India claims to be a secular democracy. Yet, in the name of secularism, Hindu temples remain under the brutal grip of government control. While churches and mosques enjoy complete autonomy over their management and finances, Hindu places of worship are treated as state revenue departments. This is not secularism. This is targeted exploitation. It is a modern form of colonialism, dressed in constitutional legality and bureaucratic language.
The Historical Betrayal of Hindu Temples
Post-independence, Hindu society expected liberation — not just from foreign rulers, but from centuries of abuse and plunder. But the tragedy is that after 1947, the Indian state replaced the British colonial machinery and continued the same oppressive system. Laws like the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HRCE) Act in states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka empowered governments to take over temple administration.
In reality, this has meant:
- Government-appointed bureaucrats managing temple funds and rituals
- Political interference in priest appointments and temple customs
- Diversion of temple donations to non-religious and even anti-Hindu purposes
This is nothing short of a state-sponsored strangulation of Hindu faith.
Where the Funds Are Really Going
Hindu devotees donate crores with faith that their money will serve the temple and its dharmic ecosystem. Instead, this sacred revenue is diverted to secular, and sometimes even anti-Hindu, causes.
Here are a few disturbing examples:
- In Karnataka, over 85% of Hindu temple revenue is used for welfare of other communities, while temples themselves suffer from poor maintenance.
- In Andhra Pradesh, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) fund has been diverted to fund government projects, including Christian pilgrimages.
- In Tamil Nadu, thousands of temples are crumbling while the HRCE department uses temple money to build flyovers, schools, and pay salaries of government employees.
- In Kerala, temple lands and gold are being quietly absorbed into state assets under pretexts of modernization.
This would never be tolerated if done to any other religious institution. But when it comes to Hindu temples, there is silence.
Constitutional Hypocrisy
Article 26 of the Indian Constitution gives all religious denominations the right to manage their own affairs. Yet, this right is selectively denied to Hindus. The state argues that temples are ‘public property’ and therefore must be controlled. But churches, mosques, and gurudwaras are also public spaces of worship. Why is this discriminatory principle applied only to Hindus?
This is not secularism. This is systemic oppression.
Judiciary’s Complicity
The Indian judiciary has largely failed to uphold Hindu temple rights. Courts have time and again legitimized government control under the guise of ‘public interest.’ But what public interest is served when sacred institutions are looted and desecrated by the very governments sworn to protect cultural heritage?
If the courts can recognize the right of a mosque or a church to self-govern, why does the same right not apply to Hindu temples?
The Real Impact on Hindu Society
- Priests are underpaid and demoralized
- Ancient rituals are compromised due to political agendas
- Temple lands are sold off or encroached by mafias
- Cultural festivals are restricted or downplayed
This is not governance. This is desecration.
Time to Reclaim What Is Ours
Hindu temples are not just places of worship. They are the civilizational lungs of Bharat, centers of education, culture, art, architecture, music, and moral values. To keep them under state control is to deny Hindus their spiritual sovereignty.
No government should own God. No bureaucrat should dictate devotion.
It is time to launch a united, unapologetic movement to demand:
- Full autonomy for Hindu temples
- Repeal of discriminatory laws like HRCE
- Formation of independent Dharmic trusts governed by devotees and scholars
- Judicial recognition of equal religious rights for Hindus
If Hindu temples are not freed now, they will continue to decay under political manipulation and administrative corruption. This is not just a religious issue — it is a civilizational emergency. The liberation of temples is the first step toward the renaissance of Sanatan Dharma.
Let the bells of our temples ring freely once again — not under state surveillance, but under the sky of Dharma.
Free Hindu Temples from the Clutches of a Secular State. Now.
