VHP: Renovate, rebuild temples at
Uttrakhand from funds of temples under Government control
Pilgrimage (Teerth Yatra) circuits in the form of Chaar
Dhaams as four spirituo-cultural outposts on the four borders of
Bharat, 12 Jyotirlingams and 52 Shaktipeeths dotting
and networking the whole of Akhand Bharat, the Buddhist and Jain pilgrimage circuits
and others act as mobilizing, spiritualizing, unifying and integrating factors
for our country hallmarked by the holistic, altruistic and syncretic Rishi-Krishi culture.
Pilgrimages to Teerthas (Fords of Liberation) form an
important component of spiritual practice for Hindus all over the world which
is why even the Hindu diaspora creates its own centres of pilgrimage at blessed
river banks, sea shores, hills, mountains, caves, forests, etc., in their
esteemed countries of adoption. Additionally, the Hindus also regularly visit
temples whenever they have an opportunity. While on such visits, they
offer Pranaami (donations) in various forms to the deities to
perpetuate and promote their spirituo-cultural cause, patronize the
institutions and their service activities including pilgrim facilities and
community health and education, etc.,” said here Sri Ashok V. Chowgule, Working
President (External) of Vishva Hindu Parishad in a press release.
He further said, over the last couple of decades, in line with a
resurgent Hinduism, the number of yatris (pilgrims) is increasing by a quantity.
In line with this trend, the amount of donations is increasing at an even more
rapid pace.
Unfortunately, these donations are often improperly used to fund
activities which do very little for propagating Hindu Dharma or help the poor
and needy Hindus. As in the case of Siddhi Vinayak Mandir in Mumbai, the
funds have been used by politicians to fund ostensible charity activities but
are actually meant for their own political purposes. Temples are
religio-spiritual institutions, but the tragedy is that thousands of them and
their huge Devottar properties are now under the control of
‘secular’ Governments which is a conspiracy and crime being perpetrated against
Hindu Dharma as they have been siphoning its funds for non-Hindu and even in
many cases anti-Hindu purposes. And, therefore, their control should be handed
over to the Hindu society.
Recently, there has been a tragedy in Uttarakhand, particularly in the
Himalayan Chaar Dhaam Yatra route. Apart from
substantial loss of life and property, there has been destruction of the
infrastructure that had helped the Hindus to make the annual yatra.
The Government needs to rebuild this infrastructure of transportation, board
& lodging, medical facilities, schools and colleges for the native
students, etc., very quickly in order to make the pilgrim traffic and the life
of the natives smooth in the circuit. Also, the reconstruction should be
done in a way that will reduce the possibility of similar destruction in any
possible future calamity. Here it must also be kept in mind that the said
circuit is meant for pilgrimage which the people have been conducting here for
thousands of years and, therefore, any promotion of tourism, greed and plunder
under the guise of ‘development’ here would put unacceptable pressure on the
eco-sensitivity of the zone and the recent flash floods exposed the ill-advised
and lopsided agenda of the governments for the region.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad strongly suggests that the funds of the
temples under government control all over the country should be used for
renovating and rebuilding the religio-cultural, spiritual, educational and
charitable institutions of the people in the affected areas. Since many
of those going to these other temples will also be undertaking the HimalayanChar
Dham Yatra, the Hindus will appreciate the use of the funds in this
manner. Even as a matter of general policy, the big and affluent temples
should patronize the smaller ones existing in their catchment areas in
particular and anywhere else in general. Due to the inappropriate policies of
the present government of India, the country’s treasury has been seriously
depleted. The use of the temple funds for the said purpose will ensure
that the reconstruction activity will not be held back under the pretext of
lack of funds.
Separately, Vishva Hindu Parishad would appeal to the various
institutions and organizations of Sants of Hindu Samaj to also
donate to the noble cause of reconstruction of the village temples and
facilities for Vedic education and charity in the affected areas of Uttarakhand.
- Released
by Anil Agrawal, VHP Media Centre, 57, North Avenue, New Delhi
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