Pathetic condition of Shri Tulajabhavani Mandir due to its takeover by Govt

Will those, involved in committing wrong in temples, ever acquire grace of the Goddess ?

Shri Tulajabhavani Temple at Shrikshetra Tuljapur (Dist. Dharashiv) is being managed by the State Government. Few Devi-devotees have taken a review of pathetic condition of this temple owing to its takeover by Govt !

1. Obstacles in daily ‘puja’ since temple managed like govt. office !

1. A. Delay in taking administrative decisions due to govt. working style : All the activities of Shri Tulajabhavani Temple come under jurisdiction of District Collector since its ‘governmentalization’. District Collectors are posted here for 2-3 years and are later, transferred. During their duty period, decisions related to temple are not taken by them, leading to many problems in daily routine ‘sevas’ related to temple.

1. B. Corrupt govt. officers making use of their post for personal benefits :  Devasthana never offers ‘naivedya’ of even ‘pedhas’ to Shri Bhavanidevi. Government administrative officers come on transfer; carry on corrupt activities and leave on transfer, defaming the Devasthana. These officers have no sentiments towards the Deity. They only think about how they can misuse their post and authority for personal selfish interests. The willpower to use authority for improvement in conditions and facilities at the Devasthana, is lacking in these officers.

2. Indifferent administration towards Deity’s ornaments

2. A. Demand for repairing of ornaments is ignored : Maintenance of ancient traditional ornaments of the Deity is under control of District Collector and it is necessary to take proper care of them and get them repaired whenever necessary; but it does not happen. Persons engaged for different ‘sevas’ in the temple bring the need for repairing of ornaments, to the notice of administration repeatedly in front of all; still there is unpardonable indifference by administration.

2. B. Carelessness towards changing of small bed and umbrella used in daily ritual : It is a practice to change the small bed and umbrella used for the idol every week  since daily use results in wear and tear. These things are not repaired or changed when there is need. If asked for a new umbrella, it is not provided. The small bed, on which Deity is rested for 5 or seven days, is also not taken care of by the administration, though it is the responsibility of temple administration. District Collector is the President of temple committee but owing to his apathy, ‘sevekaris’ get such things made from devotees.

2. C. Instead of wearing the gold crown offered by devotee for Devi, covetous administration deposits the same : Few days back, a devotee offered a gold crown weighing 1-1/4 kg of gold at the feet of Shri Bhavanidevi since he had faith that his wish was fulfilled due to the grace of Devi; but instead of adorning it on the idol at least for some time or just for a day to satisfy the devotee, it was immediately deposited by the administration.

2. D. Keys of ‘strong-room’ are with ‘sevekaris’, therefore, valuable things and ornaments are safe : Containers of Devi’s ornaments and valuable things are kept in a ‘strong-room’ which has two doors. One key of this room is with temple administration and one is with ‘sevekaris’. Keys of the containers of Shri Bhavanidevi’s ornaments are with ‘sevekaris’.

Since the keys of two doors are with both, just one of them cannot take out things from the room. Both have to be present with their key whenever valuable thing or ornament is to be taken out.

3. Loads of filth due to indifference towards maintenance of ‘Teertha-kunda’

There are ‘Rama-kunda’, ‘Surya-kunda’, ‘Chandra-kunda’, ‘Andhar-kunda’ in this temple. Every sacred kunda has special significance; but under chaotic administration’s control, condition of all these ‘kundas’ is so grave that they look like garbage bins and administrative officers feel nothing about it. Their thinking and worrying is limited to organizing felicitations for ministers on their visits and getting benefit out of that or helping ministers for selfish interests.

4. Irresponsible administration only concerned about donations received by the temple; but apathetic towards providing facilities to devotees !

4. A. One devotee has donated lamps which work on solar energy and fitted in the premises of Shri Bhavanidevi temple. During Navaratri, whole temple shines with the light of these solar lamps. Yearly maintenance of these lamps is around Rs. 50 lakhs; but despite having funds in billions of rupees, devotees have to spend for maintenance of these lamps every year owing to apathy of temple administration.

4. B. There is a devotee from Pune who bears all expenses of flower-decorations of the whole temple during Navaratri; but these administrative officers are not bothered.

5. Devi-devotees learning about a true incident where person involved in unrighteous acts, punished by Devi !

There was one police officer posted at this place. He was so insolent that he used to kick Devi’s baskets with his foot. Once, this police officer and his wife had gone to a hotel for meals. On their way back, their vehicle met with an accident and both died on the spot. Despite heir to huge wealth, their son has to live in ashram-school.

Considering the overall dismal condition of administration at Shri Bhavanidevi Mandir, there is need to stage people’s movement and if it is not considered seriously, the condition of Hindus’ temples would certainly become worse than what it was during Mughal regimes, owing to such anti-Dharma administrative officers.

Meaning of the term ‘negative energy’: There are positive as well as negative energies working in the atmosphere. Positive energies help man for good work and negative energies trouble him. There are stories in ‘Vedas- Puranas’ about demons creating obstacles in sacred fire performed by Sages and Seers during ancient period. In ‘Atharva Veda’, many ‘mantras’ are given for putting curb over negative energies such as ‘Asura’, ‘Rakshasa’, ‘Pishach’ etc. Various spiritual remedies are prescribed in holy books like ‘Vedas’ etc for removal of negative energy problems.

Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat