Missing point of Siva Manram Temple

I WAS utterly dismayed to read Yogin Devan’s article “Removal of stone idols a ‘sin’” (POST, August 22 to 26) with regard to the removal of the murthis at the Siva Manram Temple in Havenside, Chatsworth.

It was a sad day in the history of not only Siva Manram but all Hindu organisations and the community when the idols were removed.

Without doubt this has become a talking point of the Hindu community.

Some of the members need to behave in a civilised manner, so they can be seen as role models by the future generation.

Displaying dignity, especially in public places, is a must.

This action of adding and removing idols has reduced a public institution temple to someone’s personal possession and has allowed man’s own personal “whims and fancies”, rather than an institution, to serve the community.

The situation at Siva Manram also exposes serious shortcomings of temple organisations that lack effective management on two distinct levels – that of a management at a grass-root level and as a collective of various organisations.

The lack of unity and the necessary desire to resolve disputes is abundantly clear.

It is perhaps now time for our elders in the community, the likes of Devan, Professor Gan Moodley, Dan Moodliar and Morgan Nadasen, to embark upon some serious introspection and by this I mean their approach needs to be perhaps proactive rather than reactive.

Instead of dealing with matters after they erupt, rather work on creating workshops on proper temple management, so that members would be empowered to run organisations that are not only practical but relevant to the society we live in.

I pray that we do not ever have a repeat of Siva Manram.

DHAYALAN MOODLEY Mobeni Heights