This is indeed how things are playing out today
1) Given the miserable state of older temples due to our Dravidian politicians, innumerable small Ganesha and Amman shrines have been constructed all along the lanes and streets of our cities
2) There is a body of a few thousand /1
1) Given the miserable state of older temples due to our Dravidian politicians, innumerable small Ganesha and Amman shrines have been constructed all along the lanes and streets of our cities
2) There is a body of a few thousand /1
adishaivas that are ministering to the devotees of these small shrines
3) Prosperity and increasing educational attainment of the lay Hindu has translated into a need for these small shrines to expand in teh scope of the deities they house.
4) As an example, in last 10 years /2
3) Prosperity and increasing educational attainment of the lay Hindu has translated into a need for these small shrines to expand in teh scope of the deities they house.
4) As an example, in last 10 years /2
a Pillaiyar temple I frequent has added a Durga and a Hanuman and an Amman temple has added a Skanda and a Bhairava
5) Now, the priests who handle day-to-day worship can be trained with a couple of years of Agama education
6) The more advanced scholars are now peripatetic /3
5) Now, the priests who handle day-to-day worship can be trained with a couple of years of Agama education
6) The more advanced scholars are now peripatetic /3
specialists who are called upon for pratiShTa and jIrNoddhAraNa and such.
7) A third, very small cohort has found sponsorship for maThams and from large institutions like TTD for advanced study and expanding their scope of knowledge
8) That said, Agama pAThashalas /4
7) A third, very small cohort has found sponsorship for maThams and from large institutions like TTD for advanced study and expanding their scope of knowledge
8) That said, Agama pAThashalas /4
will need more support from lay Hindus to ensure that we have a dedicated corps of gurukkaLs and shivAchAryas for the 20-30,000 odd temples across TN /END
