Cleanliness in Temples

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

Can our Hindu temples and priests lead the way in showing Hindus how to be

clean, hygienic and be presentable?

 

I have always found it awkward having to wash my feet in unclean

surroundings and then walk barefeet onto the sandy temple floors. When I

come back home after a temple visit I find that I have to wash my feet again

before entering home. Very few temples have facilities for keeping one's

footwear.

 

May I add that the priests have forgotten to exercise and keep in shape? How

can a man of god look to the devotees as someone who does not care about the

health of his body? Do our priests learn hatha yoga?

 

With their bloated stomachs, hairy and sweaty chests and stained hands, the

least they could do is to wear clean and properly ironed clothes that add to

the air of dignity of the temple.I have always wondered why our Hindu ladies

do not make an issue about the lack of proper attire on the part of temple

priests.

 

The priests could definitely afford to bathe more frequently as they are

dealing with the public. If not convinced, ask the dentists how many times

they brush their teeth a day to avoid smelling badly to their patients.

 

I have not been fortunate to see a clean screen that protects the statues. A

friend of mine explained with tongue in cheek that when the priest moves

aside the stained screen, he is enacting the removal of stains of our lives

and revealing the clean divinity inside.

 

Perhaps the Tamil Nadu Government that has announced religious classes for

its citizens could undertake a campaign of temple cleanliness and proper

attire for the temple priests first.

 

Any views from this forum?

 

anbudan,

Sathia

 

 

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