Deivathin Kural Series - 109

Om Namah Sivaya.
Deivathin Kural # 109 of 30 of Nov 2006.
1. To-day's title is 'Aalayamum Deiveeka Kalaigalum', or 'Temples and Fine Arts', occuring in pages 497 to 499, in Volume 1 of Deivathin Kural, Tamil version, published by Vanady Padippagam, Chennai.
2. Two thousand years back, Megasthanis visited India and commented on how people of this country were living then. He says that 'Indians do not know as to how to bluff. If they found some money on the road, they would not even pick it up.' How I wish people were like that to-day also.
3. What was the reason for such noble, lofty behaviour then and why has it touched rock-bottom now? It is the ambient atmosphere of those days and the changed environs now, is the reason. In the days bygone, everybody went to the Temples. There they heard talks on Ramayana and Mahabharatha. For conduct of such talks, funds were specially provided. Any dance or drama programmes were also, related to divine matters with moral directions. People worked the whole day for their respective professions, visited the Temples for spiritual solace and heard these stories of exemplary behaviour. So they were automatically motivated to better behaviour.
4. But now-a-days, there are too many distractions and temptations, through cinema and television, glorifying corruption and immorality. When people are already burdened by these, there are too many political parties of various hues, further adding to the chaos and confusion. So everywhere, there is dissatisfaction, distrust, greed and selfishness.
5. In olden times, it was an honour to conduct, 'Harikatha Kalakshepam', (meaning talks on Ramayana, Mahabharatha and Puranas).
The speakers were erudite not only in their subjects, but also in classical music, with golden voices. The speaker was much respected and admired. The profession carried on from Father to Son, generation to generation. But now, those who are in such professions, feel so pathetic about their lot, that their profession is coming to an end. Similarly, those who are 'Archakar' (meaning, Gurukkal or Temple Priest), wish that their children should find some other livelyhood. (KTSV Says:- Karunanidhi, the CM of Tamil Nadu, is planning to induct other caste people also to become Archakas!)
6. Earlier, the Kings of South India, paid particular attention to do their level best to encourage Bakthi and devotion. They made sure that Temples were constructed and consecrated, exactly as per the Sastras and Aagamas. They provided and ensured continued availability of funds, by allotting vast areas of forest and arable lands, to the Temples, making all the income available from forest produce and cultivation, to the Temples. This made it possible, that generations of specialist workers, artisans, artists and architects were looked after. In the conditions obtaining to-day,all these trades and crafts are coming to a grinding halt and virtually disappearing. I wonder if there are people capable of making musical pillars or staircase, in which each pillar or step could make sounds when tapped, corresponding to the notes of the octave. Such experts are extinct, who could carve chains out of stones, or stone balls inside the mouth of a Yali statue, or an elephant inside an elephant!
7. Our culture was nurtured and brought up over thousands of years. All activities including entertainment were with some religious connotations and divine implications. All those arts closely related to life in the village are now vaning. The man who used to tell Baratham, while playing on a 'Udukku', a type of drum held one hand, in the Droupadi Amman Koil; those who used to dance 'Karagam'; those who used to conduct a 'Koothu', on the life of Harischandra; such 'folk culture', are becoming extinct. Once in a while, some Minister gets himself photographed with some people dressed up with some peculiar garb and that is the end of 'Koothu', 'Karagam', and folk-culture, with some coverage in some news-papers and magazines.
8. What was the condition in this country, when Temples were centres around which arts and crafts thrived, is described and certified by Megasthanes. What it is now, is what we are seeing for ourselves. Everywhere there is deceit, fraud, greed, dishonesty and thuggery.
9. There is only one way out. Go back to the old ways. However modern one may become, still all the old values of honesty and truthfulness have relevance. The Temples were created by the Greats of the past. These should be protected and maintained exactly as per the 'Aagama Sastras'. Around them all the related Katha Kalashepams, Karagams, Koothus, should be encouraged to revive. Through this many artisans and craftsmen will thrive. The general public will be motivated towards high morals by the power of suggestion. This one country will thrive and the whole world will benefit.
Sambhomahadeva.