Temples today : ‘In Bad Shape’

Uniqueness of temple had thirty points with several sub points. Everything was told in the past tense, because most of the great features of temples are not there today.

• “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” is an old adage. It is sad to see trash and filth strewn around the place of worship.
• Prasadams like vibhuthi & kunkumam after use the surplus is thrown on the beautiful temple pillars.
• There are encroachments in and around Temples.
• People dirty the Temple by littering, spitting and urinating.
• The ponds got silted or encroached upon. Sewage is let in. Pilgrims too dirty it.
• Tank rain water inlets / passages are cut off or blocked.
• There are no more Temple parks (Nandavanam). Plants are dead without watering.
• The floor granite stones are found broken or they have been replaced by shining granite / marble stone / tiles. People are deprived of getting acupressure.
• The civil structure was made of granite stones. The sad thing is in the name of expansion of temple, concrete pillars, walls and roofs are constructed within the temple. It is violating the building plans of those who made it. More than 1000 years old architecture’s beauty is marred by 21st Century concrete structures.
• Individual donors’ names adore the Temple walls, defacing the excellent architecture and marring its ancient beauty. The people who did the mammoth task of constructing the Temple never had their name anywhere in / on the TEMPLE, as they did it purely as a service to God without expectation of personal publicity. But today, unfortunately even a donor of a tube light has his name painted on it. The name written on the tube light is also becoming responsible for reducing the light output. Even the curtains in the prharam before the idol / deity has the donor’s name on it. Commercial organisations like banks put neon signs and flashy plastic boards spoiling the beauty of ancient heritage and architecture. It is all great disservice to those who had the dream and vision and constructed the temple.
• People also write/ engrave their names on the walls. Students appearing for exam write their name and class, they are studying in as a form of prayer for getting through the exams.
• Weeds, shrubs and thorny plants grow on their own on the surface in and around the temple and nothing is done about it. This spoils the beauty of the temple and also results in the bushes becoming home for insects and also for snakes.
• The walls have developed cracks due to non-removal of trees growing on them.
• The civil structure is not maintained. Small repairs are not attended to in time resulting in ruin of the whole structure.
• Outside the Temple, the space around is encroached upon by houses and shops.
• Debris, rubble and garbage are dumped outside temples.
• Lack of sewerage results in cesspool of sewage in and around the temple creating unhygienic conditions. This paves way for breeding of mosquitoes besides the regular problems created by stagnated sewage.
• People urinate in the open outside the Temple.
• Loud speakers blare round the clock exceeding the permitted noise decibels spoiling the serenity and peaceful atmosphere. Praying with undivided attention and meditation have become impossible.
• Cut outs and publicity hoardings kept outside prevent the view of the beautiful temple.
• Posters and graffiti disfigure the walls of temples.
• Begging near temples is a big nuisance from all view points.

We can not construct Temples today like our ancestors. We do not have time, space, heart and the money for it. But is it not our duty at least to put our best efforts to maintain the temples gifted by our ancestors to us?

It is imperative that there should be Temple Exnora to overcome the above problems and ensure the temple’s pristine beauty is maintained.