srirangam on my visits to India and may be because I suddenly noticed about 15 years ago how materialistic the temples have have become, I stopped visiting temples altogether.
What takes the cake is how the Chidambaram temple, the very abode of Nataraja is being maintained. And the materialism on display. That too on dishonest grounds, such as, "as a foreigner you need to pay an entry fee", and so on.

I don't know if things will change, unless the people make a stand, but what is the chance for that?

The religion has become biggest business nowadays. Even in Srirangam kovil you have slabs of 5,10,50,100,500 and more so that you can see the perumal faster.
Infact when I visited Thiruvanikovil temple in Srirangam for parigharam, and when we were leaving the priests were so rude when we said we don't have any further money to pay. They ridiculed us(me and akka) saying that kasu illa na ethukku varinga? They were so arrogant, rude as if they entered this priestism for making money.
The priests are expected to be less materialistic. I was so upset that time. I told amma look how their behaviour is, absolutely pathetic.
This is also one thing that is getting bad name to hinduism.

For people to take stand is totally out of question. There is no unity. Smallest unit is the family. Even within the family tree there are jealousy, groupism. So that is dream far from reality.
People have to come from the narrow Sub sect mentality for any radical change.

My paati who lives in Agraharam looked down upon me when I said that I visited the nava graha kovil. They are so narrow minded. I say practice vaishnavism but why don't enter sivan kovil. Why such kinda attitude.
I even go to gurudwara, Church etc.

Only ahobila madam priests were well behaved.

Having said that I must add one thing there is something mystic about Srirangam kovil esp the ranganathar sannathi, thayar sannathi.
I felt it many times. Before I came to Srirangam I never sensed this unique feeling but I must add many times even though I hardly go to temples and practice rituals, there is some hidden power that's there is Srirangam.

 

[ganeshrev]

Thank you - Shri Sangom, Shri Kunjuppu, Shri Nara, Shri TBS, Shri Brahmanyan, Shri KRS and Shri Sankara Narayanan - for your replies.

I cannot believe it , can nothing can be done apart from us avoiding these temples?Can not these employees be given some kind of orientation by our Gurus? Surely, every body should know the real picture on the ground?

Srirangam is just an example (since it is very popular, I cited this) - I had similar experiences in Vaitheeswaran Temple and Palani.

In Palani, I had a hundred rupee note on my hand given by my sister (whose Kuladeivam was Palani)to be offfered in Hundi - and the rupee note was visible slightly when my hands were folded.I did not want to open my handbag in the crowd, so I had taken it out earlier. One of the Gurukkals there noticed this and literally pulled the note out of my hand!

In Thiruvanaikkaval, the response was slightly encouraging.We had parked our car and the attendant asked us Rs 15/- as parking fee.We entered the temple and I noticed it was displayed that Rs 5/- is Car parking fee. Immediately my husband went inside the temple office and complained. Atleast in front of us, the contractor was admonished and we got our money back.

Yes sirs, as suggested by every body it is better to avoid going to famous temples since it is more commercialized to avoid feeling angry and pained.(In fact , many of you may not believe - I have not visited Tirupathi yet. i am actually looked down by my Kannada and Telugu colleagues). But is avoiding these temples the solution?

I may be digressing a bit here - if we are as greedy as the rest of the humanity in TN ( I am avoiding other states deliberately), I am confused what should we preserve as Tamil Brahmin identity as being advised by many of our community elders, gurus etc and also by various members - both new and those in forum for quiet some time ? Knowledge of Sanskrit (that too very sparsely), Knowing some slokas, mantras, Brahmin Tamil, yearly once Avani Avittam, Closing our eyes for all the atrocities, Spending lavishly for Poonal and Marriages?

I am just reminded of our PM - who says Personal Integrity as his Virtue and at the same time being meek to use his power against his corrupt ministers and officals?We are no different from Mr MMS.We also claim that we are this and that , but not able to open our mouth against our own community members doing illegal and corrupt actions?

Shri Brahmanyan will agree that temples in Bangalore are far better. Also the ones in coastal Karnataka. The money offered in the Thattu is put inside the Hundi direct. And no major differentiation between VIPs and Non VIPs. There is a famous Perumal temple near my home where Devegowda and his family visit very often and the public are not inconvenienced.There are innumerable small temples in South Bangalore where I have experienced Serenity .We see people sitting and Chanting Gita and Vishnu Sahasra namam in the evening which provides a nice atmosphere in the evenings.

When such a culture is prevailing in a neighbouring state, why is it so difficult for us? Having been deprived of money and Government support during 60s and 70s , it looks like there is a big greed factor - that too to satisfy the greediness through corrupted methods? What is difference between A Raja and those in temples? Only that Raja's and MK's are in the league crores and we are in thousands?

Namaskarams
Revathi

 

[ganeshrev]

I have visited numerous Churches in England (Bath, Bristol, Salisbury, London, St Albans to name a few) - all 1000+ years.When I enter these churches, I feel the same Serenity as I feel in any Hindu temple . The churches are also reeling under the financial problems to maintain and preserve and there are a lot of tourists visiting there.Except that there is an appeal for donation and a nominal fee to enter the church - that too only those with Historical importance like Salisbury - I did not find any kind of commercialism or materialistic attitude in those places. And we say Western culture is materialistic!

 

[saarangam]

I am just reminded of our PM - who says Personal Integrity as his Virtue and at the same time being meek to use his power against his corrupt ministers and officals?We are no different from Mr MMS.We also claim that we are this and that , but not able to open our mouth against our own community members doing illegal and corrupt actions?

Smt Revathi
As we all know Mr.MMS did not utter any word against the corrupt minister because his
primary concern is to continue in office at any cost.We tambrams have no control over the
priests or temple employees as they are employed by the HR&CE Dept.Even our maThams
do not have any say in the functioning of these temples.So a viable option for us will be to avoid such large temples which are highly commercialised and go to some small temple where there wont be a large crowd.

 

[sangom]

I have visited numerous Churches in England (Bath, Bristol, Salisbury, London, St Albans to name a few) - all 1000+ years.When I enter these churches, I feel the same Serenity as I feel in any Hindu temple . The churches are also reeling under the financial problems to maintain and preserve and there are a lot of tourists visiting there.Except that there is an appeal for donation and a nominal fee to enter the church - that too only those with Historical importance like Salisbury - I did not find any kind of commercialism or materialistic attitude in those places. And we say Western culture is materialistic!

Smt. Revathy,

I had also visited the Salisbury church but when I saw the various interments done under the floor in the very same church building, it gave me a very melancholy feeling of being in a cemetery-cum-church. Anyway these are personal impressions.

Regarding your post #12 above, my views are as under:

I may be digressing a bit here - if we are as greedy as the rest of the humanity in TN ( I am avoiding other states deliberately), I am confused what should we preserve as Tamil Brahmin identity as being advised by many of our community elders, gurus etc and also by various members - both new and those in forum for quiet some time ? Knowledge of Sanskrit (that too very sparsely), Knowing some slokas, mantras, Brahmin Tamil, yearly once Avani Avittam, Closing our eyes for all the atrocities, Spending lavishly for Poonal and Marriages?

I have been trying to tell that temple-going is not a prescribed routine for a brahmin. This idea of earning "punyam" or getting rid of "pApam" through temple visits which very often serve the dual purpose of holiday travel-cum-earning punyam, is a very late entrant into our society. Another reason is a 'nErccai' - promise or vow to visit a ceratin temple and perform certain pooja.

I recall a senior colleague of mine, a very orthodox Tanjavur brahmin, who said once that his grandfather, a very orthodox brahmin, never visited even the temple at one end of the agrahaaram and when my colleague as a boy, asked him why he was not going to temple, it seems he just smiled and said 'you will learn why, when you grow sufficiently old.'.

Yet another point is that temples have become accessible to all sections of hindus. (This was not the case, say, hundred years before; temples were exclusive preserves of the higher castes.) Because of this important change when we refer to "preserving" brahmin culture, IMO, the temples do not, and need not, figure in it at all.

In this context I usually wonder why Arunagirinathar went to almost all the murugan temples or where murugan had a "sannidhi" and still declared,

காவியுடுத்தும் தாழ்சடை வைத்தும்
காடுகள் புக்கும் தடுமாறிக்-
காய்கனி துய்த்துங்காயமொறுத்துங்
காசினிமுற்றும் திரியாதே

Does it not discourage temple-visits, which the very people who chant Tiruppukazh do religiously?

I am just reminded of our PM - who says Personal Integrity as his Virtue and at the same time being meek to use his power against his corrupt ministers and officals?We are no different from Mr MMS.We also claim that we are this and that , but not able to open our mouth against our own community members doing illegal and corrupt actions?

When the PM of this very nation is unable to do a certain thing where are we?

 

[R. Ramanujan]

reply

There was a special darshan queue of different denominations and since we had a small kid with us and it was late already , we chose the highest one .It was summer and was very sultry and hot. I think the fact that we are from outside was visible from the way the kids were talking among each other. This prompted some Brahmins to indulge in small talk with us and asked for money and my BIL shelved out some which we did not mind at all.

BIL's aka Lord Kuber of every family tree are the Sponsors for all weathers.
The concept of Langar in Gurudwara is totally against giving special treatment to anyone. Rich or poor, Upper caste or dalit, begger or businessman. All are one while eating guru da langar.

Langar - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia.

Long live teachings Sikh Gurus. Hails to Guru Nanak.

 

[sangom]

Everybody Loots their BIL's. I'm no exception.

Dear Ramanujan,

I don't get the meaning of BIL's.

 

[R. Ramanujan]

@ sangom sir
I guess it means brother in law. ha ha.

 

[ganeshrev]

Yes, Ramanujan is right!

 

[ganeshrev]

Shri Sangom Sir,

Thank you for your reply.

Sorry Sir, I guess I am not clear in my earlier posts regarding my views.

My question is why are we closing our eyes to all these atrocities?When we invoke "TB" tag for every thing else and we want to preserve so many practices, is it not our duty to rectify the bad ones? Visibly, TamBrahms are the ones who indulge in these activities (As far as my experiences goes). That is the reason , I am requesting why not we do some thing about this?

The question is not the purpose of going to temples or whether it is a Hindu practice to go to temples - my FIL does not go to temple at all - Also each one's reason vary on why and when to go to temple.I am not getting into that.Going to temple is one of the practices that is being followed and it may be a practice that crept in the medieval period , it might not have been encouraged by certain gurus/mahaans, it might not be part of vedas/upanishads.I guess it is a different topic by itself.

But, being a temple that inherently requires some sanctity and also , at least in big temples tam Brahms are visible faces , why not we follow some Dharma and conscience in those places, for a start?

Namaskarams
Revathi

 

[ganeshrev]

My paati who lives in Agraharam looked down upon me when I said that I visited the nava graha kovil. They are so narrow minded. I say practice vaishnavism but why don't enter sivan kovil. Why such kinda attitude.

One of my Boss, a Vaishnavite from Srirangam, very orthodox family , has married a Syrian Christian girl (which created some expected unrest in his family). When one of my colleagues offered Vibhuthi, he refused to take it!

 

[kahanam]

Only Lord Vishnu should help humble devotees visiting Temples like Sri Rangam and Thirupathi! It is hateful to see the looting going on and if the accusations point to the Brahmins in charge, how will they be able to respond and defend themselves? Not that they would care anyway. The humble Bhaktha can only pray to the Lord for deliverance and he can really pray from the comfort of his own residence!

 

[sudeshwer]

It is very sad story. in fact, I found similar things in various temples through TN. It isnot the case in Karnataka and kerala. what we can do about this is a big question. I am afraid those who eat/cheat God's money will be punished

 

[tbs]

hi
UDARA NIMITTHAM BAHUKRTA VESHAM........just another ADI SHANKARACHAYA'S quote.......KONNAL PAAPAM....THINNAL THEERUM....

not even matham/ or govt can controll this virus in big TN temples.....greedy is the main reason.....just vist or not to visit....or

simply digest the dilema......INTHA POONAIKKU MANI KATTA YARUM ILLAI......this is the reality....


regards
tbs

 

[tbs]

hi
ONLY GURUDWARAS ARE BEST PLACE TO VISIT.......the charity begins at home....

regards
tbs