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A high priest is convinced that Hindu temples have a role in tackling criminal-related problems of Indian youths. Unorthodox and determined, Muthu Kumara Gurukal wants the temples to share their wealth in uplifting and restructuring the Indian community, writes M. KRISHNAMOORTHY.
MUTHU Kumara Gurukkal gets dejected when he reads the newspapers or hears news about Indian youths getting involved in street fights, crimes and drugs.
He is quick to add, waving his long index finger in the air: “Don’t see the problem. Look for a solution.”
“The solution lies solely with the temples,” he shocked his audience at an evening temple sermon recently.
Muthu Kumara is able to relate the ancient Vedic scriptures to present-day situations.
Highly recognised for his credentials and qualifications from leading Indian temples, the Hindu high priest is a highly sought-after speaker and a selfless community worker.
His discourses have attracted the attention and interest of Hindus in Malaysia.
Travelling to every nook and corner of the nation, even remote estate temples, Muthu Kumara is a household name among Hindus who love to hear him because he relates the ancient Vedic scriptures on Hinduism to current situations.
He is part of the new wave of Hindu Renaissance, which the Malaysian Hindu Society is propagating nationwide, in a bid to awaken and educate Hindus on the importance of right action through spiritualism.
Muthu Kumara continued emphatically: “Yes! The temples can play a constructive role in fixing the problem. It is high time the temples disbursed their funds to keep the Hindu youths away from the streets, crimes and drugs.”
“Nobody is asking for handouts. The Government and political parties have done their share. Now, the temples must play its part.”
“Use about one-third of the temple collection to providing food and clothing to the poorer Indians, and to increase the number of educated Indians,” he said.
He added that it was the Hindus who filled the donation boxes in temples. “So what is wrong with providing social and welfare services for Hindus,” argued the 56- year-old priest.
“Temples should allocate 30% of their collections and donations to community service projects,” he said at a recent Hindu Renaissance Rally held at the Cheras Badminton Hall.
Muthu Kumara said the money could be used to turn the temples into community centres to serve the poor, provide tuition to the students and enlighten them on Hinduism so that they could understand and adopt noble human values.
“Many of the temples have not responded because they feel that it is not their responsibility to respond to the social needs of Hindus.”
Hinduism is not just about rituals, he said. “Hinduism has a rich and diverse philosophy, and is an all-encompassing way of life. Our sacred rites and rituals are merely tools. They are the means through which devotees seek spiritual satisfaction.”
To spread the knowledge of Hinduism, Muthu Kuamara is planning to set up a school to train Hindu youths who want to be priests.
Being well versed and having worked as a priest for the past 40 years, Muthu Kumara is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as the Malaysian Hindu Sangam has expressed full support to his move to help the community.
The sangam is also determined that the Hindu temples play a constructive part in educating Hindu youths and parents.
Its president, A. Vaithilingam, said the objective was for Hindus to play an active role in affirming and reinforcing the strength of Malaysia’s multi-ethnic, multi -religious and multi-cultural society.
“Practically all Hindu temples and organisations have come together to support the Master Plan for the Hindu Renaissance in Malaysia.
“It is agreed by all of us that the action plan to be jointly implemented by all the Hindu organisations and temples in Malaysia must cover four main areas,” he said.
lPROPAGATE religious knowledge;
lTEMPLES to serve as community centres;
lPROACTIVE social services, welfare services and counselling services; and
lREVIVAL of Hindu cultural activities.
Vaithilingam said over the next few months, religious teachers would be trained to teach young people about Hinduism.
“More religious classes and educational activities will be held, but with a new twist – religious education will not be boring lectures and classes.
“We will try our best to make religion alive to our young people. Our aim is to make Hindu philosophy understandable to everyone.”
“We will continue our efforts to ensure that religion is taught in our schools, perhaps out of school hours,” said Vaithilingam.
They are also planning house-to-house visits by volunteers to teach them the basics and simplify the philosophical meanings behind Hinduism.
“Most importantly, we are changing
the way Hindus think about themselves. We want to show that Hinduism is
a way of life that is about forgiving, caring, loving and compassion.
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