Vaishvik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav (2024) : Good Governance of Temples

Communism and capitalism gained ground due to the destruction of the temple-based economy – Ankit Shah, Advisory Board Member, GLIC, Gujarat

Economist Adam Smith’s economics is based on capitalism. As a result, 90 percent of the world’s wealth is accumulated by 5 percent of the people. A list of the world’s 100 richest people is prepared. This accumulation of personal wealth does not bode well for the world. We should not accumulate so much wealth that others will become poor and it will be time to give them freebies. Karl Marx pioneered the concept of giving something for free. The practice of giving free facilities or goods has increased through vote politics.

Indian economics teaches self-reliance. Temples hold a very important place in the economics of Sanatan Dharma. In Sanatan Dharma, the education system was run through the finances of the temples. Villages were formed from the economy of the temples. When the British came to India, they introduced the system of ‘Education Department’. Education in India was never controlled by the king. The education system in India was run by the temple economy. Rishis and Munis (Sages) were preparing the syllabus. There is an example in our history that Arya Chanakya organised the society and overthrew King Dhanananda when he became corrupt. The British handed over the education system to the government. ‘Education for Employment’ was brought in by the British. This has happened in the last 400 years. The Gurukul should be within the premises of a temple. Communism and capitalism came to India only because of the destruction of the temple economy. Instead of rewarding them, we should give the knowledge of temple-based economy to the West, said Dr Ankit Shah (Advisory Board Member, GLIC, Gujarat). He was speaking on ‘Temple Economics’ in the Vaishvik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav (2024).

Indian culture considers the welfare of all animals!
There were no separate rights for animals and humans in India. Indian culture considers the welfare of all living beings. Westerners, however, talk of animal protection by eating them. In Indian culture, one’s place of residence was determined by considering forests, animals, and rivers. At present, however, the house is built first, then water is arranged. It is a practice to offer various fruits and flowers to our Deities. Various animals and birds are shown as the vehicles of the deities. Animals, birds and environment have long been considered in Sanatan Dharma. Dr Shah said that a student who studied in a Gurukul in the vicinity of the temple will never pollute the environment.

Build temples as per Vastu, as they have ‘prana’ (life force) – Abhijit Sadhale, Conservation Architect, South Goa

The temple is a center of worship and social celebration, as well as a center of spiritual and self-improvement. Temple architecture is a part of human life. Every temple is an abode of God. That is why it has prana (life force). Thus the architecture of a temple is not just a design, but the living form of the temple. It is with this in mind that temples should be built as per Vastu asserted Conservation Architect Abhijit Sadhale. He was speaking on the topic of temple management from the perspective of Dharmashastra.

Abhijit Sadhale said, “Nowadays many temples are built only for beauty. They are built without studying vastu shastra. Hindu temples are composed of a combination of folk and architectural traditions. There is a deep science underlying the sanctum sanctorum, sabha mandapam and shikhar in the temple. At present a large amount of lighting is planned inside the temple. God cannot be seen by external light. Hence, in ancient temples as you enter the temple, it gradually becomes dark and the sanctum sanctorum is completely dark. Therefore, this method of entering the temple should be followed. Our temple culture has been handed down to us by tradition for thousands of years. Therefore, it is our duty to preserve it and hand it over to future generations as is.

The funds coming in the form of offerings in the temples must be used for the restoration and repair of the temples! – Girish Shah, Managing Trustee, Samast Mahajan NGO, Mumbai, Maharashtra

The temple is a centre of rituals, culture, and security. Temples that have fallen into disrepair over time need to be reconstructed and repaired. While carrying out this reconstruction work, it is necessary to preserve the structure of the ancient temples. The structure of the temple consists of shikhara, sanctum sanctorum, rangamandap and assembly hall. There is a slight difference in the temple design of each Deity. There are lakhs of temples reaching every corner of India. Temples have preserved our culture. Everyone living in India has to accept this culture, said Girish Shah (Managing Trustee, Samast Mahajan NGO, Mumbai, Maharashtra) while speaking on Temple Architecture on the fifth day of the Vaishvik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav (2024).

Funds coming in the form of offerings to the temples should be used for the restoration and repair of the temples. The safety of the cow is also the responsibility of the temple. Temples should continue the Gurukul tradition. He also said that temples should accept the responsibility of preserving and propagating the glorious traditions of India.

Temples are places of pilgrimage, not tourist spots to be ‘beautified’ – Anil Dhir, Convener, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Odisha

22 ancient mathas were demolished to beautify the famous Jagannath temple in Odisha. We went to court against this, and we were fined Rs 1 lakh. Temples are basically beautiful, why beautify them? These are not tourist spots,to put up plastic trees and poles, and glam them up, they are places of pilgrimage. Flower and fruit vendors, babas who sit outside the temples are all part of the ‘vernacular ecosystem’ (interdependent local system) of temples. It is not wise to remove them. The Jagannath temple has 2 Ratna Bhandar (jewellery repositories), one of which has not been opened for the past 46 years. This has collapsed. Now the newly elected government has instructed that the repair work has to be completed in just 7 days during Rath Yatra. This is not possible. In our view, it is important to keep the architecture of the temple intact, even if the wealth within is not recovered, said the Anil Dhir (Odisha Convenor, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage)

Dhir further said that on what basis are we going to become Vishwaguru? After the excavations into Mohenjodaro, Harappa, no major research was done. Excavation is not required for research, other avenues also provide much evidence of our ancient culture, but there is no research about it. Now due to scientific progress, genetic history of people can be studied. From that, it can be realized that people have gone out from here in ancient times. This will be called ‘Reverse Invasion’. When the research on this comes out, it will be time to rewrite history.

How did a stone weighing 37 tons reach the top of Sun Temple in Odisha? The answer to this is not yet discovered. Even if the construction was off by 1 inch, then the entire construction would have been wrong. There is a need for research on this type of temple culture.

Anil Dhir’s work through Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage

1. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has been awarded Rs 100 crore by the Central Government as a Center for Excellence and is set to receive another Rs 100 crore. The INTACH is the second largest organization after the Archaeological Survey of India.

2. In Odisha, 300 temples are protected by the Department of Archaeology. Temples older than 100 years are protected by the Archeology department. I have found 6 thousand 500 temples over 300 years old in 17 districts of Odisha and 15 thousand temples can easily be found if we do a search in the remaining 13 districts.

3. Mahanadi enters Odisha from Chhattisgarh. We surveyed about half of it (400 km) on both banks by bullock cart. 63 temples have been submerged in this river for the past 80 years. We have demanded that at least 2-3 temples should be recovered and rebuilt.

4. Archaeological Survey of India is a government body with old and capable people. It has accomplished a lot around the world. But now they concentrate on Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar etc, as they are obtaining funds from there. Today in Bengal, the number of destroyed (ruins) temples is almost one-fifth of the newly built ones. Old mosques are maintained with government money even if there are no visitors there. However one has to pay to see ancient Hindu temples. We should handover the legacy of our ancestors to the future generation .

5. Today many ancient stolen idols have been recovered. But they are lying with the Collector, Police, because there is no record about where those idols belong to. So we have started the work of recording all the details of idols in every temple.

BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari felicitated in the Vaishvik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav (2024)

BJP Maharashtra State Spokesperson Shri. Madhav Bhandari visited the Vaishvik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav venue on 28 June, 2024. Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh State Organiser of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti Shri. Sunil Ghanwat felicitated Shri. Bhandari. Shri. Bhandari said, “I am glad to see that a large number of Hindus are present in the Vaishvik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav and they are thinking about the establishment of Hindu Rashtra. No doubt you will make progress in this.”

Bandivade Sarpanch Ramchandra Naik felicitated in the Vaishvik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav (2024)

Sarpanch of Bandivade village Shri. Ramchandra Naik attended the ongoing Vaishvik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav in the Ramnath Temple on June 28. He was felicitated by Sadguru Satyavan Kadam of Sanatan Sanstha.

Felicitation of Saints