The past few months has witnessed rumblings on the “offerings” management at religious locations with the alleged donation theft at Ayodhya, Siddhivinayak Temple, Badrinath, Dwarka and many more. The alleged scandal has revived an age old contest as to who should control revenue-rich temples. In many places religious custodians have argued for greater oversight as pilgrimage expands into a large economic enterprise. Are the donations (in kind also) and cash counting systems robust enough? Is the money and assets collected properly spent to a codetermined plan and with financial transparency? To make matters more difficult, temple management is very diverse. In UP, religious affairs are left to sects and societies and apparently none of the temples are under the direct administration of the State. In Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, it is the reverse, though a voluminous outpouring echoes a long running temple freedom movement. This sentiment is surfacing strongly in Uttarakhand and Bengal too. The financial stakes are massive and finances are seldom disclosed. Scepticism is growing and it is time we took stock at our own sacred temples.
The Karnataka Government’s resolve to strengthen security around temple hundis through CCTV surveillance and strict monitoring is a welcome move. Every devotee wants the offerings made with faith to be protected from theft and misuse. But it also raises an equally important question closer home. What happens to the money collected at Kodagu’s two important temples Talacauvery and Padi Igguthappa Temple? Every year thousands of devotees visit these sacred shrines. They offer cash, gold and other valuables with deep devotion. It is also customary for us to offer our produce – especially rice at both the shrines. But how many devotees have access to the annual “collections” of these temples? Where is this money deposited? How is it utilised? Is it spent entirely on temple maintenance, daily rituals, festivals, staff salaries, preservation of heritage or on welfare activities?
These are not questions born out of distrust. They arise from a desire for transparency. Devotees have every right to know how the offerings they make in good faith are managed. Public display of annual collections, expenditure, audited accounts and development works would only strengthen confidence in temple administration. Temples are not private institutions. They belong to the faith of the people. Transparency in financial management is as sacred as the rituals performed within their walls.
The new SOPs protect the hundi from theft. The next step should be to ensure complete transparency after the hundi is opened. For Kodagu, this conversation must begin with Talacauvery and Igguthappa temple. If accountability becomes a tradition, public trust will only grow stronger. Faith calls for devotion. Good governance demands transparency and accountability. The two should always go hand in hand.
The government’s new security measures may protect the hundi from theft. The next step should be equally bold ensuring that every devotee can see how the temple’s money is spent and offerings in kind utilised. To summarise my thoughts, I consulted and took on board views of friends, relatives and elders. Let me focus on the Igguthappa Temple management and share the collective views:
- Too much civil (concrete) construction has taken place on the temple perimeters. This applies to Talacauvery too. Kodava shrines are essentially “open” to Nature and natural elements. In fact, the Malma is a perfect example of what the sanctity of our shrines were meant to be. The same applies to Makki Sarthavu and the Pannangala Thamme site. The hilltop CANNOT and should not be burdened with the weight of more concrete.
- Is there proper inventory taken of the offerings for the Tulebara, especially rice, oil, ghee and so on. Of course this is used for the meals served on the premises. Equally, in the past the abundant surplus was shared with other temples for serving meals to devotees and for those in need. What happens to the surplus now? One hears of rumours where commercial entities get discounted rice from such offerings. This must be put to rest with PROPER VERIFICATION and ACCOUNTING.
- Surplus from temple collections should be transparently used for welfare measures. To begin with proper management to prevent the annual recurrence of devastating forest fires with improved scientific management can be done.
- When we were young, we used to see lush green paddy fields in front of the Igguthappa temple. Apparently, these were appropriated with the Tenancy Act and even leasing stopped with the taking over of the Administration by the District Administration/Muzrai (?). Why can’t this be resumed as it would be most appropriate for the Harvest Festival to be celebrated at the temple with Kadd grown by the Temple authorities.
- Many important Shrines promote Education and Healthcare. Kodagu deserves more of both – Higher Education and Healthcare. Over the years with the merger of our District’s administration with Mangalore University, there has not been sufficient focus on our district. In comparison, the quality of Education and Healthcare Institutions are in abundance and of world class standards in and around Mangalore. Perhaps our local leaders including the MLAs and the Akhila Kodava Samaja could focus on such issues with greater impact or outcomes.
- Lastly, there is a prominent Bhaktha Sangha at Igguthappa Temple with no administrative powers. It is not clear when the management of these two most important sacred shrines were handed over to the Muzrai. Perhaps it is time to collectively review and revisit the management of these shrines, with proper checks and balances to the community.
When faith is placed in public institutions, accountability is not a burden – it is a sacred responsibility.
Join our WhatsApp Group for News and Article Alerts
Why does God need money?
In the past, offerings to our temples were simple and rooted in tradition..people offered what they produced from their own land, while the temple and its priests were supported through those offerings. It was never about accumulating wealth.
Talacauvery itself had traditional restrictions on visits, thoughtfully designed by our ancestors to protect the sanctity and purity of the water source. Those customs had a deeper purpose and deserve to be understood and respected.
If devotees offer money to a temple, shouldn’t that wealth be put back into society? Many temples have shown the way by using their offerings to support schools, hospitals and other initiatives that directly benefit people.
Perhaps it is time to rethink the practice of putting bandhara (money) at the feet of God. God does not need our money. People do. Society does. Education does. Healthcare does.
Faith should inspire service, not the accumulation of wealth.
The article by Mamatha Subbaiah and the comments make compelling reading. It merits discussion with the political leadership and district administration. Change is needed. Maybe Organisations like The Akhila Kodava Samaja should step up on this front. While the “Malma” issue attracted a lot of attention, perhaps the matters raised here deserves greater attention and action.
The priest at Igguthappa often states that if Kodava devotees do not come to the temple, the sanctity is lost. Chettiars, Reddys and large buyers of parcels of land, essentially for commercial purposes may offer cash donations in larger sums, but it is not the same as a “locals” offering.
As a corollary, the Kodavas and related occupants of the land should be reinstated as the custodians of administration. These sacred places should NOT be allowed to have political influence – it is irrelevant. It’s the same with our community organizations like Akhila Kodava Samaja (AKS) and the network of Kodava Samajas. The foundation principles of AKS had no political overtones and was overwhelmingly intended for preserving the identity of Kodavas and Kodava speaking communities. It should be the very same at Talecauvery and Padi Igguthappa temples with very strict consequences if there is any corruption. With political influence, corruption cannot be prevented nor controlled.
Quite by chance I recently came upon an in-depth analysis as to why our country does so badly in sports. It is a complex subject analyzed on five different parameters, but the one that stood out as being relevant for this article is “corruption”. Sadly, we are categorised as amongst the most corrupt nations in the world – it is a way of life. Corruption’s ugly head rises in almost every field and temple, or religious institutions management is not spared.
Sadly, as pointed out in previous comments, Kodagu was known for its CLEAN ADMINISTRATION and everyday existence was without corruption. Analyse the reasons and revert to what we are capable of. Small communities that demand performance rather than the short cut of greasing palms and exercising “influence” mostly political can be clean. We “elect” public servants” to power and then behave like their servants.
Unless people feel accountable for their actions within the community with the consequences of being excommunicated (porambaad) for their misdeeds, will continue to behave the way they do. The same applies to selling of ancestral land – if there was no availability of land (including brokers from the community) for sale, how can “outsiders” buy land in Kodagu?
Another “straight-of-the-shoulder” write-up by Ms. Mamatha Subbaiah.
Transparency and accountability in our temples are long overdue. Faith must never serve as a shield for financial opacity or unquestioned governance. Every offering made by a devotee carries trust and sacred responsibility. Devotees deserve full clarity on how these contributions are accounted for, audited, protected, and used. Far from weakening our sacred institutions, strong administration and open books will deepen public trust for generations to come.
One question always lingers in my mind: if the money collected in the hundi is used for temple upkeep, why are political names mentioned on the walls? Why can’t the “community” take charge of the administration? After all our God’s are not elected every 5 years!! Keep politics and their attendant bureaucracy away from interference with “faith”, “belief” and “culture”. Our Gods belong to our belief system over millenia and should be managed by the local community. In the case of Padi Shri Igguthappa and Kaveramma by the custodians of Kodava culture.
The article by Ms Subbaiah is strong and powerful and invites a worthy response. Rajesh has done just that.
When Kodagu was run by its own people, the place was noted for the honesty, lack of criminal activity (the doors of homes were shut only at night), discipline and hard work. The State always had a surplus budget. Life in Kodagu from the grassroots level was run by complete participation by all with Thakkame providing the guiding force. All the temples were run on this principle too.
Keep politics out of the equation and let the major temples be run by the community. If we could have run them in the past, we can do so now too – after all the faith belongs to the people and not the District Administration nor the Muzrai.
A very important article that raises issues deserving serious public discussion. Devotees have the right to know how their offerings—cash as well as rice, ghee, oil and other contributions—are accounted for and utilised. Transparency should not be viewed as a challenge to faith; it is a means of strengthening faith.
Equally, our sacred Kodava shrines must be protected from unnecessary concrete construction and commercialisation. Talacauvery and Igguthappa Temple represent our heritage, nature and identity. Their administration deserves proper accountability, community consultation and appropriate checks and balances. Faith, tradition and good governance must go together.
I truly appreciate the author for raising such a bold sensitive and much needed question. It takes courage to speak openly about matters surrounding our temples , faith and finances.
Her question ” what happens to the money after it is collected ” deserves serious public discussion. Questioning financial transparency doesn’t mean Questioning faith, rather it reflects a genuine concern for accountability.
Kudos to the author for having the courage to ask what many may wonder about but hesitate to say aloud. Bold questions are often the beginning of meaningful change.
Excellent article with a clear intent to strengthen existing systems and belief in important places of worship. Nothing can be more sacred than Padi Shri Igguthappa and Talekaveri temples.
Temples that build a nation stand on foundations of trust, not fear. Temples that build a nation are mundane, not shiny. But they bring daily stability into our lives and the assurance that we are protected, only because we are together.
In the old days, we used to really look forward to visiting Igguthappa Temple and of course Talekaveri. There were hardly any crowds, and the place was “open” and pleasant. That was the essence of Kodava shrines. Now there is concrete everywhere, with whistle blowing chowkidars screaming at you to take off your footwear. These are our shrines and we don’t need to be guided on what needs to be done. What we want is peace, quiet, integrity and mutual respect. Unless we devotees from Kodagu visit our deities with pride and satisfaction, the sanctity and meaning is lost.
Read Ms Mamatha Subbaiah’s bold article with great interest. Essentially the corruption stems from the fact that it is prevalent in every walk of life, irrespective of political affiliation, caste, colour or creed. However in my experience, tribal communities have always had an open system with checks and balances. Take Pannangala Thamme, the collections are counted daily by Thakkas, properly accounted for and the somewhat limited collections are spent in a very “visible” manner.
The larger the footfall, the collections and offerings grow to a point where money attracts the wrong kind of attention. It’s all a matter of proper checks and balances, transparency in accounting and the involvement of the community at a grass roots level. We have hundreds of temples dotted across our various villages which run with integrity and discipline.
Perhaps the time has come for the Kodava and Related Communities to be reinstated as the custodians of administration of the two major temples. The Bhaktha Sangha at Padi Shri Igguthappa Temple has good Committee members who can be given additional responsibility. There should be fixed short terms with rotation of responsibilities and FIRMLY NO POLITICAL AFFILIATION. At the end of the day, they are voluntary jobs. I quite liked the comment made about the Sikh community. Their social service – especially langar feeding for the devotees and the needy across the world is extraordinarily legendary.
This is a timely and thought-provoking article that raises an issue which deserves serious discussion within the Kodagu community. Transparency in the management of temple offerings should never be viewed as questioning faith or tradition; rather, it is a way of protecting the sanctity and trust associated with those offerings. Talacauvery and Igguthappa Temple are not merely places of worship but important repositories of Kodagu’s culture, heritage and identity. The concerns regarding accounting of cash and offerings in kind, surplus utilisation, unnecessary concrete construction, preservation of the natural surroundings and greater community participation merit an open and fact-based review.
At the same time, any discussion on temple administration should remain respectful, non-political and focused on strengthening institutions rather than finding fault with individuals. A system of publicly available audited accounts, proper inventory and utilisation records, heritage-sensitive development, and meaningful participation of devotees and the Kodava community could go a long way in building confidence. Faith and accountability are not opposing values—they can and should reinforce each other.
Read the article with great interest and the recent alleged donation scams are most troublesome. Is it unexpected – the answer is clearly a firm no.
Generally speaking in Gurudwaras the controls and processes are extremely strong and watertight. The sense of of doing “seva” for the community is very prevalent. It is a fairly open platform where any misdoings are caught swiftly. Recently in Bangalore there was a scam reported in collections for the “langar”. This was observed quickly and action taken swiftly.
For a relatively small community that Kodavas are, it should be possible, I’m sure to run things efficiently. They are known for their integrity.
Corruption is unfortunately embedded in our country and affects all walks of life – even religion is not spared. However, Kodagu was known for its values of integrity and discipline. It makes sense to undertake a thorough review at all the main temples – Padi Igguthappa and Talecauvery – set stricter protocols for control and publish the financials periodically to reassure the devotees and public at large that the resources are fully accounted for properly and spent wisely.
Very well written and the messages are absolutely correct.
I fully concur with the spirit of this article. The image is particularly apt. On one side, we see temples and sacred spaces struggling with neglect and deterioration; on the other, there are temples that have become significant sources of income and, surprisingly, even engage YouTube influencers for promotion. Shocking, perhaps, but it is a reality worth acknowledging.
Many of us feel this contrast, but hardly dare to say it aloud. This article has, in a way, put that collective feeling into words.
This is not about questioning faith, traditions or the people who serve these institutions. Nor should it become a political argument. It is simply about transparency and responsible stewardship of what devotees offer with faith.
If substantial amounts are collected, devotees should reasonably be able to understand how those resources are accounted for, where they are spent, and how much goes towards preservation, maintenance and the genuine needs of the temple and its community.
Transparency need not diminish the sanctity of a temple. If anything, it can strengthen the trust people place in it.
Faith deserves reverence. The resources entrusted in its name deserve accountability too.