Lighthouse

Author(s): Udayvallabhvijay
Publisher: Pragna Prabodh Parivar

Page 22

the process of lep - oop (polishing of the deity), the flag, the flag post, the material for performing pooja, the special pooja clothes, the pooja box, the purses (batwas) to keep the pooja material, the donation boxes kept in temples, trigada, the cloth fans, the pots for dhoop, aarti, the plate for keeping pooja article, bowls, water pots, huge bells hung in the temple, jhalar, vinjana, the silver moulds for aangi, the material used for aangi (decoration of the deity) etc. are associated with the activities in a temple. The production and business in all these things keep thousands of traders and upkaran Bhandars busy. A temple is backbone of all these economic activities. If a temple is there, there would be pooja. Now consider the people involved with activities of various poojans - the vidhikar, the person who makes mandlu, the musicians, the singers etc. - these also can be added to the list of beneficiaries. If a temple disappears, all these economic activities also would disappear.
Whenever a new temple is taken up for construction, a common question is flung across what is the need for so many temples? Instead, would it not be better if a new school was constructed?
-
In reality, a reverse question is worth asking. Today, scores of schools have closed down. Dozens of management institutions stand locked. At many places there is shortage of students. At many places there is shortage of teachers and at many places the teaching staff is useless.
A person throwing the question - what is the need for so many temples, seems to be unaware of the fact that a temple does not remain deserted. In a contrary situation, there are
Lighthouse
13