People’s Movement to be Started if Lands Belonging to Devasthan are not immediately Transferred Back : Sunil Ghanwat

Chiplun, Maharashtra 24th February – Presently, about 15,000 temples all over the country are being brought together and we also have to start a movement against Governments taking over management of temples. Lands belonging to many Devasthan in Ratnagiri have been directly taken over by the Government. We shall start a people’s movement if all those lands are not returned immediately to respective Devasthan by the Government. Let us prepare an ideal ‘Ratnagiri Pattern’ for forming union of temples and planning the activities, was the appeal made by Mr Sunil Ghanwat, the national coordinator of Mandir Mahasangh and State coordinator of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) for Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh in his address during the Ratnagiri State-level Mandir-Nyas Convention’ held here.

Sunil Ghanwat addressing the Mandir Nyas convention

The Convention was jointly held by Swami Swarupanand Seva Mandal, Pavas ; HJS and Mandir Mahasangh at ‘Swami Mangal Hall’, Pushkar Complex, Bahadur Sheikh Naka, Chiplun on 24.02.2025. The Convention began with lighting of lamp by Sadguru Satyawan Kadam, Sanatan Sanstha’s ‘Dharmapracharak’; Mr Jayantrao Desai, Executive Chairman of ‘Swami Swarupanand Seva Mandal’, Pavas; Ha. Bha. Pa Abhay Maharaj Sahastrabuddhe, Ratnagiri district coordinator of Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh; Mr Dilip Deshmukh, retired Joint Charity Commissioner; advocate Janardan Karpe and Sunil Ghanwat. The Convention was attended by more than 400 temple trustees, office bearers and priests from Ratnagiri district. Later, Dnyanadev Patil blew conch and ‘Vedamurty’ Surendra Joshi and Saurabh Gondhalekar recited ‘Veda-mantras’. The message of Sachchidanand Parabrahma Dr Jayant Athavale, the founder of Sanatan Sanstha sent specially on the occasion of this Convention was read by Mr Paresh Gujrathi. Mr Suresh Shinde welcomed the participants and gave an introductory speech.

Mr Ghanwat added that all devotees should come together and form an active network for solving the problems faced by temples. No Government dares to take over a mosque or a church. Why are only Hindu temples targeted ? Let us form such a union that nobody would dare to take control of or even cast an evil eye at any temple. Mandir Mahasangh is a platform to protect temple culture. Many temples in Tamil Nadu have been closed down due to their management being taken over by that Government. Let us erase the false narrative created by the progressive factions about temples.

Temple trustees, office bearers and priests attending the convention

Patriotic healthy generation created by imparting ‘Dharmashikshan’ will contribute to the mission of nation building – Sadguru Satyawan Kadam

Sadguru Satyawan Kadam stated, “Temples have been instrumental in keeping alive our Dharma, and culture. This Convention is an effective medium to change ‘Janma-Hindus (Hindus by birth) to ‘Karma-Hindus (active devout Hindus)’. Temple culture has played a huge part in the progress of this country. People going to temples have no knowledge of Dharma; therefore, they don’t feel love and respect for temples. Places of pilgrimage have become tourist places; therefore, people don’t get the spiritual benefits of visiting these places. Imparting ‘Dharmashikshan’ in temples will increase faith and create a patriotic healthy generation that will contribute to nation building. Books on knowledge of Dharma should be distributed in temples which will help devotees to do things as prescribed in Dharma.

Temple priests should strive to maintain temples in an ideal manner – Jayant Desai

Mr Jayant Desai speaking at the convention

We should get Rulers’ support for protection of Dharma and temples. Nobody will dare to even think of causing harm to temples if we come together. Many times, the attacks have been due to lack of unity amongst us. Sanatan Sanstha has now come forward to protect temples. The temple management will be good when we dedicate ourselves to serve the temples. Temple priests should strive to maintain temples in an ideal manner. We should be ready to sacrifice certain things to work for maintenance of the temples. There should be closeness between devotees who come to temples and priests and they should be ready to offer services in temples. It will create a different atmosphere in temples. How can we experience God if there is no worship in temples ? The existence of God in temples gives us mental strength.

Let us take up collective drives for temples and be united – Sanjay Joshi

Mr Sanjay Joshi addressing the convention

Temples are the foundation stones of Dharma. Temples are being demolished and their sanctity is being destroyed. Temples are the main centres to make our country ‘Vishwaguru’; but there is a lack of vision to preserve the sanctity, divine consciousness of temples. Many unrighteous practices started in temples should be stopped. Let us stop the gambling haunts in religious fairs and protect temple culture. Let us take up collective drives like reciting ‘aarti’, ‘performing ‘Gada-pujan’; ‘Gudhi-pujan’, etc. and unite for the protection of temples and Dharma.