Often we get to hear about some industrialists or business tycoons donating money and/or gold ornaments worth crores of rupees and we wonder why those people never think of spending atleast some part of that amount on charity. And yesterday, I saw a news channel broadcasting news about a golden temple in Vellore, Tamilnadu. Out of anxiety I watched the brief coverage and I was shell-shocked after knowing the details. A grand 'golden temple', of Goddess Mahalakshmi, has been constructed in an area of 100 acres at Sripuram, near Vellore in Tamilnadu, by Sri Narayani Peetham, headed by spiritual guru Sri Sakthi Amma (Amma). Surprisingly, as much as 1.5 tonnes of gold was used for the temple and it took six years for the construction. The consecration (Kumbhabhishekham) of the temple was to performed on 24th August. The temple is open to all religions and is proclaimed "Amma's gift to mankind". The path to the temple will have messages from the Geeta, Bible and Quran. While this might evoke a great response from millions of devotees, many I believe might be shocked to know the fact that it cost around Rs. 600 crore. I find it astonishing. Many have been criticising the authorities for the amount of money that went into the construction of this temple, which could have been used for helping the poor. But the temple authorities claim they spend a lot on charity and the criticisms about the temple are unwarranted.We hear people (read politicians, leaders and religious heads) talking about eradicating poverty, helping millions of economically backward, upbringing of the downtrodden and thus developing mankind. But when will such talks turn into action, when will those ideas and thoughts materialise and when will India develop. Is it by building golden temples or preaching the importance of religion and greatness of God? How can one expect to serve the humanity by constructing a golden temple? We have been taught since our childhood “Service to Humanity is Service to God” but are we really bothered. People are busy promoting their respective religions, in their own ways. Seldom do we think of those millions starving to death because of hunger. There are millions of Indians who are deprived of basic facilities to live (food, shelter and clothing) and hundreds of thousands of people in the country who do not have access to proper living and education or who have lost their living due to natural calamities. Why can’t we think of helping them in improving their standard of living?
There are thousands of charity homes, orphanages and old age homes in India. Does our god ask for golden temples? Does God curse if we donate money to those orphanages and charities? One cannot help but wonder thinking what these golden temples would do for the betterment of mankind. I am not against religious practices or sentiments but I follow a basic rule of life - helping those in need. God has given us a wonderful life as human beings. Let us make it meaningful.
3 comments:
This is not the first time something like this is happening. Mukesh Ambani is building a multi-story home for himself. People chose to spend their money the way they want to. I would actually say that as long as the money to build the temple was not taken from someone else's pocket, it does not matter what they chose to do with it.
Of course, it would have been great if they had built a temple focussing on public welfare, but then, temples rarely have been places for public welfare in India. They are more about showing your devotion or love towards your deity. The more magnificent they look, the more people would visit it.
Good post. May be if this is the case ,we should ask people who spend on gold, making costly movies, buying expensive cars, etc.
Good post. All the things in the world are given by god and I wonder why we give back all (flowers, sweets, money...) to that god again which we have only due to that god's grace. But why don't we do the same in case of our parents, who gave us real life? I have seen few people donating money, land, some property... for orphanages and charities only to popularise themselves. Service to Humanity is Service to God - This should be done whole heartedly by everyone. Only then we can see the world peaceful, poverty-free and without discriminations.
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