Dear members, Here is a slightly dissenting view. Some of you may find it un- palatable. Even at the risk of being understood and pilloried, I, even as a SriVaishnavan, would still venture to express the bitter but inescapable truth. The state of our temples in T.Nadu is generally pathetic. Out of the 100 odd 'divya-desams' hardly 10-15% are well-cared for. The rest are all simply going to seed. One of the main reasons for such a state is the apathy and neglect of the brahmin community. Once upon a time, lack of money-power used to be blamed for such neglect. Now, even when there is money-power to be found amongst the community, there is abject lack of man-power to do the job. All the brahmins in the 'agrahArams' have become software-engineers in Silicon Valley and chartered-accountants in the Middle-East and Africa. Steadily over the past few decades, they have simply moved on in life to "better their lot" elsewhere than in temples. So there is a big vacuum in the affairs of temples in T.Nadu. Both Nature and Social Order abhor a vacuum. They will see to it the vacuum fills up, one way or the other. Therefore, if Brahmins have moved out of temples, it is only natural to expect others in society to want to take their place. Brahmins long ago lost the right to claim hereditary rights for 'archaka' positions in the temples. They simply did not measure up to the challenge of the times. That is why they all took the easy way out, took up other non-traditional vocations to better their material living standards in life. It would be hypocritical on our part after so many years of dereliction of traditional duty to now agitate for 'archaka' rights. Let us be graceful in accepting our faults and failings. Let us pray and hope that in the hands of other non-brahmin 'archakas' in the new dispensation in Tamil Nadu the temples will flourish and prosper. Let us pray to the ALmighty that at least the 100- odd 'divya desams' will see better days now that they will be in "better hands". Let us pray that religious-mindedness, theism, God-fearing attitudes and charitable behaviour ('aram' and 'aastikam') will now spread far and wide amongst all sections of society than ever before. Regards, dAsan, Sudarshan > Thatha Desikan <tsdesigan@...> wrote: > Pranams to all people, > > I hope many would have heard that the current DMK > government of Tamil Nadu, is going to issue a > government order that "All people, not just brahmins, > can become priests in hindu temples". He has intended > for all the temples that are currently under > government. They also seems a plan to train many > non-brahmin people for this. > > Our tradition is based on varnashrama darma and not > caste fights. But, he wont understand this. > > Sorry to bring this news to groups, but any idea on > what all the temples that might get affected? > > Regards, > Desigan ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Home is just a click away. Make Yahoo! your home page now. http://us.click.yahoo.com/DHchtC/3FxNAA/yQLSAA/XUWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Oppiliappan/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Oppiliappan-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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