Bhagwat urges Hindus to take over reins of temple boards

Bhagwat stressed on the need for a holistic management system of places of worship, pointing out how temples in southern India are fully controlled by the state governments, while in the rest of the country they are either managed by the government or by the devotees themselves.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said Hindus must take over the reins of management of temples and ensure proceeds from collections are put to use for the welfare of the community alone, weighing in on an issue that has gained momentum in recent years, reached the courts, even acquired political overtones.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat speaks during his annual Vijaya Dashami address, in Nagpur on Friday.  (ANI)

“The wealth of Hindu temples is used for non-Hindus – who have no faith in Hindu Gods. Even Hindus need it, but it is not used for them,” Bhagwat said.

Speaking at the annual Vijayadashmi address, he stressed on the need for a holistic management system of places of worship, pointing out how temples in southern India are fully controlled by the state governments, while in the rest of the country they are either managed by the government or by the devotees themselves. “…Besides the internal and external threats to the nation’s unity, integrity, security, development, prosperity and peace there are some concerns of the Hindu society; efforts to resolve the same is also a necessity. State of the Hindu temples today is one such concern,” Bhagwat said.

The statement comes in the wake of the Malabar Devaswom Board taking control of the Mattannur Mahadeva temple in Kannur district in Kerala amid protests by the the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Hindu Aikya Vedi on Thursday.