Vikram swamy,
I share your concerns too. But what to do?
In the previous generations there were people dedicated to do such services in the temple (temple cleaning, ringing bell, playing nadaswaram-tavil or other drums, etc). The cost of living was within some limits that people were able to make a living through such services at the temple. But with today’s cost of living can someone simply depend on the income that comes through ringing bell etc services? For musicians it is more lucrative to play at weddings and such domestic celebrations instead of playing regularly at the temples. So, the condition has worsened so much! In many temples it is difficult to get a dedicated cook for Perumal! Again because being a cook elsewhere is more lucrative. I heard, in one of the major divyadesams in Tamil nadu, because of lack of help to wash the vessels, the previous day’s prasadam andaa was directly used for preparing for Perumal the next day!
Even temple priest service is in demand. I have interacted with some priests who are happy that their son has moved on to other fields of work and not priest service! I have also heard similar stories from others. So, this is also a common problem. No wonder there are so many village temples without anyone to take care of them.
This is a societal problem and each one of us is responsible for this plight; we can not simply blame the individuals who move away from their services; WE are also equally responsible for this plight.
I don’t know the solution to this problem. Our Velukkudi swamy is trying to get people trained to serve in different temples. If we can soon get out of the rat-race-economy-driven professional world and submit ourselves for such simple life filled with services at a temple, then we can be part of the solution for atleast that temple (if not all the temples).
Otherwise we can simply be witness to the force of kali breaking down traditional systems.
adiyen dasan
