Let temples play a secular role

By

Randeep Wadehra

The Chaitra Navratras remind one of the Mother Goddess who appears twice in a year to slay the demons that harry the humanity. According to the legend when the Asuras were proving to be more than a match for the Devataas, the seven major Gods viz. Brahma, Shiva, Kartikeya, Vishnu, Varaha, Indra and Yamaraj contributed their divine powers that transformed into seven Goddesses. According to another legend the Goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati and Mahakali are different manifestations of Adi-Shakti – the Mother of all creation. Be that as it may. Today one finds that though we celebrate the Navratras with great ardour to propitiate Mahakali, Lakshmi and the other forms of Goddess, the devotees of Saraswati are dwindling, save for those who want to use Her as a political leitmotif.

Saraswati, the supreme deity of learning is a symbol of our forgotten past. In the ancient times education was given prime importance in our society. Then it used to form a vital and vibrant part of our socio-cultural superstructure. Shruti (listening) and Smriti (memory) were essential ingredients of the educational set up. The Rigvedic age is considered as the golden period of the Vedic times when the Upanishads were actualized. The student, brahmchari, led a disciplined life. Selfless pursuit of knowledge, service to the teacher, honesty and integrity were the hallmarks of his character. The education system aimed at acquisition and retention of knowledge, inculcation of faith in God, having progeny and managing wealth and property.

Educational institutions were located in hermitages in the forests. The education system did not depend on the state’s largesse. The society looked after its material needs. Women too actively involved themselves in intellectual pursuits. Gargi and Maitreyi are but two examples of women scholars in those times.

Over a period of time the education system evolved into a temple-oriented institution. If the Buddhist Viharas became centres of learning, so did the Hindu temples. During the Gupta Age Aryabhatta made remarkable progress in Algebra, Geometry and Trignometry. Varahamitra was another famed scholar of this period. The evolution of ethics in the form of Nitishastra was a significant contribution of this period. Progress in the fields of chemistry, metallurgy, astronomy, medicine literature etc. was the result of the contemporary vibrant educational system.

In the South, during the reign of Chalukyas, the temple played an important part in imparting education, maintaining students and teachers and promoting arts. It was not merely a place of worship. Rituals had their own importance, but imparting of education had become the temple’s major activity. Subjects like grammar, logic, astrology, drama, polity, dancing art, Smritis, Puranas, philosophy and the Vedas were taught. Education at all stages was intricately connected with social life and institutions.

When one looks at the present scenario one can’t help wondering why we cannot learn a few lessons from our ancient past. While, the state funded universities and educational institutions are a shambles thanks to lack of funds and rampant profligacy, a ray of hope is espied in the form of our religious institutions. Why not finance education with temple funds? Crores of rupees are offered at the various temples. These are generally used to build more temples and even shopping complexes to further augment the income of assorted trusts and boards that manage these shrines. Barring rare exceptions they run no school or college. Research work in any subject, modern or ancient, is hardly undertaken. This state of intellectual ennui urgently needs to be put an end to.

Those who fear the saffronising of education if this idea is put into practice must remember that our society’s catholicity will prevent any such degenerative phenomenon from taking place.

While addressing the Royal Commonwealth Society in London on June 13, 1963 Dr. S. Radhakrishnan had observed “…those who are authentically religious are individuals who have been able to know something, to feel the ultimate mystery which transforms their lives and works in them as a cleansing fire, something that takes away all the base passions of their nature. Such individuals are very rare and it is not

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