Wealth of Temples - An Example

1. Temple Worshipers Society
for the Hindus, by the Hindus
Wealth of temples.. An example
Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple
Land and commercial property worth more than Rs.5,000 crores
305 grounds of land in prime area of Chennai
Govt. fixed rent for one ground of land in that area is
Rs. 300,000 per month per ground
How much does the temple get? Almost nothing…
And this is just one of the properties of the temple
`

2. Temple Worshipers Society
for the Hindus, by the Hindus
Wealth of temples.. An example
Temples and Mutts in Tamil Nadu own
✤ Agriculture lands – 478,462 acres
✤ About 100,000 acres of these lands now come under urban
and semi-urban areas
✤ 22,600 buildings measuring about 2.45 Crore sq. ft
✤ 33,627 sites – measuring 29 Crore sq. ft.
✤ Just `96 crores per year!
✤ At less than market rent è `5,500 crores per year!

3. Temple Worshipers Society
for the Hindus, by the Hindus
Wealth of Temples
What is Governments track record of managing Temple
property?
✤ 92% of the Land lease revenue uncollected
✤ 91% of the site rents uncollected
✤ 78% of the building rents uncollected
✤ Properties transferred to individuals identified – only
8540 acres
✤ Recovered by the Department – not even 10%

4. Temple Worshipers Society
for the Hindus, by the Hindus
How did this Happen?
The most blatant and unconstitutional law
of free India
Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Acts
✤ Willful and deliberate looting of temple properties
✤ No Accountability. No Responsibility.
✤ No external audit since 1976

5. Temple Worshipers Society
for the Hindus, by the Hindus
Madras Hindu Religious Endowments Act,
1926(Act II of 1927)
✤ Only for Hindu Religious Endowments! Until
now earlier laws had talked of Mosques, Hindu
Temples and other religious properties!!
✤ Allowed Government to “issue a notification”
and take-over the temple and endowment
properties & their management

6. Temple Worshipers Society
for the Hindus, by the Hindus
The Madras Hindu Religious And Charitable
Endowments Act, 1951
✤ Institutionalized Government control and
management of Temples under a Commissioner and
other Government Servants
✤ Supreme Court held sections 21, 30(2), 31,55,56 and
63 to 69 of the 1951 Act ultra vires the Constitution
as far as Mutts are concerned.
✤ Sections 20, 21, 25(4), 26, 28, 29, clause 2 of 30, 31, 53,
54, 55,56, 63 to 69, clauses (2) (3) and (4) of sec.
70,76,89, 99 were struck down by the Division
Bench of MHC as far as non-Mutt temples are
concerned. Government did not pursue the appeal

7. Temple Worshipers Society
for the Hindus, by the Hindus
Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious And Charitable
Endowments Act, 1959
✤ Fraud on the constitution!
✤ Laws struck down by SC as
unconstitutional in ‘54 were reintroduced
✤ sections 63-69 of ‘51 act is now sec 71-76 of ‘59 act
✤ Section 56 made a drastic comeback as secs. 43-A and 45
✤ Sections struck down by MHC in 1951 were
also retained.
✤ Sec.20 of the 1951 Act takes a more drastic
avatar to include temples

8. Temple Worshipers Society
for the Hindus, by the Hindus
Government Loot
✤ 12% of temple “income” taken as
administrative fees and 4% as audit fees.
✤ Mutts and Mutt temples are not required to
give administrative fees but they continue to
contribute.
✤ Government transfers arbitrary amounts for
Government and non-Hindu purposes from
“Surplus” Temples
✤ HR & CE makes a surplus every year

9. Temple Worshipers Society
for the Hindus, by the Hindus
The stark truth
✤ Government management and control of Temples
is unconstitutional
✤ State Governments seek to control only Hindu
properties
✤ There is a systematic loot and desecration of our
temples
✤ No true realisation of temple and endowment
properties’ income
✤ Many endowments have been deliberately closed

10. Temple Worshipers Society
for the Hindus, by the Hindus
Irreparable Losses due to
improper renovation of temples
✤ Scant regard shown in preserving and
protecting our architecture, murals, paintings
and inscriptions.
✤ Temple renovation done by HR &CE
contractors
✤ Sandblasting, removal of valuable, pillars,
structures, deliberately placing modern
constructions inside ancient temples are all
causing irreparable damage to our temples

11. Temple Worshipers Society
for the Hindus, by the Hindus
Nasiyanur Temple Mandapam

12. Temple Worshipers Society
for the Hindus, by the Hindus
Nasiyanur Mandapam stolen

13. Temple Worshipers Society
for the Hindus, by the Hindus

14. Temple Worshipers Society
for the Hindus, by the Hindus
The True purpose of Temple and
their properties
✤ Worship and propagation of religion are the
primary purposes of temples and endowments
✤ Govt has scant regard for these.
✤ The true income of temple properties in Tamil
Nadu alone would be around Rs.10,000 Crores
✤ Govt claims to realise only 64 crores

15. Temple Worshipers Society
for the Hindus, by the Hindus
What true income of temple
properties can do?
✤ Revival of Vedas, agamas, sastras and Sanskrit
✤ Remunerative engagement of temple poojaris and
staff.
✤ Proper upkeep and maintenance of temples
✤ Propagation of Hindu Religion on very large scale.
✤ We have true miracles which are not talked about.
Destinations which have special purposes should be
made famous.