Temples are the foundation stones of Hindu Dharma

HJS Campaign to Free Hindu Temples from Government Control

Hindu Temples are not merely places of worship or congregation. They play an extraordinary role in the protection, preservation and nurturing of Hindu culture. The community supported the temples and the temples in turn nurture commerce, art, culture, and learning. The marauding Jihadi hordes realised this and burned down our temples. The wily British realised this and began to forcibly exert control over our temples. And in post-Independence India, the Hindu temples have been relegated to being cash-cows for the ‘secular’ Governments. The coffers of temples have been looted, their lands plundered and sold. Loss of temple autonomy led to alienation of Hindus from temples, which in turn resulted in moral decline and rendering Hindus ripe for conversions.

Hindu temples are crying out to be liberated

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has been fighting to save temples. HJS has exposed rampant corruption, stopped malpractices, encouraged implementation of dress codes in temples. HJS calls upon you to join this movement to free Hindu temples.

1. Hindu temples are living institutions which ensure the survival of the traditions, customs, and communities associated with it

2. Hindu temples help preserve, increase and spread positive spiritual energy for the purification of individuals and the environment

3. Hindu temples are the de facto spiritual, psychological and community support centres, which serve to unite all Hindus

Why we need to free Hindu temples ?

Governments control their assets and administration

Governments tax their income

Governments do not give freedom to perform rites and rituals

Governments control Institutions associated with the temples

Harm caused due to loss of temple autonomy

1. Immovable property of temples is supposed to generate income for the temples. Less than 0.0005% land value is currently collected as rent, grossly devaluing temple assets.

2. Temple land is donated for Dharmik purposes. Government apathy has resulted in these lands being encroached. Even the Government utilises such lands without proper compensation.

3. Donations made by Hindus are siphoned off to ‘development and construction’ schemes of Governments instead of being used for the betterment of Hindus & propagation of Dharma.

4. Temple income is taxed by the Governments. This is in addition to the control that they have over this income, which often goes underutilised and is simply diverted to the Government coffers.

5. Often in connivance with local politicians, temple officials take away donations in cash, gold or silver from the Hundis, even before they can be documented.

6. Governments accuse temple Trusts of mismanagement and use various HR&CE Acts to take them over in violation of Articles 25-30 as they only target Hindu temple for takeovers.

This is where temple funds belong …

Since the time temples were deprived of their rightful earnings, they kept declining. This resulted in the overall decline of Sanatan Hindu Dharmik culture. To restore the glory of Sanatan Dharma, we need to re-establish the Hindu temples as the centres of Hindu civilization. Temple funds must only be utilised for the study, preservation and propagation of Hindu Dharma. Some ways to do this :

Build Gaushalas for preserving indigenous cattle population

Start Gurukuls for educating the future generations on Hindu Dharma

Temple restoration for the restoration and upkeep of centuries-old temples

Nurturing the Yajna sanskruti for re-establishing the importance of the Dharmik Yajna culture

Start Veda Pathashalas for educating Vaidik scholars who will guide the people on the basis of our Scriptures

Provide education on Dharma so as to instil pride for Swadharma (Hindu Dharma)

(For more : HinduJagruti.org/free-hindu-temples)