Appeal for funds for various temples in India

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas

 

I have been thinking and discussing with quite a few about the need to

support the causes in India. I have received as many as 120 appeals from the

most dilapidated to the most flourishing temples each seeking assistance from

overseas contributors.

 

One stark example is that of Tooppul, the very AvatAra sthalam of Swami

Desika. When I went there sometime ago, for performing Asidra Aswamedha

ParayaNam, I was shocked to see the utter ruins it was in, what with trees

stemming out from the Gopuram right above the Sannidhi where the idol is

consecrated. And, we swear by Swami Desika's name all the time. What are we

doing to rescue all this? I told the Bhakta who made the appeal. to approach

Azhagiyasinghar, explain to him the situation and pray to him to intervene

and do something because our Acharya is now engaged in renovation of temples.

 

In another instance, the moolavar of one of the Divya Desams around Kanchi

was lying 'unsung, unwept and unhonored' on the side of a tank that was

itself half dry. When enquired, the locals told me that the idol had become

mutilated!

In some Divyadesams, the moolavar is found missing! What a pity!

 

And, we know the vagaries and scams indulged those in power in the Government!

 

Also, I understand that in the past 50 years or so, so far as my memory goes,

there have not been any dearth of attempts to renovate temples that are in

shambles. There has also not been any dearth of donors from here and locally

in India. Numerous trusts had been formed sporadically and collections made

from time to time. Still, we find that these temples on behalf of which funds

were collected remain the same, worse still, have been facing steady

deterioration.

 

The obvious conclusion is that there has been no coordinated efforts, no kind

of audit to ensure whether the moneys raised were spent for the purposes for

which they were collected.

 

If we should deserve calling ourselves Srivaishnavas, our duty first and

foremost would be to attend to these cases that are in crying need for help.

It is equally important that a mechanism should be devised and a watchful

infrastructure put in place for strict audit BEFORE making donations.

 

We can then help those that are relatively more affluent than these.

 

My two cents worth!

 

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy