Establishing the Mandir Mahasangh to unite Temples

Mandir Mahasangh will operate on a 5-point programme of Unity, Coordination, Security, Management, and propagating Sanatan Dharma. What is the main purpose of establishing the Mandir Mahasangh ? To liberate all temples which are under Government control. When a secular Government cannot conduct itself properly, how can it manage Hindu temples ? Today, there is a Waqf Board to manage mosques and madarasas, and a Diocesan Society to manage churches. Then, why are Hindu temples under Government control ? Temples too should have some independent entity, which should be free from Government control, as has been done for mosques and churches. Mandir Mahasangh is determined to continue its struggle till every temple (which is under Government control) is freed.

1. Unity : If each temple attempts to solve problems individually, it may take a long time. However, if many temples raise this demand and protest through pressure groups, the Government will be forced to take notice. Hence, unity among temples is essential.

2. Coordination : Today, there are many temples in Maharashtra which are not connected in any way with each other. Some temples are well-organised; but because there is no coordination with other temples, their expertise is not shared. If there is coordination among the temples, it will help address the challenges associated with the renovation of temples, getting benefits of Government schemes, resolving obstacles in the office of the Commissioner for Religious Endowments. All the coordination required for such purpose can be achieved through this platform.

3. Security : Even if minor incidents take place at the places of worship of other religions, all the followers of that religion come together and ensure that the security of their places of worship remains intact. However, incidents such as thefts in temples, damage to temple Idols, vandalism, and theft from temple treasuries have become frequent in many places over the past 8-10 years. We have to examine the plans that can be devised for the security of temples in such situations. It will be interesting to see how many devotees will come forward and unite for this. Devotees do gather in temples to celebrate festivals or some occasion, but they will be found wanting when it concerns the security of the temple. Therefore, in the first meeting of the Mandir Mahasangh it was necessary for everyone to unanimously decide to come together for decisions regarding temple security and to guide devotees in this direction. The initiative has started.

4. Efficient management : How should the temples be managed efficiently ? When we think of this aspect, the foremost example that comes to mind is of the Gajanan Maharaj Temple in Shegaon. (Datta Sansthan at Gad in Nagar District, Swami Swarupananda’s Sansthan in Pavas, and the Ashtavinayak Temples are also managed efficiently.) Devotees are delighted by cleanliness and good management, and get attached to temples. When devotees go to temples, they wish that the darshan of the Deity be a serene and satisfying experience. Temples should be clean. Cleanliness and a humble attitude of the temple staff contributes to this experience. The management of finances, accounts and transactions is also essential; if other temples learn from successful examples, they can benefit. Ideal temples should collaborate, coordinate and learn from each other to establish a uniform and efficient management system.

Efficient management of temples will be a significant aspect of building a ‘Hindu Rashtra’. Hence, the importance of such management. All participants in this Mandir Parishad got direction in this regard for future efforts.

5. Centres to propagate Sanatan Dharma : Other than Hindus, people of other religions are imparted education on their religion in their prayer houses (such as Muslims in mosques, Christians in churches). Temples should serve as centres for imparting education on Dharma, because worshippers and devotees are associated with temples. During the earlier days, temples were centres of education on Dharma. Gurukuls, Gaushalas and Vedic study centres were part of every temple premises – they provided education on Dharma. If we commence these ancient practices, every Hindu worshipper and devotee will be educated on Dharma.

With this expansive objective, lectures on Dharma education should be organised in temples, posters and banners on Dharma should be put up, libraries should be opened, discourses of Saints and Ascetics who are active in this field should be organised. As a result, devotees or worshippers will not only get darshan of the Deity in the temple, but will come out of the temple as individuals who have knowledge of Dharma. Every devotee or worshipper educated on Dharma can be a pillar of support for the temple.

After deciding to work on the basis of these 5 points, the temple trustees and priests were impressed. Hence, everyone decided to work together through this platform of Mandir Mahasangh.

– Mr Sunil Ghanvat (Coordinator of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti for Maharashtra & Chhattisgarh)

Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh

Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh was established in the first ‘Maharashtra Mandir Nyas Parishad’ at Jalgaon. Since then, its work has been gradually expanding. In just 4 months, it has covered the entire State. The Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh has been instrumental in implementing a dress code in 262 temples in Maharashtra in just 6 months, while more temples are implementing it.

Shrichitshakti (Mrs) Anjali Mukul Gadgil

It is the responsibility of the devotees and the Temple Committees to preserve the Chaitanya of the Temples

1. Festivals or fairs in some temples have become occasions for malpractices rather than celebrations of the Chaitanya (Divine consciousness) of Deities. Temple festivals should be held in a bhav-enriched manner. If the festivals are given a perverted form, the Chaitanya of the Deities will be lost and the devotees will not benefit from the sattvikata (Spiritual purity) of the Deities. Lighting of firecrackers is prohibited during such festivals.

2. Distressing vibrations are pulled into the environment of the temple since the noise emanating from loud speakers disintegrates the Chaitanya particles and destroys their continuity.

Priests in some temples chant mantras loudly and cacophonously, as if competing with each other. Due to the distressing vibrations generated by this act, the Divine Energy in the mantras assumes a perverted form. Therefore, instead of helping the devotees, this has adverse effects on their body and mind.

Hindus should admonish the priests and not give dakshina (Offering) to those who make haste while reciting mantras and curtail the religious rituals. Since the ability of the temples to function at the level of Chaitanya diminishes due to many types of evil practices, the importance of the temples reduce with the passage of time.

3. The stalls outside the temples should be removed and boards providing education on Dharma should be put up instead. It is necessary to chant the Name of the respective Deity and broadcast it from loudspeakers put up in temples. It is also advisable to ask people who simply waste their time in chatting in the premises of temples to leave the premises. The sattvikata of one temple helps in purifying thousands of kilometres around it.

4. The responsibility of the temple committees is not merely to collect money; in fact, their real responsibility is to ensure that the Chaitanya of the temples is preserved !

– Shrichitshakti (Mrs) Anjali Mukul Gadgil

Festivals in some temples have become occasions for malpractices rather than celebrations of the Chaitanya of Deities !