2. The stress is ubiquitous. But it becomes increasingly troublesome if we are sensitive. It becomes more irritating if we begin to understand solutions and can not implement them. However it becomes extremely and unbearably agonizing when millions of people seem to understand the solutions and agree; and yet nothing seems to work! The immediate issue is that of the condition of thousands of temples in India, which are revered for millennia; as the sacrosanct seats of evolving consciousness, conscience and enlightenment. Today; these temples all over India with few exceptions; are surrounded by filth, garbage, pathetic looking beggars, extremely undisciplined crowding, traffic jams, badly maintained roads and so on. The priests add to the misery of devotees by literally psyching and threatening them to squeeze maximum DAKSHINA money.
3. In addition; there are reports of indulgence in marihuana, sexual abuse, cheating, monitory corruption, involvement of goons, interference of partisan politicians with vested interests; and so on. This scenario of temples has lead to severe and almost fatal blow on our feelings; whether we visit these temples as mere travelers, tourists, visitors, pilgrims or devotees. We begin to get shattered in terms of faith in our ancestors, our religion, our traditions, our customs and most importantly ourselves as such! These temples begin to appear as serious lesions rather than healing centers! They begin to appear as at best; the centers of deceptive escapism and sterile solace. Often they provide comfort to fraudulent criminals, who give vent to their guilt by donating.
4. These temples seem to have nothing to do with our life and the challenges we face every day. The neither educate nor empower us. They neither provide solace nor do they give healing touch. In spite of all this many of us harbor superstitions because of hope of personal gains and fear of personal losses; and many of us lose all hope from these institutions and begin to resent, dislike or even loathe them. Is this not really stressful? What could be the reason? We have to appreciate that; the individualistic pursuits and petty considerations (Kaliyug) have taken toll of the original ideas, concepts and functioning of temples. As a result, the centers of excellence in every possible way; which served to emancipate individuals and the society and emanated rejuvenating and revitalizing influence on most of the individuals visiting and participating in the temple activities (conducive to individual and global blossoming); have become the focuses of diseases.
5. Majority of the temples have not been able to keep pace with the time. They have lost their status of being centers of transcendental evolution. They are not even the caricatures of what they once were. No one studies, no one teaches, no one learns. No one works, no one produces, and no one creates. Hence these temples have got converted into dead properties, which idle crooks are eager to devour. Thus; they have become economically helpless and parasitic institutions dependent on the mercy of; government, politicians, donors and volunteers; most of who have ulterior motives. Thus pseudo and hollow celebrations and devotional activities have become means of ugly show, despicable pomp, criminal wastage, obscene vulgarity, offensive exhibition, bullying advertisements and cheap propaganda, through unpardonable extortions.
6. Can this be rectified? Can we conquer this stress? Yes. The ever nurturing core of cosmos and the cosmic consciousness is NAMA. NAMASMARAN is the way for all of us. Through NAMASMARAN we can re-explore, rejuvenate and reestablish the glorious functioning of our temples in all their vitality, vigor, richness and their benevolence! We can evolve, promote and propagate holistic medicine, education, agriculture, horticulture, cow rearing; and supporting industries with eco friendly technology and guide the local and national governments to evolve holistic policies for individual and universal blossoming; through NAMASMARAN; from our temples!
