Inside Tirupati Balaji temple, just outside the garbha griha, where they give tirtham, the priests secretly take whatever the devotees offer (1 rupee, 2 rupees, 10 rupees).
Looking at that, I used to disgustingly think, "These priests are shameless. Even in the vicinity of God, they are running after money. They are not spiritual. They are money-minded, materialistic. Shameless creatures! Dirty Brahmins!". I used to think that way.
But, just a couple of years earlier, I came to know thay are paid very meager salaries such as Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000. Their salaries are about the same as the security guards stationed there.
After coming to know about that, I felt really bad. I stopped hating them.
Inside every temple, you will find a shameless board placed by our honourable governments, "Drop your offerings in hundis only", meaning that we must not give anything to the priests. After reading that, I sincerely used to drop my offerings into hundi only.
But, after coming to know that they are paid meagerly, I stopped dropping in the hundi and started giving to the priests directly. But, many times, I noticed that the priests drop the money back into the hundi. They are instructed to do so by the government officials (you know who they are!!!).
I urge all readers not to drop the offerings into the hundi, as much of your offerings ae used for "SECULAR" activities. Give as much as possible to the priest himself.
