SV temples: how WE can help

[Guest guest]

Dear members:

 

The "pathetic sights" that have been referred to in earlier postings are

unfortunately, a sad truth about several SriVaishnavite temples in and

around Tamil Nadu today. In fact, the last 3 decades have seen a continued

decline in the condition of our revered divya desam temples (including of

course, other temples not included in the 108).

 

Many of these temples are the very places where the AzhwArs have performed

mangaLAsAsanam to the deities and sang pAsurams in their praise. These

temples are sites of the archAvatAras that our beloved AzhwArs preferred

to VaikunTam itself. How can we live and try to practice our faith so

nonchalantly, while the relentless decline of these puNyasthalams proceeds

to an extent synonymous with total desecration?

 

To me, the AzhwArs represent our spiritual ancestors, and these temples were

their holy abode in bhUlokam. How would we feel, if our ancestral homes fell

into disuse because of sheer neglect? Or if someone encroached upon them and

desecrated their land? Would we not take it as a personal insult against our

families, and against ourselves? If it were possible to remedy the situation

in a practical manner, would we not willingly make financial contributions

accordingly? I will say no more. Regardless of whether ancient SriVaishnava

temples bear the heritage of AzhwArs or not, they are still an indelible part

of our sampradAyam and its practice. We cannot simply stand by and watch their

deterioration; we must do something about it.

 

I have been in correspondence with Smt. Anita Ratnam, who had appealed to

bhakti list members a few months ago to contribute towards the cause of

Arayers in SrivilliputthUr. Anita is the founder of the Arangham trust in

Chennai, India, which among other things, supports the revival of Vaishnavite

temple dances and rituals. Please visit the website http://www.arangham.com

and peruse the section "Ritual and Revival". Recently, I heard from Anita

about the plight of the Jagatrakshakar Kovil near KumbhakONam, which coincided

with another posting in bhakti list about VaradarAjar Kovil in KAnchIpuram.

I contacted Smt. Vimala Rajaji here in Dallas TX to see what (if possible)

could be done to help these temples; she told me about the SMSA (Sri mAlOlan

Seva Association) that has been set up by her and Mr. Rajaji since 1993.

 

The SMSA is a non-profit organization which can transfer charitable

contributions to corresponding non-profit organizations in India. This

reciprocity is required in order that contributions made here in the USA can

be tax-deductible. In other words, what one can do is:

 

[1] Make a cheque out to SMSA for a certain dollar amount;

 

[2] State WHAT the contribution is for, either on the cheque itself

or in a separate letter (contributions may be thus divided among

two or more causes, if desired)

 

[3] Ensure that SMSA has a means to transfer the money to a NON-PROFIT

organization in India which can return a receipt for the amount.

 

All contributions to SMSA made in this manner will be tax-deductible as long

as [3] is satisfied. One can also set up monthly deductions from a U.S. bank

account to SMSA. For details, please contact Sri. Raghavan Rajaji at

email: rrajaji

 

I am also copying Smt. Anita Ratnam on this message; she had mentioned earlier

the need for (possibly) a separate branch of Arangham that could handle the

financial contributions made to temples. I urge you all to support Anita's

endeavors, and also to inquire into the possibility of supporting SriVaishnava

temples in India through the SMSA. I do not know of non-profit organizations

in India that specifically support the cause of such temples, so I will

appreciate any input from other members in this regard. Anita may be reached

at email: anita

 

I hope I have provided some useful information; please excuse me if any of

it is in error.

 

Truly,

-Srinath Chakravarty

email: xsrinath