The resolutions for the protection of Hindu temples as well as freeing them from Government control were approved unanimously !

‘Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangha’ established for the protection of temples !

Jalgaon : The ‘Indian temple culture’ which gives spiritual strength to Hindus is under threat today due to the religion-less ‘Secular’ form of governance. It is the duty of every Hindu to preserve, conserve and protect this Divine heritage that we have received. For this purpose, over 300 temple trustees, priests, priests, auditors and advocates who attended the two-day ‘Maharashtra Mandir-Nyas Parishad’ said that they are committed to protect and preserve the temples. This was stated by Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh Organiser of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti Mr Sunil Ghanwat in a press conference held at Padmalaya rest house here. At this time former President of Maharashtra and Goa Bar Council Advocate Bharat Deshmukh, Satpuda Niwasini Shri Manudevi Seva Pratishthan Secretary Mr Neelkanth Chowdhury, Shriram Joshi Maharaj of Jalgaon Gramdevata Shriram Mandir and Jalgaon Coordinator of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti Mr Prashant Juvekar were also present.

During the Maharashtra Temple-Trust Conference it was resolved to work for the security, coordination, organisation, communication system of temples and for temples to become centres of propagation of Sanatan Dharma. Organised efforts will be made to resolve all kinds of traumas, difficulties and problems on temples through the Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangha. During the establishment of Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangha, the role of not allowing temples to be privatised, to insist on the rituals & traditions of the temples, religious activities to be performed as prescribed in the scriptures, and not to allow Government-administrative interference in temples in any way. informed Mr Sunil Ghanwat further informed that various measures such as conducting classes on education on Dharma in temples, implementing religious dress code in temples; starting activities such as group Gudhipadva, group weapon worship, Hanumanchalisa recitation, Maha-arti etc. in temples; starting a wide ranging movement against attacks on temples, etc. will be undertaken on behalf of the Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangha.

Those who work to protect the temple are honoured as ‘temple warriors’!

During the Press conference Mr Sunil Ghanwat stated that 12 people have been honoured as ‘Mandir-rakshak Yoddha (Temple protection Warrior)’ by giving books and badges on behalf of Padmalaya Devasthan to the trustees who work to prevent the takeover of temples by Government, try to prevent corruption etc. in temples taken over by Government, prevent violation on the customs and traditions of temples, remove encroachment on temple premises, bring good management in temples, etc.

Resolution passed unanimously with the pronunciation of Om !

1. The Government of Maharashtra should comply with the Court orders by liberating the temples taken over by the Government.

2. The State Government should declare that temple property will not be used for development purposes.

3. Substantial provision in the budget for the immediate restoration of the temples of mythological or historical significance; but, those that are presently neglected by the administration, Archaeology Department.

4. The encroachments by Muslims and others on pilgrimage centres and temples on forts in the State should be surveyed and removed immediately.

5. Since the income of the priests of the temples is negligible, the Government should pay them a monthly stipend.

6. In order to protect the sanctity of temples, pilgrimage centres, the Government should issue a notification that liquor and meat cannot be sold in their premises.

7. Class ‘C’ temples in the State with proper documents available should be immediately classified as class ‘B’.

8. Orders should not be sent by Charity Commissioners to temples for donations for social purposes.

9. A Government order should be issued to ensure that the funds of the temples are preferably used for religious purposes only.

On behalf of ‘Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangha’, these resolutions will be handed over to Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister and Law and Justice Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Along with these resolutions, the next action plan has also been decided to work directly through the Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangha. This information was given by Mr Sunil Ghanwat.

Mr Prashant Juvekar informed that Maharashtra Temple-Trust Conference was attended by representatives of Sri Kshetra Bhimashankar Devasthan (Pune), Sri Kshetra Ghrushneshwar Devasthan (Verul, Sambhajinagar), Ashtavinayak Temple Trust, Sri Tuljapur Devasthan Pujari Mandal, Sri Kalaram Temple (Nashik), Sri Lakshman Temple (Panchavati, Nashik), Sri Renukamata Temple (Mahur), Sri Kanifnath Devasthan (Guha), Sri Ganapati Mandir Devasthan Mandal (Padmalaya, Jalgaon), Sriram Temple (Jalgaon), Sri Mangalgraha Seva Sansthan (Amalner), All India Padmashali Purohit Sangh, Satpuda Niwasini Sri Manudevi Seva Pratishthan, Balaji Temple (Parola) Navkar Jain Temple Trust, Shree Balaji Maharaj Sansthan (Deulgaon Raja) and representatives of various temples of Maharashtra. Dignitaries such as Supreme Court advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who fought for the liberation of ‘Gyanavapi’ in Kashi, President of Jain Irrigation and Padmalaya Temple Mr Ashok Jain, Dharmaprasarak of Sanatan Sanstha Sadguru Nandkumar Jadhav, National Spokesperson of Sanatan Sanstha Mr Chetan Rajahans, as well as National Spokesperson of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti Mr Ramesh Shinde were also present for the Conference.