There should be a branch of ‘Mandir Mahasangh’ in each village : Ha.Bha.Pa. Ramakrishna Veer Maharaj

Seminar on ‘Appropriate temple management’ in the ‘Maharashtra Mandir Nyas Parishad’ at Ozar (District Pune)

Ha.Bha.Pa. Ramakrishna Veer Maharaj

Ozar, 3rd December – “We are working through ‘Shri Vitthal Rukmini Mandir Rakshan Kruti Samiti’ to raise the problems faced by the devotees of Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple in Pandharpur. We did not let the temple management implement ‘cash for Vitthal darshan’ at the temple. We fought against it. The temple management tried to stop the bhajan programmes. We opposed that decision and it had to be withdrawn. ‘Mandir Mahasangh’ has become a collective platform to solve temple related issues. In the future, there should be a branch of ‘Mandir Mahasangh’ in each village”, expressed Ha.Bha.Pa. Ramakrishna Veer Maharaj, Maharashtra State President of Warkari Sampraday Paik Sangh. During the first evening session of the seminar on ‘Appropriate temple management’, Maharashtra State President of ‘Warkari Sampraday Paik Sangh’ Ha.Bha.Pa. Ramakrishna Veer Maharaj, Former Charity Commissioner Mr Dilip Deshmukh, Mr Chetan Rajhans (National Spokesperson of Sanatan Sanstha) and Mr Sunil Ghanwat (Coordinator of Mandir Mahasangh) guided the audience.

Ha.Bha.Pa. Veer Maharaj further said, “Management of the temples which have been taken over by the Government, must try to free the temples. Those temples which have not been taken over yet, must try to remain free of Government control. The Government is trying to make a ‘corridor’ (state-of-the-art highway) in Pandharpur in the name of development. The Government is also trying to grab the surrounding land under this corridor project. We should oppose this”.

Proper accounting records of the temples are necessary to facilitate management of temples by the next generation – Mr Dilip Deshmukh, Former Charity Commissioner

Mr Dilip Deshmukh

Temples will not face any issues from the Charity Commissioner’s office, if their accounts are properly maintained. Accounting entries, recording of movable and immovable assets, recording of accruals and expenses are all necessary for a balance sheet. If the minutes of the meetings (M-o-M) of the Trust meetings are recorded, future trustees can refer to the decisions taken in the past meetings in the future. The amount deposited in the donation box should be recorded and this amount should be deposited in the bank within 24 hours. The records of traditional items received as donation, land donated by the kings, historical inscriptions and coins etc. help to understand the history of a temple. In summary, if a temple’s accounting records are properly maintained, it will be easier for the next generation to manage the temple.

Let us accomplish the difficult task of creating ‘Temple Management’ curriculum with the contribution from all the temple representatives – Mr Chetan Rajhans, National Spokesperson, Sanatan Sanstha

Mr Chetan Rajhans

A few months ago, the Director of ‘Indian Institute of Management Mumbai’ and some members of the academic staff proposed to us to create a curriculum on ‘Temple Management’. The same was also demanded in the ‘Mandir Parishad’ held in Jalgaon. The ‘Mandir Mahasangh’ has taken responsibility for this. 12 subjects namely, General Vedic Rituals in Temples, Administration of Temples, Sectarian Traditions of Temples, Temple Priests: Duties and Responsibilities, Trustees and Committee members: Duties and Responsibilities, Temple Office Management, Economics of Temples, Constitutional clauses and laws related to Temples, How to avail benefits of the Government schemes, Renovation of Temples, Character Management and Spiritual Practice have been selected under this curriculum. We need the experience of temple trustees to create this curriculum. This is a difficult task which cannot be accomplished without the crucial experience and information available with all the temple representatives. Sattvik intellect, character and following Dharma are essential to manage the temples located at sacred places. Every person associated with the temple – trustee, manager, priest should be a devotee, a seeker following Nishkam Karmayog. This year, the aim is to start the course as an experiment. This is indeed the need of the hour.

Let us resolve to implement the dress code in 500 temples by 10th December – Mr Sunil Ghanwat, Coordinator, Mandir Mahasangh

Mr Sunil Ghanwat

In the Maharashtra Mandir Parishad held at Jalgaon, the temple representatives resolved to implement the dress code in the temples at a District level. This resulted in 266 temples implementing the dress code (clothing related regulations within the temple premises). Sattvik attire is important to take advantage of the sattvik atmosphere in the temple. After the implementation of the dress code, few doubts – Will the visitors oppose the dress code, Can we answer the questions posed by the opponents, Will the number of visitors reduce, etc. – were clarified. After the implementation of the dress code in some temples in Maharashtra, its reaction was seen in Uttarakhand. The temples under the management of ‘Akhara Parishad’ in Uttarakhand also implemented the dress code. The media opposed the dress code implemented in the Tuljapur temple and the temple management yielded to their pressure. Management withdrew the dress code subsequently. Dharmik traditions in the temples should be decided not by the media, but by the temple management. Isn’t there a dress code to be followed while entering a Government office despite a ‘secular’ Government ? Then why can’t the temples have a dress code ? On 1st January, 2016, the Tamil Nadu High Court ruled to enforce the dress code in all the temples within Tamil Nadu State. Several Indian temples have a dress code today. Some pseudo-liberal political leaders oppose the dress code by making irrelevant statements; but the same leaders support hijab in other States. Let us not be afraid of all the opposition and resolve to implement a dress code in 500 temples.