Many temple priests are not as nice people as one would assume guardians of religions to be. All they are interested in is carrying out their brahminical rituals so that they do not accumulate any bad karma. One will not find many of these genuinely interested in helping people, or doing some good for them. They are just interested in making people follow religious rituals rigorously. They can mouth as many shlokas as you ask them to, they supposedly love god, but they lack love for their fellow people. No religion talks of discriminating among people, atleast not among those who have faith in it, no matter what their background be. It is because of such people like that we have such a strongly caste based society even today. Many of the priests are extremely orthodox in their attitudes, and if it was up to these people, we still would have been a primitive god fearing society. I will mention a small incident that took place when I was 12. I wanted to put some money in the temple. First, I put it in front of a deity in an open plate. Then I thought it would be a better idea to put in the donation box, since it is closed, and hence safer. And I slipped the money in the box. Seeing that, the priest yelled at me like hell. According to him, it was not right to take money back from that plate. I told him why I did so, but that didn't matter to him.
RE:Temple priests - mellowed down version
by ramesis on Jun 06, 2007 04:00 AM Permalink
Sudhanshu, this is not about nice and bad priests. And the customs & traditions at this temple (Guruvayur) is slightly different from elsewhere. For generations my likes have prayed here, and though we agree some of the customs may be questionable, I dont think many can agree that is a case of a priest rigourously enforcing rituals. And sorry to hear abt ur own experience, but u can't generalize right? Peace.
RE:Temple priests - mellowed down version
by sudhanshu shekhar singh on Jun 06, 2007 04:09 AM Permalink
Obviously I cant generalize - my sample space is too small. but the interview itself shows that this "is a case of a priest rigorously enforcing rituals". Read the title of the report - 'I don't make the rules at Guruvayur'. What kind of impression does it give?
RE:Temple priests - mellowed down version
by ramesis on Jun 06, 2007 04:15 AM Permalink
it gives the impression, that he did not create the rules, he is merely following temple customs as his predecessors used to! And I am saying, we in modern Indianeed to debate whether some of the archaic customs (not alone in temples!) need to change! And again, this isssue is not to be mixed with what the minister feels.
Hey I like the observation of srikrishna vempaty just before ur write up!
RE:Temple priests - mellowed down version
by Sankaranarayanan Doraiswamy on Jun 06, 2007 04:19 AM Permalink
It is bad to take back the money paid, from the plate. If you dont like slokas you can very wellgo to other place in the temple. Enjoy everything as a fun and not criticise others when you are not surte of yourselves about the correct method to follow.
RE:Temple priests - mellowed down version
by sudhanshu shekhar singh on Jun 06, 2007 04:33 AM Permalink
I did not say that I do not like shlokas!! I meant that sometimes, even tho people know all kinds of shlokas, somewhere in their allegiance to their gods and religion, they lose their basic humanity and start discriminating among people on irrational basis (like following other religion or sects). And y is it bad to take the money back, i was not taking it back at home..It was an open temple, and i had seen (very few) people picking money from plates and going away. I was just putting the money in a safer place.
RE:Temple priests - mellowed down version
by sudhanshu shekhar singh on Jun 06, 2007 05:10 AM Permalink
I did not feel offended. I was surprised!! I could not understand what difference did it make to put the money in the box from the plate. In fact, it was safer in the box!! And well, about keeping my cool. Ya, I do lose my cool in religious matters. I, kind of, dislike the ritualistic nature of modern day religion. I am not against spirituality though.
I am practicing to keep my cool..its much better than it was 2yrs ago.. hope to improve more in future
RE:Temple priests - mellowed down version
by ajoy tiwari on Jun 06, 2007 05:26 AM Permalink
Mr Sudhansu,
Do not equate issues, first of all one should not comment on any thing unless one knows throughly about the subject matter. Your Knowledge abd diatribe against Brahmins and brahmanical orderr et al , smucks of persoanl prejudice. do not equate instances. Now coming to the issue of purification, I would not comment simply because I am not aware of all practises of temple. Adi shankara wqas great saint, and philosopher, what ever he has ordained must have some meaning. So be careful before you start spiting venom againt any community or group.
RE:Temple priests - mellowed down version
by sudhanshu shekhar singh on Jun 06, 2007 05:38 AM Permalink
I do not intend to slip any venom - i am absolutely non poisonous. Adishankara was a grt saint indeed.. but its been years since he was on the earth. A lot of things have changed, and so should the rules. Thats all I am saying. I am not gainst brahmins or any other caste. look at your own statement - "Adi shankara wqas great saint, and philosopher, what ever he has ordained must have some meaning". this kind of blind faith leads to extremism. What happened at that temple is an example of that extremism.
RE:Temple priests - mellowed down version
by Seven Maniacs on Jun 06, 2007 09:34 AM Permalink
i beg to disagree here. Why do u think it is extremism? It is purely discipline. When i am not a subject matter expert i won't start questioning. Gain the expertise and then debate for sure. Ofcourse i might be pre-supposing that you aren't an expert in this case.. so pardon my preemption! But i would insist you take it in the spirit of the argument
RE:Temple priests - mellowed down version
by srikrishna vempaty on Jun 06, 2007 04:18 AM Permalink
Dear Mr Sudhanshu, As you have mentioned in your letter.Every person in the religion have the responsibility to safe gaurd the religion I am not going to say what you have said is wrong.But the way we interprit it.The caste system in Hindu religion was not started at once It slowly arose taking a period of about 5000 years are more.It was basically on occupations these thing started as.As you see in any society the very rich usually exploit the others.The senior sections exploited the peasants and hard working sections. religion started later. with time People often shifed their professions irrespective of what they were Guptas were vysyas, kakatiyaas were formers Surdras.They were more flexible than what we are now. Caste system showed its vicious story only after invasions.It is just like shia, sunny fight now in iraq after american invasions.And India was invaded for around 1100 years.which reached the present situation of caste and religions. I am not at all supportive of caste and I request every hindu to fight against the system and put ant end to it.Many kings have tried to end it Eg:krishna devaraya,lingayats god who is a king. Unfortunatly the people (we) also have to make an innate attempt to abolish.which is not happening. coming to your experience.Brahmins in temples usually accept money kept in the plate as dakshina that is what they live on take home. the one you put in the box belongs to God and Temple. Not all people are pious ultimatly what ever he
