Mandirs are spiritual and energy centres that are the focal point of Hindu Dharma. From local neighbourhoods to Dhams (pilgrimages), mandirs act as both cultural and economic drivers of the Hindu samaj. However, in recent times, incidents of temple desecration are on the rise which suggests there need to be certain rules enforced within mandir premises.

Meat consumption inside mandirs

Abrahmics were recently confronted by Hindus for consuming meat within temple premises. In March, Muslim women were caught consuming meat within the premises of Thanjavur Brihadeeswara Mandir.

In the video that went viral on social media (SM), 2 Muslim women can be seen eating food with a few children inside the temple complex. They were sitting in front of the Raja Rajan Tower of the temple when a devotee confronted them. The devotee can be heard asking why they were consuming chicken inside the temple when there are public spaces nearby. “People believe that even those who consume non-vegetarian food (at home) should come to the temple, but you are eating chicken here”, one of them says.

Brihadeeswarar Mandir is treated like a tourist place by many and non-Hindus can be seen inside the temple on any given day. Unlike devotees of Brihadeeswara Swamy, to non-Hindus, including HINOs like Periyarists, the murtis are mere stones. Moreover, Abrahamics consider murti puja blasphemous and unacceptable. It naturally follows that they wouldn’t treat mandirs with the sanctity that Hindus do. Allowing non-Hindus inside mandirs in the name of encouraging tourism has resulted in the desecration of such sacred spaces.

A similar incident was reported in April from Hampi where a group of Muslims were eating non-vegetarian food within the premises of Hampi’s Hanuman Mandir. The group was seen eating meat biryani in the video shared by the Hindu Janjagruti spokesperson who sought the help of Vijayanagar Police and ASI to take action against them.

In February a group of foreigners were found partying at the Purandara mantapa in Hampi. Locals who saw them filmed it and informed the police. When they confronted them and said that drinking alcohol is not allowed on the premises they argued back saying that no sign boards were informing the same. Police warned the tourists and let them off.

It must be pointed out here that temples, where alcohol and meat are offered to the presiding deity, have their own set of rules. There are designated places for sacrificing animals within the mandirs. The point we are trying to make is – it is not free for all and discipline needs to be maintained while visiting sacred places.

Maintaining the sanctity of mandirs

There is also a need to enforce a dress code in mandirs. More often than not HINOs (Hindus in name only) treat temples as picnic spots. Social media users had called out a female who visited the Baijnath temple in Kangra wearing shorts and a sleeveless top. It needs to be drilled into the minds of HINOs that dressing modestly is non-negotiable while visiting mandirs.

SocialMediajeevis (SM-jeevis) are another category of people who have converted mandirs into reel/video shoot locations. A video of an Instagram ‘influencer’ identified as Vishakha Fulsunge went viral where she was seen proposing to her boyfriend in front of Kedarnath temple. This publicity stunt did not go down well with Hindus and rightly so. It must be mentioned Kedarnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and is a very sacred pilgrimage site for Hindus.

Following angry reactions by netizens, Badrinath Kedarnath Trust issued a notification on July 3 hinting that mobile phones would be banned at Kedarnath. “The Social media influencers make YouTube and Instagram reels inside the Kedarnath temple premises which are hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus residing all over the world. People are reacting and demanding action in such cases. Therefore, strict action shall be taken against those who make reels on the temple premises. Also, the influencers need to be watched,” says the Committee’s letter.

Mandirs are abodes of Bhagwans

Several instances of temple desecration have occurred over the last few years. Control of Hindu temples by the secular state has brought them under the maintenance of ASI or the state department in some states. These departments treat mandirs as just another site/monument and not as centres of spiritual and divine energies.

In Hindu Dharma, a mandir is considered to be a Devalaya meaning abode of Bhagwan. Therefore, mandirs can’t be built anywhere or by any means. One has to follow the intricacies of the Agama Shastra, a collection of ideas that lays down the rules for worship, temple building, spirituality and rituals for building a temple. A mandir always has a Prana Pratistha, a ritual in which Bhagwan (presiding deity) is invited to come and reside in the murti of the mandir after which the deity takes up permanent residence there.

So technically speaking the presiding deities are the owners of their respective temples. Hence, it is important to keep their sanctity intact and to maintain the sanctity rules need to be enforced. One cannot expect adharmics, including HINOs and SM-jeevis, to understand and/or appreciate the significance of mandirs and where there is no understanding there can be no respect. For adharmics, mandirs are just another place for an outing and not the abode of Bhagwan Hindus consider them to be.