What is the economic output of a temple?

A Temple means constructing a religious place consuming crores of rupees and millions of man hours

Can’t the money spent after construction of a temple be given some constructive direction?

If a school, a college, a university or a hospital is constructed using these funds, they can serve a great social cause.

No doubt, temple is a place to satisfy religious thirst of the Society.

However, what is the economic output of a temple?

Not really any.

Today, when a large number of new temples are being constructed, how can the amount spent be called ‘well spent’

Can it not be said that while we are progressing in the field of belief, we are drawing a zero in the field of economic welfare.

In this rebuttal, Pujya Acharya Shri Udayvallabh Suriji M.S. expounds the economic benefit of Temples

The Question

A notion is gaining ground that temple construction means wastage of money and labour.

The intellectual class today raises its objection against the tradition of construction of temples and asks whether projects of service to mankind would not be better? They ask-instead of wasting money in stones, if the same money is used towards wellbeing of humans, would it not be better. They also ask — when people face problems of poverty, unemployment and inflation; how can construction of temples be justified? What is the economic output of temples?

Employment Generation

Even if we were not to consider the gains on spiritual front or the feeling of inner contentment (which are non-material gains) and were to consider this issue from pure intellectual point of view, even then the tradition of construction of temples can be proved to be useful or profitable for the society in many ways.

Normally, in construction of any temple, the labour cost far exceeds the cost of material. Because of the artistic talent required in engraving and other aspects of temple construction, almost 75% of the total cost goes for payment of labour charges. This means that of the total amount spent only 25% goes for purchase of stones. Rest of the money goes to human beings.

25% money spent on material generates 75% as wages for labour and the main beneficiary are human beings and that too from the poor labour class. If you get a poor man’s cycle repaired, it is benefitting the cycle but ultimately it is benefitting both the poor man and cycle’s owner. Similarly constructing temples is creating employment opportunities.

Specialized Skills

Some years ago we were camping at the ancient Teerth of Pansar in the Mehsana District of Gujarat. The work of polishing and other repairs and maintenance work was going on in the temple. Trained artisans of Orissa were at work. These artisans who appeared to be absolutely illiterate were getting by way of wages (approximately Rs.9,000/- to 12,000/- per month), more than what a graduate employee would get these days. This was in 2008.

The then Chief Minister of Orissa Shri Biju Patnaik had declared special incentives for the people to get trained into the art of construction of temples.

The main person who designs and oversees the construction of a religious temple is called a sompura in Gujarat. The number of such sompuras and labourers specializing in temple construction work runs into lakhs. A handful of people who love temples have been instrumental in· providing livelihood to lakhs of such labourers.

If we look at the issue in this manner, temple construction is an enterprise. It is difficult to find elsewhere a job creator like the temple construction activity. A whole community consisting of lakhs of persons remains well employed. In this situation, who would hesitate to call construction of temple a human or social cause?

Auxiliary Businesses

There are several other things associated with temple construction. Sculpting the deity, making the eyes, tikka, the process of lep — oop (polishing of the deity), the flag, the flag post, the material for performing pooja, the special pooja clothes, the pooja box, the purses (batwas) to keep the pooja material, the donation boxes kept in temples, trigada, the cloth fans, the pots for dhoop, aarti, the plate for keeping pooja article, bowls, water pots, huge bells hung in the temple, jhalar, vinjana, the silver moulds for aangi, the material used for aangi (decoration of the deity) etc. are associated with the activities in a temple. The production and business in all these things keep thousands of traders and upkaran Stores busy. A temple is backbone of all these economic activities. If a temple is there, there would be pooja. Now consider the people involved with activities of various poojans -the vidhikar, the person who makes mandlu, the musicians, the singers etc. — these also can be added to the list of beneficiaries. If a temple disappears, all these economic activities also would disappear.

But would it not be better if a new school was constructed?

Whenever a new temple is taken up for construction, a common question is flung across — “what is the need for so many temples? Instead, would it not be better if a new school was constructed?”

In reality, a reverse question is worth asking. Today, scores of schools have closed down. Dozens of management institutions stand locked. At many places there is shortage of students. At many places there is shortage of teachers and at many places the teaching staff is useless.

A person throwing the question — what is the need for so many temples, seems to be unaware of the fact that a temple does not remain deserted. In a contrary situation, there are more than 1,25,00,000 flats lying unoccupied in India. And a paradox would make you laugh- according to the latest economic survey, there is shortage of 2,00,00,000 houses in India. Is this a magic of black money investment? Is the position due to unaffordable price of houses?

Be that as it may, however, despite crores of flats .lying vacant, when the builders undertake new projects every day, why is it not asked — what is the need for so many houses? Is it not a crime to mis-utilize resources? Those who favour priority for construction of new schools and hospitals should find out the number of hospitals remaining vacant. When land at concessional rates are given to hospitals with condition of keeping free beds for the poor and one finds these free beds lying vacant, what does it indicate?

If this is the situation, is it justified to establish new schools and hospitals?

As against this situation, the temples are never empty. Barring a few places where there are temples dating back several centuries and from where people have migrated to other cities or areas, at all other temples hundreds of people visit them for darshan and Pooja every day. Many constructions have taken place out of the physical needs of people.

Many constructions have taken place out of economic needs of people.

Temples are similarly constructed out of the religious /spiritual needs of people.

Strengthening of belief and satisfaction of dedication to the Lord is the main fruit of temple construction.

Long-term Maintenance Economy

Still, if the economic output is the criteria, let us proceed on the same track. Ever since the foundation of a temple is laid, hundreds of people get their livelihood till the construction is complete. After the temple is constructed, several persons’ livelihood such as those of poojari, security guard, flower vendors, servants doing cleaning and maintenance work in temple, guards, staff in the offices of temples etc. depend on the day-to-day activities in the temple.

According to a rough estimate, the number of employees in Jain temples across just Mumbai would exceed 8,000 (the suppliers of various material to the temples are not included in this count).

It is important to realize one significant issue. Even if we agree that in the present scenario, earning livelihood is not possible without education, no cause would appear greater than the cause of providing education. However, the situation is just the reverse. Today, the problem of unemployment is more prevalent amongst the educated rather than the uneducated. Higher the level of education, greater the instance of unemployment.

The following statistics would prove this fact. The intention is not to say that education is not necessary. However, these figures challenge the top priority thrust regarding education as means of livelihood.

The above figures show that there is least unemployment amongst the illiterates and maximum unemployment amongst the most educated. One should not forget that thousands and lakhs of illiterate persons earn their livelihood based on their skilled labour rather than formal education.

When the whole world is in the clutch of uncontrolled unemployment, one cannot ignore the employment figures which are temple centric and run into lakhs.

An industrial empire comes into existence after snatching away the employment of thousands of persons dependent on cottage industries. The employment generation by such industrial empires is secondary, one must consider their contribution in pollution of air and water.

For the believers a religious temple is something which enlightens their heart. However, those who view everything intellectually, can also not deny the fact that temple, which provides livelihood to lakhs of people is a non-polluting industrial unit.

Another interesting thing about temple oriented employment is that it caters more to the illiterates. The reason is that this sector is not education based but skill based. It is difficult to find a parallel phenomenon in the modern world.

When the Prime Minister of India Shri Modiji addressed thousands of Indians at Madison square in USA he stressed that his administration is paying more attention to create skilled labour. One should not forget that the tradition of temple construction is doing the same thing for the past several centuries.

When such extra-ordinary vision is opening up in connection, with the activity of temple construction, it would be fair to include the activity of jeernoddhar of old temples. In fact, the activity of jeernoddhar extends to a much wider area rather than construction of new temples. Naturally, its social output is also much greater.

According to one estimate, at any given point of time in Mumbai, lakhs of people are occupied in “temple group of companies”. One estimate puts the figure of people employed in Derasar related activities in seven digits. If Jains, whose population is in eight digits are providing livelihood connected with temples to people whose number runs in seven digits, one cannot ignore the social output of this sector.

The Tirth — Group of Companies

Let us view the Teerth of Shree Aadinath Dada, whose temple is on a small hillock at Shatrunjay. Because this temple exists and because there are several temples in the vicinity and thousands of deities, they support thousands of people;

Four hundred poojaris in all temples put together. Two hundred security staff

One thousand eight hundred doliwalas

More than one thousand two hundred labourers ferrying pilgrims. Hundreds of families carrying various merchandise to the hilltop. A huge staff taking care of water huts on the way to the shrine. Several other persons such as those vending coconuts, flowers etc.; many employees up to the manager level — all these would add up to thousands. These are figures exclusively related to the hillock and the shrines.

Aadinath Dada on the Giriraj attracts lakhs of pilgrims every year. There are more than 150 Dharamshalas, Bhojanshalas, Bhataghar and other conveniences on the Taleti Road. All these conveniences have staff totaling to thousands of people.

Palitana means land of devotion (Bhakti).

Palitana means land of utsavas.

Palitana is host to chaturmas, updhan tap, navvanu yatra.

These anusthanas (holy events) keep happening throughout the year and several bands, charioteers, owners of elephants and horses, bullock carts etc. are always occupied. One could add those providing transportation to the pilgrims such as horse carriages, rickshaws etc. If we expand, those involved in transport and tour industry, rental cars, buses etc. can also be added to those who earn livelihood because of Palitana. Then there are street food vendors and other small traders lining both the sides of Taleti road. (Though from the angle of religion, eating at the road side joints is not permitted, we are including them as we are considering the issue only intellectually). All this can be attributed indirectly to the existence of Shree Aadinath Bhagwan at Palitana. If the hillock did not have the temple of Dada all these also would not be there!

Several places around Palitana such as the Shatrunjay Dam, the Teerth of Talaja, Ghoga, Hastgiri, Kadambgiri also attracts pilgrims. However, ninety percent of pilgrims visiting these places are those who have primarily come to Palitana. Thus, the direct employment at these Teerthas have the indirect holding of the adhipati of Shatrunjay. In addition, pilgrim yatras in large groups sponsored by generous sangh patis, charipalit sangh etc. also keep coming to Palitana to pay obeisance to Bhagwan Aadinath.

If the employment connected with these sanghas is taken into account one can easily say that the staff strength of ‘Aadinath’ group is far greater than the staff strength of Ambani group or Adani group. ·

We have only talked about “Aadinath group” The “Shree Neminath group” of Girnar is also quite progressive these days. Similarly “Shree Parshwanath Group” of Sankheshwar is also widespread. In Eastern India there are teerthas of Shikharji and Pavapuri. In South India there are teerthas of Kulpakji etc. In Northern India there are teerthas of Hastinapur, Ayodhya etc. There are several such teerthas and the intellectuals cannot ignore the social output of all these teerthas.

If I may say something from the depth of my heart, I find that as against the obligations, compassion, mercy and overall support of God, the aforesaid discussion centering the economic issues appears to be something very trivial. The statistical analysis and arguments are absolutely nothing when compared with the strength which the devotees’ hearts get, the fulfillment of life attained and the satisfaction achieved by the inner feelings. However, when the so-called intellectualism tries to show its unjustified crookedness, it becomes a duty to match it in the same language and same tenor.

In the year 2007–08 the diamond industry had faced a major depression. Very large firms who had deep roots in the industry were also affected and they were retrenching their work force in large numbers. This affected the labourers i.e. diamond polishers also and hundreds of them had to go back to their native place. Many of them had to engage themselves as coolies to ferry the belongings of pilgrims at the Palitana teerth.

When somebody from the Diamond market used to go on pilgrimage to Palitana and saw such labourer working as coolie, they used to recognize each other instantly and naturally they asked, “you, and here?” In this situation, the famous lines of a bhajan came to the mind -”Jab koi nahi aata mere Dada aate hai, Mere dukh ke dino me woh, bade kaam aate hai”.

Temple Footfall

When I was a child, I used to go for performing pooja at Shree Abhinandan Swami Derasar at Sion in Mumbai. One lady used to sit in front of the Derasar with a cow. That lady — her name was Ramabai — has been earning her livelihood for the last 35 years sitting at this one place. Have you ever seen a woman with a cow outside any restaurant or any theatre? Have you seen any paanipuriwala outside a temple? Everyone knows where a consumer would be and where a feeder would be!

It would be interesting to conduct a survey to find out how many people sitting outside the temple would be taking benefit of the footfalls in a temple. Possibly, the figure would cross lakhs. This figure is also dedicated to those who talk of social output of a temple.

• A place where God is present in the form of a deity…
• A place where emotions of devotion flow continuously from the hearts of devotees…
• A place where the Ganga of heartful prayers flows continuously…
• A place where the atmosphere is filled with nothing but pious thoughts…

Such place has its own treasure of positive energy.

Any visitor coming to such place experiences the pious and· positive vibration. The heart of a visitor to such place gets filled with the feeling of compassion and mercy. One would observe a row of beggars sitting outside a temple or roaming around in the vicinity. The visitors to a mall or a multiplex may outnumber the visitors of a temple. However, the beggars are confident that the number of donors would be maximum around a temple. Naturally, everyone evaluates the market potential!

Query: If a religious place or a temple has so many benefits, there must be some reasons for people to have negative approach towards temples.

Explanation: Normally, a person or a place would be abhorred by the others if such person or the place harms others. It gets down rated in the minds of people. The problem is that people apply secular logic in a religious place. The Here the problem is that modern education is totally secular which sees everything through secular lenses. It does not advocate the need for religion anywhere amongst various other needs of life. On the contrary, it develops abhorrence in young minds against religious places, temples etc. and plants a belief that all the conflicts in the world owe their origin in religion.

However, the modern management Gurus have now realized that the spiritual quotient is far more important than intelligence quotient and emotional quotient. Religious places are a vehicle for spiritual quotient. But modern education and media do not focus on this aspect. Some people educated in the modern system and some writers enjoy criticizing religion and religious places and hurting the religious sentiments of some tolerant people. They however have no courage to touch the sentiments of a certain religion and its followers.

It would appear that such persons have taken a vow to discredit religion by calling it unscientific, calling the religious rituals as matters of show off and calling the spiritual gurus as Godman and the agent of God. A particular columnist who is notorious for writing against religion, dharma gurus and religious places went to the extent of writing in one of his article — “If my writings today has hurt the religious sentiments of the so-called followers of religion, I will consider that my writing has been successful”. This exhibits nothing but the cheap and perverse mentality of the author.

A person can be helped with vision by donating an eye. However, a person who does not want to see cannot be helped even with donation of an eye (vision). There is no alternate but to ignore them.

True, there may be negativity in any field. However, at the same time there max: be hundreds of positive aspects which such people do not want to see.

Decades ago when Bhakra Nangal Darn was constructed, the then Prime Minister Shri Nehru had described it as the teerthas of modern India. If someone’s mind is obsessed with modernity he would equate a giant dam with a temple. When someone is obsessed with cleanliness, he would term a lavatory as necessity and a temple unnecessary!

One thing is certain. The modern education certainly dents the old values and ethos in people’s mind and that gives birth to such utterances.

Devotees are tolerant, they are not cowards. There were strong reactions against the above stated statement of Nehru. He was aptly replied by Darryl de’ Monte. His reply was later on published in the book form also titled Temples or Tombs? (Place of pilgrimage or a burial ground?) One cannot oppose development provided it benefits all and has relativity. In the mad obsession for development, if environment, natural resources etc. are destroyed, one should not sing laurels of development.

One can definitely describe a temple as a non-polluting industrial unit which takes care of people without disturbing environment and natural resources. It is the best platform to satisfy mankind’s belief, dedication etc. Ignoring this aspect, the modern education, various writers and media strive their best to aggressively create abhorrence in the minds of people against religious places.

It is an irony that things which create conveniences to encourage and satisfy the pervert feelings of human mind are called ‘development’. The arrangements which nurture the civilized feelings of a human mind are being demolished. The combination of political power and secularism has driven out temple and religious devotion from education and gradually diminished the importance of these elements from the minds of people as well. This has been going on for decades as part of a well thought out plan. As a result, people are drawn away from temple to Temple Run

Human beings have heart in their bodies. However, the heart misses the human who is appropriated by the so called mind. Unfortunately that has necessitated explaining the matters of heart in the language of mind. This is a small attempt in that direction.

Otherwise, the environment which is created by profound devotion does not call for justifying need for temples. The non-materialistic evaluation of importance of a temple is beyond the capacity and means of materialistic world.