The Despairing Malaysian Hindu Temples.

by Navinn Rajendran

By end of this article, some readers are going to curse me while chest palming and throwing handful of sand on me. I will be expected to turn blind because God is going to poke my eyes and my life is going to turn out disastrous because I angered God and its institution. These reactions only reflect to how well you have been pious and religious.

Temples has been an integrated institution in the Malaysian Indian community. People whom used to be in the estates would recall on the simple needs the community was provided with. Temple was one of them. But over time many changes have taken place, many issues have arisen, and many questions have been left unanswered because the Malaysian Indians simply just don’t care.

Are you going to disagree with what I have just said? I can hear some calling me atheist already.

What is a temple and why it is built?

There are many reasons to why temples are built and as far as Sanathana Dharma is concerned, the reasons can vary in accordance to the needs of time. In my observance, there are 3 reasons. Firstly, a temple is an energy centre. A temple is built in a certain direction, certain position, certain shape and structure to be able generate and store positive energy and to be able to cleanse and connect the devotees that steps into the temple. Secondly, when the values in the community declined, temples were built so that individuals could spend some time in a designated area reflecting on their actions and repenting over their mistakes. It’s more like what we call REHAB these days. The third reason for modern times is obviously for money and fame. Fellas disagree? I’ll get in detail in a bit.

How many types of religious institutional structures do Malaysian Hindus have?

As far structures are concerned there are only two and definitely many Malaysians have been misguided by many people over this part of the issue. We have temples and shrines. What’s the difference? Temples are a bigger in structure, more organized in systems and administration, and they have a proper priest either from India or Malaysians whom have gone to India to study the Vedic Education and later serve the Malaysian Temples. Shrines on the other hand are small structures which mostly has the Hindu guardian god and does not necessarily have to have Vedic education in depth. To get into a little detail on priest, we have the Gurukkals whom serves a fully consecrated temple and the Pusaris whom could be anyone and only their devotion matters for them to serve. This is the briefest I could get on giving a general idea to the readers. 

What is my problem actually?

I don’t have any problem with temples being constructed, maintained and serve its ultimate purpose. Temples are beautiful and they are important. But my concern is where are we placing our importance? How well are these temples functioning for the progression of the community? Out rightly the institution is not at its best looking at the current situation of the Malaysian Indian community. 

Firstly, there are just too many temples in the country that are less functional with almost zero sustainability. They solely rely on government funds which can be sourced out to other channels that the community needs such as Economy and Education. In a very small area there would be a minimum of one temple and many other shrines scattered within the vicinity. Why can’t all the shrines be in one compound as the temple is in? And we will be the first to protest when shrines are demolished and turn it into a political issue.

Secondly, how many temples are run by Hindus themselves? How many temple management have an institutional sustainability plan where the expenses of the temple and maintenance are being run on a monthly generated income through a business or service? The only thing that Hindus know is how to make a temple bigger every 12 years. Why can’t they build a multipurpose hall either inside the compound or even outside the temple and to rent them out for functions and sports? We know that many temples do have multipurpose halls but apart from marriages and community functions there isn’t much activity that could be done. Why can’t temples make investment in services that brings in return that can be used for community’s progress. Without shame we will beg the government for temple funds when our Tamil Schools are without roof. We will fall on people’s legs for funds when our children don’t have a proper chair and table to study. The God that did not punish you for being irresponsible in position will never punish me for bringing up these issues.   

 Thirdly, how many shrines are properly built? We see so many shrines built with used roof and woods picked up from dumping sites. We want our homes to be beautiful and nice but God will reside in ran down shelter on the roadside. And the worst of all is people going house to house asking for donations. Isn’t the temple was built for the people within its vicinity. You know your way to the liquor shop to purchase alcohol but you don’t know your way to the temple and your responsibility? We don’t know to pledge a certain amount of money on a monthly basis to run a temple that we go weekly? We just don’t care. And the worst out of all is the ones that come from different state asking for temple donation. We don’t know if such temples actually exist at times. And whatever donation you give, it does not fully go to the temple. The travelling cost, food and at times the accommodation expenditure is included in your donation once its collectively counted. Why do you need a temple in a particular place if the community can’t fund. These house to house temple donation drive must be BANNED. Take the invitation and tell them you will attend whatever function they have invited to if you are able. It is not necessary to donate. If you feel bad, take note of how many invitations you have received, make a rough figure of how much you would have donated and do something for Tamil school children. 

Fourthly, how many priests are trained in the right manner to do a proper prayers? Whom are training them? What is the purpose they have come into the spiritual fold? I would not like to comment on their devotion but being in a temple there should not be theft by the priest, money swindling by the priest, and immoral acts by the priest which is happening in our temples. Even if the cases are minimal, there should be no such cases at any point of time. How many temples are extremely clean? We keep our own houses super clean but ignore the cleanliness of the temple. Is the rubbish being disposed in the right manner? Answer yourselves these questions. I too know god is everywhere, but respect for the institution is vital. Why do we need our names on the temple walls as donors? The ancient temples never had any names on it as temple building was regarded as higher then their self. Money was donated to build temples, not to build to make money. Do you know when did we sell our integrity for spirituality? When we have to pay for service charges in the name of rituals and devotion. We did not only dug a grave to it but we killed it and buried it when it is much needed for the community. 

Finally, temples are not yet lost, but if we don’t change we are not far off being lost.