Malaysia Priest Calls for Increased Role of Hindu Temples

January 16, 2003

.. Malaysia Priest Calls for Increased Role of Hindu Temples

Source: News Reports

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, January 10, 2003: A high priest is convinced that

Hindu temples have a role in tackling criminal-related problems of Indian

youths. Unorthodox and determined, Muthu Kumara Gurukal, 56, gets dejected

when he reads the newspapers or hears news about Indian youths getting

involved in street fights, crimes and drugs, wants the temples to share

their wealth in uplifting and restructuring the Indian community. "Don't see

the problem. Look for a solution.The solution lies solely with the temples,"

he told his audience at an evening temple sermon recently. Muthu Kumara

Gurukal, who is able to relate the ancient Vedic scriptures to present-day

situations, is highly recognised for his credentials and qualifications from

leading Indian temples. The Hindu high priest is a highly sought-after

speaker and a selfless community worker. He is part of the new wave of Hindu

Renaissance, which the Malaysian Hindu Society is propagating nationwide, in

a bid to awaken and educate Hindus on the importance of right action through

spiritualism. "Use about one-third of the temple collection to provide food

and clothing to the poorer Indians, and to increase the number of educated

Indians. Temples should allocate 30% of their collections and donations to

community service projects. The money could be used to turn the temples into

community center to serve the poor, provide tuition to the students and

enlighten them on Hinduism so that they could understand and adopt noble

human values. Hinduism has a rich and diverse philosophy, and is an

all-encompassing way of life. Our sacred rites and rituals are tools. They

are the means through which devotees seek spiritual satisfaction." To spread

the knowledge of Hinduism, Muthu Kumara is planning to set up a school to

train Hindu youths who want to be priests. Being well-versed and having

worked as a priest for the past 40 years, Muthu Kumara is finally seeing the

light at the end of the tunnel as the Malaysian Hindu Sangam has expressed

full support of his move to help the community. Its president, A.

Vaithialingam, said the objective was for Hindus to play an active role in

affirming and reinforcing the strength of Malaysia's multi-ethnic,

multi-religious and multi-cultural society. "Practically all Hindu temples

and organizations have come together to support the Master Plan for the

Hindu Renaissance in Malaysia.

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