Life around the temple

கோவில் இல்லா ஊரில் குடியிருக்க வேண்டாம் .
Town without a temple, do not live there. A proverb in தமிழ் – This should be interpreted to mean our life should be centered around temple and not build a temple to make it a secondary leisure place while we have other works as primary. This is how I notice about new temples mushrooming in other parts of world, when back home many temples of old kings are left to ruin which could be renovated and well maintained.

Temple life is all about employment which provides the best social security.
Sculptors and builders – including dharma சத்திரம் /temple தேர் /வாஹனம் and temple water tanks both for temple festivals and as drinking/living places for animals
Music and Dance – Vocal and instruments (besides vocalists or instrumentalists, people who make instruments)
Bell and other metal instruments makers make a living.
Pottery makers for pots or any clay based items including lamps.
Cow protection with milk, ghee, curd and other dairy products and cow’s urine and dung as disinfectants/medicines
Horticulture with flowers and garlands
Agriculture – Rice, Fruits and Vegetables as prasadams and annadanams including coconuts.
Cloth industry – for gods and decorations including temple festivals, umbrellas and other needs.
Jewel industry - for gods ornament making
And the other numerous works associated with a temple and its festivals are giving employment in ‘Determined castes’ one does it with honour accepting as one’s holy duty(dharma) instead of thinking high or low and without giving rooms for exploitation or making fun of. Bhagavad Gita warns, it’s better to die doing one’s own duty even if one is unskilled in it than doing someone else’s duty.

Under cow protection
Besides the temples which have recently taken up cow protection in many places in தமிழ் நாடு and other states in India, Hostels in schools and colleges should have a separate place to rear and protect cows. It should be part of hostel inmates to look after cows. Besides getting the cow’s milk we will give children duty towards protecting cows. The children may belong to any religion, but protecting cows can be a good ethics which no true religious parents can deny.
The cow dung is an anti pollutant and protects from harmful radiations and there are many other numerous benefits to this if done. A country can be judged by the way it maintains and protects the cows, says Kanchi Mahaswamigal. More of this is mentioned in தெய்வத்தின் குரல் vol 7.